Info Career Trends July 1, 2003 vol. 4, no. 4 ISSN 1532-0839 Published by Lisjobs.com - http://www.lisjobs.com E-mail: editor@lisjobs.com In This Issue (Paths to Librarianship): 1) Editor's Note 2) Career Q&A From the Library Job People 3) Choosing, Financing, and Getting Through Library School 4) Pursuing A Lifelong Goal 5) Librarianship: Unlimited Possibilities 6) From Engineer to Librarian 7) Taking the Scenic Route: Following a Varied Library Career Path 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 Each of us has a unique story to tell, a distinctly individual path we have followed to the world of librarianship. This issue's contributors share some of their stories, giving us ideas for ways to enter different aspects of the field and a glimpse into the breadth of individual experiences it comprises. If you're interested in sharing your own experience with other librarians and library workers, ICT is seeking contributors to upcoming issues. Upcoming themes include: November 2003 - Library Management Possible topics: How do you succeed in a library management position? How do information professionals with backgrounds in specialties such as children's librarianship, systems, archives move into managing others? How do you proceed as the only "professional" in a smaller library? How do you manage others without a library degree, and how do you interact with other managers in your institution? How do you successfully build a relationship with your own manager? January 2004 - Balancing Career and Family How do you balance your library career with your family responsibilities? Is a "female-dominated profession" really more family-friendly? How feasible are options like flex time and telecommuting in the current library environment? Is it possible to take time out for family and then return to the library world? How do you keep current in the profession during the time you step back? Please send queries to editor@lisjobs.com, and see contributor guidelines at: http://www.lisjobs.com/newsletter/theme.htm#contrib . Newer writers welcome! - Rachel (editor@lisjobs.com) ======== *** Have library management responsibilities? Take a few moments to answer a survey for an upcoming book! http://www.lisjobs.com/mgmtsurvey.htm ======== Career Q&A From the Library Job People by The Library Job People (libraryjobpeople@lisjobs.com) Q: I am responding to a library job in academia, and they are requesting a "curriculum vitae." Can you help me out? What is normally included in this, and what kind of format is acceptable? Thank you, Academic Library Job Seeker SN: The words "resume" and "curriculum vitae" (CV) are frequently used interchangeably, though there are some differences. Both are used to outline and describe your educational background and professional experience when you're job hunting. While resumes tend to be fairly short (one to two page) summaries of your accomplishments, CVs are meant to be comprehensive biographical statements that provide information on all of your professional qualifications and activities. As such, CVs can be lengthier than resumes; the longer you've been working, the longer your CV will be. (As your CV gets longer, older material can be weeded as appropriate.) Your CV would include contact information, degrees, previous employment experience, and information on any professional involvement or creative activities you've undertaken, such as committee work, presentations, professional memberships, grants received, workshops and certifications, and publications. These are normally organized in reverse chronological order. If you're new to academic libraries, or right out of school, your first CV may be relatively short. Don't be shy, though, about mentioning any professional involvement. Did you serve on a student chapter of a library organization while in school? Participate in an internship? Write a successful grant application? Participate in a conference poster session? Once you're hired in an academic library, you'll be surprised how quickly your CV will fill up. Most academic librarians, particularly those on a tenure track, are involved in committee work (either voluntarily or not!) both within the library and their institution. RSG: You will see CVs requested most often in academia due to the fact that academic institutions tend to have different requirements for applicants than public libraries and corporations. While they seek someone who can "do the job," they also may be looking for a new faculty member who will fit into the academic environment, be able to fulfill tenure requirements, and so on. Academic hiring committees want to see evidence of a history of extracurricular activity and professional involvement, which can more easily be shown on a CV than on a shorter resume. Keep in mind the specific factors a hiring committee may be looking for, and stress your relevant accomplishments and activities. See also Colorado College's guide to CVs, which includes a helpful list of possible sections to include: http://www2.coloradocollege.edu/CareerCenter/Publications/Packets%20 1999/3Curriculum%20Vitae.htm (or http://makeashorterlink.com/?K36B527E4 ). Q: I'm considering re-entering the library/research world after five years off as my children begin school. I was formerly a manager at a major company library, but I'm not ready to go that route again. I want to find a rewarding (as in pretty good pay per hour) part-time job in the reference/research area, but would like to just work about 20 hours a week. I did have an information consulting business for a while, but I'm not