by Deb Hunt, 2012 SLA President-Elect

I often hear my colleagues discuss how SLA or other professional associations need to do more for members. What I don’t hear so much is how we can do more for ourselves. There are opportunities to learn and expand our skillset and value through SLA, but we need to expend the effort and funds to take advantage of them. As a candidate for SLA President-Elect, I talked to members all over the world. Many are rightly concerned that jobs are going away and that we often feel like we are on a downward path. But, what I also hear are excuses:

• I don’t attend the annual conference, CE courses, local meetings, etc. because my company no longer pays my way;
• I’m unemployed and cannot afford to attend events;
• I don’t have time to develop new skills;
• I cannot do professional development while at work due to firewall issues.

My response is that we cannot afford NOT to attend events and continue learning. If we don’t invest in ourselves, who will? This past year, I invested a substantial sum of money to attend a virtual online course to earn a certification in enterprise content management, an area of work that I’ve moved into over the past few years. Did a client or employer require me to earn this certificate? No, but I recognized that it gave me more credibility with potential clients and was well worth the time, effort and money.

Over my many years in the information profession, I’ve seen us move into areas of work that didn’t even appear on the radar back when I was in graduate school. If we continue to be future ready and agile, we can expand into other careers where there are jobs, money and opportunity. As I’ve added services to my own business, Information Edge, beyond more traditional areas of research and value-added analysis and library design and automation, I’ve leapt off the edge into expanding areas of opportunity. I’ve moved into document and enterprise content management, building on my info pro skillset, always learning, always on the lookout for new opportunities. There is a whole world out there that needs our skills and expertise, but we must be willing to take the leap, ever-learning, ever investing in ourselves and branding what we do as a valuable asset to any organization.

Deb Hunt is Principal of Information Edge which empowers clients to find the information they need to do their work. Information Edge specializes in enterprise content management, knowledge services, professional research, and library design and automation.
Deb has been a member of SLA since 1986 and SLA’s 2012 President-Elect. She served on the SLA Board as a Director from 2008-2010 and is the creator and team leader of SLA’s 23 Things, for which she received the SLA Presidential Award. She is a past President of the San Francisco Bay Region Chapter and a member of the Silicon Valley chapter and the Library Management, KM, and IT divisions. She is an active member in the Association of Independent Information Professionals (AIIP) and served on its Board of Directors from 2001-2003.

The Division of Government Information is delighted to be posting on the Future Ready 365 blog this week. DGI is a diverse community of knowledgeable information professionals who share an interest in government information and government librarianship. Our posts this week come from librarians in a variety of government library environments including federal, military, and academic. These DGI blog contributors share their insights on navigating the complicated landscape that today’s information professional must travel — from getting that library job to staying on top in a rapidly changing field once you’re there. Maybe you’d like to join us on the journey! Come check out the Division of Government Information at:  http://govinfo.sla.org/.

Kismet

Finding my job as a government contractor was pure kismet. I had belonged to several library listservs where jobs were posted and one day saw a job for a reference librarian position at the Census Bureau that I had not seen posted anywhere else. Jennifer Norman Turley, the Census Reference and Marketing Librarian, had posted the position on the DC/SLA listserv and because of her posting I applied for the job and eventually was hired. I was incredibly grateful for this lucky happenstance and it made me want to share these job postings with a wider audience. After all, I still received job ads through several listservs and knew many of my fellow library school friends might be interested in them as well.

My first thought was how to distribute these job opportunities? I sent out an e-mail and posted on Facebook to my fellow Rutgers MLIS classmates in October 2010 to see what they thought. Would they like me to set up a forwarding option in my email or would they prefer a blog? Would they like a Facebook page to visit or prefer me to post on my own wall? In the end one Rutgers friend and alum, Elizabeth Leonard, Online Campus Library Director at Berkeley College, offered to help and I dubbed the project “I Need a Library Job.”

Easy as 1-2-3

On October 16, 2010, Elizabeth created a Facebook page and I crafted the first daily digest e-mail and signed up 17 of our friends and classmates to receive it. Elizabeth soon added a Twitter account called “Need a Library Job” which would feed into Facebook and have our Facebook posts feed into Twitter. We never dreamed that in less than six months our little hobby would grow in popularity so fast. The main motivation was to share jobs we all found on listservs, from e-mails and on Web sites with any interested librarians. Early on, I created a policy which stated that only Elizabeth and I would post jobs to Facebook in part because we didn‘t want this to become a dumping ground for jobs, disorganized and with many repeated job postings. We wanted to be a service. So with our three outputs (e-mail list, Facebook, Twitter) we figured we could cover the many ways librarians like to receive information and since Facebook and Twitter would feed from each other that it would be a manageable amount of work.

