by Sharon Rivers, Oregon Chapter, Biomedical & Life Sciences Division

Portland is swimming with librarians. If you want to make a joke at a conference of librarians in the Pacific Northwest, just say that you have moved here to find a library job. Thatʼs what I did: I moved here fresh from Pittsburgh last February, was armed with my MLS from the University of Pittsburgh, showed up at the annual Online Northwest Conference and let people know that I was there to network and find a job. The laughs began. And theyʼve continued persistently since. Portland is a hip city and, letʼs face it, being a librarian is pretty darn hip. That is my educated hypothesis on why there is a high ratio of librarians to library jobs here.

This has led me to think outside of the box and turn my Masters degree into a hybrid skill — a skill that I can use to accentuate my basic knowledge of other fields. Here are some of the ways that I have found that I have value as a Library Science grad:

Be a sifter of information: We have all come to realize that the internet is a garbage dump of information. There are some jewels in there, but itʼs important to find a person who can find them. In interviews, I am sure to bring up the fact that in any situation of large amounts of information or data, I can be relied upon to find what is relevant.

Use my customer service skills: Working in a public library for six years has taught me how to be of service to a large array of people. Iʼve learned how to explain difficult procedures to a beginning learner; that many times a person needs to be led with a lot of questions to figure out exactly what they need; and that remembering a personʼs name goes a long way in making a good impression.

Use my passion for continuous education and life-long learning: A prospective employer wants to hear that you are willing to grow in your position. I believe a characteristic of all librarians is a thirst for knowledge. We are curious, ambitious, and intelligent. This all leads to us having the drive to continually be learning more. We have the drive to grow–employers need to hear that.

In my job search, one of the best pieces of advice that Iʼve been given is that I need to think outside of the box. Iʼm certain that I can apply my past experience and skills in ways that I havenʼt thought of yet. If I do this, I am going to be pleasantly surprised.

Sharon Rivers received her Masters Degree in Library Science from the University of Pittsburgh in 2005.  She is a recent transplant to Portland, Oregon and is currently seeking ways to become part of the network of librarians in Portland.

by John Tomlinson, New York Chapter, Knowledge Management Division

To me, being future ready means supplementing my studies toward an MSLIS with reading outside our field. Casting a wide net in what I read provides a different perspective than LIS-related sources, and sometimes provokes different insights and ideas. It’s made me more creative in thinking about library/information-center related issues.

Two specifically information-related fields I try to keep up-to-date on are design and journalism. Journalism is particularly relevant because it’s facing challenges/opportunities similar to those in our field -massive technological changes affecting the collection/delivery of information and the expectations of our clients. The Poynter Institute’s Romenesko blog, Jay Rosen’s PressThink blog, and the NPR show On the Media are among many excellent sources.

I also try to read a bit about management and business. Here, the McKinsey Quarterly, various Harvard Business Review products, and the Stanford Social Innovation Review are examples of great resources.

Depending on your background and interests, fields such as cognitive psychology, computer programming, information security, architecture, law, marketing, or others might be most useful in being future ready. In any case, open eyes/ears are just as important as an open mind in our rapidly changing profession.

John Tomlinson is Senior Communications Manager at Synergos, a nonprofit organization fighting poverty and inequity around the world, and an MLIS candidate at the Pratt Institute, where he manages the website for SLA’s student chapter.

Michael Bellacosa, Fairfield County Chapter [immediate past-president], Museums, Arts and Humanities Division

Since my LIS career is just beginning after a radical professional transition, I am completely focused on moving into the future with all the change which that entails. Fortunately, my 18-year prior career as a trader, risk manager and business manager on Wall Street taught me many things about working in rapidly evolving and innovating environments: most importantly, either you plunge in to lead or you surf the wave or you get left behind [with a life preserver if you’re lucky].

As a newly-minted librarian, I have few preconceived notions about the profession: indeed, while I still like the term “librarian”, I have a very expansive view of the meaning of that word as well as the word “library”. Because my best strategy for breaking into this new field is to leverage my substantial [yet strictly speaking unrelated] resume, I am imagining the analogies between what I did before my MLS degree [completed last December] and what I can do now.

