Info Career Trends January 1, 2006 vol. 7, no. 1 ISSN 1532-0839 Published by LISjobs.com: http://www.lisjobs.com E-mail: editor@lisjobs.com Web: http://www.lisjobs.com/newsletter/ In This Issue (Keeping Connected): 1) Editor's Note 2) Career Q&A From the Library Career People (getting a subject master's, geographically-constrained job hunting) 3) Same Walk to Work Each Day: How to Stay Inspired About the Profession 4) Committee Internships: The Easy "In" 5) Right In Your Backyard: Connecting Through Your Local Library Association 6) Keeping Connected As a New Librarian 7) Workshops and Professional Development 8) What's Online? Recommended Resources 9) But I Want To Hold It In My Hand! Reviews: Managing in the Information Age and Last One Out, Turn Off the Lights 10) Administrivia, Copyright, Subscription and Removal Instructions ======== Editor's Note It's true: we're all busy. It can be difficult to look beyond our day-to-day tasks and see the larger need to keep connected with the profession and with other librarians. Read on for some suggestions of different ways to build and keep those connections - and to keep that inspiration that makes librarianship so special, not just a field in which we happen to work. Speaking of keeping busy, though, what better way to keep connected than to reach out to others by publishing your thoughts, ideas, or opinions? ICT is seeking contributors to two upcoming issues, May 2006 (Publishing and Presenting), and July 2006 (Facing Change). Take a look at the online guidelines at http://www.lisjobs.com/newsletter/theme.htm#contrib , and drop a query to editor@lisjobs.com outlining your ideas. Lastly, I want to point out one way the profession is also reaching out to you. If you're a newer librarian or new grad, check out NMRT's resume review service: http://www.geocities.com/nmrtrrs/ . They have a number of in-person times available at Midwinter, or members can use the e-mail review option. - Rachel (editor@lisjobs.com) ======== *** Find a library job! http://www.lisjobs.com ======== Career Q&A From the Library Career People (librarycareerpeople@lisjobs.com) Q: I am an MLIS student with one class left before graduation. My school is new and still undergoing the accreditation process, so I want to wait until we are accredited before I finish. I have a good job in a library, so I can afford to do this for a little while, but I want to "spend my time wisely." I would like to pursue another master's degree to open up more opportunities for me in a research library, but I don't want to pigeonhole myself into one subject area. I have an undergraduate degree in Physics and a Doctorate of Chiropractic (I'm a career-changer), so I have a strong background in physical and biological sciences. However, I don't want to work on a hard-core science degree, because I don't think my brain could take it. Help! SM: You have an interesting, and enviable, dilemma. How nice to be able to pursue an additional degree while working and getting much- needed experience at a job you like. Since you have a significant academic background in the sciences, I can understand your concern about being pigeonholed by potential employers. However, I think you are underestimating the power of work experience. As you start applying for librarian positions, your work experience will resonate louder than the subject of your degrees - undergraduate or graduate. What you are doing now in your job - the experience you are obtaining, and the skills you are learning - will be invaluable in attaining that first professional position. Getting your second master's after you earn your library degree offers you some freedom of choice. Since you are already planning on being a librarian and are already working in a library, you won't have the added stress of wondering if you will be employable. And, since you are gainfully employed and seem to have the time to pursue another degree, you can explore many different options and programs - with the one exception that they be either local or virtual, since you cannot leave your job. Don't worry too much about filling a gap in your education or skill set; you will learn most of your skills on the job. Pigeonholing exists in librarianship, as in other professions. From my own experience working in different libraries, applying for librarian positions, and being involved in search committees, though, it happens more with the abundance or lack of qualifying work experience and skills than with degrees. If your degree is in the humanities and you apply for a position in a science library, you have a good chance of getting the job - if you have relevant work experience and skills. Likewise, if you have worked in science libraries for years and want to make a switch to a humanities library, you might have a hard time, even if you have a humanities degree. Since it sounds like you will not be pursuing a subject specialist position, and you are not inclined to get a second master's degree in a scientific field, let me offer a few suggestions: * Go for something that is more user-defined, like a master's in liberal arts, or a master's in American studies. These degrees are not as rigid as others, and allow you to take classes from many different disciplines as you define your own path. * Go for something that has always interested you, no matter what it is. You are free to take on anything without the added concern and stress of finding a job in that field - since you are already planning on being a librarian. Be adventurous