Finding and filling a need on the fly

Social media has changed how we connect with information. Even though jobs are posted all over the internet and on listservs any librarian or library staff member job hunting would have to visit numerous Web sites and sign up for numerous listservs on the off chance that at least one service would provide a unique opportunity. The time wasted and frustration that builds up for job hunters, including information professionals and librarians, I thought was avoidable. We aimed to make the Facebook page a steady stream of numerous jobs on a daily basis and I aimed to make the daily e-mail as comprehensive a list as I could. If we could get our page out to more librarians we figured the likelihood of any one person finding a job would increase. I had been lucky to find my job so my goal was to help at least one other person find their job and to do this by building a safe, positive presence on the web for job hunting librarians and library staff. To get the word out Elizabeth and I joined tons of library association pages on Facebook and posted about our free service. Many people joined because of our postings but I would be remiss if I did not also mention the numerous faculty, students, librarians and others who, once they stumbled on our e-mail or online pages, shared them with all of their friends. As of mid-April 2011, our six month anniversary, we had over 1,800 Facebook fans, over 500 Twitter followers and over 850 subscribers to my daily ―I Need a Library Job,renamed INALJ, e-mail list. We added seventeen Social Media Volunteer Contributors who send us all the jobs they receive and have helped flesh out and add value to our service.

INALJ

The INALJ (pronounced Eye-Na L – J) daily e-mail list is my baby. From the beginning I aimed to make it a comprehensive list of all our Facebook and Twitter postings plus many more jobs. They say location is everything so I organized the listings by state. Through trial and error (Google docs, pasting within the e-mail, etc.) I came up with a Word document format that I attach to the email that allows for hotlinks directly to each state, Canada and other International jobs. I have a separate mailing for Mac users which helps them better view the document but my end goal would be to use a product (I am looking at Mail Chimp) to send the e-mail to everyone. With a circulation of over 850, Gmail is not the best tool to use, as it allows you to mass mail only 500 people. So, as a work around, I am sending from my personal e-mail as well so no one misses out. INALJ runs anywhere from 50 to 100 pages a day in a ten-point font and is chock-full of jobs from all over the US, Canada and around the globe. I keep jobs on the list all week, then delete any postings that do not have “apply by” dates at the end of each week. My ultimate goal is for INALJ to be useful as a one-stop-shop for all library job hunters or at the very least to be a useful daily tool in their hunt.

Future

While we are very proud of what we have created, it is also clear to us that there are still many holes in our coverage. Whenever we find niche library jobs blogs, such as Meredith Lowe‘s Archives Gig page, we like to share them with our readers because we realize many of our readers would benefit from niche postings, like archivists, and because our scope is much broader. There is simply no aspect of library work that we are unwilling to cover. My own goal for INALJ—to to create a one-stop shop and comprehensive jobs resource for librarians the world over hunting for jobs—is still a dream, but one I work hard at every day. We may create a blog, we may continue just as we are, but one thing is for certain—there is an even greater need today to share these kinds of opportunities with each other. Since we started in October of 2010 over twenty-five of our fans have found jobs either through our postings or on their own. Our original goal has been realized and this has only fueled our passion to continue to find and fill this need.

Reach us at:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/I-need-a-Library-job/125220477532213
Twitter: http://twitter.com/needalibraryjob/
E-mail: ineedalibraryjob@gmail.com

Naomi House is a reference librarian at the Census Bureau Library for CSTI.  She founded INALJ (I Need a Library Job) in October of 2010 and has since branched out into a daily email digest, Facebook page, twitter feed, LinkedIn Group called INALJ and now http://inalj.com, a webzine.  She lives near Washington, DC in Hyattsville, MD and enjoys cooking Pakistani food and traveling.

The Division of Government Information is delighted to be posting on the Future Ready 365 blog this week. DGI is a diverse community of knowledgeable information professionals who share an interest in government information and government librarianship. Our posts this week come from librarians in a variety of government library environments including federal, military, and academic. These DGI blog contributors share their insights on navigating the complicated landscape that today’s information professional must travel — from getting that library job to staying on top in a rapidly changing field once you’re there. Maybe you’d like to join us on the journey! Come check out the Division of Government Information at:  http://govinfo.sla.org/.

Nancy Faget, Federal Librarian

In our 4th year of Careers in Federal Libraries activities, about 50 of us are helping students and job seekers learn about federal librarianship. Many of us speak at webinars for library schools, national virtual convergence, annual networking/career fairs, and conference events. Some have even taken on the role as an official federal liaison to a library school and career center.

Good things are happening, but there’s got to be a better way of doing this! One-to-one conversations are wonderful in building relationships and delivering personalized advice, but we must raise our game. Not everyone is following the hiring reform changes, so would everyone know that job openings are sometimes advertised as thus: “Closes April 29 or when the first 75 applications are received”?

Is there a benefit to building a “many-to-many” online way to share tips from several advisors with whoever cares to read it? Would it benefit us to have an online way for students and job seekers to request a mentor or request a resume review?

As evidence of the great advice that could be provided (many-to-many), here is just a sampling of advice and testimony from a small but diverse group of volunteers and accidental advisors. They all contribute something different and valuable to the conversation. You’ll also get insight into why they dedicate their time and effort to being an accidental advisor.

And lastly, here is the next challenge. How we do leverage or build an online space where advice can be sought and provided in a many-to-many environment? This project will produce a long-lived valuable resource. Work with University of Illinois Urbana Champaign begins soon to explore how best to connect our federal community of advisors to a library school career center. Something wonderful may just happen.