One trail I’ve been following is the relationship between managing the risk to portfolios of financial assets [i.e. hedging] and managing the risk to collections of digital assets [i.e. digital preservation]. I think the analogies can be generalized to physical and hybrid physical/digital collections. Further, many of the same risk management principles can also be applied to the digitization process itself. From this launching point, I’m working to invent a model for LIS professionals to use in making cost-benefit/risk-management business case arguments to non-LIS administrators in charge of the resources for funding such programs.

If I succeed at translating my skills and experience from the finance-world to the info-world and apply these to current and upcoming challenges in the LIS field, then I will have become “future ready”.

Michael Bellacosa completed his MLS in December 2010. Before commencing that program, he was a currency trader and a risk manager on Wall Street for nearly 20 years. His primary interests are in digital preservation, challenges from technological obsolescence, and the effective use of current information and communication technologies for preserving and providing access to special collections.  Michael presented the basic outline of his model at the “Contributed Papers” session on June 14 at 10am. Check SLA’s Web site for his handout.

by Karly Szczepkowski, Michigan Chapter, Business & Finance Division

I still remember when I attended orientation for my MLIS. I wasn’t even sure that I wanted an MLIS! I was sitting in an auditorium and the dean of the program said, “Look around you [at the other students attending orientation]. This is your competition. This is who you will be competing for in the job search.” I hadn’t thought about it that way, but he was right. I looked around the room and saw all these intelligent, hard-working people. How was I going to distinguish myself from them? We will all receive a MLIS, so how will I demonstrate to employers that I am the best candidate for the job?

I went home and thought long and hard. I thought about what I did and didn’t do when pursuing my undergraduate degree. Then I created a three-prong approach. In addition to pursuing my MLIS, I decided to:

1. Gain relevant work experience. For me, this was critical: it would provide experience so I could meet those requirements on job applications, it would provide networking opportunities, and it would expose me to the type of work I would be doing BEFORE I graduated, giving me a chance to evaluate the work and decide if it was what I was really interested in. Figuring this out before graduation was important to me; it’s much less stressful to change your mind when you are a student then when you a permanent full-time employee that may have moved across the country to work in a field you later realize you don’t like. Even if you already have work experience, I still don’t see how it hurts to continue to gain experience while you are studying. I knew a few people who quit their jobs to focus on school full-time; one even turned down a prestigious internship because, “internships are for people with no work experience. I already have experience.” Then they graduated and had no job. Worse, their skills were now 1-2 years old and they were competing against other grads with more current skills.
2. Join a professional association. It’s a great way to network. Since I was interested in nontraditional libraries, I chose to join SLA, which has a very active state chapter. At first, I was afraid to attend meetings. But everyone was so nice and welcoming! They were thrilled to have me join them, even though I was a student. And amazingly, despite living in a state with two library/information science programs, I was often times the only student to attend meetings. That got me noticed! Professional librarians – the people who could possibly have job openings in the future – knew my name, knew I was interested in special libraries, and through my work with SLA, knew what I was capable of.
3. Create my own personal brand. I know what you’re thinking: what does that mean? Isn’t that just some meaningless advertising mumbo-jumbo? Instead of answering that question, I’m going to ask one: What color is the UPS truck? It’s brown. How do you know that? Because UPS made a conscious decision to “brand” itself as brown. Just like Coke made a decision to use red in its packaging and McDonald’s made sure all its arches were golden.

In life, we have many choices on how to ship packages, what to drink and where to eat. And employers have many choices on who to hire. I’ve heard of library directors receiving 100+ resumes for just one open position. How do they choose? That could be a book all in itself, but rather than sit and think about it, I wanted to do something about it. I decided to create my own brand. I was lucky to have a rather unique name, so I decided to use it to my advantage. When people heard my name, I wanted them to associate that name with an up-and-coming information professional.

I did that by taking on a leadership position in my school’s student chapter of SLA, first as Secretary and then as President. I organized frequent tours of special libraries – sometimes one every three weeks (which is another way to network!). I spoke about SLA at student orientation, I served on a panel offering “success tips” to new students, I presented at conferences, and I posted regularly on the student listserv.