in your pursuit of higher education. * Go for something that will potentially be useful to you in your dream job. If you would like to work in reference and instruction, then look into master's programs in a specific subject area (for those specialist/bibliographer positions) or dealing with education or instructional design. If you would like to work in technical services or web design, then some kind of computer science degree (it doesn't have to be hard-core) would definitely come in handy. If you want to work as a cataloger, then a language degree would be useful. How about writing, management, communications, or design? Librarianship deals with all of these subjects, in some aspect or another. * Go and talk to people - your boss, coworkers, fellow library students, the career center at your library school, or someone in a department of study you may be considering. Ask them what they would recommend, and how their degrees have helped to shape their careers. You might get some new ideas, or learn about exciting programs you hadn't thought of before. * Go and look at job ads for positions that interest you, and see which qualifications are required and which are preferred. * Finally, go easy on yourself. Make it fun! Any degree program needs to fit into your schedule and allow you time for both work and play. A highly competitive and stressful program is probably not what you have in mind. So take into consideration the time commitment, the requirements of the program, how it will fit into your schedule. Most importantly, enjoy yourself! Additional Resources: Peterson's Graduate Planner http://www.petersons.com/Default.asp?ShowTab=gr USNews.com's E-Learning Guide http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/elearning/elhome.htm GradSchools.com http://www.gradschools.com Choosing Your Major, by Mary Lou Taylor http://www.jobweb.com/resources/library/Careers_In/Choosing_Your_Maj or_122_01.htm OR http://makeashorterlink.com/?D4E51306C Escape Your Pigeonhole, by Cheryl Dahle http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/94/open_playbook.html Q: I am e-mailing because I've been having the hardest time finding a librarian job in Atlanta, yet I can easily find jobs elsewhere. I have my application in at a few colleges and public libraries in Atlanta, but I haven't heard from any of them. I finally snagged a job in Albany, GA, at a college library. I'm trying to figure out what I should do: I would rather be back in Atlanta, but I know I can't leave until I find something else. Need some advice. Thanks. TA: It must be very frustrating for you to have a job in a city other than your first choice. I can hear the chorus of recent grads now, so let me just go ahead and acknowledge the obvious - at least you HAVE a job and are gainfully employed, which is more than some can say. And at the very least, you have something to do (and a way to pay the bills) until you find the job of your dreams, or at least a job closer to Atlanta. One thing we tell all of the graduating MLS students we work with is that geographic mobility is one of the best things you can have working for you when looking for a job. Let's face it, there are just some places that are more appealing to live than others. But what's so great about human beings is that some people like snow, while others like the beach. Some folks prefer the mountains, others, the plains. Another great thing, we can also usually endure more than we think, so in the interest of the greater good (or just getting the first job) we can do what we have to do, not just what we want to do. Let's think of Albany as a learning opportunity and a time for personal growth (What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger, right?). Here's how to make the most of your time in Albany, while still planning your exit strategy: * Do a great job in your current position. The one thing I didn't hear you say about Albany was that you were unhappy in your work. That's a good thing. A great job can go a long way to compensate for a geographic location that's lacking. While you're in Albany, work hard, impress people, and make yourself invaluable. Learn everything that you can and continue to grow professionally. Look for opportunities for professional development, to attend professional meetings or conferences. * Network, network, network. The more people you know (and who know you) the more likely you are to hear about positions opening up elsewhere - perhaps even in Atlanta. Look for alumni organizations in your area that will give you the chance to reconnect with other former Atlanta residents. * Do not burn bridges. Don't let the folks you work with now feel like a second choice. If all they ever hear from you is how much you hate Albany and how much you want to be back in Atlanta, especially if they're Albany-born-and-bred, they'll grow pretty tired of you pretty quickly. It's okay to let people know that you have connections in, or a fondness for Atlanta, but don't let that be all they know about you. * If the nightlife in Albany isn't all that you had hoped for, or you're having a hard time finding things to do socially, use this time to concentrate on yourself. Take an online class, volunteer in the community… Remember, everything you do right now will affect your future "employability." * Keep your resume up to date and continue to watch the job boards, web sites and e-mail lists. Check the larger regional sites, as well as school sites from the Atlanta area. Several of these, such