Info Career Trends May 1, 2002 vol. 3, no. 3 ISSN 1532-0839 Published by Lisjobs.com - http://www.lisjobs.com E-mail: editor@lisjobs.com In This Issue: 1) Editor's Note 2) It's Never Too Early To Rejuvenate Your Career 3) Change and Challenge: Constant Career Rejuvenation 4) Battling Burnout Through Lifelong Learning 5) Ready, Set, Teach! 6) Someone Moved My Cheese... And It Wasn't Me! Rejuvenating Your Career Midstream 7) What color Is Your Library Parachute? 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 Welcome back! Librarians in all stages of their careers can find themselves in need of professional rejuvenation. Whether you're reconsidering whether this is truly the profession for you, thinking of moving into a related field, or searching for a way to put the spark back into your current position, take heart -- as the articles in this issue show, you are not alone. If you're interested in writing for ICT, see the online contributors guidelines at http://www.lisjobs.com/newsletter/theme.htm#contrib . Current needs include articles for July's theme (promotion) and September's (professional communication). Send queries to editor@lisjobs.com. - Rachel (editor@lisjobs.com) ======== *** ADVERTISEMENT *** JOBS ABROAD for Information Professionals. In our global profession, you will probably consider working abroad at some stage. You will need help. Global Info Jobs, the FREE electronic newsletter, brings you * Overseas Job Listings, and expert advice on * Career planning * Working abroad * Education & Training * International Comparisons. Subscribe to our mailing list - just click here to send a blank email mailto:subscribe@globalinfojobs.com or at http://www.globalinfojobs.com ======== It's Never Too Early To Rejuvenate Your Career by Debbie Taylor (dtaylor@nsls.info) When I first started in the professional job market, I believed that I needed to find a job that I would stay with for at least five years -- or possibly even until I retired. I learned this at a very early age, both from my parents and from educators. So in 1995, when I started my MLS program while working full time at a small private New York college, it never crossed my mind that my job could be a stepping-stone in my career path. Starting Out While working at this first library job at St. Joseph's College, I learned so much about what it meant to be a librarian. Of course, I learned the basics: bibliographic instruction, curriculum development, database searching, and working the reference desk. But the small size of the library also gave me the opportunity to learn more advanced skills I'd never have been able to practice in a more bureaucratic environment. I had the chance to dabble in NT administration, troubleshoot LAN problems, take apart hard drives, and teach the first library Internet classes at St. Joe's... not to mention the chance to live through two automation migrations. For the second of these, I was the co-systems administrator. Not many people are lucky enough to have so much responsibility and opportunity before the age of twenty-seven! So, why would anyone fortunate enough to land in this situation move on? It was actually because of my experiences at St. Joe's that I wanted to move on. I wanted to take everything that I had learned and use it to contribute somewhere else -- and learn even more. In the summer of 2000, I realized my job wasn't as challenging for me as it once had been. And, although I was still learning from my co- workers, faculty, and students, my learning curve had definitely flattened. I was slowly stagnating. I knew I needed to make a change but didn't know how. Job-hopping was frowned on at St. Joe's, and I figured I would be there the rest of my life. In the summer of 2000, St. Joe's migrated to Endeavor's Voyager ILS. It was a crazy summer of preparation, including lots of training. Toward the end of the summer, Endeavor sent one of their trainers to New York to teach us how to use the system. Of course, I listened like a dutiful student, and learned what I needed to learn. Equally importantly, however, I discovered my next stepping-stone. I was in awe of the trainer and extremely impressed with her handling of the barrage of questions being thrown at her. I said to myself: "I could do that!" I had mixed thoughts about leaving St. Joseph's, but I knew I needed to find new challenges. I wanted my career to move forward, and so, in November of 2000, I gave my notice. Moving On In January 2001, I moved halfway across the country to Chicago to take a trainer job with Endeavor. This proved quite the adventure! Within six weeks I was traveling around the country representing one of the leading companies in library automation -- all on my own. Over the next eighteen months, I visited three countries, 26 states, and more colleges, universities, and special libraries than I can count. I went from training customers on how to use the system to building my own curriculum and giving custom-built training sessions. Sound exciting? It was! It was also one of the most awesome learning experiences of my life. But again, I eventually realized I was becoming stagnant. Getting on a plane week after week and training on the same information day after day wasn't as exciting or challenging as it first had been. I realized I had only been with Endeavor for a year and a half. What would people think if I moved on already? What would my mother think? I decided that what was best for my career, as well as for Endeavor and my future