Info Career Trends July 1, 2002 vol. 3, no. 4 ISSN 1532-0839 Published by Lisjobs.com - http://www.lisjobs.com E-mail: editor@lisjobs.com In This Issue: 1) Editor's Note 2) On Your Own? Lessons From a First-Time Manager 3) Promotions: In Your Own Back Yard, and Far Afield 4) Blogging and the Shifted Librarian 5) Tips for Creating a Successful Dossier 6) Promoting Yourself: Creating a Marketing Plan as a Professional Development Tool 7) Life After the Ph.D. 8) What's Online? Recommended Resources 9) But I Want To Hold It In My Hand! Print Resources 10) Administrivia, Copyright, Subscription and Removal Instructions ======== Editor's Note Whatever library environment we find ourselves in, we all need information on how to advance our careers and keep from being stuck in the same place/at the same level. Today's authors have found success both in being promoted and in learning to promote themselves and their abilities, both on- and offline. They share their insights on being a successful first-time manager, getting promoted within your own institution, promoting yourself online and in-person, creating a dossier, and the benefits of earning a Ph.D. Publishing itself serves as a sort of promotion, and, as always, ICT is seeking contributors to future issues. See upcoming themes and contributor guidelines at http://www.lisjobs.com/newsletter/theme.htm ; September's issue focuses on professional communication, and November's on specialization. I'm also looking for survey respondents for a forthcoming book on writing for publication -- if you're willing to take a few minutes to share your experiences with publishing in the library literature, please fill out the online survey at http://www.lisjobs.com/pub4libsurvey.htm . - Rachel (editor@lisjobs.com) ======== On Your Own? Lessons From a First-Time Manager by Marisa Urgo (marisa@marisaurgo.com) Let's face it, library school trains you to be a librarian, not necessarily a manager. There are classes on AACR2, DIALOG, legal reference, database development, HTML, and collection development, but many students don't receive the training (or even the exposure) needed to manage people. As a result, many librarians find that they are woefully unprepared when they move into administration. This is unfortunately not just a library-specific problem; most managers, in companies, nonprofits, and academics, come into management without even basic training. Some few organizations do provide training for new managers, and some provide educational opportunities, but librarians are not alone when they find themselves on their own as a first-time manager. The most difficult challenge managers face lies in effectively managing personnel. People problems (and they are problems!) can suck the time and energy out of you, and leave you with little time to do anything else. These are also the kinds of challenges that are difficult to anticipate and difficult to train for. There are, though, a few training resources you might want to keep in mind, especially if you want to go into a management position with some interpersonal skills training: American Management Association http://www.amanet.org Management Courses Directory http://www.managementcourses.com/advice.html Center for Creative Leadership http://www.ccl.org/index.shtml Also note that various schools, like Harvard, Wharton, and Stanford, have non-degree programs for management training. It's been my experience, however, that most organizations, especially public library systems, don't believe they have the financial resources to provide this type of training. This is unfortunate, because so many productivity, retention, and people issues in libraries grow out of mismanagement of personnel issues. When first-time managers are left to their own devices, these issues will make their transition to new and challenging work even more difficult. Learning From Mistakes When you find yourself inadequately trained to deal with new challenges, you're on your own, and the most you can do is learn from mistakes -- yours and others. Here are a few mistakes I made and lessons I learned as a first-time manager: Lesson 1: Take the time to learn every nuance of health insurance, training, leave, and other policies. My first management position was at a information services consulting company, on a government contract. I soon realized that my employees saw me as a bridge between them and senior management, or, to put it another way, between them and "The Rules." As a result, I needed to know all of The Rules. Many staff members came to me for information on policies and procedures, and they expected answers. I lost credibility with one employee when I admitted I didn't really know much about the nuances of long term disability insurance. I should have been able to at least pull out a sheet of paper describing the policy, or said I would check into the details and get back to them soon. Lesson 2: Never communicate your personal opinion on anything -- ever. I can't begin to tell you how much I regret telling one of my subordinates that I didn't like rap music. This, too, came up during my first management position. Someone in another division had been twice reprimanded for playing music loudly. The third time, they were let go. The subject came up among some of the other managers, and my subordinate heard me say that, not only did I think the music was too loud, but I didn't much care for it. Oh my! What a mistake! My assistant immediately ran to my supervisor and said that I was creating a hostile environment. When my supervisor asked her why, her response was: "She doesn't like my music." This came even after I had given her an excellent performance