as ARL's Career Resources ( https://db.arl.org/careers/index.html ) and SOLINET's Job Bank ( http://www.solinet.net/JobSite/Jobsite.cfm ), allow you to limit searches by geographic location. Georgia Public Library Service also offers a "Jobs in Libraries" site ( http://www.georgialibraries.org/lib/jobs.html ), which searches library jobs in Georgia and other southeastern libraries. You can also contact a few of the institutions you're most interested in and ask to schedule an informational interview. (See the previous columns on the purpose of, and how to conduct, an informational interview.) Keep in mind that the folks in Albany hired you as the best candidate for their position; they probably weren't thinking of this as a temporary placement. Give them the professional courtesy of at least a year in the position, and, once you have another offer, as much notice as possible. They believed in you, and gave you a chance. You should repay that kindness with hard work while you're there, and an easy transition when it's time for you to move on. *** Have a question for the Library Career People? E-mail it to librarycareerpeople@lisjobs.com, and you could see it answered in an upcoming column. Sorry, we cannot provide personal responses. About the Authors Tiffany Allen is currently serving as the Assistant Personnel Librarian at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to her work in academic librarianship, Tiffany worked in a variety of libraries, including a small non-profit library and a large corporate research library. Susanne Markgren is the Systems/Electronic Resources Librarian at Purchase College, SUNY. Her career experience encompasses a variety of positions in different types of libraries, including public, special, and academic. ======== *** Wouldn't you like to see your ad here? http://www.lisjobs.com/ratecard.htm#newsletter ======== Same Walk to Work Each Day: How to Stay Inspired About the Profession by Natalie Forshaw (fnncf@uaf.edu) While walking to work one morning, I was thinking about staying connected to the profession. I've worked at the same library for nine years - seven in the technical services unit - and sometimes it's hard to connect to Longfellow's romantic feelings about libraries and books: "The student has his Rome, his Florence, his whole glowing Italy, within the four walls of his library. He has in his books the ruins of an antique world and the glories of a modern one." It is easy to lose sight of the many professional roles librarians have within their larger organizations, while remaining focused on providing service and making information available. Most days, since I oversee the unit that gets the material to the shelf, my job is similar to working at a grocery store: get the merchandise on the shelves, and let the customer know what's available! I appreciate Orwell's memories of working in a bookstore: "Seen in the mass, five or ten thousand at a time, books were boring and slightly sickening." How do I remain inspired by the idea of assisting people in their search for information, when my day is spent trying to get a vendor to respond to online access issues? Walking To Work, Waking To Possibilities Because I have walked the same route to work for the past seven years, my mind tends to wander, and I think ahead to the work day. Rarely do I remember anything about the trek once I reach my office. On this particular morning, while greeting the crosswalk guard and maneuvering across the slippery intersection, I looked up and recognized the jaunty walk of an elementary school boy who shares part of my route almost every morning. In the navy overcoat that he has worn for as long as I remember, he was a dark figure against the background of new snow. There was something different about him this morning, though: he was carrying a big stick in both hands, his arms hanging down in front of him so that the stick bumped against the spot where the hem of his coat met his legs. As we came closer to each other I got ready for our usual morning greeting - he throws up his arm and wiggles his hand in my direction, looking shyly at me between the edges of his hood, and I return a singsong "Good morning!" But this morning he changed the routine: as he neared me, he shifted the stick, and, carrying it as a spear, jogged past. No wave, no shy look my way. Going To School, Connecting With the Profession Noticing that change while thinking about staying connected made me realize that we need to look at our daily work in a unique way and gain a new perspective. Going back to school forced me to reconsider how libraries provide information and services. But, I didn't go back for additional library education. For years, I'd had a writing project in mind, but life, personal and professional, had been busy. In 2003 everything came together and I joined the Creative Writing program as a half-time graduate student, working full time and attending classes at night. I was looking forward to the opportunity to pursue my personal goal, but had no idea how much being part of an academic department as a graduate student would help me connect to my professional role as a librarian. As a graduate student, I became aware of the bigger issues: What are our patrons' expectations? What do they experience when they use library services? I had to search our collection for material to use when writing papers, and soon noticed gaps and began suggesting titles for purchase. I gained an appreciation for our local public library's collection