employers, was for me to move forward. It does no one any good to stay where you no longer feel you can give your best to the organization. Landing Safely So it was time for another twist, only four short years after I received my MLS. To my own surprise, I was able to find a third wonderful career opportunity. In July of 2001, I started at the North Suburban Library System (IL) as the Electronic Resources Project Manager. As my first major project, I was to head up the process of picking a vendor for our online union catalog. This is a process I continue to work on and enjoy, relying heavily on my previous work experiences at St. Joe's and Endeavor. Do I worry that my current employer might fear that I jump from job to job? No, I don't. I don't consider myself a "job hopper." I believe I made wise decisions for my career and am respected because of them, not in spite of them. Do I think I'll move on in the next year or so? No, I don't. I'm in a position that will constantly offer me new learning opportunities and am working for an organization that thrives on growth and change. That is something I want to be a part of for a long time to come. So, when I look back over my short career, I feel like I went through a career rejuvenation at an early age -- when I was just starting out. Someone that has been in the library field for 20 years may tell you it's never too late to rejuvenate your career. I'm here to tell you, it's never too early! Debbie Taylor graduated in 1997 with her MLS from Long Island University and is currently working at the North Suburban Library System as the Electronic Resources Project Manager. ======== *** ADVERTISEMENT *** Pattern Research provides training, consulting and facilitating for libraries, library boards and library organizations of all types and sizes, as well as school, academic, medical and nonprofit workplaces. Our specialties are leadership, management and personnel issues. Visit our web site at http://www.pattern.com for details. So far, we have worked in 27 states and with most major national library organizations. Current references available. Since 1975. Pat Wagner, Pattern Research, PO Box 9100, Denver CO 80209-0100; 303- 778-0880; pat@pattern.com. ======== Change and Challenge: Constant Career Rejuvenation by Roxanne Frey (frey@uiuc.edu) My transition from a university reference desk to a library development office involves four moves, three decades, two children, and one husband with an incompatible career. Through it all I have survived as a professional because of imagination and adaptability. As a result, I have a rejuvenated career that combines two worlds -- librarianship and fund-raising. After receiving my master's degree, I had four satisfying years as an academic reference librarian. When I added child rearing to my responsibilities, I found that commuting from the rural areas where my husband's work required us to live was not compatible with a full-time academic library position. To fill my need to be involved with a library, I discovered satisfaction in becoming a volunteer for the libraries in the small communities in which I lived. It was stimulating to be able to help select purchases for a school library, find a cataloging scheme for a genealogy library, and establish a summer reading program for a public library. Part-time work in my local community, even though none was available in a library, attracted me. I felt having a part time job on my resume would help my transition back to full-time work, and carefully examined the available opportunities. My personal requirements were that the job be intellectually stimulating, that it involve learning something new, and that the cost of working (i.e., babysitting, commuting and wardrobe) would not exceed the income. Above all, I wanted something that would utilize my skills as a librarian. The first job that evolved out of these requirements was being a local representative for the 1980 U.S. Census. Given my interest in government documents, it was great to get a grassroots view of how information is gathered and recorded. Another interesting job was as a "stringer" for a local newspaper. Being able to do quick research in a library to get ideas for stories or to verify facts gathered in a news situation was a plus. I soon had a happy editor who was calling for more stories than I could provide. Other part-time jobs that helped add to my resume included real estate sales and substitute teaching. I even got paid for teaching people how to do genealogical research. As I transitioned through household moves and increased family responsibilities, I always kept up two vital areas: continuing education and professional memberships. The journals from my association memberships kept me advised about current trends. Continuing education through workshops and college courses kept me in touch with my peers and challenged me with new ideas and resources. Through my coursework, I explored map collecting, online databases, and patent searching. When my children were both in school and their college years were approaching, a part-time job opportunity ended up turning into a new library-related career. A local attorney needed someone to do preliminary research using non-legal resources to help him prepare a case. He knew I could extract this kind of information from a library, so I started working two days a week on his projects. Before long, I was occupied full-time as a legal research assistant, utilizing both legal and non-legal resources