ready to take that step again. I'd like to see what ideas there are for folks like me who are: 1. qualified and ready to go (even with five years away from it all, I'd be up-to-speed very quickly) 2. determined to make family my first priority - so not a big commitment in terms of time and responsibility What sort of libraries or companies does it make sense to approach, and would they consider a well-thought-out offer to do research on a part time basis? Thanks, New Mom Returning to the Working World SN: With your children in school, it sounds like you'll be restricting your search for work to your immediate geographic area. It would be a good idea to send out resumes to libraries in your local area where you think you might like to work - public, academic, corporate, etc. Explain in your cover letter that you would be interested in speaking with them about a possible part-time position, and ask them to keep you in mind should any opportunities come up. It may be that in the beginning you'll find that you're working a small number of hours in more than one location, but this can improve over time. My previous library (a medium-sized college in the Boston area) never had to advertise for part-time librarians, because we already had a small pool of potential hires to draw from. It wasn't uncommon for us to receive unsolicited resumes from qualified librarians who were interested in part-time work. RSG: You're actually also re-entering the job market at an opportune time for part-time job seekers. As library budgets dwindle and institutions employ cost-cutting measures wherever they can, many previously full-time positions have been broken into two or more part-time jobs, saving the library from having to pay out benefits. Hourly pay for part-time jobs may also be higher because the savings on health insurance and other benefits are so great. You'll want to be able to explain the gap in your work history to any potential employers. If you ran your consulting business during these last five years, for example, emphasize this on your resume to show that you have kept your hand in during the time you were not in a formal library position. Mention association memberships you have kept up, workshops you may have attended, or anything else that shows you have remained professionally involved and have taken the time to keep your skills up-to-date. Also, be wary about mentioning in cover letters or interviews that you're not looking for "a big commitment in terms of time and responsibility" - while you can certainly limit your search to part- time, flexible positions, you will want to avoid giving the impression that you lack commitment. You can be upfront about the hours you are available to work, etc., but be careful to word your comments in a way that shows you are also enthusiastic about the potential position. SN: Networking with other librarians can help you remain professionally involved, and it may also help you find the type of position you're looking for. You can make yourself more visible by attending the annual conference of your local/state library association, ACRL chapter, or SLA chapter, as appropriate. Even if you don't find any relevant jobs listed at their placement centers, you may run into someone who does. Most associations, even smaller ones, have e-mail discussion lists through which you can make some contacts. Call or e-mail other librarians you know, asking them to let you know if they come across any leads. RSG: You might want to take a look at the Association of Part-Time Librarians' job hints page at http://www2.canisius.edu/~huberman/jobs.html , and don't discount general job banks and local online job-hunting resources. While many posted openings are full-time, there are always a number of part- time openings listed. Check http://www.lisjobs.com or http://www.libraryjobpostings.org for ideas on where to start. Keep an eye on the HR pages of local companies that seem likely to operate an internal library or research facility, as their openings may not necessarily be listed on general sites. Also remain open to less traditional ideas - online "virtual reference" services, for example, occasionally seek part-time personnel and need coverage at all hours of the day. Lastly, consider going through a local employment agency. If you inform them of your requirements and abilities, they may be able to match you up with an appropriate employer. (Some are listed at http://www.lisjobs.com/temp.htm .) You may be able to do temporary work through an agency while waiting for a more permanent position to open up, which would also give you more material for your resume and help you re-sharpen your skills. Do you have a question on library careers that you'd like to see answered in this column? Send it to libraryjobpeople@lisjobs.com. We regret that we cannot reply personally; representative questions will be chosen and answered in this column. Sarah L. Nesbeitt, Assistant Professor of Library Services at Eastern Illinois University, has written and spoken extensively on library career issues. Her web site is http://www.libraryjobpostings.org. She and Rachel Singer Gordon are coauthors of The Information Professional's Guide to Career Development Online (Information Today, 2002). Rachel Singer Gordon is editor and publisher, Info Career Trends, and webmaster of the library careers site Lisjobs.com. She is the author of The Accidental Systems Librarian (Information Today, 2003). ======== *** Post your resume online: http://www.lisjobs.com/resumes.htm ======== Choosing, Financing, and Getting Through Library