and services, spending Saturdays browsing their shelves, reading, and using their laptop stations to work on my writing. During university classes I heard firsthand comments about our collection and services. Mostly I was shocked to find that the library was not pushed as a resource, and eventually this became my role as librarian. I was offered the English liaison responsibility - the library saw this as a means of infiltration, and it has worked out that way. More importantly, it has become a means for me to concentrate on a subject, understand the research needs of the students and faculty, and examine the role the library can play in the pursuit of information. Not everyone can or should take on the work of pursuing additional education. Even so, anyone can look for ways of staying inspired. My liaison work has not resulted in a significant upsurge in use, but I have made contacts, and this semester gave 20 bibliographic instruction sessions to the freshman English classes. I am working on a blog - something that will provide helpful information about research for students and teaching assistants and a place for creative writing students to post information about the writing community at the University and in Fairbanks. Through New Eyes We can stay inspired if we're willing to look at our professional responsibilities in a different way. We don't have to make changes every day, but we need to stay open to new ideas, and notice subtle changes. Sometimes we forget about the creative aspect of librarianship: we come in contact with a broad array of information and people, and each needs to be approached in a unique way. Our profession teaches us to find innovative ways of discovering information. That's what I call inspiration! We just have to put it to use day to day. Natalie Forshaw is the Department Head of Technical Services and Acquisitions at the Elmer E. Rasmusson Library at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks and Liaison to UAF's English Department. She will complete an MFA in Creative Writing in 2007. ======== *** Need some encouragement on writing for publication? http://www.lisjobs.com/pub4lib/ ======== Committee Internships: The Easy "In" by Nanette Wargo Donohue (nwargo@champaign.org) Librarians interested in becoming involved with library association committee work may find themselves stuck in a frustrating catch-22: You need to have committee experience to be appointed to a committee...but you need to be appointed to a committee to get committee experience. There are rejection-free ways to get some committee experience - for example, ALA's New Members Round Table (NMRT) guarantees appointments to anyone who's interested - but, for librarians looking to break into committee work at the division level or higher, the experience can be daunting. Some ALA divisions are known for being very open and welcoming to librarians who are new to committee work, and some divisions are rumored to be nearly impossible to break into. Fortunately, there is an easy "in:" serving as a committee intern. Finding Opportunities Intern opportunities aren't always well-publicized. Divisions that appoint interns generally include an option on the committee volunteer form for applicants who are willing to serve as interns, but this can be easy to miss. I first became aware of the opportunity when I saw a post on an electronic discussion list looking for people interested in serving on ALA committees. I had been involved with NMRT for three years and had chaired a couple of committees, but I felt it was a good idea to branch out. I filled out the volunteer form, selected three committees that sounded interesting, and mailed it in to the ALA office. Several months later, I received a letter from then-ALA President-Elect Carol Brey-Casiano telling me that I had been selected to serve a one-year term as an intern on the ALA Awards Committee. Since I also thought it would be interesting to be involved in a division-level committee, I applied to serve as an intern for an ALCTS Cataloging and Classification Section committee, and I was appointed to the Cataloging of Children's Materials Committee - my first choice. I attended the ALA Intern Orientation the Midwinter after beginning my appointment. The orientation gave the interns an opportunity to meet each other and get a basic idea of what serving as a committee intern would involve. Some of the committee chairs were at the orientation, as were some members of the ALA Executive Board and staff from the ALA office, so we got to meet some of the "bigwigs" in ALA. Despite the orientation, though, I still didn't know what to expect at my first committee meetings. I found out very quickly that interns are often responsible for taking meeting minutes. Though this was a lot of work, I found that it got me up to speed with the committee's work quickly and helped me learn the committee members' names. Seeking Standards In talking to others who have served as committee interns, I've learned that intern experiences can vary widely, and it seems that there are few, if any, guidelines on how internships are handled in ALA. I spoke with some people who were considered full members of their committees, complete with voting privileges and the ability to assist with committee projects, and I spoke with others who were given few opportunities for participation. According to ALA's intern guidelines ( http://www.ala.org/ala/ourassociation/committees/otld/ otldcmteminutes/internguidelines.htm OR