appraisal, because, quite frankly, she was an excellent employee. Well, I shouldn't have worried. We talked it over, and she felt better, but I learned my lesson. At work, you will never, ever hear me discuss a personal opinion of any kind on any non-work-related subject. This is a difficult practice for me, but I'm getting better at it every day. Lesson 3: Understand that some people will never be happy, and that they will challenge you. Not more than a week into my first management position, the contracting company changed its work hour policy from an eight hour day to a nine-hour day. Since I was the one who had to communicate this news, I discovered that I was also the primary focal point for my employees' anger. I had an employee challenge me, saying that she was going to ignore the new change and go about her life. Following this, I made a bad mistake... I went straight to my management and attempted to move the responsibility up to them. Since this employee had no interest in respecting any authority on the contract, this was ineffective. To my management, it also made me look like I didn't have control of the situation. (To be honest, I didn't have control of the situation!) It took a while for me to realize that I could have control if I just seized it, convincing myself that I could simply act the part. I finally found the backbone I needed, and this is what I did: 1. I notified my management that I was going to document when the employee left every day, cc'ing the employee on this e-mail. 2. Two weeks later, I sent a report to management suggesting some courses of action. Later, my manager told me that my insights and suggestions had made a positive impression on senior management. 3. I invited the employee out to lunch, not wanting to come across as the hostile party. She declined the offer. 4. I kept the other employees busy with new research projects and stricter deadlines. I began to offer work incentives -- gift certificates, unscheduled days off, etc. -- whatever was in my power to offer. This kept them busy, and made the problem employee's constant complaining appear to be exactly what it was, constant complaining. 5. After three months of detailed note taking, I told senior management that I was letting the problem employee go. They and human resources finally gave me the go ahead, and I had the agonizing responsibility of firing my first employee. I soon left that job (the hours and location were awful) for something that offered me a little more flexibility and was closer to home, but I will never forget that challenge. The most important lesson I learned was to always keep control, and to have patience. Advice is just the start. Most management books will give you "approaches" and "practical applications." Some personnel management courses will train you to understand your management style or provide other techniques for working with your innate skills. However, at the end of the day, you will have to just take on the job, make mistakes and learn from them. Marisa currently works for Computer Science Corporation as a Knowledge Broker. Recently, she was Manager of the Knowledge Acquisition Center for Raytheon Company. ======== *** Post your resume online: http://www.lisjobs.com/resumes.htm ======== Promotions: In Your Own Back Yard, and Far Afield by Tasha Squires (tawelch@hotmail.com) Nine months after starting my first professional library position, I was already cruising the want ads for a new job. This was a wasted endeavor, since I had received a scholarship which stated I needed to work in a public library for two years post-graduation. It did not make sense to switch from one public library to another for just one year, but I was already feeling stifled. We've all been there. In every workplace, at some point, it seems that your creativity is capped, your input is invalidated, and your hard work underappreciated. I was at that point in just nine months, not something I thought boded well for my future at that particular library. But what I had to yet to learn was that, like so many other things in life, your library work experience can change in ways you never could predict. The trick is to know when it is possible to advance in your current position, and when it is best to scour the Internet for other employment opportunities. Paths To Promotion There are many ways a promotion can come your way. The most common way is to leave your job and accept a new position at another facility at a level above (or more highly compensated than!) your last job. Another common scenario occurs when someone leaves at your current library, and you have the skills needed to fill the position and want to move into a new area of your library. In most libraries, advancement means leaving behind many of your former duties, assuming new responsibilities and perhaps learning new skills. In either case, it may be tempting to simply go where the money is - - which usually is in administration. Depending on the size of your library, being an administrator could mean you still work the reference desk, check out books, catalog, and shelve! But, as libraries increase in size, each position becomes more specialized. When I was looking through American Libraries and searching the Internet for jobs while only a year out of library school, I believed I'd already have a new job lined up when my two years of service were completed. But then, something happened that I had not foreseen. At the end of my first year of work, my director retired. Things that had been done a certain way for twenty or more years suddenly were not such a given. For many staff members, this can be a frightening time. For others, it can become an opportunity to