in local and regional libraries. My coursework at this time involved legal research and business and real estate law. Supervisory skills were also required, so I became certified by a management institute. Another move brought my legal work to an end, but I had transitioned into the world of full-time work -- and I had a great resume. My next position put me at the head of a public library. After all, I had demonstrated I could supervise, teach reference skills, handle legal matters, and keep an eye on real estate values. Writing grants and utilizing government accounting were the next skills that I learned. I also learned the value of cultivating library friends to help with volunteer projects and raising funds for special projects. A tremendous opportunity for my husband then resulted in a new move, catapulting me back into a situation where I needed to use my imagination to translate my accumulated skills into a new position. There was an academic library in the new community, but my published articles about festivals and city council meetings and portfolio of legal documents were not relevant in a tenured environment. The door that opened for me was the challenge of being part of a research team for a major fund-raising campaign. Once again, the ability to find and analyze information played a major role in my success. During an exciting six years, I helped identify the alumni and friends who would donate over one billion dollars to lead the University of Illinois into the 21st century. At professional conferences, I taught my colleagues from other non-profit institutions to use library resources to shape the pyramids for their own donor base. The next opportunity for professional advancement in my family was saved for me. With the excitement of a major fund-raising campaign over, it was time for me to seize a new dream. A position in an academic library development office offered another transition. I am back in the same environment where I started my career, but this time I am working on a major campaign to raise funds for a great library. All of the skills I learned over the years in part-time and full-time work are being utilized. There are professional conferences and congenial colleagues. Challenges abound. I have come full circle. Roxanne Frey received her Master of Science in library science from the University of Illinois in 1970. After three decades of transition she is now an associate director for development and public affairs at the University of Illinois Library in Urbana- Champaign. She can be reached at frey@uiuc.edu. ======== *** Rejuvenate your own career! Consult The Information Professional's Guide To Career Development Online, by Sarah L. Nesbeitt and Rachel Singer Gordon. For more information or to order: http://www.lisjobs.com/careerdev/ ======== Battling Burnout Through Lifelong Learning by Catherine Ritchie (critchie@dallaslibrary.org) In early 1998, I faced imminent job burnout, with no obvious remedy in sight. I had been an adult/YA public librarian in central Illinois for nearly twelve years. My job responsibilities, though still satisfying, were no longer expanding. Due to recent personnel changes, my department was poorly run, and staff morale nonexistent. In short, I felt trapped and intellectually stifled. While halfheartedly looking for other positions, I soon realized that a simple change of venue wouldn't cure my inertia. A total career revamping was likely my only recourse, but how? While on the reference desk one fateful evening, I remembered an acronym... In the 1980s, my now-defunct library school had offered experienced librarians a further educational option: a "certificate of advanced studies" (CAS). These students could pursue coursework focused on particular areas of librarianship, and thus become unofficial specialists. At the time, I had filed this idea away for future reference -- but for this twelve-year front desk veteran, that future was NOW. To my relief, the CAS program was alive and well at the Graduate School of Library and Information Science (GSLIS) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, long regarded as the best library school in the nation, and located about 50 miles from my home. With application deadline looming, I swiftly wrote my mini-essays, begged kind colleagues for letters of recommendation, and assembled my transcript ducks in a row. Six weeks of waiting ensued -- although friends assured me that I was the ideal CAS candidate, i.e., an "in the trenches" librarian wanting to touch base once again with a little theory to go along with everyday practice. Although GSLIS's CAS program is designed to be pursued part-time, if accepted, I planned to resign my current position, move to Urbana- Champaign, and study full-time. Such a massive change of venue and lifestyle was fortunately made feasible by my instinctive frugality and a financial legacy from my late parents. I knew I would be sacrificing much by pulling up stakes, but desperation ruled. I finally received my acceptance letter, and chose collection development as my CAS "focus." Before classes began, I became a graduate assistant to the head of collection management for the entire University library system. Over the next year, I would learn about the non-glamorous aspects of maintaining all those mysterious stacks -- an invaluable education in its own right. Two courses in collection development were offered during my first few GSLIS semesters. I was fortunate to have my specialty close