You can brand yourself, too. Think about what makes you different from the hundreds of others who are in your LIS program. What do you have to offer that they don’t? Share that with the LIS community!

Can’t think of anything? Well how about this: you have initiative. You’re reading this blog. You’re thinking about what makes you different. Some people never do that. Or some people do, but never do anything about it. Just by doing something about it, you’re demonstrating how you’re different than everyone else with an MLIS. So even if you think what you’re sharing isn’t unique, even if you think you’re not unique, the mere act of taking initiative will make you stand out and get you noticed.

Karly Szczepkowski, is a Development Research Analyst at Wayne State University. She gathers, interprets, analyzes, and disseminates information to secure support for the University. Karly is currently President of the Michigan Chapter of SLA.

by Stephanie Callaway

It is important to remember to set your goals- and do not stray from them!  It is advised to make a list of potential jobs prior to your initial job search.  These ideal jobs will help you direct your search in a positive manner and allow you to assess your timelines towards gainful employment.

When the job market is diminished and you are not hearing back from companies, it can be easy to become frustrated or fear that your resume is entering a black hole.  It is highly recommended to keep a journal or record of where you apply and to whom you sent your resume.  Remember to always follow up!  This shows your potential employers that you are genuinely interested in working with them and eagerly awaiting their feedback.

From reading Ms. Pamela Wall’s post regarding “My Resolution,” I have to agree with the fact that “the future is now.”  As you embark on your independent job search it is important to remain organized and focused.  Gear your search towards what you want to be doing.  As recent graduates the future may seem like a threatening or unusual place- where you are no longer graded for your effort, and the work isn’t divided by semesters.  This will be your job!  Make it something that interests you, and something that you are truly excited about.

If you feel as though you are stuck in a rut or would like assistance with your job search, it is a great idea to reach out for help.  TRAK Records and Library is a national staffing company with a strong presence in major cities across the United States.  We specialize in your field of information management, and TRAK prides itself on partnering with the up-and-coming MLS graduates and helping to create an ideal situation post-graduation.  If you are interested in hitting the ground running this May, please feel free to reach out for more details.

For more information on TRAK, please visit our website at www.trakcompanies.com, or send your resume toResumes@TRAKRecordsandLibrary.com for immediate consideration.  We look forward to hearing from you!

Stephanie Callaway is the National Business Development Director for TRAK Records and Library.

by Dave Cappoli, Lisa Chow, Jill Hurst-Wahl, Sonja Sajonas, John Walsh

Future Ready Toolkit

This post is from SLA’s new Future Ready Toolkit. The Toolkit was constructed by SLA members who have drawn upon substantial professional experience and alignment research to help you hone your skills in a way that is relevant and global. The toolkit is collaboration, alignment, adaptation, and community put into action.

Table of Contents

• Overview
• SLA Tools for LIS Students
• Examples of Job Titles for MLIS Graduates
• Networking Advice
• Your Reputation, CV, and Portfolio Matter
• Tools, Tips, and Tricks for the New Information Professional

Overview

As the premier association for library and information professionals, SLA’s mission is aimed at promoting and empowering its members through learning, advocacy, and networking initiatives.

The first section of this tool will provide in-depth overview of SLA’s resources specifically for library and information students seeking to begin their careers as information professionals.

The following sections will examine relevant topics that an LIS student is faced with as they near graduation and are faced with career-decisions.