re- invent their position. (It often doesn't take the director leaving, or retiring to create new energy in your library or department. This energy could derive from something as simple as a new librarian joining the team.) What, you might ask, does this have to do with getting a promotion? It can mean everything. It can give you the breath of fresh air that you have been needing. A new person can give you inspiration to look at your job in a different way. A new perspective can encourage you to take more risks and try new things, whereas before your attitude might have been more complacent. Once you begin to change things in your area, people take notice. If you are having an impact on service for the better, your boss will observe your new enthusiasm. Choosing the Right Road Of course, while you need to be on the lookout for opportunities for advancement within your current library, there will always be those jobs where things are stagnant, no new positions are planned, and everyone seems to be settled into their jobs as lifers. If you are not satisfied with your current level of responsibility, or find your current position too limiting, it may be time to start searching the want ads yourself. This path to promotion simply means applying for jobs which change your situation -- either by giving you more responsibility, or increasing your salary. When looking for a new job, it is important to know if you just want to change your location, or what you do in libraries in general. A few months ago, for example, I decided that due to my long commute and my hectic schedule at work I would be happier at a library closer to home. I started looking at positions that were quite different than the job I currently held. After my first year, many things had indeed changed at my library. I felt I had more opportunity to express myself creatively, and that my ideas were being listened to. Then, the library underwent a massive reorganization of the upper administration levels, and I was promoted from the Young Adult librarian in our one library, to District Young Adult Librarian, serving both of our libraries. For me the most important change was the fact I could now focus my attention on serving teens, which I had discovered I was truly was passionate about. At first, the promotion was wonderful. I was able to do more with teens, and have more school visits. But it quickly became clear it was an overwhelming task to serve the populations in two large libraries, in four middle schools, and two high schools all by myself. It was at this point that I decided to look for another job. After looking around, however, I realized my options were more limited than I had hoped. If I wanted another job, I would have to leave what I enjoyed most about my current position behind. Staying the Course Then, a woman resigned at one of the libraries I served, and my boss decided to replace this part-time person with a new full-time Young Adult Librarian. In the space of a week, my whole outlook at work changed. I would be in charge of the new librarian, and I would no longer have to drive back and forth between the two libraries or cover as many school visits. Promotions can come in many forms, subtle and overt. Often we make mistakes when we have just started out as librarians, moving around from library to library without really knowing what is it we are looking for. If I had left after my first two years, chances are I would be working as a librarian in a position I would not enjoy half as much as I do my current one. When thinking of a change, it is just as important to consider your present situation as it is to look elsewhere. Make sure the move is to actually advance yourself professionally, and not just an escape. Remember, problems that exist in your current situation may just as well crop up at the new job. Tasha Squires has been the Young Adult Librarian for the Fountaindale Public Library District for almost six years. She continues to be inspired by young adults, and looks forward to working with them for many years to come. ======== *** Find a library job! http://www.lisjobs.com ======== Blogging and the Shifted Librarian by Jenny Levine (Jenny@TheShiftedLibrarian.com) The traditional way to promote yourself has been in print, either by writing for a library journal or by publishing a book. To get to that point, though, you have go through a number of steps: carefully think out what you want to say, take the time to prepare it, find someone that is willing to publish it, edit it, wait for it to be printed, and then wait to receive it in the mail. Building a Brand Online But all of this changed with the advent of the Internet -- as you no doubt realize, if you are reading this! While the library profession still relies heavily on subscribing to, purchasing, and reading paper texts, early adopters (including myself) have embraced the Internet, especially the Web. To help my colleagues grasp the Internet's potential, I started The Librarians' Site du Jour ( http://www.jennyscybrary.com/sitejour.html ) in November 1995 as a way to highlight new reference sites of interest. I maintained Jenny's Cybrary to the Stars ( http://www.jennyscybrary.com ) and the Librarians' Site du Jour for four years, and it was difficult to let these sites go when I finally made the decision to stop updating them. They had become a part of me, a very public part that still holds some part of me in the Internet archives. Jenny's Cybrary and The Librarians' Site du Jour became my brand, and were the primary way in which many people in the library world knew me. Letting it go meant letting that brand lapse -- almost like becoming an "empty nester," except that, in