at hand so early on. Needless to say, at age 45-plus, I was almost always the oldest student in my classes, which often made interaction a challenge. What I found most surprising along the way was a glaringly perceptible bias on the part of my classmates against public library work, as most of these young(er) folks instead sought ultimate fame and (minor) fortune in the wilds of academia. Thus, when public library-related topics surfaced in class discussions, I felt compelled to bring my "real world" perspective to the table, as a lone elder wolf in the library wilderness. Thankfully, this occurred with my professors' blessings. GSLIS's CAS program culminates in a final project requiring original research on a "problem" related to the student's focus area. I chose to survey mid-sized Illinois public libraries regarding their collection development practices regarding gay/lesbian/bisexual- related non-fiction. This would become the most rigorous intellectual undertaking of my middle-aged life thus far, but without a doubt the most satisfying. My paper was eventually published in Illinois Libraries -- a wonderful capstone to an inspirational academic experience. The need to find a permanent job loomed large during that last year of study, but one of my e-mail discussion lists alerted me to a "theatre librarian" vacancy at the Dallas Public Library. Although my dislike of hot weather was legendary, my abhorrence of winter weather had grown even larger. So, I applied, my lack of a theatre degree notwithstanding. I got the job, and donned my graduation gown surrounded by packing boxes! While I don't apply theoretical knowledge to my materials selection work on a daily basis here in Texas, I am enriched nevertheless by the self-confidence I gained via my detour back into the classroom. And thanks to the writing skills I honed in doing my final project, I am pursuing an avocational side career in library publishing. Enrolling in a certificate of advanced studies program may not be feasible for every librarian mired in job dissatisfaction, but I highly recommend it as an option worth investigating. The chance to be part of an intellectual community, even if only for one afternoon or evening a week, can make an enormous impact on one's worldview. We all deserve a mental break from malfunctioning photocopiers and uncontrollable children now and then. While I still on occasion tire of the public library grind, my CAS "time out" was the shot of adrenaline I sorely needed. It helped me find my way back to the profession I love, and to which I truly belong. Catherine Ritchie is the Theatre Librarian in the Fine Arts Division of the Dallas (TX) Public Library. She has a Masters degree in English, and has published in Library Journal and Broadside, the Theatre Library Association newsletter. ======== *** Find a library job! http://www.lisjobs.com ======== Ready, Set, Teach! By Uri Toch (utoch@stdl.org) One area of professional service that is often overlooked as a method of career rejuvenation is teaching at the graduate or undergraduate level. In my experience as a member of the adjunct faculty in the School of Library and Information Science at Dominican University in River Forest, IL, I've found that teaching is: * A way to take control of your career and enhance job performance. * A form of service to the profession. * A way to expand your sphere of influence. Teaching allows you to take control of your career because it is a form of self-directed learning. Teaching encompasses much more than presenting a list of sources or reference techniques; it provides opportunities for public speaking, curriculum development, and leadership. For the average librarian, teaching opens up whole new career vistas. For example, librarians who have no management responsibilities at work will find that teaching provides an opportunity to plan and implement a program. You expand your ability to evaluate personnel, as you interact with students under deadline and via numerous assignments. Grading is a form of performance review, with all the attendant risks and rewards of critiquing a person's current performance and potential for growth. And, of course, you have to manage a workload, both for yourself and the students. As an instructor, you therefore begin (or expand) your ability to respond critically. After all, it is very easy to find fault with a particular assignment or presentation, but it takes real skill to provide informed feedback that allows the student to learn and develop. Preparing a lesson plan is a great way to rediscover reference sources you've used but now need to describe fully to students. It is one thing to use a reference source to briefly answer a question. It takes a much more thorough understanding to explain why a resource is important, how to evaluate its access points, and how the source rates with other materials. Teaching also forces you to learn about sources that might not be in your library, and thus provides an impetus for collection development. It is a great way to discover new Internet sites and stay on top of recent developments in the field. Since many students are already working in the field, you can also learn about new resources and reference techniques from them. On the technical front, teaching offers a chance to refine or develop presentation skills. You might decide to present a lecture in PowerPoint or similar format, for example, and use the occasion to expand your skills in this area. Teaching is a neglected