Jennifer McMahan, Supervisory Librarian, US Department of Justice

For the last couple of summers, I gave a presentation at the CUA Institute on Federal Library Resources. I liked doing the presentation and talking to students because I was completely clueless when I first applied for federal jobs and several people were kind enough to help me. And, selfishly because I want to see the best new librarians applying for federal jobs! Here is some of what I told them:

• When looking at the announcement, make sure it’s something you actually want to do. But just because you’re more familiar with certain library positions, doesn’t mean you can’t try something new. That’s why it’s good to take advantage of practicum and internships now to try to figure out what kind of environment you like to work in. If you don’t have time for an internship or practicum,  consider job shadowing for a day or two. Most librarians I know, myself included, would be happy to host a student for a day who wanted to learn more about what we do.
• Don’t sell yourself short and don’t be afraid to apply for a job for which you don’t think you have the exact right experience/skills. For example, a lot of students are scared off by the “law librarian” title in our job announcements, but much of what we do is not legal research and typically we are looking for a well-rounded person with good research skills in any discipline.
• You might not feel like you have enough experience to be applying for certain jobs. But you might be overlooking experience that’s not library-related but is very relevant. One of the KSAs I see most often and that we always use: ability to communicate orally and in writing. I remember seeing a resume of someone who had little library experience, but she was involved in her local Toastmasters organization; another one was a former journalist. Those skills are incredibly important and very relevant.
• Even if KSAs are not required, still write a cover letter detailing your experience and what you’d bring to the job. Use specific examples. I like reading/hearing about examples of how a person has shown creativity and initiative with projects.
• Bring something to the interview, such as a “pretty” copy of your resume and a writing sample or a product that you created.
• In the interview, brag about your accomplishments, rather than yourself. Saying, “You should hire me because I’m smart,” doesn’t tell us anything about what you can do.
• A question that gets asked at most interviews is, why do you want this position, or why do you want to work here? Be prepared to answer that! Make sure you learn whatever you can about the mission of the agency and specifically the library. At least one part of your answer should be, “because I believe in what you do,” or at least that you are interested in government service.
• This is your opportunity to interview the library and organization as well. Try to find out what the work environment is like. Does it support creativity? Most of what I’ve done in my job since I started at DOJ has not been in my job description. I created it on my own. Try to determine how rigid a place is and whether it’s a good fit for you. Talk to employees who would be at the same level as you if given the opportunity. The federal hiring process can take a really long time, so you don’t want to waste your time or the agency’s if you’re not going to be happy there.
• Always write a thank you note – I can think of one situation where it helped make the decision to hire one person over another.
• References – make sure any person you list as a reference knows you’re doing so and will give you a good reference. It seems like a no-brainer, but I’ve talked to people who didn’t remember the person in question, were surprised to hear he/she was applying for other jobs, or couldn’t say anything good about the person.
• If I were hiring someone right now, I would love to find someone who doesn’t necessarily have a lot of experience, but lots of energy and enthusiasm. Someone who wasn’t afraid of not knowing everything, or anything, at first, someone who was constantly curious and wanting to learn new things and take on new challenges. Also, someone with strong attention to detail, and really good written and oral communication skills.

Blane Dessy, Executive Director, FLICC/FEDLINK

I generally tell students that the MLS degree is a starting point in the job search. Having an MLS does not guarantee a job, so the applicant must add value to their resume and their interview by explaining how his/her skills will be a complement to the agency. Applying for a job is much like a sales job; you have to understand the Agencies being applied to and you have to make yourself unforgettable (but in a good way!).

Aimee Babcock-Ellis, Librarian, Drug Enforcement Agency

• Don’t be so picky about your first job; it’s not your last job.
• Increase your chances of getting hired: be mobile!
• The time is to learn how to instigate change is NOW. Practice by setting up your own mentoring relationship or finding your own practicum.
• Listen and attend as many events as you are able to. There are free career events at EVERY conference.
• Students are responsible for their own future.
• Consistency and proper grammar do count! Use your on campus Career Center to your advantage.
• The more approachable you can be, the more likely it is that you can help the candidate.

Jessica Hernandez, Librarian, FDA Biosciences Library

As a recent graduate and new federal librarian, I benefit a great deal from advising students and job seekers. Promoting federal careers is a wonderful way to keep a pulse on the latest job trends. Each interaction is an opportunity for me to refresh my knowledge of the hiring process, learn about different career paths, and reflect on my own skills and future plans.

Virginia Sanchez, Federal Information Professional, 2010 Library Journal Mover & Shaker

What advice do I usually give when I review someone’s resume? Never assume, especially in the use of acronyms. It is tempting to use acronyms in order to save valuable white space, but as one resume reviewer said to me, “I have no idea what that means,” and he did not have the time for me to explain as he moved on.

Whenever I can, I give information specific to the student when counseling them on how to find a job. I also launch into Story Time mode and share personal anecdotes, complete with sound effects and arm waving.