my case, it was my online presence that was gone. Building a Blog A year or so later, I started to realize that I missed the part of myself that lived online and connected virtually with other like minds. Throughout 2001, I kept my eye on a new phenomenon called "blogging." The multiple forms of blogging are difficult to describe, but the phenomenon started out in the form of personal journal sites. The key is that they were organized by date in reverse chronological order, archived, and generally powered by software that let the user type stream-of-consciousness thoughts in a browser -- after which the words automatically appeared on a web site. Blogging as a communication medium took off on September 11, 2001, when the personal journal aspect of these sites became a connection that traditional news sites couldn't match. At that point, blogging went from being a peripheral blip on my radar screen to being a major trend to watch. I started actively tracking the stars of the blogging world more closely (Cameron Barrett, Meg Hourihan, Jason Kottke, Dave Winer, etc.), and reading their sites daily. Still, I didn't have the time to start my own new site. That, however, changed in January 2002, when Dave Winer's Userland released a new version of its "Radio" blogging software ( http://radio.userland.com/ ). I downloaded it on a whim, just to see what it did. I didn't anticipate starting my site for several more months, but it turned out that blogging is incredibly addictive. Like potato chips, you can't stop after just one, and Radio made the process obscenely easy (no more HTML and FTP!). My test consisted of one post on January 13, and hasn't stopped since. I named my site "The Shifted Librarian" because it centers around my theory of "information shifting:" that information now comes to us instead of us going somewhere to get it. (This naturally has a major impact on libraries.) I announced the site on the ILA RTSF mailing list in the context of how useful blogging could be, at about the same time Dave Winer noticed my new site on his server. Each pointed to my blog, and from there, things took off in a direction I'd never imagined. Blogging As Branding Since that first post in January, I've increased the frequency with which I post (usually recording 15-20 posts a day). I've found myself at a unique intersection between bloggers, techies, and librarians. In the blog and tech world, I'm known as "Jenny the Librarian." You wouldn't believe how many non-library users have written me or who have called me "cool" on their sites, all because I'm a blogging librarian. According to Userland's statistics, I just topped the 100,000 hit mark, and I'm number four on their all-time hit list (since October 2001). If you look at my ISP's statistics, I've gotten 172,899 hits just since February. Userland says I'm getting at least 1,000 hits a day, while my ISP says I'm getting 3,500 hits a day. Either way, I'm humbled, flattered, and mostly just flabbergasted. Of course, I've made even more virtual friends than I had in my previous online incarnation, and my network has grown far beyond just librarians. While I have several projects in the pipeline with these virtual friends and acquaintances, the most incredible so far has been a freelance contract with a newspaper in South Carolina, the Spartanburg Herald-Journal. They asked if I would be willing to syndicate some of my content to a blog on their Web site, and I didn't even let them finish the question before I answered yes. Over on their site, I'm known as "The Tech Goddess," but I still get to write about semi-techie stuff AND libraries. It's a fascinating role to be in, and I can't wait to see how it plays out. What's the point of all of this? I've unintentionally become a multi-faceted brand, which is having a profound effect on my personal, work, and online lives. Blogging is a great way to make your voice heard, get your opinions out there, and tie yourself to a specific idea, trend, or topic. The best part is that I'm not alone in this. Our profession is lucky to have The Handheld Librarian, The Rogue Librarian, The NewBreed Librarians, Library Stuff, LISNews, librarian.net, Library Planet, the Virtual Acquisition Shelf & News Desk, and a passel of others you can find listed at Peter Scott's compendium of library blogs ( http://www.libdex.com/weblogs.html ). So, if you find yourself with very definite opinions on specific topics, if you're always sharing your ideas with others, or even if you just find yourself forwarding URLs and e-mails to different people every day, blogging is a great way to make connections and promote yourself in the process. Blogging software makes it possible for anyone to do this, and the best part is that you can start right away, rather than waiting for someone else to publish your work on paper! ======== Love the newsletter? Make a PayPal donation to its upkeep: https://www.paypal.com/xclick/business=rachel%40lisjobs.com ======== Tips for Creating a Successful Dossier by Shelly McCoy (smccoy@UDel.Edu) Step 1: Realize that you are eligible for promotion this coming year Step 2: Panic Step 3: Attend a dossier writing workshop where former "promotees" tell you that you should have been working on it already Step 4: Panic Every institution has different promotion criteria and different promotion processes to follow. Whatever the case, however, you will probably need to compile a dossier. There are several steps to putting together a professional dossier of your achievements. Step 1: Soak Up Information You most likely originally discussed the promotion process at your interview or point of hire, and you may have been given a copy of the promotion