as a form of professional service, often outweighed by conference attendance, committee work, or writing articles/reviews. For those looking for a way to give something back to the profession, teaching offers a tangible way to impact future librarians and inspire people to get into the field. And, if you look at teaching as professional service, the relatively low pay may not be as much of an issue. (Adjunct faculty might earn about $2,000 for a semester course, and generally there are no benefits.) Teaching is also a great way to expand your personal network. Developing a curriculum gives you an enter to networking with other faculty. To prepare the syllabus for our "Business Reference" class, for example, we searched the web and looked at many other syllabi. We saw an assignment that we liked so much that we e-mailed the professor and asked if we could adapt it for our class. He responded positively and noted that he too had adapted it from another teacher. Of course, teaching also gets you in front of current or future librarians. You can quickly develop or expand your reputation by instructing some of the future leaders in the profession. (Of course, you want to do a good job, as the future leaders have memories of both good and bad experiences.) This networking can pay off down the road. Many times you might refer current or previous students for an open position, or a former student might contact you with a lead for a managerial job or consulting work. Having mentioned some of the benefits of teaching, let's examine some of the barriers to becoming an instructor. Many people feel they do not have the subject knowledge to teach. Of course, you need some experience to teach. But, as an instructor I welcome difficult questions as a way of learning more about a particular source or subject area. When a student has a difficult question, it is really an opportunity to emulate good reference service. We research the topic and e-mail an answer to an individual student or to the class as a whole. We've found students to be very supportive of this process. The issue of time can also be a real barrier. While preparing for lectures, grading papers, and teaching is time consuming, it is important to realize that the first couple of semesters are the most labor-intensive. And, you might want to explore co-teaching a class with a trusted colleague as a way of sharing the burden and expanding your network. So how to you proceed if you want to explore teaching? After all, not having contacts is another barrier to success. I'd suggest contacting your library school alma mater or the library school nearest you. Check the American Library Association web site at http://www.ala.org for a list of accredited programs. Many community colleges also offer programs in some aspects of research or library science, some leading to an associates degree. Uri Toch works at the Schaumburg Township District Library in Schaumburg, IL. Most days he can be found at his desk or wandering around with his three children. He writes his own business outreach e-letter ( http://www.stdl.org/newslet/elecyrs/elecyrs.asp ). ======== Visit Lisjobs.com's online bookstore to find career development ideas and titles. http://www.lisjobs.com/books.htm ======== Someone Moved My Cheese... And It Wasn't Me! Rejuvenating Your Career Midstream by Lori Bell (lbell927@yahoo.com) This year I will celebrate twenty years as a library professional. During those years, three things have remained constant: my love for work in libraries; my love and fascination for technology, gadgets, and gizmos; and my membership in the Illinois Library Association (ILA). I have been around Illinois libraries so long that many people think I am in my late forties or early fifties. Actually, I am 41, one of those exceptions to the usual librarian who gets a bachelor's degree, works a while and then goes back to library school. I rushed through my bachelor's program in three years and hopped right into library school. I have always thrived on change and different life experiences... until I was no longer in control of that change. In twenty years as a librarian, I have had a fun and adventurous career! I have been a children's librarian, a reference librarian in a public and special library, an outreach librarian, a technology consultant for regional library systems, and have worked in academic libraries. There hasn't been a job without some aspect I have thoroughly enjoyed and been able to take with me to my next job. Through all of these changes and experiences, I felt like I was the one "moving the cheese." In many professions, there are those who question the value of professional involvement in associations and other groups. For me, there has never been a question about the value of involvement in library associations. Time and time again, professional involvement has proven invaluable. Thanks to Randy Wilson, one of my first mentors and first supervisors, my first association involvement was in the Junior Members Round Table(JMRT) of the Illinois Library Association. I also became involved in the Junior Members and then New Members Round Table of the American Library Association. Through my involvement in JMRT/NMRT, I made friends in the library profession that I still have to this day! I have also gained experience speaking at and planning conferences, holding several offices, and serving on the ILA Executive Board. By attending continuing education events, I have learned a great deal, which has