What do I get out of the experience? Bug eyed wonder. Seriously, not only do I get an opportunity to assist an aspiring employee in attaining a goal, which would in itself be enough, it does cause me to take a close look at my own resume. It goes back to something I learned in my martial arts training: teaching forces you to examine and refine your own techniques to ensure your students receive proper training.

Eugenia Beh, Texas A & M University, Electronic Resources Librarian on “Why I help manage the CiFL group”

My involvement with the Careers in Federal Libraries group has enabled me to connect with outstanding librarians at all levels of federal librarianship. The group is the first place I look for information on the latest federal library positions and/or to get a question answered about applying for a federal position. I highly recommend joining this group to anyone interested in federal librarianship, whether you are a student or someone considering a mid-career change.

Rich Louis, Information Resources Specialist on “Why I help manage the CiFL group”

Involvement with CiFL has been invaluable as far as meeting librarians employed by the federal government. Getting to talk with current federal librarians has allowed me to gain a much better understanding of what it is that the federal government is looking for and how I can tailor my skill set to federal employment requirements. Being a part of CiFL has allowed me to be of service to my colleagues and, for once, to really feel a part of a professional organization.

Marianne Giltrud, Librarian and Adjunct Faculty, Catholic University of America on “Careers in Federal Libraries: Uniting Professionals in Service to America”

Anyone looking into the possibility of federal service as a professional librarian need look no further than the Careers in Federal Libraries Google Group. Collaboration, Engagement and Agility are why I belong to the group. While the purpose of the group is to develop a cadre of service oriented staff that are committed to their agency mission and at the same time are current with the rapidly changing information environment, this group provides a lens into the rich, deep and varied opportunities in the profession. Truly, library skills translate across many areas, in many contexts, and many media. Information, Resources, Mission, and Competencies are benchmarks that define this group’s success.

When I talk to individuals about this group, I highlight the benefits:

• Open group
• Vacancy announcements, internships, fellowships, student temporary employment and student career experience, Presidential Management Fellows program information
• Career advice
• Resume Reviewers
• Presentations, Documents, and Webinars
• Get involved!

Nancy Faget works as a federal librarian in Washington, D.C. She enjoys volunteering with professional associations and mentoring information professionals in Careers in Federal Libraries activities. Nancy’s most recent article appears in “Mid-Career Library and Information Professionals: A Leadership Primer”. At the ALA 2010 Annual conference, her peers awarded her the ALA FAFLRT Distinguished Service Award.

Jennifer McMahan is the Head Librarian for the Civil, Criminal, and Civil Rights Divisions at the US Department of Justice. She joined the staff there in 1999, shortly after receiving her MLS from Catholic University. Her activities include managing four of the Justice Libraries, as well as reference, training, and helping to create and maintain the DOJ Virtual Library.

Hello from Wisconsin! We are delighted to contribute a week’s worth of postings from the Midwest! You’ll see that Wisconsin isn’t just about the cheese—our chapter boasts 120 members from diverse environments: corporate, law, academic, and other settings, many of us from unique national companies and associations. Our state’s two library schools have renewed focus on special librarianship and growing interest from our student members is evident. We are an active, enthusiastic chapter and happy to contribute our thoughts on future readiness! It’s great in the Dairy State!

“When life hands you lemons, make lemonade…” is a mantra we often hear bandied about, and with it often comes resignation. Nonetheless, to be “future ready,” we must change our attitudes about circumstances, and confront the curves life throws as growth opportunities, not traumatic horrors.

Three years ago, my comfortable, fairly established and defined career as a full-time association research librarian abruptly changed with reduction to a part-time schedule—four days a week. I felt deluged with uncertainty and lemons.

I allowed myself the luxury of a brief hiatus for frustration, angst, and wonderings, and then realized that mindset was a waste of time. I realized the new schedule created an opportunity— the additional day per week would allow me to try new things I hadn’t been able to do as a full-timer.

With this extra day, I discovered aspects of myself I didn’t know existed:

• I’ve enjoyed “stay-at-home mom” status for the first time, even if only temporarily.
• I considered a career change to court reporting and went back to school to explore this option—and failed miserably! But in this “failure” I realized my true calling is the profession for which I am already academically prepared.
• I next accepted the opportunity to teach two sections of information literacy at the undergraduate level to many students drawn from a largely underserved population, several of whom faced astounding life challenges…and I’d never taught anything before. But I did it, successfully, and made some wonderful connections with many of my students.

Meanwhile, my research librarian job has required that I adapt. And I’m enjoying it, as I explore heretofore untapped abilities. I’m now a published writer at my association and am reinventing my role as information professional in other proactive ways, with a positive attitude of willingness and flexibility. It seems the biggest challenges often can bring the biggest rewards.

I also accepted an invitation from my SLA chapter to join the board as president-elect and program chair for 2011. This, too, has been a remarkable opportunity for personal and professional growth. I enjoy meeting my colleagues and interacting with our vendor partners, and I’ve enhanced my resume. My own attendance at SLA events is a very different and enlightening experience in a leadership capacity. These connections and experiences are invaluable.

