E-forum on Job Hunting: A Conversation About How To Do It Well
Posted: April 29, 2011 Filed under: Advice, Advice: New Professionals, Advice: Students, Job Search, Opportunities: Professional Development, Technical Services, [ Opportunities ] | Tags: ALCTS, e-forum, erica findley, interview skills, job hunting, library technical services, tiffany eatman allen Leave a comment »Job Hunting: A Conversation About How To Do It Well
May 4-5, 2011
Hosted by Tiffany Eatman Allen and Erica Findley
Please join us for an e-forum discussion. It’s free and open to everyone!
Registration information is at the end of the message.
Each day, sessions begin and end at:
Pacific: 6am – 2pm
Mountain: 7am – 3pm
Central: 8am – 4pm
Eastern: 9am – 5pm
In this free and open e-Forum discussion, our hosts will look at performing a successful job search in library technical services.
Whether you are new to the field or just changing career focus, this e-Forum will provide you with the pointers you need to secure your next position in this continually changing area of librarianship. What can you do to put yourself ahead of the competition? How can you make yourself more visible in the crowded job market? Need a refresher on cover letters and resumes? How about interview basics? Do you know how to best manage your on-line presence while conducting a job search? We will explore these questions and many more with our two hosts: Tiffany Allen, Library HR insider and Erica Findley, a new graduate who recently landed an academic library position.
Tiffany Eatman Allen is the Director of Library Human Resources at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Library. She works extensively with librarians, staff, and Information and Library Science graduate students, and is also currently the Chair of the Library Leadership & Management Association (LLAMA) Human Resources Section. She holds a BA in Political Science and Psychology and an MLS, both from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has published in traditional print media, including C&RL News and in The Librarian’s Career Guidebook, as well as several articles written online for LISCareer.com. Additionally, she has served as co-editor of LISCareer.com and as co-author of “Career Q&A with the Library Career People” for LISjobs.com since 2003.
Erica Findley is the Digital Resources/Metadata Librarian at Pacific University Library in Forest Grove, Oregon. She earned her MLIS is 2008 and has held a variety of appointments in ALA. Currently, she is the Vice Chair of the ALCTS New Members Interest Group where she has led two on-line discussions about performing successful job searches. She is also serving on two search committees one for a library staff position and the other for the ALCTS ANO Editor position.
*What is an e-forum?*
An ALCTS e-forum provides an opportunity for librarians to discuss matters of interest, led by a moderator, through the e-forum discussion list. The e-forum discussion list works like an email listserv: register your email address with the list, and then you will receive messages and communicate with other participants through an email discussion. Most e-forums last two to three days. Registration is necessary to participate, but it’s free. See a list of upcoming e-forums at:http://bit.ly/upcomingeforum.
*To register:*
Instructions for registration are available at: http://bit.ly/eforuminfo. Once you have registered for one e-forum, you do not need to register again, unless you choose to leave the email list. Participation is free and open to anyone.
Anne Haas, Art Librarian of 25 Years
Posted: February 10, 2011 Filed under: Academic Librarianship, Advice: New Professionals, Art Librarianship, Libraries: Academic Art & Architecture Leave a comment »Interesting profile of Anne Haas, art librarian at Bowdoin’s Pierce Art Library. In particular, her jump from public to academic. It is sometimes difficult to make that transition. However, doing so early in her career and being able to capitalize on an open position that became permanent seems to have worked for her.
http://orient.bowdoin.edu/orient/article.php?date=2010-12-03§ion=4&id=1
How to Handle Rejection
Posted: January 21, 2011 Filed under: Advice, Advice: New Professionals, Advice: Students, Job Search Leave a comment »After the Failed Interview
by Christine Kelly at Inside Higher Ed
I found this article and thought that others might be interested. The author makes a great point – most of us go through rejection several times during our job searches. How you handle those scenarios can be important to your future career.
ACRL Webcast: From Idea to Publication
Posted: September 1, 2010 Filed under: Opportunities: Professional Development, Publication Leave a comment »The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) is now accepting registrations for this three-part series on academic publishing for librarians. Each webcast has a separate $50 registration fee.
Webcast 1: Understanding the Research Question (September 23, 2010)
Webcast 2: Analysis and Writing (November 4, 2010)
Webcast 3: Submitting for Publication (December 1, 2010)
Please see ACRL’s site for full description of learning outcomes, date, and presenters for each webcast.