SLA Tools for LIS Students

By David Cappoli

• Student Membership – A bargain at $40, a student membership provides you with access to the full range of membership benefits, from Information Outlook, to job listings, to chapter and division scholarship opportunities.  And as part of your membership you can join a topical division and regional chapter.
• What is a Special Library?  Presented on behalf of the SLA First Five Years Advisory Council, this recorded presentation presents a case study of a special library.
• Career Center – A valuable collection of resources that can assist with furthering one’s career in the information profession.  Includes job listings.  Particularly useful are:
  • Career Articles - How to become indispensable in your organization.
  • Career Coaching-Virtual assistance on career guidance.
  • Career Podcasts – Recordings on a variety of topics from writing cover letters, to job application mistakes, to decoding the job interview.
• First Five Years Advisory Council – The council focuses on the needs of individuals new to the profession.  The council has developed the following presentations to assist new professionals in their careers:
  • Locating Open Positions – How to find the right position for you.
  • Networking – Learn how to develop networking opportunities.
  • Salary Negotiation – Understand how to talk about the challenging subject of your salary
• First Five Years on Facebook – Connect with the Council on Facebook.
• Scholarships – Chapters and divisions may offer scholarships to library and information studies students.  Divisions often sponsor contests for travel stipends so that students can attend an SLA conference.
• SLA Early Conference Award – Presented by SLA Europe, this award was established “provide the opportunity for those at the start of their career to attend the SLA Annual Conference.”
• SLA Innovation Laboratory – Not enough time to explore an emerging technology on your own, then it is time to play and discover in the Innovation Lab.
• SLA Students Facebook Group – Join fellow SLA students on Facebook.

Examples of Job Titles for MLIS Graduates

If you’re in school as a library and information science student, you are probably aware of the large degree of variation in job title that an information professional is faced with. This variation is only getting bigger. Below is a quick-list of examples, taken straight from the source: the SLA career center.
*disclaimer: the importance of job title varies on a case-by-case basis. When it comes down to it, every manager is looking for a good team member.

• Manager of research services
• Business intelligence analyst
• Systems librarian
• Senior information specialist
• Prospect researcher
• Sales manager
• Business research librarian
• Librarian
• Head of cataloging and technology services
• KCM information services manager
• University librarian
• Curator of rare books and manuscripts

So, the word librarian is used in a little less than half the listings. And yes, you’re reading that right, a sales manager position was listed on the SLA career center. Why? Because the organization wanted someone with a knowledge of document and record keeping, publishing, and cataloging, an MLIS graduate, who happens to be good at sales. Some SLA members even have job titles such as VP of marketing and VP of strategic markets and partnerships. Lots of members have founded their own research, competitive intelligence, and social media consulting firms. What else do you happen to be good at?

Your degree is your gateway.

Networking Advice

From Jill Hurst-Wahl’s post on Digitization 101. Jill is a professor at Syracuse University School of LIS.

• What stops people from networking is that they think they have nothing to say, aren’t interesting, or are too shy.  I bet you talk to the checkout clerk at the supermarket about your groceries, right?  That is a short, focused conversation.  When you’re networking, your conversations can also be short and focused.
• In Syracuse, NY, the natural conversation starter is the weather.  At a conference, the natural conversation starter is asking about the sessions.  For example, “what sessions have you thought were the best so far?”  (Notice that it is an open-ended question and not a yes-no question.  This gives the person an opportunity to say something meaningful.)  Every situation has a natural starter…and once you know it, you can use it over and over and…!
• Remember to introduce yourself.  If you want to make a connection with the other person, that person needs to know who you are.  “Hi, I’m…”, ”By the way, I’m…”, “…nice to meet you. I’m…”  And say your name clearly.  Even though you know who you are, it can be helpful practicing saying your name and your affiliation, so that you are guaranteed to say it smoothly. (“Hi, I’m Jill Hurst-Wahl. I just graduated with my MSLIS with a focus in digital libraries.”)
• If this is someone that has some synergy with you, give the person a business card. This not only gives the person your contact information, but it reminds them of your name.  (Honestly, I have had many great conversations with people that I know, but whose name I can’t remember.  Exchanging business cards is very helpful.)  Feeling awkward handing over your card?  “Here’s my card, in case you want to talk about this later.”  “My contact information has changed a bit, so here’s my new business card.”  “I don’t know if you have my contact info, so here’s my card.”
  • Consider including on your business card the URL for your LinkedIn profile and other relevant (and professional) social media accounts.  For many, this is much more useful than having your mailing address.
• And there is the magic word…listen.  Networking isn’t just about talking; it is about listening.  Learn how to be an active listener, then ask open ended questions, listen carefully to the replies, and ask follow-up questions when appropriate.  You’ll gather lots of useful information and the other person will think that you are a wonderful conversationalist!
• Remember that it is quality not quantity. It isn’t the number of people that you talk with, but the quality of the conversations that you have.  In other words, it is better to talk with a few people and make excellent connections that to talk to lots of people in very quick (likely meaningless) conversations.
• Have fun! While you should be professional in your networking activities, engaging in fun events with potential colleagues is okay. And honestly, even in lighter moments, serious topics and wonderful connections can be made.
• It is possible to network all the time.  That may be a scary thought for some people, so think of it this way…it is always possible to encounter someone with whom you want to make a connection.  When you run into someone like that, take the opportunity to exchange contact information, schedule time to talk, or whatever is appropriate.