School by Denise Hamilton (denisehamilton@earthlink.net) After earning a B.A. in English, I got married, and for 21 years followed a military spouse - changing jobs every time I changed ZIP codes! I wasn't sure what I'd do once we settled somewhere permanently. One day in 1999, I was channel-surfing, and was immediately riveted by a segment on the graduate program in library and information science at the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign (UIUC). Within minutes, I was on the phone requesting an application. Distance Learning - Is It Right for You? As a working mother of three far from any library school, an online program (then new) was the only option. Librarianship is often a second career, and the 30-, 40-, and even 50-somethings who want to pursue an MLS have families and/or jobs that must be part of the overall plan. It's important to do your homework, however, and find out just what is meant by the term "distance learning" at the school you are considering. Illinois' distance program requires Internet access, so most work can be done from home or office (although students must spend a few days on campus each semester.) Options vary. The University of Hawaii's program, for example, uses an interactive television system that is limited to the islands. Other schools use "distance education" to refer to the availability of classes at one or more satellite campuses. Whether you choose a distance learning or resident option, it is important that the program be accredited by the American Library Association. Investing the time and money in anything less will be a major drawback once you are in the job market. The American Library Association has an online directory of accredited programs: http://www.ala.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Our_Association/Offices/Ac creditation1/lisdir/LIS_Directory.htm ( http://makeashorterlink.com/?A2CA237E4 ) Some students, myself included, know that they want the training but are unaware of the vast career options. Other students have a clear vision from the beginning. Michelle Kazmer (Ph.D., UIUC, 2002) knew she wanted to get her MLS at the University of Pittsburgh. She'd spent four years working in a library. "I wanted to study cataloging and Prof. Arlene G. Taylor had just taken a faculty position at Pitt," Kazmer said. She was fortunate; the school of her choice offered her a one-year fellowship that paid tuition plus a stipend. Anne Ostendarp (MLS, SUNY-Albany, 1985), an archivist, was motivated by her first job as an archives assistant. "I loved the work," she recalled, "but recognized I didn't know enough to make good decisions...I wanted a better background than I had." Students with specialized interests can earn dual degrees that take advantage of their expertise. Again, look at ALA's web site for information about programs that combine the master's in library science with master's degrees in subjects such as music, divinity, business, history, and law - among others. Paying for Library School Well, yes, a credit card was the method used by a few people I spoke with, although they acknowledged it can be an expensive option - even when interest rates are low. Graduate assistantships are available, but positions are competitive. Apply as early as possible. Likewise, apply early for scholarships. Your school will have information on scholarships and other forms of financial aid. Be prepared to do your own research, too. Pay attention to deadlines; if you are late with applications, you will probably be out of luck. No one I spoke with had direct financial help from parents, although MLS candidate Eileen, who is in her early 20s, moved back home after getting a bachelor's degree from a private university a thousand miles away. She didn't want to take out any more student loans, so she commutes forty-five minutes to the library program she chose mainly because of its proximity to her parents' house. She works a full-time job to pay for school, and she's grateful she does not have to pay rent. Others found that two part-time jobs offered roughly the same money as a full-time position, but more flexibility. Survival Many students try to complete the degree as quickly as possible so they can start earning money doing work they will enjoy. Michelle Kazmer, now an assistant professor of information studies, had this to say: "I wish I had taken fewer courses per semester and really immersed myself in the coursework...In order to get the most out of a degree program, it's worth it to manipulate every other factor (time, work, etc.) to allow yourself maximum immersion." Others agreed that trying to hurry through a program is not only stressful, but can compromise learning. In addition to coursework, librarians could not emphasize enough the value of real-world knowledge. Anne Ostendarp said: "Take every practicum and internship you can find. Volunteer at the type of setting you'd like to work in. Do everything you can do to get solid, practical experience." Siobhan Champ-Blackwell (MSLIS, UIUC, 2002) agreed. "Experience is the best teacher, and the contacts you make are invaluable." She is proof of that. She currently serves as Inner City Services and Minority Outreach Liaison for the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, MidContinental Region. Because she'd done a practicum, she was a "known quantity," and she landed her position in a city with a tight job market for information professionals. She also advises involvement with state library associations and professional organizations. In other words, she