Free ALA Webinar: Finding & Keeping Library Jobs
Posted: June 21, 2010 Filed under: Advice, ALA | Tags: ala10 Leave a comment »Finding Library Jobs Sponsored by JobLIST Placement Center
Date/Time: 06/29/2010 12:00 PM (Central Time)
Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Leader: Beatrice Calvin
Register here: https://ala.ilinc.com/perl/ilinc/lms/event.pl?div_view=reg&event_user_id=
“Newbie Dispatches”: podcasts via ACRL Residency Interest Group
Posted: April 13, 2010 Filed under: Academic Librarianship, Advice, Opportunities: Professional Development | Tags: academic libraries, ACRL, librarianship, podcasts 2 Comments »The ACRL Residency Interest Group has launched a new podcast series called the “Newbie Dispatches.” It is a set of ‘casts on a variety of topics of interest to current library school students, recent graduates, early career librarians, and former and current library residents.
The first podcast is on publishing a manuscript for the first time, writing a manuscript prospectus, and getting into the world of academic publishing. The URL for this podcast is: http://acrl.ala.org/residency/?p=995
Our next cast will be similar, but will be a two-part cast with Kaetrena Davis-Kendrick, reference librarian at the University of South Carolina-Aiken. Kaetrena will discuss her experience with journal submission and publication, and offer advice to newer librarians who are considering publishing for the first time.
All of the casts are free and accessible by the public: http://acrl.ala.org/residency/
The group is also taking suggestions for topics for future podcasts. If you have something you’d like to learn more about or hear discussed, just use the web form and send us a quick email: http://acrl.ala.org/residency/?page_id=9 or find us on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/ACRL-Residency-Interest-Group/113621396297
Lessons for a New Librarian
Posted: February 23, 2010 Filed under: Advice: New Professionals, Advice: Students Comments OffArLiSNAPer Meredeth Kahn gives some good advice for students & newly minted libs over on the Librations blog.
Takeaways
- Envelop your passion into your work
- Find a need, fill a need
- Be strategic
Staying Relevant
Posted: September 24, 2009 Filed under: Academic Librarianship, Advice, Art Librarianship, Instruction, reference Comments OffIn the Visual Resources world, staying relevant is always a major concern. Here are some survival tips for academic libraries:
http://acrlog.org/2009/09/17/a-dozen-newspaper-survival-tips-for-academic-librarians/
Art librarians should be great at #2!
Another reason art librarians are just as relevant as ever, if not more:
“According to several reports published by the Primary Research Group, Inc., only about 47 percent of students are sure that they have ever been required to turn in a research paper exceeding ten double-spaced typed pages in length for any of their classes. More than 86 percent of students say that they understand the concept of plagiarism. The higher the grade point average, the less information for research papers was obtained from search engines, such as Google or Yahoo. Close to 19 percent of students in the fine or performing arts have ever asked reference questions via e-mail, the highest percentage among all types of majors or concentrations.”
Press Release from Primary Research Group, Inc., June, 2009, primaryresearch.com/release-200906251.html Retrieved August 6, 2009. Quoted in Gary Portillo’s “Fast Facts,” C&RL News Vol. 70, No. 8. September 2009. (emphasis mine).
Job Hunting Advice in Hard Times on LJ
Posted: July 24, 2009 Filed under: Advice, Job Search Comments OffA nice set of strategies including defining the scope of your search, application customization, protocols, interviewing tips, and more.
http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6670932.html?industryid=49047
transforming libraries
Posted: July 15, 2009 Filed under: Academic Librarianship, Advice, Discussion, management | Tags: budgets, innovation, library services and resources 1 Comment »The latest issue of Library Journal featured an article about Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm’s proposal to eliminate the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries. This would involve transferring most Library of Michigan functions to the Department of Education, abolishing the position of State Librarian, and downgrading library services, such as circulation and interlibrary loan – all in the hopes of saving a few million dollars.
Currently, I work at an academic library and budget concerns have been the main topic of conversation and meeting agendas for nearly a year. Last month, we began planning a major restructuring of the university libraries in response to our provost’s charge to create innovative resources and services that will transform and position the library as the center of the university. So far, we’ve brainstormed some interesting ideas that we hope to begin implementing in the near future.
I’m curious to hear about the challenges and opportunities facing other librarians with regard to budgets. How are the libraries you are associated with dealing with the pressure to justify operating costs and emphasize the importance of library resources and services in a climate that, at times, seems eager to view libraries as an unnecessary luxury?