http://makeashorterlink.com/?R1A63285C ), most decisions about interns' committee roles are at the discretion of the chair. This leads to a wide variety of experiences. Having worked on numerous committees, both inside and outside of ALA, I realize that every committee will be different. Perhaps, though, intern roles should be more standardized, so interns will know what their experience will entail. It can be frustrating to hear that someone who was appointed to a different committee had a much better experience because their chair was more open to working with an intern. I've now served as an intern on an ALA committee, on an ALA division committee, and on a state library association committee, and all three experiences were unique. I've worked with chairs who made me feel very welcome and immediately involved me in the committee's activities, and I've worked with chairs who barely acknowledged my existence. My advice for prospective interns: get what you can out of the opportunity, make yourself known, volunteer for tasks that you feel comfortable doing, and don't let an inept or difficult chair spoil your committee experience. I've come away with something from all three of my committee internships - including appointments as a full committee member. Nanette Donohue is the Technical Services Manager at the Champaign Public Library. She currently serves as Outreach Director for the ALA New Members Round Table. ======== *** Love the newsletter? Make a PayPal donation to its upkeep: https://www.paypal.com/xclick/business=rachel%40lisjobs.com ======== Right In Your Backyard: Connecting Through Your Local Library Association by Michael A. LaMagna (mal724@cabrini.edu) The month before a national library association's conference, it seems all of the messages on the library-related lists focus on last-chance registration, the last hotel with available rooms, and the local attractions in the host city. Unfortunately, like many of you, I simply delete these e-mails. Even though I have a generous professional development budget (yes, I am lucky enough to have a professional development budget!), it fails to cover the cost of attending a national conference. After registration, travel, lodging, and food, my professional development budget is gone, leaving me with major out-of-pocket expenses. Fortunately, I have discovered an option that provides the same speakers, workshops, and programs, but at a fraction of the cost - my local library association and consortium. Benefits The conventional wisdom is that national conferences offer the best speakers, programs, workshops, and opportunity to network and grow professionally. This belief makes them a popular choice for membership; however, many librarians will never have the opportunity to attend a national conference, due to anxiety or expense. Fortunately, your local library association and consortium provide greater access to speakers, workshops, and programs, with an added benefit of community and proximity. Since my local library association and consortium serve a relatively small population, they can develop programs and workshops to meet member needs in addition to addressing larger issues and new technological trends. The programs frequently take place in a comfortable, intimate environment, conducive to building professional relationships and sharing new skills. Shortly after accepting my first professional position, I attended a program offered by my local library consortium. The program discussed authoritative medical information on the web. It was of the same high quality as a previous national conference I had attended, but I was also able to interact with colleagues and discuss common issues at our institutions. With local programs being offered on a regular basis, I now have the opportunity to follow up on these common problems, as well as their solutions. Opportunity Local library associations and consortia provide new professionals with numerous ways to become involved in the profession. A colleague at my library serves on the education development committee for the local library consortium. She was developing a program for students and staff members interested in attending library school, and asked if, as a recent graduate, I would be interested in participating as a panelist. I jumped at the opportunity to meet other new librarians in the area and share my library school experience with future professionals. The program was a success, and led to a second program where library school representatives made presentations. Through this panel discussion, I met other members of the education development committee, and I now serve as a committee member. Like most new professionals, I aspire to be active and contribute to the profession. I quickly found that my local library consortium provided the perfect outlet. Networking Local library associations and consortia provide a comfortable environment to get to know your colleagues and network. As a new professional, it is particularly important to interact with colleagues, especially those who share similar interests. First-time attendees at national conferences often talk about being too intimidated to approach other librarians. Since programs offered at the local level are in a sometimes familiar and intimate setting, the anxiety you are likely to feel is often short-lived. I am not one to approach individuals and strike up a conversation, but, at local programs and workshops, I am able to connect with one or two colleagues, and, by the end of the