Here are several guidelines that can help any of us become “future ready”:

• Identify your personal life and career priorities and goals, and find a balance.
• Discover your strengths and weaknesses.
• “Failure” offers experience and potential for future success.
• Don’t underestimate what you can achieve.
• Be flexible and find new choices when presented with “unwanted” change.
• Know what makes you happy.
• Be open to learning about yourself and others through interactions with people of all ages, backgrounds, and life experiences.
• It’s fun to try new things!
• One is never a “finished product,” and commitment to lifelong learning is critical to personal growth.

Recently, someone asked me where I see myself in five years. I can’t make predictions, and five years ago I wouldn’t have guessed my current realities and accomplishments.

I’m confident I’ll be in a good place, though. The future starts now, not years from now. All of us can learn job specifics and technology as practicalities. More important is that we’re proactive—not only from 9-5 but with an ongoing positive attitude and enthusiasm for continual learning and personal growth.

We build our futures on the many new and different environments and experiences we seek and find. This self-knowledge, proactivity, and forging of connections enables us to move ahead without trepidation. And that’s what future success is all about. Be a go-getter! Know thyself! Lemonade is actually a refreshing beverage.

Is your glass half empty, or half full?

Lora Kloth is Research Librarian at Credit Union National Association, Madison, Wisconsin, and President-Elect of SLA’s Wisconsin Chapter.

Note: This article first appeared in Front Line, the newsletter of CUNA.  The views expressed in this piece are Lora Kloth’s and her’s alone and do not reflect the views of Credit Union National Association (CUNA).

by Dr. Sandra Hirsh, Silicon Valley Chapter, Leadership & Management Division

Tomorrow’s information professionals, who are in graduate school today, need to be ready for the rapid changes facing our profession. When they complete their degrees, will they be prepared to enter a profession that’s evolving so quickly? I encourage students (and those who mentor them) to start thinking creatively and flexibly about future career opportunities as early as possible in their graduate program.

Today’s MLIS students need to think broadly about their skillset and how they can apply their knowledge to a wide range of career pathways. LIS professionals have valuable and unique skills that are in growing demand, yet many of today’s students don’t recognize the value of an MLIS degree. During their MLIS program, students should take the time to network with faculty members, practitioners, and industry leaders, who can inspire them to think more broadly about the range of career opportunities for tomorrow’s LIS professionals.

Students need to be strategic as they choose their courses, thinking about how the knowledge they gain in graduate school can help them pursue tomorrow’s jobs. They should take advantage of their program’s academic advising and career development tools, and read blogs about emerging trends for LIS jobs. As our field is quite broad, before selecting courses, students need to understand the relevance of specific electives to potential career pathways they may want to pursue. Students should also complete an internship, where they can make connections with practitioners, gain real-world experience, and see how their skills can be applied in a variety of professional settings.

I also think it’s critical for today’s MLIS students to be comfortable exploring and adapting to new technology, as technology will continue to play an important role in our profession. Students should seek out opportunities to use technology in their learning activities. For example, students should be comfortable using web conferencing, blogs, wikis, and social networking sites. They should make it a priority to explore how technology is impacting our profession so they emerge from graduate school ready to share their ideas with their employers.

Today’s MLIS students also need to develop a lifelong learning community, made up of a diverse group of colleagues, who are eager to collaborate and explore solutions to changing priorities. While still in school, students should take time to build their professional network. One way this can be accomplished is through participation in professional associations, including student chapters based at their university.

In the past, attending professional conferences has posed challenges because of difficulties getting time off work and affording travel expenses. However, many professional conferences are now offered virtually, opening up new opportunities to get involved in conference planning, presentations, and networking. For example, the upcoming Library 2.011 worldwide virtual conference in November will bring together a global audience to explore how the digital age is impacting the roles libraries and librarians play in how we learn and consume information. These types of conferences provide excellent venues for students to get involved in the professional community and learn about new trends in our field.

It’s an exciting time to be preparing tomorrow’s information professionals. I look forward to feedback from any of you who would like to engage in further dialogue about how MLIS programs can help today’s students be future ready.

Sandra Hirsh is Professor and Director of the School of Library and Information Science at San José State University. Prior to joining the School as Director, she worked in the Silicon Valley for more than a decade at major technology companies: Hewlett Packard and Microsoft. As an industry user experience researcher, leader, and manager, she contributed to R&D research projects and influenced the user experience of web, mobile, and TV consumer products resulting in 5 U.S. patents. She was previously an assistant professor at the University of Arizona, and has taught courses for San José State University and the University of Washington.

Info-entrepreneurs, represented by the Association of Independent Information Professionals, stand out as innovative, forward thinking, and client focused information professionals.  This series of posts delivers future ready solutions and strategies from current and past presidents of AIIP.  As industry thought leaders they have much to share about staying ahead of the curve and delivering cost effective solutions to clients worldwide.  In this insightful series of postings readers will learn how to create a job for life by listening for opportunity, watching for changes, stretching to acquire new skills, finding a balance, planning for the long term, and drawing on your strengths. — Cindy Shamel

by Susanne Bjorner

 “Once you have been an independent information professional,” I like to tell those new to information entrepreneurship, “you will have a job for life.”

But only if you accept the fact that the job will change a thousand times, and that you must create and re-create the job yourself.