Your Reputation, CV, and Portfolio Matter

From Jill Hurst-Wahl’s post on Digitization 101

Many people are creating their portfolios online and including in them samples of their work (e.g., papers and presentations).  Keep in mind that your portfolio doesn’t need to be fancy; it just needs to be a good representation of you.  Placing this information online — either on a web site, in a blog, or in LinkedIn*(*perhaps with a connection to SlideShare) — allows you to present what you want people to know about you and your work.  It also makes you more findable.  Someone searching on a topic of interest may stumble upon something you have and then be interested in you as a professional. And – yes – you want to be findable.

• Take time to clean up that information that is online about you in Facebook and other social networking site.
  • Review the photos that you’re in and make sure that they reflect the you that an employer would like to hire.
  • And check your profiles – even in places like Twitter- to ensure that they say what you truly want to communicate.
  • The bottom line is – Don’t lose out on a job opportunity because you either were not findable or what was found wasn’t deemed professional.
• Use all of the resources that are available to you.
  • Have you stopped into Career Services on your campus?
  • Have you done mock interviews?
  • Have you checked out other resources that have been mentioned on syllabi, in classes or during orientation?
• Ingest content about the profession
  • This will prepare you with in-depth understanding of the important trends and issues that the industry you are about to enter is facing.
  • That includes reading blogs as well as the professional literature, watching videos and presentations, and listening to podcasts.
  • Below are some places to start:
    • Information Today (magazine)
    • Searcher(magazine)
    • EContent(magazine)
    • Library Journal (magazine)
    • LibPunk Radio (podcast)
    • Adventures in Library Instruction (podcast)
    • T is for Training (podcast)
    • Free Range Librarian (blog)
    • Tennant: Digital Libraries (blog)
    • Book of Trogool (blog)
    • David Lee King (blog)
    • Walking Papers (blog)
  • Finally, no matter the day or the time, there are people who are supportive of you and your desire to be a librarian (or knowledge professional or information professional or…).  Grad school is a stressful time for everyone, so do reach out to family and friends and allow them to heap words of encouragement on you and maybe a little help to get you through a rough spell (e.g., dinner, a game of cards or help with laundry).  Don’t worry…at some point, you’ll repay their efforts by being there to give them or someone else needed support.  Who knows…you might find yourself lending support to a stressed LIS student.

Tips, Tricks & Tools for the New Information Professional

By Lisa Chow and Sandra Sajonas, presented at SLA@PRATT Career Day



David Cappoli is the digital resources librarian at the UCLA department of Information Studies. He is former president of the SLA Southern California chapter (2008) and was the chapter’s treasurer from 2004 – 2006. David was a member of the 2009 Centennial Commission of SLA, and a member of the 2009 Conference Planning Committee. Prior to coming to UCLA, he was a librarian at the LA Times, and was research database coordinator with Glasgow Polytechnic in Scotland.

Jill Hurst-Wahl is a professor at Syracuse University School of Information Studies. She is a member of the SLA Board of Directors and several SLA units. She co-authored The Information and Knowledge Professional’s Career Handbook: Define and Create Your Success with Ulla de Stricker.

Lisa Chow is a newish information professional with a few “library ribbons” including SLA Rising Star, Library Journal Mover & Shaker, ALA Emerging Leader and ARL Diversity Scholar. She is currently serving as the SLA DBIO Medical Section Chair.

Sandra Sajonas is a newish information professional with countless projects, presentations and accolades under her belt including ALA Emerging Leader and Library Journal Mover & Shaker. When she’s not shaking up the library world she’s checking items off of her “to do before I die” list.