program, meet other attendees with similar research or professional interests. This has led to different presenting and publishing opportunities and has allowed me to connect with other librarians and the profession in a way that is more difficult at a national event. Networking at local programs is also important for students, especially if they plan to remain in the area. Students can gain access to professionals that can review resumes or offer advice leading to internship opportunities - and possibly a professional position. As a new professional, it is important to belong to national library associations. Taking an active role in your local library association or library consortium, though, will provide greater opportunities to connect with the profession and other professionals. Michael A. LaMagna is a reference librarian at Cabrini College. He holds a MA in History from Villanova University and MLS from St. John's University. ======== *** Have technology responsibilities in your library? Check out The Accidental Systems Librarian! Information and links online at http://www.lisjobs.com/tasl/ . ======== Keeping Connected As a New Librarian by Dave Hook (davehook@rogers.com) You're a new librarian just starting out in the profession, and there is a lot for you to keep up with. Without the benefit of your classes to help you keep up, though, how can you stay connected and current in the field? Choose Your Battles Back in library school, I took a lot of notes. Not just in the classroom, but I would also listen to guest speakers at the university or at local events, and take notes there as well. I also tried my best to keep current by reading the occasional article or news item. Of course, when you are in library school, you don't necessarily know exactly where you are going to end up working, so everything you hear or read could potentially be useful. Now that I'm working full-time, I don't have as much time, and am much more selective in how I spend my professional development time. One thing that I quickly discovered is that you simply can't follow everything in the field, so you have to choose your battles carefully. Be an Expert Pick a few specific subjects in which you are interested - web design, copyright, or whatever - and strive to become a pseudo- expert in those subjects. Choose topics that not only affect your job at present, but also look for emerging issues that will have a future impact. That way, your expertise will not only have value within your own organization, but to the profession as a whole. Read up on your chosen topics and find out who the experts are, but, more importantly, look for gaps, problems, and opportunities - in other words, what hasn't been researched. This may have to be done on your own time, but it is helpful to regard your time as in investment in your career. Subscribe Once you've identified your niche, seek out and subscribe to e-mail discussion lists that address the topic. Discussion lists are an excellent way to keep up and discover who the experts are in a particular field. Depending on your topics, it can also be helpful to seek out discussion lists in fields outside of library science, such as business, records management, IT, or other technology fields. A great way to keep up with your professional development is to subscribe to RSS feeds. RSS feeds (Rich Site Summary or Really Simple Syndication) keep you current by alerting you to new news items on a particular topic. You can set up an RSS feed aggregator for free at http://www.bloglines.com , although there are many other aggregators available. Through RSS feeds, you can also subscribe to receive updates of blog postings in your subject area. There are many LIS blogs that summarize and point to the best news items and articles, saving you from having to seek them out yourself. Participate Subscribing to discussion lists and RSS feeds is important, but the next step is to participate on discussion lists and add your comments to blog postings. When posting to a discussion list, it can be helpful to identify yourself as new to the field - you may find that people can be very helpful and supportive. Also, consider publishing your own blog. They are easy to set up, and this can be done for free through services such as http://www.blogspot.com or http://www.livejournal.com . Writing a blog forces you to keep up on items in your field, because you always need to post something fresh. Blogs can be a great forum for you to present new ideas and get feedback. They also help you get in contact with others in the field with similar interests. Another way that you can participate is on a committee or interest group. Check with any of the library associations to which you belong - they may have something related to one of your chosen subjects. Write for Publication Writing is not only a great way to get recognized as an expert in your profession, but it can be a way to force yourself to stay connected. If you haven't had much writing experience, start off small - writing for local association newsletters can be an excellent way to break into writing and get your name recognized. Book reviews are another excellent way to get started. Publications frequently seek new reviewers to add to their pool. Not only is this an easy way to get published, but you get free books out of the deal! You can try contacting a few editors and letting them know about your areas of interest. Also look for journals that contain articles in your areas of interest, and contact their