Since the Association of Independent Information Professionals (AIIP) was formed over a quarter century ago, I have seen many of its members establish businesses, market their services, achieve their professional and financial goals, and then revise and reinvent their businesses as change rolled in to hit society at large, the information industry, their market niche, or them personally.

I have also seen several smart, capable business owners make the decision to move on from their successful business and take higher-level jobs in corporations, academic institutions, and prestigious non-profits. Often these were institutions that were former clients or partners. The new employee had seen an opportunity and created their next job, this time choosing to be on the inside.

Eyes wide open

Independent information professionals learn to look at the open market around them and see what needs to be done. What encourages independents to keep their eyes wide open while facing the future? We have to. There is no paycheck coming in automatically next week or next month. We are constantly on the lookout for the next job, whether it is a new client or a new service to sell to an existing client. Success demands constant watchfulness.

AIIP members have a unique forum that keeps them continually aware that change is coming. In order to maximize profits by targeting their resources, most small information business owners work within just one or two industries or market sectors. As a group, however, AIIP members cover the gamut of industries and business sectors. All members have access to a lively private electronic discussion list that has been running since the second year of the association’s existence (way back in 1988). In this active members-only forum, AIIPers share their experiences, questions, and reflections as they discuss–while observing client confidentiality–projects, resources, tactics, strategies, technology, and possible trends.

Active reflection

I say “possible” trends because the word “trend” rarely comes up in the discussion. Discerning potential trends that may affect the information industry–and our businesses–is an individual responsibility and largely an individual activity. The beauty of the AIIP discussion group is that there are readers and contributors from multiple industries and geographic areas who provide very different services and perspectives. Discussion is not targeted toward specific disciplines, specialties, or market sectors as it is with many e-discussion lists. Often, a key insight comes when observing an activity, industry, or practice far removed from the area we are working in, carried out by someone we might never know if we did not share association in this very diverse forum. Not everyone figures out future trends from the wealth of data points that are offered in this global exchange, but the opportunity is there.

Look outside

Even if you are not a member of AIIP (though you are welcome and do not have to own an information business to become an associate member) you can take a step toward being future-ready by participating in forums (electronic and otherwise) outside your area of immediate interest and practice. Yes, it requires a time commitment that may be hard to manage in the short term. But this is an easy way to look into the long term, and we need to do that frequently and reflectively. Because by definition, the future is outside of where we are today.

When Susanne Bjorner attended the organizational meeting of AIIP in 1987, she had no idea that today her business would be providing editorial services from a home in Spain. Along the way she has had hundreds of jobs, belonged to six SLA chapters, and observed countless information professionals move successfully into the future.  Susanne served as AIIP president in 1989-1990.

By Marydee Ojala

As we all strive for a state of future readiness—while recognizing that the future will inevitably arrive whether we’re ready or not—let’s not forget our past. I was extraordinarily fortunate to work for BankAmerica Corporation in my first professional position after earning my MLS. I became enthralled by the story of the founding of the library in 1922 at what was then Bank of Italy. (The name changed to Bank of America in 1930.)

The first librarian, K. Dorothy Ferguson, didn’t answer a job ad. She wasn’t promoted from within. She certainly didn’t find the position through Monster.com or craigslist. She didn’t go through traditional channels for a very good reason. There was no job. There was no library. There was no bank employee thinking, “Gee, we really need a corporate library.”

It was Ferguson herself who created the job. She approached A.P. Giannini, the legendary entrepreneur who started Bank of Italy in 1904, and said, “To be a great bank, you need a financial library. Moreover, you need me to organize it for you.” He hired her. The bank prospered. She stayed with the bank until 1943, when she resigned to establish libraries in Africa and Asia under the auspices of the British government.

A strong advocate of SLA, Ferguson was the first president of the San Francisco Chapter (1924-25) and served a second term as president in 1938-39. She became national chairman of the Financial Group, which evolved into the Business and Finance Division, in 1927. On the job, she demonstrated strong marketing skills. By 1923, she had a regular column about the library in the employee newsletter, explaining how it could benefit bank employees.

Today, as we contemplate how to prove the value of libraries and information professionals, we try not to “preach to the choir” by getting “outside the echo chamber.” Ferguson, in the 1930s, was publishing articles in journals read by bankers, not librarians. Web 2.0? Obviously, Ferguson lived in a pre-internet world. But she continually stressed that library services were not confined to the physical premises of the library. She championed information sources beyond books and beyond the library’s walls. The library’s slogan—”When in need of data, consult our library”—resonates still.

The attributes I admire in K. Dorothy Ferguson are ones that I think make modern information professionals future ready. She was fearless, with a strong belief in her own abilities and convinced of the power of information. She seized opportunities, made her own luck, and creatively transformed her professional life. Future ready? Yes, she was. Follow her example, and you can be future ready, too.

You can read a fuller account of Ferguson’s career in an article I wrote to celebrate the San Francisco Bay Region’s 75th anniversary in May 1989.