system document. (If not, get a copy quickly!) Use the promotion system document to set goals in terms of professional development and job skills. Read over the document several times and make sure you understand it. If you have any questions, there should be a library administrator that you can talk to confidentially. If there are any dossier writing workshops offered by your employer or library organization, it is a good idea to attend them. You can learn from past promotees and from past promotion committee members, especially if your committee is a peer committee. Step 2: Gather and Divide If you haven't learned by now, remember to save everything! Keep information on every workshop attended, class taught, article wrote, and conference paper presented. Thank-you notes are very important and should be kept, as well as old calendars (which log much of this information). If this is contained in e-mail, print out a copy and save a copy to a special promotion folder. All of these areas will help you compose your dossier, and some, such as thank-you notes, will actually be included as evidence to bolster particular criteria. Since you hypothetically have these items already saved, you can pull out the folder and start dividing the mass into each criterion stated in the promotion system document. This part takes the most time. Because some items can fall under more than one criterion, you will need to place each item under the one that best benefits you, to either showcase what you did or to balance out the other material included. These criteria folders are something I also recommend doing ahead of time. Step 3: Appeal To Others Be on the lookout for appropriate references. If you've done a good deal of committee work with one person, pick that person to talk about your teamwork/committee skills. If you've worked on a special project, ask the project coordinator to be a reference. If you did liaison work with other library departments, ask someone from another department to be a reference. Try to pick references that, taken together, showcase your diversity of talents. Step 4: Start Explaining Once you have made the initial divisions of your material into criteria groups, you can start writing the content of your dossier based on the promotion system document. Borrow other colleagues' dossiers as examples, and jog your mind by looking at your past evaluations. Detail your content as if you are explaining your job to someone who has no idea what you do. Word everything with confidence, and, yes, even gloat if you've done something out of the norm! If you're having trouble explaining something or using the right words, refer to the promotion system document and use the same wording contained within it. Do not duplicate; if you have given a detailed account of a project under one criterion, do not cover it in the next. Something important that was said to me is: "Every member of the promotion committee is supposed to read every page of your dossier, so use their time wisely!" Step 5: Present the Evidence The next step is to pick items from your folders as evidence of each criterion. Thank-you letters are an obvious choice, but you are going to want to pick notes that have more content than, "Thank you for your help! I appreciate it!" Go back to your past committee chairs or directors if you haven't gotten a note from them and politely ask for one (sometimes it helps if you tell them why). If you work on a project and someone compliments you, ask him or her to put it in a little note. If you work at a public service desk and have helped specific users with complex projects, ask them for notes as well. Other evidence includes copies of articles you have written, copies of presentations you have given, or the first page of a web site you created. Step 6: Bind it Next, print out what you have and put it in a binder. Something plain (our unofficial standard is blue) that cannot be identified on the outside as belonging to you works well. A binder helps you visually examine the amount written for each criterion, move evidence around, and edit the whole document. Binder pockets make it easier for committee members to find certain things in your dossier and allow you to include all of an article or other material in one place, instead of punching holes through each sheet. Step 7: Spice It Up You want the promotion committee to be able to refer to certain parts of your dossier in meetings, so put it in order according to the promotion system document. Include a title page, a curriculum vitae, a list of references, criteria, and evidence. Decide if you will include a table of contents, color tab dividers for each part of your dossier, hole protectors, and/or an appendix. As small as it sounds, deciding between numbering the pages consecutively or within each section is also tricky. I also went the extra step of color coding a heading for each section with the section name and page number. You may not be competing with others for the promotion, if it is a rank and file promotion, but it does help to make your dossier stand out and project the hard work you put into it. Step 8: Edit, Edit, Edit I recommend setting the dossier aside for a few days and then coming back to it to edit it. Find someone you trust and who doesn't know your job too well and have him or her read your dossier. Some institutions have mentoring programs set up specifically for dossier writing. Another perspective and set of eyes certainly helps! It also helps if this person has already gone through the promotion process, so that he/she can give you relevant tips. Step 9: Hand It In If you're as nervous as I was about the promotion, you will continue to scrutinize