Professional Development
Posted: June 19, 2009 Filed under: Advice, Discussion | Tags: Professional Development 1 Comment »If there’s one sure thing in life – it’s change. As librarians, we must be quick to adjust to the changing information needs of library users, which can include adapting our collections, service models, and the physical space of the library. Many libraries are undergoing a time of intense and rapid changes spurred on by shrinking budgets and increased numbers of users. A recent report on the Today Show brought attention to this.
So, how can librarians stay one step ahead and not only adapt to change but also anticipate and plan for it? One way to accomplish this is through continuous professional development. It’s not enough to get the job (see last week’s post on Surviving the Presentation for tips on successful interviewing). To be able to understand the factors that affect libraries, librarians, and our users it’s important to engage in self-assessment, both personally and professionally, and set goals for new skills and responsibilities you would like to acquire. Then, develop a plan for how and when you will obtain these goals. Continuing education is one element of professional development but there may also be informal, community-based groups that provide learning and networking opportunities.
The current budget crisis can make professional development feel like a dream but there are many opportunities for professional development within your organization as well. Job shadowing, attending staff meetings, and keeping in touch with your colleagues and offering to participate in projects they are working on are all excellent ways to gain professional experience and increase your knowledge.
Do you have suggestions of opportunites for professional development? Please share your ideas!
Surviving the Presentation
Posted: June 11, 2009 Filed under: Advice: New Professionals, Discussion, Job Search | Tags: Discussion, job market 6 Comments »For our discussion topic this week, I’d like to tackle an issue that’s likely on the minds of many ArLiSNAPers these days: giving an effective presentation during a job interview.
I work at the University of Michigan Library, and we’re currently in the process of filling a large number of librarian positions. For nearly all of the positions, a presentation is a required part of the interview process. I’ve spent the last few weeks going to a staggering number of candidate presentations. I’ve seen bad ones, good ones, and great ones. Here are a few thoughts I’d like to share:
- Even if you’re not on the job market, go to these presentations anyway. They’re often open to library staff or other members of the community, and they can give you a sense of what to expect. Even if they’re for positions outside of your subject area, you can still gain valuable tips for success.
- If you’re the candidate, try to find out beforehand where you’ll be giving the talk, who will be there, what technology will be available, etc. Knowing these things up front can help make your presentation better by allowing you to tailor it to your audience and venue.
- Employers often give you a topic to address. If you don’t understand what you’re being asked to talk about (for example, the topic is long, rambling, and appears to have been picked by a large committee with conflicting interests), don’t be afraid to ask for clarification.
- While keeping this topic in mind, think about the purpose of the presentation. Do they want you to demonstrate your skill as an instructor? Knowledge of particular resources? Critical thinking about an issue that’s important to the profession? Use this thought exercise as a way to guide your choice of presentation style and content.
- If you’ll be using PowerPoint, Keynote, or other presentation software, take some time to look at the work of Edward Tufte, particularly The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint. Think about how you can avoid presenting your audience with nothing but bullet points and copious amounts of text. We are art librarians, after all!
- If you’ll be demonstrating a particular resource (particularly electronic resources like ARTstor, the Avery Index, an OPAC, etc.), make sure you know it extremely well, including all of its potential quirks. Be prepared to soldier on (while remaining calm!) if something goes wrong.
- Practice your presentation! Get feedback from peers, mentors, supervisors, etc. Practice some more!
- Be prepared for at least one completely off the wall question during the Q&A afterward. Don’t let it rattle you. The same goes for hard questions you’re not able to answer. Don’t be afraid to say, “Can I think about that for a minute?”
- Remember that the presentation is only one part of the much larger interview process. Don’t limit your prep work to the presentation and then completely blow it on the search committee interview.
- Let your personality show through! You’re funny, personable, and a great conversationalist, right? Then don’t act like a robot when you get up in front of the audience.
Have other questions or advice about surviving the presentation? Comment away!
Professional development at ALA-Annual in Chicago
Posted: May 27, 2009 Filed under: ALA, Opportunities: Conferences, Publication, Workshops | Tags: Professional Development Comments OffFor those of you planning to attend the American Library Association’s annual Conference in Chicago, July 9 – July 15, here are two great programs which may be of interest to new librarians.
The Conference Mentoring Program (sponsored by the New Members Round Table, NMRT) is open to all ALA members and is designed to connect a first time conference attendee with a ‘seasoned professional’ who can help them navigate the ALA Annual Conference.