publishers with your own research ideas. Volunteering to write an article forces you to keep connected and get your research done - particularly if there is a deadline involved. Early on in my career, I had a need to investigate web metrics, and found that there hadn't been a lot written on the subject - at least not about what I needed to know. So, I contacted a publisher and asked if they would be interested in a review of the different software products available. The way I figured, I was going to the do the research anyway; I might as well get published while I'm at it. Focusing on a few key areas not only makes it easier to keep up, but can also help you in your career by getting you recognized as an expert in your fields of interest. Dave Hook is a librarian and engineer. He is currently the Manager, Operations Information and Configuration Management at MDA, manufacturers of the robotic arms on the space shuttle and International Space Station. You can view his blog at http://davehook.blogspot.com . ======== *** Post your resume online! See http://www.lisjobs.com/resumes.htm for details. ======== Workshops and Professional Development by Larissa Gordon (larissa.a.gordon@wilmcoll.edu) Public opinion to the contrary, librarianship is a fairly complex profession. Change is a constant, and librarians must adapt in order to stay ahead of the game. One great way you can stay on top of the changing library profession while enhancing your existing skills and knowledge is by attending professional development workshops. Professional development workshops are offered on almost any topic imaginable, so you should be able to find one that interests you. In addition to teaching you new skills, these are a great way to enhance your resume, and can provide an opportunity to network with colleagues. Attending a workshop can also help you renew your commitment to librarianship when the rigors of the daily grind are getting you down. Attending a workshop does not mean that you have to empty your own pockets or beg your employer for the chance to fly halfway across the country to attend a session at a large library association's annual conference. (If you can attend one of these, more power to you! Be sure to wear sensible shoes.) There are many more easily accessible avenues open to you that will deliver the same results - and you won't even risk losing your baggage on the flight home. Local Associations And Library Consortia Many of you may be members of ALA, but are you also a member of your state library association? How about a local chapter of a national library association? Do you receive regular e-mails or updates from the consortium your library belongs to? If not, what are you waiting for? Local library organizations and regional consortia are the one of the best ways to gain professional development experience. These organizations hold training sessions, offer workshops, host programs, and generally provide their members with a whole host of professional development opportunities. These organizations do usually charge a fee to attend their programs - few things in life are free, after all. However, this fee is often nominal, and certainly is far less than the cost of traveling to a national conference. Members of a consortium or association can also attend workshops at a reduced price, which helps make these opportunities even more affordable. Local workshops and programs also allow busy librarians access to professional development opportunities, without a huge time commitment. You will likely only be gone from work for a half day, or a day at most. Finally, these workshops allow you to network and make valuable connections with other librarians who live and work in the same area, connections you more easily be able to maintain and make use of later on. If you are new to the profession and unsure how to find out about groups in your area, ask your library director, a coworker, or another established local librarian. These people should know what is out there and to what organizations their own library belongs. To find out about professional development opportunities offered by these groups, join their e-mail lists, sign up to receive their newsletters, and check out their web sites. Many of these groups also actively look for sites to host workshops. So, if you are truly motivated, try talking to the powers-that-be and working to bring a program of interest right to your workplace. Online Workshops If you don't have the time to attend a workshop in person, you can participate in virtual workshops online. These workshops, some of which can be completed in only an hour, make use of course management software that creates a similar learning environment to what you might experience in person. Course management software allows you to simultaneously do such things as view a PowerPoint presentation, hear a spoken lecture, and ask questions of the presenters, all from the comfort of your home or office computer. American Libraries magazine publishes a quarterly guide to continuing education, which includes online learning opportunities offered by different ALA divisions. In addition to ALA, some library consortia and library vendors also offer online learning opportunities. Use the same strategies to find out about these exciting online opportunities. Finding Funding Many library directors have a budget set aside for professional development. Talk to your library director to see what is in your library's budget. When asking to attend a workshop, be