says, "Network, network!" And finally, filed under "Easier Said Than Done," everyone advised students to remember to take time to breathe. "Don't sweat it." "Remember to keep balance in your life." "Don't stress out." Great advice, both for graduate school, and for the real life that lies beyond! Denise Hamilton earned an MSLIS from the University of Illinois in 2001. She writes frequently on topics of interest to information professionals and currently works as a reference librarian. ======== *** Find a library job! http://www.lisjobs.com ======== Pursuing A Lifelong Goal by Shelley Walchak (walchak_s@fortlewis.edu) What is the inspiration behind the goals we set and achieve for ourselves? Some would say it is the influence of our parents. Others would argue it is our educational path. Or, perhaps our achievements are a result of an innate, inborn drive. The answer to this question is most likely a combination of all of the above factors. Whatever the inspiration, though, there is a vast difference in the goals people set for themselves as well as the ability to actually pursue them. Sometimes life just gets in the way of staying focused on our goals. For example, you have to move somewhere for a spouse's job; you have a child who demands extra care; you arrive at a certain salary level and are loath your position; you age and become more complacent; or sometimes you end up doing a job for so long that you get pigeonholed or stereotyped, and new employers will just not consider you for a new position. For some people, though, all of these obstacles are surmountable. I am someone who has remained stubbornly committed to my goals, and this article aims to provide inspiration to those who need motivation to move forward and achieve their own goals. Setting Early Goals I knew I wanted to continue my education after college, but my undergraduate work in French and philosophy did not lead me down any obvious path. Spending time in libraries had always left me both inspired and at peace, so I applied and was accepted to library school at Wayne State University in Detroit. My coursework made me feel so empowered. At a very early point in the program, I decided I wanted to work in all four kinds of libraries (school, academic, public and special) with the ultimate goal of finding myself in a position to influence the future of libraries, supported by my broad-based experience. This is a goal that has stayed with me for 25 years. I believe this early decision has been an underlying force behind many of the rest of the decisions in my life. My first library job was at the former Burroughs Corporation as an Information Specialist. This was a well-paying job (close to what I'm making as an academic librarian 25 years later!) and a highly energized work environment. Executive office requests had to be answered within 20 minutes, and it was exciting using LexisNexis and Dialog for information retrieval back in those trend-setting days. Working in such a specialized library had its benefits, but there were also downfalls. The most obvious was that the research steps were often repetitive, making the job seem routine after a short period of time. Knowing When to Move On By this time I had two children who were starting school. I decided this was the perfect time for me to try working at a school library. My first obstacle was that I didn't have the state credentials for a public school position. So, I found work at a private school - where state credentials were not required. I ended up working at this school for 14 years, knowing that I had made a difference in someone's life every day. Talk about job satisfaction! In the meantime, I chipped away at my next degree, one course at a time, to fulfill the state requirements for a teaching certificate and a library/media specialist endorsement. I ended up with an additional 60 credit hours after my MSLS. I'll never forget the semester I had to student teach, because I also kept the responsibilities of my regular job and was a single mom with two children. At the same time, I took a part-time job as a substitute librarian at my public library. It was a great opportunity to work in a vital and state-of-the-art library that was well supported by the community. I worked at the reference desk in the children's department, which helped to point out the differences between public and school librarianship. In school libraries, you are EVERYTHING: the reference librarian, the cataloger, the head of circulation, the director, the head of acquisitions, the outreach librarian, the instructional librarian, the storyteller, the clerk, the shelver, etc. The qualifications of a school library/media specialist (L/MS) are truly phenomenal. It is interesting, as I later found out, that others in the library profession do not always understand just how multi-dimensional and talented an L/MS must be! Keeping Your Eye on Your Goals As I tried to break into my last frontier of libraries, academic, I discovered that the prevailing philosophy was "once a school librarian, always a school librarian." I started to wonder if I had stayed too long in my school library job. Fortunately, a small, public, four-year liberal arts college in southwest Colorado was willing to take a chance on me. Given the opportunity to pursue my goals and live in Colorado, I quit my job, packed up everything, and left within a seven-week period for half the pay! It's been an exhilarating 18 months now, and I would never turn back. The job is challenging, and I'm learning every day, but I certainly feel qualified in every way. Although I'm