John Walsh is the communications & marketing manager at SLA headquarters. A graduate in economics and English from UVA, he comes to SLA with experience in test prep education, sales, marketing, and market analysis. John is the staff liaison to the Public Relations Advisory Council.

by Brent, Amanda, Devin

I finally made the decision to go to library school after a few years of back and forth in my own head.  I obtained my undergraduate degree in English so a few of my family members were thrilled when I told them of my acceptance into the University of Washington’s library program.

“Finally! Something that will prepare you for a job!” went the half joking jeers.

But then I gave it a few moments and really thought about how a library school prepares you for a future career. For the most part, people go to library school with the goal of eventual employment in some information related field.

Luckily, I wasn’t alone in my decision to take the plunge.

A few of my friends had made the same decision before I had. One friend had just finished school at San Jose State through the distance learning program, and another was in her first year at Pratt, residential.

I sent them each the same set of questions that I thought could benefit new and prospective students to the field.

Just what is a person getting into when they apply to library school?  I asked them the following questions about their library/information school experience:

1. What were your expectations were coming into it?
2. What type of preparation has it given you for your future job?
3. Are you enjoying your time or biding it until you’re finished?
4. What is the value of a library degree in today’s job climate?
5. How difficult is the work? Assignments and extra-curricular?
6. Online vs. residential. What are your opinions on the two forms?

Overall, They seem a bit leery towards distance learning. I’m interested to see how my first year proceeds since that’s my chosen course format. There is also a definite consensus on the importance of getting the MLIS for the current job market. I’m glad that they both are enjoying/enjoyed their time in the respective programs and that it wasn’t a trudge to the finish line!

Amanda

1)  I had very high expectations going into library school.  I knew I wanted to go to Pratt since senior year in college.  I expected it to be super techy, and more cohesive but found it to be similar to a trade degree.  It has definitely been easier than I expected and there is an emphasis on networking and schmoozing that I was not expecting.

2)  I think the best part of my program has been the emphasis on internships and fieldwork.  I will be leaving the program with a stacked resume and awesome work experience that has given me confidence in finding jobs.

3) It goes back and forth at times, I have had some classes that I have enjoyed immensely and others that I wish I never took.  I definitely feel like I am ready to be done with school and start working, though.

4) I think a library degree has a lot of clout these days and can be applied to many jobs outside of libraries.  The Internet continues to open many doors for information jobs.

5) Not that difficult.  It can be overwhelming to find the correct balance of school, work, and play but the actual work has never been particularly difficult.  I have also found that teachers are very quick to give As.

6) For me personally, I could never do an online degree.  I need to interact with my professor and classmates and be a part of discussions.  I also think giving presentations and expressing your ideas in front of a group of people is a really important skill to master which you cannot practice doing online.

Devin

1) I didn’t have a lot of expectations coming into the program. My only thoughts going into the program were that this was a way for me to break into the library and archives profession, and that it was a great way for me to get a better grasp on the information field as a whole.

2) Going into the program I had a very small idea of what a profession in Information and Library science meant. After my first semester in the program, I was able to grasp just how broad the profession really is. The classes gave me good base knowledge, great skills that I will be able to build off once I am working in the profession. I think I will learn a lot more on the job.

3) I loved my program. I had some great professors who have been in the profession for a long time. I loved what I learned, and I loved the people I met through the school. It is an amazing community of people. I learned a lot and for the most part, I enjoyed the classes I took.

4) I would say that having a degree is very important for someone just entering the field. People expect those entering the information profession to have a degree these days. In the past, that wasn’t always the case. Having the experience was good enough. The older generation didn’t need the Master’s degree. However, now you are seeing those people coming back to school to get their Master’s even though they’ve been in the profession for a while. I think that says a lot for just how important a degree is.

5) I wouldn’t say the work is difficult. It is very time consuming. You have to be willing to put in many hours of reading.

6) I highly recommend residential. It was very hard to stay involved with the program as a distance learner. I think I would have taken a lot more away from the experience if I have been a residential student. It is some much easier to stay disconnected when you aren’t interacting with peers face to face on a daily basis.

Brent Mills will be attending his first semester at the University of Washington’s MLIS program this Fall. He currently volunteers with the Talk Time program at the Multnomah County Library facilitating a non-native conversation group.