your dossier until it is almost due. Many promotion system documents allow you to add more information to your dossier up to a certain date -- do not forget about this. In fact, remember to maintain the habit of putting items in folders in preparation for future promotions. The promotion process is out of your hands now, and, if you follow my tips, you will be surely be promoted! Each person spends different amounts of time on the dossier; a few colleagues compiled their dossier in one weekend, while others say, "If you didn't start it six months ago, you're in trouble!" It took me about two months of on and off work to compile mine. I also encourage you to go up for promotion earlier than required. Even if you do not get promoted the first time, the committee's response to your dossier will let you know what areas you will need to improve. Shelly McCoy is Senior Assistant Librarian at the University of Delaware Library in Newark, DE. Her title is Coordinator, Microforms and Digital Mapping, meaning she supervises the unit in charge of Microforms, CD-ROMs, GIS, and the Map Room. She can be reached at smccoy@udel.edu. ======== *** Take a few moments to answer the library publishing survey: http://www.lisjobs.com/pub4libsurvey.htm ======== Promoting Yourself: Creating a Marketing Plan as a Professional Development Tool by Ophelia Morey (otmorey@acsu.buffalo.edu) Last fall, I completed a marketing course in which one of the assignments was to create a plan to market yourself. The instructor's simplified, or "real world," definition of marketing was: "Everything you do to help sell a product or service." We had to think of ourselves as a product to market to potential employers, present employers, or in other life situations, such as running for office or attracting a potential spouse. The plan needed to include the following: Goal/Objective. State a single goal that you want to accomplish. To measure the progress of your marketing efforts, the goal must be quantifiable. Example: To receive a MBA in three years. Target Market. Who will you aim your message towards? Defining a target market allows you to concentrate your efforts on a group with common characteristics. Competition. Recognize who your competitors are and their impact. Benefits. How your product/service will benefit the target market. Position. What differentiates your product/service in the minds of the target market that you are trying to reach? What makes the product/service unique? Marketing Tools. What will you use to get the message of your product/service to the target market? Budget. What you can realistically afford, or what are you willing to spend? As a recently hired tenure-track librarian, I saw this assignment as an opportunity to use my marketing plan as a professional development tool. Completing the assignment was an excellent opportunity to outline on paper what I needed to accomplish to become a tenured librarian at the University at Buffalo. I reviewed the University Libraries Criteria for Library Faculty Personnel Actions for assistance in creating the plan. The following marketing plan is similar to my completed assignment, and can be used as a guide for other academic librarians who are seeking tenure and/or promotion. A Sample Marketing Plan Product: Jane D. Librarian, tenure-track medical librarian. Goal: To become a tenured librarian at the University at Buffalo (UB) in six years. Competition: 1. Other librarians 2. UB tenured faculty Target Market: 1. UB tenured library faculty 2. Other librarians 3. Other UB tenured faculty 4. University Libraries administration Benefits: 1. Contributions to the UB libraries and their services, such as creating library collections that are relevant to academic programs and providing effective instruction, reference and information delivery services. 2. Professional contributions, demonstrated by activities such as visible and effective participation in professional academic associations, writing newsletter articles and book reviews, editing a newsletter, lecturing or participation on panels, obtaining grants (either to support activities of the University Libraries or to support the library's intellectual interests). 3. Scholarly accomplishments. These contributions include, but are not limited to, books, chapters in books, articles, papers presented at conferences, audiovisual productions, computer software or databases, research aids, the editing of journals, and the production of administrative documents. 4. University and community service, including effective participation in faculty governance of the University libraries and the University, committee work, involvement with campus groups, and work with students or with community groups beyond customary library service. 5. Return on investment: the University Libraries provides financial support for conference/workshop registration and travel, and in return, the University may gain a more knowledgeable librarian. Position: The only tenure-track University at Buffalo health sciences librarian with prior experience as a physician assistant. Marketing Tools: 1. Curriculum Vitae. Have mentors evaluate before submitted yearly, and at various stages of the reappointment, promotion and tenure decisions. 2. Research and Service Statements. Have mentors evaluate before submitted at various stages of the reappointment, promotion and tenure decisions. 3. Dossier. Worked on continuously and submitted during tenure decision year. 4. Word-of-mouth. Tell others about completed projects, goals and ideas. 5. Association memberships. Maintain yearly memberships in library and other professional organizations. 