Head of Circulation and ILL lending, my job is not limited to one service point in the library. I'm also doing reference deskwork, facilitating collection development with an academic department and teaching courses in information literacy. Of course, there are some trade-offs. Academic library jobs are often twelve-month appointments, and, in general, they don't pay as well as school library jobs. But, the teaching and reference work are very challenging, and managing people is very rewarding. So, think about those early goals you set for yourself. Are they still within reach? Did they get sidetracked for some reason? Are you ready to refocus? Perhaps your goals are already being satisfied - bravo! However, if your inclination is to try other venues and seek other horizons, let it be known! It can be done, and it's so satisfying. Shelley was born and raised outside of New York City. She's lived and worked in libraries in Utah, Michigan and Colorado. She's happiest in the mountains camping with her husband, her high school sweetheart! ======== Love the newsletter? Make a PayPal donation to its upkeep: https://www.paypal.com/xclick/business=rachel%40lisjobs.com ======== Librarianship: Unlimited Possibilities by Patti McCall (patti.mccall@albmolecular.com) Most people I knew in my MLS graduate program had a plan. Some have "always wanted to be a youth services librarian." Others said, "I want to be an archivist," or "law librarianship is for me." I was somewhat distraught, because I was not sure what I wanted to do. I had completed coursework in archives and records management, but also had an interest in academic librarianship and working with technology. Looking back, however, I am glad I did not have a grand plan. Instead, I had the flexibility to work in a wide variety of areas - one of the main reasons I pursued librarianship in the first place. I did not want to be a typecast librarian. I wanted to take on different roles and different challenges, and improve my chances of being employable in a competitive job market. Transitional Tricks I have been asked how I transitioned my way into different capacities, but I truly had no scheme. After some soul-searching in school, I determined that I would keep my options open. If I saw an interesting opening for which I met the minimum qualifications, I applied without hesitation. Initially lacking real-world library experience, I emphasized my transferable skills in my resume and interviews. After having worked in the insurance field, where I developed attention to detail, the ability to prioritize, the ability to resolve stressful situations, a high standard of customer service, and the ability to detail with occasional chaos, I quickly discovered I was well suited to work in libraries. Potential employers often recognized that value of such skills. After all, I had experience helping customers who had just lost their home to a fire. I knew all about stress and rattled customers. I pointed out my strong skills for handling details, having worked in a field where inaccuracies could lead to nasty lawsuits. Leaping Into Librarianship My leap into librarianship began with a reference department graduate assistantship. I then became a records management coordinator for a municipal government. I did not have experience in records management, but I did have the required coursework and a base of knowledge to work from. I enjoyed the challenges of working with different departments, managing two records centers, and learning about the inner workings of municipal government. I then managed interlibrary loan at an academic library, before arriving at my current position as a corporate librarian for a pharmaceutical research company. Somewhere in the middle of all that I also worked, and continue to work, part-time in a public library handling adult and youth reference as well as teaching Internet courses. I even threw in some short-term consulting in records management. I also found that my variety of coursework enabled me to get my foot in the door. I was hired as a part-time records management coordinator due in large part to my relevant coursework. The job grew into full-time within six months. During that time I improved and expanded my technology skills by taking evening classes. In another six months I was promoted, with a nice raise, to handle network administration duties - due largely to my taking the initiative to learn as much as I could about computer technology. I have spent all of my life learning new skills, and saw no reason to stop just because I had acquired a graduate degree. Keeping Fresh I love my current job, but I cannot say that they will wheel me from here to the retirement home one day. There are still opportunities that require exploring, new challenges that require tackling. For those of you who are like me, I can offer the following advice: * Do not be discouraged if you have not yet identified your library dream job. Maybe the problem is that you have, not one dream job, but six! Either way, explore interesting courses, internships and volunteer opportunities. Such options are not always possible, but take advantage of any opportunity to explore different areas of librarianship and acquire a variety of skills. * Emphasize your transferable skills. Are you a volunteer paramedic? Have you ever worked in healthcare? Were you an accountant? All of these jobs require many skills also important to librarianship. Are you able to find solutions to tricky problems on the spot? Do you know how to communicate with a variety of people? Such skills can