helped me in every job I have had. Then, someone besides me moved my cheese and I was forced to deal with change I had not created and did not want. Two years ago, I experienced some serious health problems which caused me to cut back drastically on my involvement in associations and other professional commitments. I took a less demanding job to accommodate my situation. Until that time, I had increased my involvement in professional associations and groups and climbed the typical career ladder, attempting to balance career, home, and family. My health problems were especially frustrating because, although I thrived on (in fact, loved!) change, new opportunities and learning new skills, I was no longer able to do my usual juggling act. Someone had "moved my cheese" and it wasn't me! After eighteen months, several surgeries, and weight loss, I began to feel like myself again, and I began to investigate rejuvenating my career. Although people (including myself) thought I had fallen off the face of the earth, I now wanted the world to stop so I could get back on. The first thing I did to rejuvenate my career was to approach my supervisor to allow me to work four days per week, so I could have more time with my family and take some graduate level courses in instructional technology and telecommunications. Last fall, I took two classes, one over the Internet and one in a weekend academy. I was able to tailor my projects to topics that included libraries. My goal was (and is) to get an advanced certificate in distance learning, and then to obtain a second master's degree to qualify me to work in a university on a tenure track. This semester, I am taking one class, and have signed up for one this summer and one next fall. The certificate and degree will both enhance my library skills make me more versatile in case I want to go into another field. Taking courses is one way to rejuvenate your career, meet new people, and learn new skills. Two years ago, a colleague had approached me about starting a technology users group (comparable to the ALA LITA top tech trends committee, but for ILA). I was enthusiastic about the idea, but it was put on hold during that eighteen-month period. Although my colleague had lost interest, this fall I decided it was time to revisit that idea. I planned an organizational meeting which attracted a diverse and enthusiastic group of 25 people. By judicious arm-twisting, I convinced another colleague to co-chair the group with me. We have had another meeting, and planned a third for May. Through creating this group, I have been able to revive my love for technology and renew my involvement in the Illinois Library Association. I have been able to renew old friendships and make new friendships. Through these workshops, I am able to network with others, see how they are doing things, and keep up on technology trends. We also have a mailing list for people to share information, ideas, and applications on the latest technology. Another activity which has helped to jump-start my career and rejuvenate my interest and experience in the field was writing a grant to implement a technology project in our hospital library. Because my manager was able to do some juggling on my behalf, I have been able to work half-time on this technology project. It has been exciting, fulfilling and has brought me in contact with new people at my workplace and in the library field. Although I have worked as a library professional for almost twenty years, I anticipate working another 25 years. I feel like I have already had my mid-life, mid-career crisis and hope it is downhill from here. The energy and enthusiasm of the ILA RSTF Technology Users Group have helped me to rejuvenate my career and renew and confirm my love of library work, technology, and my involvement in ILA. Taking the courses in a different field also gives me more versatility and strengthens my skills for working in the library field. So, if someone moves your cheese, and it isn't you, don't despair. There are so many different ways to rejuvenate your career and cure burnout! Lori Bell is a Medical Librarian at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, Illinois and co-chair of the ILA RTSF Technology Users Group. ======== What Color Is Your Library Parachute? by Eve Miller (evemariemiller@hotmail.com) I initially considered myself one of the lucky ones. Straight out of graduate school, I landed the "perfect job" I had looked high and low to find -- assistant librarian at a K-12 private school. So why, after spending only one year in the job, did I find myself feeling restless and bored? I still loved some parts of the job, but I couldn't help feeling there just had to be more out there. Questions kept popping into my head: Was I wrong in choosing this career? Is librarianship what I really want to do with the rest of my life? Was it a good idea to switch careers so soon after beginning another? What could I do, go back to school and start another Master's program? I was still paying off the first one! Stop me if this sounds all too familiar. A large percentage of librarians and information professionals today are asking themselves these same questions. Some have gone on to other professions, and I'm sure some of them are even happy they left librarianship. However, if you, like me, are one of those who isn't quite ready to test the cold waters of a completely different profession, perhaps you need to reevaluate what type of library career fits your needs. In