Marydee Ojala edits ONLINE: Exploring Technology & Resources for Information Professionals and writes its business research column (“The Dollar Sign”). She contributes feature articles and news stories to Information Today, Searcher, EContent, Computers in Libraries, Intranets, Cyber Skeptic’s Guide to the Internet, Business Information Review, and Information Today‘s NewsBreaks. Her blog is ONLINEInsider.net. She plans conference programs for Internet Librarian International (London, UK), WebSearch University (various sites in the U.S. and Europe), and Buying & Selling eContent. A long-time observer of the information industry, she speaks frequently at conferences, such as WebSearch University, Computers in Libraries, Internet Librarian, Online Information (London, UK), INFORUM (Prague), Southern African Online Meeting, Internet Librarian International, and national library meetings outside the U.S. She has adjunct faculty status at the School of Library and Information Science at IUPUI (Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis) teaching business information resources and online searching. Her professional career began at BankAmerica Corporation, San Francisco, directing a worldwide program of research and information services. She established her independent information research business in 1987, both in Denmark and the U.S. She serves as Past President for the Indiana chapter of SLA, and is an active member of IFLA’s Library Theory & Research Standing Committee and IOLUG (Indiana Online User Group). Her undergraduate degree is from Brown University and her MLS was earned at the University of Pittsburgh.

by Marie Kaddell, Washington, DC Chapter, Government Information, Information Technology, Military Libraries Divisions

One of the high points of my year is editing the Best Practices for Government Libraries.  Best Practices is a collaborative document that is put out annually on a specific topic of interest to government libraries and includes content submitted by government librarians and community leaders with an interest in government libraries and government information. The 2011 edition includes over 70 articles and other submissions provided by more than 60 contributors including librarians in government agencies, courts, and the military, as well as from professional association leaders and information professionals working outside of government libraries. 

As I put together Best Practices, I am always inspired by the energy, expertise, and forward-thinking perspectives that are showcased in the article submissions I received for the publication. This year, the topic was e-Initiatives and e-Efforts.  I broke down Best Practices into six areas that reflected some of the key trends that surfaced in the submissions:

• Embracing New Avenues of Communication
• Adapting To New and Evolving Technologies
• Altering Our Places and Spaces
• Tackling Changing Expectations, Resources, and Job Descriptions
• Preserving What We Have and Preparing for The Future
• Expanding Horizons

With authors writing on a suite of hot topics that included:  e-books, e-gov, embedded librarianship, library moves, mentoring, research metrics, social media, virtual reference, telework, and even virtual fundraising in Second Life, being future ready takes on all kinds of different dimensions.

Here’s a sampling of articles authored by SLA members:

• Ten Scary Issues: Future Directions for Military Libraries
  Edwin B. Burgess, Director, Combined Arms Research Library
• Utilizing Electronic Databases During a Library Relocation
  George Franchois, Director, U.S. Dept. of the Interior Library
• Research Metrics: Measuring the Impact of Research
  James King, Information Architect, NIH Library
• Embedded Librarianship and E-Initiatives: The Dynamic Duo
  Rachel Kingcade, Chief Reference & CSC Direct Support Librarian, USMC Research
• Future Ready 365
  Cindy Romaine, SLA President 2011
• Building a Framework to Embrace the New and Expand Your Horizons
  Bruce Rosenstein, Author, Living in More Than One World: How Peter Drucker‘s Wisdom Can Inspire and Transform Your Life
• E-Gov Sites to Go Dark?
  Kim Schultz, Outreach Specialist at the NASA Center for AeroSpace Information, operated by Chugach Federal Solutions, Inc.
• To Build a Virtual Embedded Information Role, Start at the Top
  Mary Talley, Owner, TalleyPartners, 2011 DC/SLA President
• Web E-Accessibility to Reach Full E-Audience: “Expanding Our Horizon” to Better Honor Diversity
  Ken Wheaton, Web Services Librarian, Alaska State Court System Law Library
• Podcasts Get Information Junkies their Fix
  Chris Vestal, Supervisory Patent Researcher with ASRC Management Services, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and DC/SLA‘s 2011 Communication Secretary

If you did not write for this year’s Best Practices, I invite you to submit an article next time around and in the meantime submit a guest post for the Government Info Pro. 

Want more Best Practices? View the 2010 Best Practices:  The New Face of Value in PDF version. 

Marie Kaddell is the Senior Information Professional Consultant for government at LexisNexis.  She is the Chair of the SLA Division of Government Information. She authors and maintains the  Government Info Pro blog. She compiles and edits the annual Best Practices for Government Libraries. You can follow her on Twitter @libraryfocus.

Valerie Ryder, Philadelphia Chapter, Leadership & Management, Business & Finance Divisions

As someone who thinks of her car as a mode of transportation, or a way of getting from Point A to Point B, rather than as a part of my brand image, I still believe in regular maintenance as an investment for the future of my vehicle.  While living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for many years, I was accustomed to having my car realigned every few years due to encounters with the many road bumps and dips that earned the city its reputation as the “Pothole Capitol of the United States”.  Pittsburgh drivers may complain, but they accept realignments as necessary maintenance to avoid more serious problems with their vehicles in the long term. 