be your passport to different areas in the information field. Identify them, articulate them, and draw attention to them. Remember that librarianship offers a wide variety of opportunities. * Send in your resume for any positions that interest you. I have sent resumes and interviewed for a variety of positions that interested me, including archivist, youth services librarian, adult services librarian, and corporate librarian. In each, I saw ways I could contribute my varied talents and learn new skills in appealing environments. * Keep diversified. I cannot give up my part-time gig at the public library. I thoroughly enjoy teaching Internet classes, recommending good fiction, and tackling random reference questions. The crowds are different at corporate and public libraries but both provide their fair share of challenges and rewards. Working part-time or volunteering in another area offers a change of pace, enlivens a resume, and helps a librarian think outside of the box. * Accept new opportunities. While working as a serials and acquisitions librarian in an academic library, rather slow work during a budget crisis, I quickly jumped on the opportunity to manage the interlibrary loan department when another librarian left. In a short time I was able to acquire a breadth of skills in a number of areas. My skills in interlibrary loan provided me with a solid bridge to my next position in a corporate library, where interlibrary loan and document delivery were key concerns. * Join professional organizations, keep current in the library literature, and follow e-mail lists. Make contacts in different areas in the field, keep up with the latest issues, and stay active in relevant organizations. Not only will these prove useful resources in your current job, they will keep you up to date on other areas you may choose to explore down the road. * Remember that the world is filled with possibilities. If you possess a bit of initiative, creativity, flexibility, and willingness to try new things you will quickly discover that a career in librarianship offers a wealth of diverse opportunities. Patti C. McCall is the Corporate Librarian for Albany Molecular Research, Inc. (AMRI) and a part-time Adult Services Librarian at the East Greenbush Community Library in East Greenbush, NY. ======== Have technology responsibilities in your library? Check out The Accidental Systems Librarian! Information and links online at http://www.lisjobs.com/tasl/ . ======== From Engineer to Librarian By Dave Hook (davehook@rogers.com) With an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering and a graduate degree in library and information science, I often get asked why I made the switch from engineering to librarianship. Well, it all began at the start of my fourth year of engineering school. I had just finished my sixth and final co-operative work term and was starting to wonder if mechanical engineering was really what I wanted to do. I had enjoyed my work terms, but was starting to wonder if there was something else out there that would appeal to me more. I had a housemate that was going through the same thing who had gone to see a guidance counselor and come back with the results of his interest test. I figured that was something that I should try, so I made an appointment to take the tests myself. Putting Myself to the Test The first one I took was the "Strong Interest" test that compares your interests with those in a wide range of professions who enjoy their jobs and are successful at what they do. I was put in a room with about thirty others all taking the same test. The first thing we did was to go around the room and introduce ourselves, and explain why we were there. Well, I was the first to go, and I was a little embarrassed to say that I was in the fourth year of a professional degree program and just starting to figure out what I really wanted to do. To my surprise, however, most people in the room were also in the fourth year of their programs, and going through the same questioning experience as I was. So, a week later, I got my results back. The test showed that I had a below-average interest in mechanical engineering. There were several careers that I had an above-average interest in, but the highest one was "librarian." The next test was the Myers-Briggs test, which re-confirmed that my interests also match those that are popular among successful professional librarians. Getting Guidance At the time, I had very little knowledge of what a librarian actually did. To my knowledge, all they did was sign out books and check people's knapsacks to make sure they weren't stealing anything. Fortunately, I had another housemate who actually knew what a librarian did and corrected my image of librarianship. I could start to see how the career would interest me and how I might be somewhat good at it. I made an appointment for a one-on-one session with a guidance counselor. She had a look at my test results, and, after discussing various career options she commented that I was interested in a lot of different things, and that it would be a waste for me to end up in a career that I didn't like. I decided to first finish my engineering degree - I had come this far, I figured I'd at least finish before trying something new. I also decided that I'd give working in the field a try before moving on to something else. Making the Switch After working a few years as en engineer, however, I started finding that I wasn't enjoying my job and that it was time to make a change. Interestingly enough, the part of my job that interested me the