my case, I determined I didn't necessarily desire a new career -- but I needed a new mental model to shape my old one. I needed a way to develop an awareness of how my professional job skills could be applied in different job settings. After spending a lot of time reading career books and administering a large dose of self examination, I developed what a regime to rejuvenate a waning career, which is outlined below. I hope it helps you as it has me. Be warned: it takes time, creativity, persistence and energy to follow this plan. Remember, though, that the payoff can be immense. Steps to Career Rejuvenation 1. Check library-related e-mail lists and job sites for interesting job listings. Remember to not just look at the titles, but also at the required skills and accompanying descriptive narratives. I make a habit of doing this first thing every Monday morning. If you have these sites bookmarked, searching only takes five to ten minutes. By doing this I not only learn what is happening in the field, but where and how. I also find a virtual yardstick by which to measure my own professional growth. 2. Keep your resume current. There is no better way to gain an understanding of how your career is growing than by having to put details down on paper. Each year, I make sure to redraft my resume. This ensures I'm ready for any interesting job prospect that may come along, while also allowing me to identify what I learned and accomplished over the past year. This also inevitably instills a sense of personal pride in my recent accomplishments. 3. Keep learning about all disciplines within library and information science, not just the one in which you are currently working. Go to conferences, sit in on classes, take an online course. Make sure to take the time to really explore other fields of expertise; especially those about which you know very little. If I had become complacent about my current knowledge of the library field, I would still be a children's librarian, reading Harry Potter to 3rd graders. (Not that there is anything wrong with Harry -- Go Hogwarts!) 4. Never stop reevaluating your professional priorities, goals and desires. Make a list of what you like and don't like about your current job. Next, try to imagine the perfect job for you. Make a list of what you would like about that job. In what ways do the perfect job's daily tasks differ from your current job duties? If you can't imagine what your perfect job would be, think back to the topics or classes you liked and disliked in school. What skill set were they attempting to teach? What made you like or dislike them so much that you still remember them today? 5. Finally, searching general Internet job sites such as Monster.com is a quick way to learn about interesting, different, and seemingly non-library related, jobs and their required skills. You might be surprised what you find and what you learn. This method does work: I should know, this is how I found my current position. The idea is to discover your best professional qualities and find ways to practice them in your day-to-day work. The greatest challenge is to know where to focus your attention so opportunities don't pass you by. Eve has worked in many library jobs. She currently rides on the beach to her work as Library Systems Specialist at the California State University, Chancellor's Office. ======== What's Online? Recommended Resources http://www.arl.org/diversity/leading/issue14/newjobs.html GraceAnne A. DeCandido's "New Jobs for Old: Librarians Now" is a fascinating look at how librarians have taught themselves to deal with change and how they have adapted themselves and their careers while remaining true to the principles of librarianship. Part of ARL's Leading Ideas series. http://www.emeraldinsight.com/pdfs/lm213.pdf Phyllis B. Spies discusses "Libraries, Leadership, and the Future." How libraries must change to remain relevant. http://www.lisjobs.com/newsletter/archives2001.htm Check out the May 2001 issue of ICT, on "changing careers," for ideas on moving around the profession -- or just moving around. ======== But I Want to Hold It In My Hand! Print Resources Shontz, Priscilla K. Jump Start Your Career in Library and Information Science. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 2002. ISBN 0-8108-4084-7. $22.50. Purchase from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0810840847/librarisjobsearc/ In just under 200 pages, Shontz manages to touch on nearly every issue of interest to new librarians, as well as those looking to revitalize their careers. As the past president of ALA's New Members Round Table and creator of the career development web site LIScareer.com, Shontz is well qualified to write on this topic. The book is divided into eight well-written chapters on career planning, job searching, experience and education, networking, interpersonal skills, mentoring, leadership skills, and writing and publishing. Each chapter includes a summary, quotes from practicing librarians, a list of related readings and online resources, and a lot of common sense advice. The information is useful, detailed, and current, and each chapter could easily stand on its own. The book is also an enjoyable and entertaining read. Reviewed by Catherine Collins (catherine_collins@tamu-commerce.edu), Business Reference Librarian, James G. Gee Library, Texas A&M University, Commerce, TX ======== 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. 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