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Combining Careers in Research
by Carolyn Davis
A common theme throughout my careers has been that of research. I have always loved finding things out -- not via the neighborhood grapevine, but via "official" means. Even as a child I loved "quiet time" in the dining room because it afforded me an opportunity to read the World Book Encyclopedia. I thought this an entrancing title, and its volumes held entrancing information.
Initial International Relations Work And Study
By the time I was university age, the study of international relations was my special pigeon. After a number of research jobs and some time as a Master's Candidate in the Center for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University, I was granted an internship in Northern Ireland during a time of escalating violence in 1992-1993. Several incidents made me believe that I was probably better suited to behind-the-scenes research work, and I began to consider library school.
Three countries later, after an MSLIS degree from Simmons College and a Technology certification from the International Graduate Summer School at the University of Wales at Aberystwyth, facilitation through research and information sharing became my focus. In the Peace Corps I conducted a national survey in Jamaica concerning the needs of agencies that provided services to people with disabilities. From there, I helped in the development of the Jamaica Coalition on Disabilities.
Electronic Resources Expand the Possibilities
The Information Age demands and allows more options in nearly everyone's work. These options can be especially beneficial if you are disabled, as I am. Unable to run around, fetch, and carry books in a traditional library setting, I have nevertheless been an administrator of an information center in Jamaica and an information outsourcer/electronic resources librarian, under contract to corporations and private clients.
Need Meets Need
The international challenge reared its head again while I was in Jamaica: I'd always wanted to live and work in Britain; would information technology be able to deal with the employment restrictions that Americans face regarding the European Union? E.U. rules strongly discourage the employment of anyone from outside its member nations. Early in 2000, however, while I was awaiting word on a visa for work that I'd been offered, Tony Blair's government expressed its need and wish to increase immigration to the U.K. by people in information technology (as well as certain other professions).
His government then initiated a massive task to be carried out by the end of 2002: that of connecting all public libraries to the Information Superhighway. I've been assisting in the latter (I hope) by suggesting resources that might ease the burden, among these, Rachel Singer Gordon's Teaching the Internet in Libraries. This was especially pleasant, since it "connected" two groups in which I'm glad to play a part: the British Government and Lisjobs.com.
Expanding Possibilities
Although the resourcing for the People's Network Project (1) is voluntary, I've been asked by Scarecrow Press to write a historical dictionary about Jamaica. This should keep me busy through September, when I begin an M.Phil program in Medieval Welsh History at the University of Cardiff.
The facilitation of resources can be focused in many ways. There are opportunities for librarians and for IT and information systems specialists in many countries, on a permanent or consultant basis. The Peace Corps, the United Nations Volunteer program, and the United States Foreign Service are sources of official information regarding placement and employment via the United States. Academic and consultant positions can be investigated via universities.
I urge anyone who is interested in Information and Library Science as an additional career to pursue LIS. It enhances your primary occupation/profession, as well as opening a plethora of opportunities on its own.
(1) The People's Network Project, a U.K. government program whose mission is "to connect all public libraries to the Information Superhighway by the end of 2002," is coordinated by the Learning and Information Society Team from the Council for Museums, Archives, and Libraries. View the outline of its daunting tasks.
Carolyn Davis has an MSLIS from Simmons College. Her specialties are research, IT, mediation, and writing.