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Charting a Path from Student to Professional
by Karen Rasmussen
When I arrived at graduate school last semester to start working on my MLIS degree, my first goal was survival. I had to discover how to find the time to do the voluminous reading required by my classes, learn how to juggle the demands of work and school, and decide what kind of library setting I might like to work in after graduation. But I quickly realized that I also needed to figure out how to make the transition from student to professional -- while I was still in school.
Other students in my program were in the same position, whether they were moving from undergraduate programs to graduate school, re- entering the professional world after taking time off, or -- like me -- changing career paths. Making this transition requires professional advice and professional development opportunities, both vital steps toward becoming professional librarians.
Professional Advice
The best way to find professional advice is fairly obvious: talk to professionals. Some students are reluctant to approach professors in their department, waiting instead for professors to offer help. Professors, though, are busy people, juggling departmental, professional, and personal demands on their time. Because there are more students than professors in graduate programs, it's impossible for them to reach out to every student.
Take the initiative to approach your professors. Say hello to them in the hallway, ask them questions about their fields and about the program. If you are intimidated by their position, try thinking of them as your future colleagues.
Most professors want to help the students in their program; you simply have to ask. After I decided that I wanted to follow a path that could train me to work in a special collections library, I stopped by a professor's office one day to introduce myself. I asked his advice about the classes I should take and the experiences I should try to pursue while in school. I ended up walking out with names of people I should talk to and classes I should look into -- and with his offer to serve as my advisor.
Another great way for time-pressed students to learn about different career paths and meet library professionals is to conduct informational interviews. During our library school's orientation, we toured the information sciences library. One librarian talked about how she worked with a special collection of children's literature. At the end of the tour, I asked her if she would be able to go to lunch one day so I could ask her about her work, how she got her job, and what advice she had for me about classes to take. An unexpected bonus from our lunch was that, not only did I learn about her job, I made a friend.
Another easy way to find out about the different jobs librarians do is to interview them for class assignments. When I was writing a policy for the preservation of maps, I contacted the university's map librarian. I got some good, practical advice from him for my paper, and our meeting gave me a chance to get out from behind my computer, visit the library, and see what a map librarian does.
Professional Development Opportunities
In addition to creating your own informal interactions with professors and librarians, take advantage of the student membership rates that most professional associations offer. Simply skimming the literature can give you a good idea of the issues librarians in your chosen field are concerned with. Some associations, like ALA, are so large that it's hard to know where to begin, but joining and becoming an officer in your school's student associations can be a good introduction to the national organizations. Such involvement can also help you develop and refine your leadership skills and meet your fellow students.
Many professional organizations also have regional chapters that welcome student participation. Although I don't plan to work in a special library, the SLA chapter in my area is very active. Its members encourage students and the chapter sponsors events that touch on subjects that aren't always covered in coursework, such as how to negotiate a contract.
Last, but not least, talk to your fellow students about what they are doing to learn about different fields and how they are becoming involved in professional activities. One of my classmates regularly applies for scholarships to attend professional conferences and has volunteered to start a mentoring program with the local SLA chapter. Watching her pursue such opportunities encourages me to carve out my own professional path.
A well-known saying advises that, if you don't know where you are going, any road will do. By seeking professional advice and participating in professional development opportunities, all students can begin to chart their professional paths.
Karen Rasmussen expects to graduate in August 2002 with an MLIS degree from the University of Pittsburgh. She has an MA in English and has worked as a writer, editor, and grants specialist.