most was when I was working with information - gathering it and organizing it. That got me thinking about library & information science, and I started looking into various graduate programs. At the time I was renting an apartment and wasn't married, so I didn't have any connections to hold me back. The time was right, so I went back to school to get my master's degree. Once I graduated from library school, I managed to land a job working as an engineering librarian for MD Robotics Ltd. in Brampton, Ontario, manufacturers of the space shuttle's Canadarm and the international space station's Canadarm2. I am very fortunate to have a job that makes use of both my undergraduate and graduate degrees. The Right Choice As an engineering librarian, I find having an engineering degree very helpful - for several reasons. It is much easier to communicate with your library users, as you can both speak the same "language." Library users also give you more respect, and are not afraid of asking more detailed reference questions. Finally, with an engineering background, you can do more in-depth research and better filter and tailor your search results. So, how do I know that I made the right career choice by switching to librarianship? Well, for one, I enjoy what I'm doing much more than I did before. I've always considered it to be a measure of success if you've managed to find a job that you truly love to do. I find that my work brings out my best energies as opposed to being just something to fill the time. I also find that I'm a lot more connected with the profession of librarianship than I was with engineering. I put more energy toward professional development and the library community. I don't mind putting the extra hour or two at work and I'm much more likely to pick up a book on librarianship than one on engineering. I feel that I have more to offer as an engineering librarian. Instead of being one of many mechanical engineers, I can be an engineering librarian, with a combination of degrees that is not all that common. So what have I learned from my career choice experiences? For one thing, I learned that it is important to know yourself, what you enjoy doing, and what you are good at. If I had never taken those interest surveys, I would never have discovered this profession. The most important thing that I learned, however, is that as long as you are doing what you love, you will be successful. Dave Hook has a Bachelor's degree in Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo and a Master's of Information Studies from the University of Toronto. He is currently the Business Research Supervisor at MD Robotics Ltd. in Brampton, Ontario, where he is responsible for the company's library and intranet and supports research in the organization. ======== *** Advice, articles, and salary information for librarians: http://www.lisjobs.com/advice.htm ======== Taking the Scenic Route: Following a Varied Library Career Path by Priscilla K. Shontz (pshontz@liscareer.com) I “happened” into librarianship through student employment in a university library while earning my undergraduate degree. For three years, I worked as a student clerk in the circulation department. When I graduated, I applied for a staff position in a new branch library at the university while pursuing postgraduate work there. Because of my experience, I was hired as the circulation supervisor. After two years, I decided to earn an MLS, and continued working at the branch library during my first year in library school. During my second year, I decided to attend school full-time and work part- time, so took a temporary position in the main library’s cataloging department. I also volunteered at the central library’s reference desk. When I graduated in 1993, the job market was fairly tight. I mailed out 100 resumes (all over the U.S.) and got two phone interviews and one in-person interview. Fortunately, I was offered a position about two weeks before I graduated, and started work about one week after graduation. My Path as a Librarian My first job was as the librarian at a small rural community college. After two years, I moved, in order to manage access services in a private university. While there, I also volunteered a few times at a local public library. After another three years, my new husband and I moved again, and I took a job as a hospital librarian while he returned to school. In this job, I worked at both a medical library in a children’s hospital and at a university library. When my husband finished school, we moved again for his job, and I became a public library branch manager. This high-stress job compounded some stress in my personal life, so I soon chose to look for a new job that would allow me to work on a book and other projects. I took a part-time position managing a virtual library for distance education students at four universities. Just after starting that job, though, I learned I was expecting our first child. I now stay home with our baby while working on professional projects. Are You Experienced? If there is one thing I cannot stress enough, it’s that any pre-MLS library experience you get will give you an edge when competing for that first librarian position. In the tight job market I faced, my seven years of varied library experience netted me only one job offer. Any library experience, even volunteer work, moves your resume higher in the pile. If you can, work in a library before or during library school. This will help you discover whether you like librarianship, and what type of work you like. It also makes your classes