For the guidelines and an online application form please visit http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/rts/nmrt/oversightgroups/comm/mentor/conferenceMentorApp.cfm . The application deadline is June 15, 2009. Applicants will be matched with a Conference Mentor in June and communicate via email or telephone prior to the conference and then meet during the conference. Note: there will be a separate Career Mentoring Program for those interested in professional guidance, details TBA.
ACRL Research Writer’s Consultations - New for ALA Annual – Are you an ACRL member working on a research article? Would you like some constructive feedback? Submit a draft research paper for consultation. They will match new writers with experienced writers and the groups will meet face-to-face during the Chicago conference. Draft research papers must be submitted by June 1, 2009. Papers will be shared only among members of the designated groups. Submission details can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/ryqju9
More info to come on meetings and events of note as the conference approaches.
ALA Annual Conference website: http://www.ala.org/annual
Follow on Twitter: @alaannual
Integrating Library Instruction into the Curriculum
Posted: May 21, 2009 Filed under: Advice, Discussion, Information Literacy, Instruction | Tags: Discussion, Instruction 5 Comments »Lately I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about library instruction. The art history department at my university has invited me to help develop a new course, tentatively titled “Information Technology for the Art Historian.” The course will focus on a variety of skills that are needed to be successful academically, such as conducting research, acquiring and using images, preparing presentations, and writing research papers. I’m really excited about this opportunity to include the library in the art history curriculum!
There seems to be a trend toward integrating library instruction in the curriculum, rather than the more traditional one-shot approach to library instruction. At the recent ARLIS/NA conference, I attended a discussion group that focused on making library instruction an integral part of student’s educational experience. Some suggestions included, using assessment tools such as Survey Monkey for pre-and post-testing during library instruction, incorporating games and group-work, and using visual mapping/mind mapping to teach the research process.
I’m wondering what other tips and tricks librarians can try to make the research process fun and interesting for students, especially in a semester-long course. Has your library integrated library instruction into course curriculum or developed a course (either required or for extra credit) for students at your institution? If so, what challenges and successes have you experienced?
Katelyn Angell Questions the Need for Second Masters
Posted: May 13, 2009 Filed under: Advice: Students, ALA Comments OffAn interesting opinion article is in this month’s American Libraries.
Typically, employers expect potential hires to hold both an MLIS and an additional subject-specific master’s or PhD. Upon learning this daunting fact, two pressing questions immediately formed in my mind: How can people on a librarian’s salary afford to earn multiple graduate degrees, and why disregard strong undergraduate credentials or field experience?
American Libraries(CB). American Libraries (Volume 40, Issue 5, May 2009).
Chicago, IL, USA: American Libraries, 2009. p 39.
http://site.ebrary.com/lib/ala/Doc?id=10290396&ppg=41
Copyright � 2009. American Libraries. All rights reserved.
While I’m sympathetic of Angell’s concerns (I have a similar experience), I also understand the need for having a very strong foundation when working in art libraries.
Academic Library Interviews
Posted: April 15, 2009 Filed under: Academic Librarianship, Advice, Advice: Students, Job Search | Tags: academic libraries, interviews Comments OffFrom the inside out and the outside in: The academic library interview process in a tight economy
C&RL News, April 2009
Vol. 70, No. 4
by Karin Durán, Eric P. Garcia, and Mara L. Houdyshell
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/publications/crlnews/2009/apr/insideout.cfm
A Cover Letter Is Not Expendable
Posted: February 23, 2009 Filed under: Advice, Advice: New Professionals, Advice: Students, Cover letters, Job Search 1 Comment »A Cover Letter Is Not Expendable
By PHYLLIS KORKKI
Q. You are getting ready to apply for a job electronically, and your résumé is ready to go. Do you need to prepare a cover letter? Are they necessary in this day and age?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/jobs/15career.html?em
Networking for Librarians
Posted: February 12, 2009 Filed under: Advice Comments OffThe following quote is from Nancy Pierobon in the video “Networking for Academic Librarians.” Although the title associates it with academics, the advice is applicable to any type of librarian.
I think networking for first-time librarians is absolutely essential.
I would say go to as many conferences as you can, as many meetings of chapter associations that are relevant to your work.
Network with peers. Go back to your school and ask your faculty if they have contacts as well.
And always don’t be afraid to get out and knock on doors of associations that you’re interested in or organizations or institutions.
Absolutely call up the director of the library and ask them if they have positions or just for a chat on the kinds of positions that are available….
The more people you network with the much better your results will be. The more you’ll learn, the more valuable you’ll be to your organization when you do start a job.