sure to point out how your attendance will benefit your library and help you to better reach your goals. Also, remember to take notes and share the information you learned with your colleagues when the workshop is done. Associations, Consortia, and Organizations The best way to find out about the associations, consortia, or organizations in your area which offer professional development opportunities is to ask an established librarian. However, you can get started with these links to the web pages of several regional and national organizations. Look on each site for a section on professional development, education, or planned events. AMIGOS (A southwestern U.S. library consortium): http://www.amigos.org Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL): http://www.ala.org/ACRL/ NELINET (A New England library consortium): http://www.nelinet.net OCLC: http://www.oclc.org PALINET (A Mid-Atlantic library consortium): http://www.palinet.org Public Library Association (PLA): http://www.pla.org/ala/pla/pla.htm Reference and User Services Association (RUSA): http://www.ala.org/RUSA/ SirsiDynix Institute: http://www.dynix.com/institute/ SOLINET (A Southeastern U.S. library consortium): http://ww.solinet.net The Teaching, Learning, & Technology Group (TLT Group): http://www.tltgroup.org Larissa Gordon is the librarian at Wilmington College's Dover Site Library Center. You can contact her at larissa.a.gordon@wilmcoll.edu. ======== *** Find yourself with management responsibilities? Check out The Accidental Library Manager! http://www.lisjobs.com/talm/ ======== What's Online? Recommended Resources On Keeping Connected Beyond the Job http://librarycareers.blogspot.com In Love With Tech? http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6289906.html Library 2.0: How Do You Share? http://www.librarian.net/stax/1571 Library Stuff http://www.librarystuff.net Social Software Metapost http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/index.php/2005/11/08/social- software-metapost/ To Keep Up, Go Beyond http://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlpubs/crlnews/backissues2000/julyaugu st3/keepupgobeyond.htm WebJunction.org http://webjunction.org ======== *** Professional development opportunities: http://librarycareers.blogspot.com ======== But I Want To Hold It In My Hand! Print Resources Prentice, Ann. Managing in the Information Age. Scarecrow, 2005. ISBN 0-8108-5206-3. $50.00. Purchase from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0810852063/librarisjobsearc/ Prentice provides an inclusive introduction to management principles as they can be applied in today's libraries. Though the book is basic enough to be used as a text in library management classes, its later chapters are practical enough to serve as a reference for those seeking to improve or change either their organizations or personal management activities. Part I provides a comprehensive introduction to the context in which current workplaces thrive, Part II to the theories behind modern organizations and their management. Both are broad enough to apply to nearly any workplace, making this volume useful to practitioners outside the library world. Part III discusses aspects of management as they are more directly applied to libraries and information centers: planning, organizational structure, decision-making, staff, evaluation, finances, facilities and knowledge management. Though the language is sometimes awkward, the basic principles of management and their application are presented in well-digested form. Cindi Trainor is Director, Library/Information Technology for the Libraries of The Claremont Colleges in southern California. --- Cleyle, Susan E. and Louise M. McGillis. Last One Out Turn Off the Lights: Is This the Future of American and Canadian Libraries? Scarecrow, 2005. ISBN 0-8108-5192-X. $45.00. Purchase from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/081085192X/librarisjobsearc/ This book provides a series of essays that answer the question: "Is it time to turn off the lights and call it a day?" regarding the future of libraries and librarians in the United States and Canada. The twenty-two distinguished and varied contributors are all either librarians or strongly linked to libraries. As Cleyle and McGillis note in their introduction, "the ground underneath libraries is shifting." They explain that librarians need to consider the needs and wishes of the new generation of library users (and non-users) and "respond to technological and societal shifts." Contributors consider the challenges and opportunities of the web, the library as place, the consequences and opportunities of "pushing to the desktop," issues related to certification for librarians, and the value of associations for librarians and libraries. The essays provide a wonderful mix of the philosophical and the practical. Ultimately, Last One Out Turn Off the Lights provides a re-affirmation of the value of libraries and librarians, provided we are determined to figure out how to best "serve an information-hungry society." Lorna Rourke is an Academic Liaison Librarian at the University of Guelph, Canada, and an Instructor in the Faculty of Information & Media Studies, University of Western Ontario. ======== Info Career Trends is copyright Lisjobs.com and Rachel Singer Gordon. Permission is granted to forward this newsletter in its entirety as long as the contents remain unchanged and this copyright message is included. 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