6. Conferences/workshops/continuing education courses. Attend regularly. Present poster and paper at a library conference. 7. Committees. Participate on University, University Libraries, local, regional or national committees. 8. Mentors. Meet regularly for advice and evaluation. 9. Publications. Write book/audiovisual reviews, newsletter and journal articles. 10. Meetings. Attend University and University Libraries meetings. 11. E-mail discussion lists. Participate in discussions, answer and ask questions. Use to forward relevant information to colleagues. 12. Newspapers/Newsletters. Submit information on publications, awards received, conferences attended, etc. to campus and association newspapers or newsletters. Yearly Budget: $2000.00 (Conference/workshop registration, travel, etc.) $500.00 (Professional wardrobe) $600.00 (Professional organization memberships) Total: $3100.00 Execution and Review After the plan is written, it must be executed and periodically reviewed in order to be effective. Execution involves thoroughly understanding and committing to your plan. To help you commit and stay on track, it may be helpful to develop a calendar or timetable of specific activities that you need and/or want to accomplish. At the same time, you should remember that your plan is a working document and that periodic reviews are very important. During the review stages you can ask yourself the following questions: Am I actually doing the work that needs to be done in order to accomplish my goal, and, what have I done so far? At this point it may be necessary to revise or refocus your plan as needed. Conclusion Attention is being focused on the importance of marketing library services, but more work needs to be done to help librarians to become comfortable with marketing themselves. It may be helpful for librarians to view marketing in terms of what is gained by the organizations and communities they serve, and promoting their own skills and services. They should also realize that marketing is not an exact science, but more a game of strategy. There are no guarantees, and many variables can come into play. Ophelia Morey is an Assistant Librarian at the University at Buffalo Health Sciences Library. ======== *** Advice, articles, and salary information for librarians: http://www.lisjobs.com/advice.htm ======== Life After the Ph.D. by Gail M. Staines (gstaines@wnylrc.org) Since my article, "Ahhh, to be called 'Dr.': Is Pursuing the Ph.D. Worth It?" appeared in the March 1, 2002 issue of Info Career Trends, I have received several e-mail messages regarding doctoral work. This has prompted me to write this article about what one may expect after having successfully completed the degree. Rejoice, Relax, Renew It's official! You received your degree, participated in the official "hooding" ceremony, and now you can be called a "doctor of philosophy." After talking with many individuals who have gone through this process, all agree that once you graduate, you should take some time to rejoice and celebrate your major accomplishment. * Take a trip. Some people I know visited the Far East, some toured Europe, and others stayed in romantic Rome. Yes, and several went to Disney World -- just to relax and be a kid again. It is not unusual for a newly minted Ph.D. to schedule and take the trip of a lifetime. Most figure they owe it to themselves after years of hard work. * Do things you have missed doing. "After I got my Ph.D., I returned to reading great literature (Russian novels) and didn't read a journal article for an entire year. It was such a luxury," says Dr. Mark Bonacci, Associate Professor of Human Resources at Niagara County Community College (NY). Reading the newspaper, even People magazine, watching your favorite television shows, or reading trashy novels can be enjoyed without guilt. * Discover new, or re-discover old, activities. Dr. Bonacci began taking voice lessons again because he could spend time away from the dissertation. After not riding horses while pursuing my degree, I ended up taking lessons again, and even bought a horse. This was great stress relief and helped me make the transition the year after graduation to assuming a sense of normalcy in my life again. The first few months after you receive your degree are ones of transition. It's both exciting and rewarding having completed a major goal. At the same time, it can be a time of significant adjustment. Your hours spent reading, writing, researching, and discussing your topic with anyone who would listen are now available for other pursuits -- or for none at all. Each individual transitions differently after this major experience. Some take just a few months to adjust, others take a year or more. The best advice is to give yourself time to reclaim your life again and enjoy the process along the way. Degree Benefits and Opportunities "Complete the degree and they will come knocking at your door!" Well, not unless you have researched a very hot topic or discovered a significant paradigm shift. Doctoral degree benefits and opportunities do come, however, in both obvious and subtle ways. Several benefits of earning the advanced degree are obvious. Traditionally, as with almost all other post-docs, your salary will increase. One of my good friends indicated to me that she was able to increase her salary potential beyond her expectations. Outward professional respect may also be apparent. You may find it easier to get papers or presentations accepted to conferences. You may also find that editors of journals and publishers of monographs may be more amenable to publishing your work. Grant proposals that you write may carry more weight and be reviewed more favorably, because, in part, of the three new letters