While thinking about career sustainability recently, it occurred to me that the same analogy applies.  If one does not regularly assess oneself for alignment with the organization’s goals and mission, a rude awakening may be encountered down the road.  In my early years as a corporate librarian, I probably did not constantly think about alignment as it pertained to my job and career, at least not as frequently as I might have thought about my car’s alignment.  After experiencing a few of those bumps and dips in my own career path, I did start seriously contemplating the connection of what I did in my job with where the corporation was heading and what it valued.  Most importantly, I looked at how the strategic plan of the group in which I worked as well as my annual performance goals dovetailed with the corporate direction and objectives. 

I started asking myself, my co-workers, and my managers, questions that challenged some of our own assumptions and beliefs about how our group directly or indirectly contributed to the commercial success of the corporation.  When product lines or entire business segments were sold off or discontinued, I pondered how that loss might impact the services we provided, the scope of our collection, and our internal customer base.  When other companies were acquired, new product lines were launched, or research projects were started in novel areas, I contemplated how those gains could provide new opportunities.  As corporate directives were issued, I re-examined our internal operations to determine how we needed to adapt.  When leaders and key personnel departed, retired or were replaced, I looked at what roles they played in the corporation and their support for our group in order to anticipate and mitigate impact.  When new staff joined the corporation, I looked for opportunities to build relationships with key players and support their goals and objectives.  Throughout these alignment checkpoints, I was evaluating my skills and interests to determine how well they matched the ever-changing institutional needs. 

Just as good drivers stay aware of subtle changes in the way their cars handle the road, information professionals need to continually reassess the ways in which their job responsibilities, the tasks that they perform, and their own skills dovetail with the current needs and future requirements of their organization.  Refocusing and retooling should be an ongoing activity rather than waiting for an annual maintenance inspection to find a problem, or more significantly, an unanticipated “bump in the road” to derail your career. 

Valerie Ryder is Director of Information Strategy at Wolper Subscription Services, a one-stop information management resource whose High Tech, High Touch® approach delivers the perfect combination of next-generation technology and time-proven, personalized service.  Valerie joined Wolper in 2009 after a career as a corporate librarian for Fortune 50 and Fortune 300 companies, a solo librarian, and an information consultant.   

Valerie is active in the Philadelphia Chapter where she is currently a Board Member and the Employment Chair 2010 – 2011.  She was the Vendor Relations Chair for 2008 – 2010 and a member of the Program Committee in 2008.

Valerie contributed two chapters on corporate librarianship to the recently published book ”Best Practices for Corporate Libraries”, published by Libraries Unlimited, in which she shared her experience in “Measuring Value in Corporate Libraries” and “Corporate Librarian’s Survival Kit for Organizational Realignment”.  Valerie presented a Contributed Paper at the SLA 2011 Conference entitled “The Metamorphosis of the Information Professional” that is available on the SLA website.

by Marilyn Bromley, Washington, DC Chapter, Competitive Intelligence, Information Technology, Legal, and Social Science Divisions

Being Future Ready means more than just keeping your job knowledge and skills current; as we all know in today’s economy, the job you are in and the work you do can change at a moment’s notice.  Your position may be eliminated, your responsibilities may be substantially changed, your employer may go out of business or be sold, your department may be downsized or combined with another unit – the possibilities are endless, good or bad.

I know I’m more aware of this now than I was a few months ago, and I’ve begun to ponder the elemental question: what do I want to do with the rest of my life?  I love my career and hope to have many more professional years ahead of me, but just in case, what other life for myself can I envision and create? I want to volunteer, maybe work part-time, maybe create a short-term second career… who knows? (and not me yet!)

The SLA Encore Caucus (encore.sla.org) is a good place to start; on their website you’ll find informative posts like “Top 10 Ways to Prepare for Retirement,” “Long-Term Projections for Social Security” (read this when you’re in a good place!), and “Retirement Confidence Survey 2011.”  There is also an Encore Mindmap that I found helpful despite my uncertainty about what a mindmap is.  Under Resources, be sure to check out Transition Strategies.  It will help you organize your thinking and research your options; as information professionals, organization and research are our comfort skills and will help reduce uncertainly, fear and trepidation!

One recommended book by Encore members is Don’t Retire, REWIRE, Sedlar & Miners, 2^nd edition, Alpha, 2007.  The note says: Helps you identify your drivers and how to apply them to your new life as well as to create a rewired vision to put your action plan in motion.

In thinking about your finances, in the post “Whether retirement is Near or Far…” you’ll find this advice from Arthur Stein, certified financial planner with SPC Financial in Rockville, Maryland.

• reduce your expenditures five percent right now and see what that’s like;
• keep track of expenditures or go back retroactively and try and estimate how much you spent in the last six or 12 months. See where your money’s going;
• don’t do it before you get an actual retirement plan that would show that you’re ready;
• don’t pull the trigger (i.e. retire) too soon.

We owe it to ourselves, our loved ones and our society to have a Plan B and a Plan C in mind when our Plan A turns an unexpected corner. 

Marilyn Bromley is Library Director at BNA and past-chair of the Social Science Division, past president of the DC Chapter, and active in the Legal Division.  She is currently running for Director, 2012 SLA Board.