more relevant and practical. Think Small While it’s not an option for everyone, I highly recommend working in a small library early in your career. Smaller libraries provide wonderful learning environments, because you are able to learn about almost every area and responsibility! For example, in my first position I was THE reference librarian in a library with a staff of five. I was “on the desk” 40 hours a week and was involved in almost every aspect of library operations. This allowed me to learn about responsibilities as diverse as library instruction, electronic resources, collection development, PR, interlibrary loan, cataloging, management, and budgeting. Try It - You Might Like It Try out different types of work or various types of libraries or organizations. Varied experience gives you a chance to see whether you like a particular type of work or environment, what you’re good at, and what you like and dislike. It also helps you develop a broader circle of contacts in different areas of librarianship. Whether you like a job or not, you always learn something that will help you. Getting varied experience early in your career provides you a broad foundation that allows you to move in many directions later; it can prevent you from getting “pigeonholed” into one particular career path. Never Say Never We’re constantly evolving, so don’t rule out a particular type of work or organization forever. For example, when I was in a tenure- track position, I thought I could never meet the publishing requirements. Later, while in a position that didn’t require writing at all, I wrote a book - and am now working on another one. Don’t close any doors if you can help it, because you never know what might interest you in a few years. Job-Hopping is Not a Dirty Word Some people will advise you not to change jobs too often or too quickly. Some people will recommend that you choose one area of specialization while you’re in school and stick with that throughout your career. While it’s important not to move through too many jobs in an extremely short period of time, don’t be afraid to move around. Particularly in the first few years of a library career, it’s quite common and acceptable for you to change positions every few years. The key is being able to explain your job changes in a positive manner. Switching jobs often can help you move up to higher-level positions more quickly, if that is your goal. Moving around between types of positions or organizations can give you wider knowledge of the field and help you relate to various co-workers and customers. For example, working in cataloging helped me understand what technical services librarians do, which helps me be a more well-rounded public services librarian. Job changes can help you learn what you really enjoy or dislike. New jobs can present new challenges and experiences that help prevent burnout and help you develop new skills. Listen - Is that Opportunity Knocking? Be open to opportunity. Get a variety of experience. Take side paths if they interest you. Don’t be afraid of change. Let each experience keep you fresh and encourage you to grow in new directions. Enjoy the ride! Priscilla K. Shontz is a web designer and freelance writer and has worked in university, community college, medical and public libraries. She is author of Jump Start Your Career in Library & Information Science (Scarecrow Press, 2002) and is a past president of the ALA New Members Round Table. She is currently staying home with her daughter while working on a new book for Scarecrow Press, maintaining LIScareer.com and serving on ALA and NASIG committees. For a list of her various jobs, see her resume at http://www.liscareer.com/shontzresume.htm . Contact Priscilla at pshontz@liscareer.com. ======== *** Your ad here: http://www.lisjobs.com/ratecard.htm#newsletter ======== What's Online? Recommended Resources Why Go To Library School (aka do you REALLY need a degree for this?) by Katia Roberto http://www.dangpow.com/~katia/mistress.html Indiana University SLIS: MLS Career Paths http://www.slis.iupui.edu/careers/index.html Me? A Librarian? http://www.becomealibrarian.org/MeALibrarian.htm Choosing Law Librarianship by Mary Whisner http://www.llrx.com/features/librarian.htm ======== But I Want To Hold It In My Hand! Print Resources Massis, Bruce E. The Practical Library Manager. New York: Haworth, 2003. 149p. ISBN 0-7890-1766-0. $24.95. Purchase from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0789017660/librarisjobsearc This slim volume focuses on staffing and training issues and the impact of technology on today's library, providing a welcome contrast to theory-heavy management titles. While content is useful and targeted, chapters often read like lists; more extensive explanations and discussions would help even this short title feel more substantial. An extensive appendix on ALA-accredited library schools duplicates almost verbatim the content available on the ALA web site and could easily have been condensed into one (albeit horrendously long) URL, allowing room for discussion elsewhere in the book to feel less rushed. Useful features include extensive bibliographies and an annotated list of twelve management classics for the twenty-first century library manager - including such nontraditional choices as the I Ching and Emotional Intelligence. Most useful for newer and potential managers, as a catalyst to help them develop their own ideas and positions on these topics. ======== 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. 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