[Publib] Jobs?

[Elise Bedder]

Now this is coming from someone who has been working in a public library for six months (and I have an MA in English and am working toward my MLS). I'm in agreement that flexibility is key.  I started at the Circ Desk, mentioned to my Director that I was now taking a Refernce Materials and Sources course and would benefit from helping out in the Childrens and Adult Reference Areas, even if it meant an hour here and there.  Next thing I knew, I was covering vacations and time off for the Sr. Librarians, broadening my scope.  So maybe the way in is at the bottom, but showing initiative and interest, once in, is the key.
Elise Bedder
Ringwood Public Library
New Jersey


-----Original Message-----
>From: "Forman, Robert, DCA" <Robert.Forman at state.nm.us>
>Sent: Mar 25, 2008 11:43 AM
>To: Amanda Goeke <goekea at pbclibrary.org>, publib at webjunction.org
>Subject: RE: [Publib] Jobs?
>
>Folks, there are a lot of vacant library positions out there!
>Nevertheless, getting a job is extremely difficult, much more difficult
>than you might expect. Take this from someone with two master's degrees
>(MLS +MBA) and almost fifteen years experience in libraries. I know from
>my own job hunting experiences. It's been a rough go. And it never ends.
>If I could do it all over again, I wouldn't, I would choose a different
>career path. 
>
>Advice: find a way to be as competitive and professional as possible.
>Acquire all the skills you can. An MLS isn't the end of learning, it's
>the beginning. Good luck. 
>
>Robert Forman
>New Mexico State Library 
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
>[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Amanda Goeke
>Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 9:24 AM
>To: publib at webjunction.org
>Subject: RE: [Publib] Jobs?
>
>I totally agree with what Jennie is saying.  I graduated with my MLIS in
>December and have been job hunting ever since.  I am searching more on
>the West Coast, but it seems to be a similar situation.  Many of the
>jobs that are being advertised are Director positions (and I'm certainly
>not qualified for those!), or heads of departments.  I also see quite a
>few Youth Services positions, but I am not interested in working in that
>department.  It's actually quite frustrating seeing all the open jobs
>(there are quite a few out there), but not being qualified or interested
>in any of them.  Where are all the entry-level non-Children's librarian
>positions (including those "back of the house" positions which seem even
>more rare than reference librarian positions)?!  One thing I guess I'm
>hoping for is that these entry level people will move up into the
>head/lead librarian positions, opening up the entry positions for those
>of us that need them.  But who knows - I just keep trying.
>
>Amanda Goeke
>Floating Librarian Trainee
>Palm Beach County Library System
>goekea at pbclibrary.org
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
>[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Jennie J. Stoltz
>Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 10:41 AM
>To: Hillary Webb
>Cc: publib at webjunction.org
>Subject: Re: [Publib] Jobs?
>
>I have several MLS friends looking for jobs right now - it seems to me
>at least in Wisconsin there is a LOT of Director positions being posted
>right now, a decent number of Children's Librarian positions being
>posted (and I think that a lot of children's librarians will be retiring
>over the course of the next five to seven years) but relatively few
>Adult Services positions being posted and those that are being posted
>are often not full-time.  I was discussing this with a colleague of mine
>yesterday - our theory is that the average age for Adult Services
>librarians APPEARS to be about 5 to 10 years younger than the average
>age of Children's librarians so I think it'll be 5 to 10 years before we
>see a lot of retirements in that area (again, in Wisconsin - can't speak
>for other states).
>
>Unfortunately you can't overlook the factor that has been discussed on
>PUBLIB quite a bit lately and which I find quite disheartening - as
>people are retiring or as positions become open, particularly in Adult
>Services, MLS positions are being converted to non-MLS and full-time
>positions are being broken up into part-time positions.  I know of three
>libraries off the top of my head just in Southeast Wisconsin that have
>recently done that.  In some of these cases it was legitimate, in some
>of these cases it was political but in times of recession and with the
>cost of health insurance that's what happens.
>
>So, I'm not sure if I've answered your question - I guess in a way both
>perspectives are true - there are a lot of jobs coming available but it
>depends upon where you are in your career and what area you want to work
>in. I myself am a die-hard advocate for maintaining full-time MLS
>positions and try to promote the value of librarians, in particular
>degreed librarians, every chance I get.
>
>Good luck to you!
>
>Jennie J. Stoltz
>Director
>Pewaukee Public Library
>Pewaukee, Wisconsin
>(262) 691-5670, ext. 20
>(262) 691-5673 fax
>
>GoodSearch for the Pewaukee Public Library.
>
>Raise money for the Library just by searching the Internet or shopping
>online with GoodSearch - www.goodsearch.com - powered by Yahoo!
>
>
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