after your name. Opportunities of import to your career may arise more frequently. Doors may open to you to serve as a consultant in your area of expertise. If you are an expert in a subject that is being discussed in both the professional and popular literature and/or media, you may be called upon to comment on a specific issue, provide a quote for an article, or appear on radio or television. Organizations -- local and international, library/information-related, and other nonprofit or profit -- may contact you to ask you to serve on their boards of trustees. Depending on your goals, the benefits and opportunities available to you can be endless. The After Life There IS life after the Ph.D. -- and a good one, at that. Being able to relax and relish the little things in life you missed doing during your doctoral years is beneficial in and of itself. Just being able to walk around without constantly thinking about your subject material is a treat. Once you complete your degree, do something immediately to reward yourself: have your diploma professionally matted and framed, and hang it in a place of prominence; throw a party or have someone throw a party for you; or have your checks printed with "Ph.D." after your name. (The latter activity seems to be quite common among post-docs). Allow yourself time to transition. Do not be in such a hurry to get your dissertation published as a book or attend professional conferences immediately. You will do these activities in time, and you will know when the time is right to do them. After all, you have achieved a significant goal that will be with you for the rest of your life. Gail M. Staines, Ph.D., is Executive Director of the Western New York Library Resources Council and adjunct faculty at the Univ. at Buffalo School of Informatics. Her areas of expertise are management and information literacy, and she can be reached at gstaines@wnylrc.org. ======== *** Your ad here: http://www.lisjobs.com/ratecard.htm#newsletter ======== What's Online? Recommended Resources "On the Image of Librarians and Libraries" by Jennifer Cram http://www.alia.org.au/~jcram/image_librarians.html Several articles on this site are highly recommended as background reading on the subject of librarians, promotion, and self-promotion. First, read "No Permission Needed: Librarians And The PPC Factor," which describes how librarians fail to recognize and use their power, and how to overcome the perception of powerlessness. Then, check out "Professionalism: a Matter of Relationships, Choices and Obligations," and "What's Luck Got To Do With It? Thoughts On Personal Effectiveness and the Beginning Librarian." "Market Yourself Online!" by Rachel Singer Gordon and Sarah L. Nesbeitt http://www.infotoday.com/mls/oct01/gordon&nesbeitt.htm On using the Internet for professional development. "A Wish List for Librarians: A Commentary Based on The Greedy Associates Listservs" by Barbara Fullerton http://www.llrx.com/features/wishlist.htm What we would ask for if we gave ourselves license to be "greedy." "Librarians Want More Pay, And They're Learning To Ask For It" -- from the Savannah Morning News, spinning off of the June 2002 ALA conference in Atlanta http://www.savannahnow.com/stories/061902/LOClibrarians.shtml Same old news about how we want and deserve better pay... "Learning To Be Ourselves, With More Skill: Aurora And Beyond" by Richard Sayers http://www.alia.org.au/conferences/alia2000/proceedings/richard.saye rs.html From the 2000 ALIA Conference Proceedings, on how we can lead effectively by following the maxim "be yourselves -- with more skill." ======== But I Want To Hold It In My Hand! Print Resources In lieu of a formal book review this month, this is just a reminder from your editor that Info Career Trends exists partially to support my own writing and publishing efforts. If you haven't already, I'd urge you all to take a look at Sarah Nesbeitt's and my new book, The Information Professional's Guide To Career Development Online. If you're reading this, you already realize the growing importance of online resources to any librarian's career. The Information Professional's Guide contains ideas on many other ways you can learn, grow, and promote yourself in the Internet environment, including: - locating and benefiting from distance learning opportunities - establishing an online presence via a web site, newsletter, or blog - creating and effectively using an electronic resume - locating scholarships, grants, and educational opportunities - using Internet resources to locate, read, and write for the professional literature - networking online with others - finding and benefiting from current awareness opportunities - job hunting and researching positions online We're excited about the opportunity this book offers us to share what we've learned about effective online career development with all of you. Take a look at the title's companion web site at http://www.lisjobs.com/careerdev/ , and consider adding it to your own professional development bookshelf! - Rachel ======== 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. For permission to reprint articles in this newsletter, contact the individual authors. If no author is listed, contact editor@lisjobs.com. If you find this newsletter useful, please consider becoming a voluntary subscriber for a mere $10/year. Payment is accepted via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/xclick/business=rachel%40lisjobs.com Or, send a check or money order made out to Rachel Gordon to: PO Box 6931, Villa Park, IL 60181. To subscribe to Info Career Trends, send an e-mail message to imailsrv@lisjobs.com. 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