[Publib] RE: Advice on Moving from Academic to Public Libraries

[Tina Marie Adams]

Thanks James. Well, I never considered all of that. Thanks for the perspective. Sounds exciting :)

Tina


From: James Casey [mailto:jcasey at oaklawnlibrary.org]
Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2008 12:40 PM
To: Tina Marie Adams; publib at webjunction.org
Subject: RE: Advice on Moving from Academic to Public Libraries

The most important thing to remember is that the Academic Library is one unit within a larger organization (University or College or Community College) and that the Library Director is only middle management who reports to a Dean or Provost or President.  It is the President who in turn reports to a Board.  The Public Library Director is like the College President who reports directly to the Board and has more direct access to the money.  The Public Library is generally THE organization and - if it has its own Board of Trustees - doesn't have to subsist on one piece of the budget pie in competition with other departments, but does have to fight for that budget pie!

As a public librarian (and particularly as a Director), you will be closer to the money and to the power over your workplace.  If you are Director, however, you may be ultimately responsible for EVERYTHING from maintenance, hiring/firing, budget development, fund raising, relationships with other organizations, lobbying, press releases, speaking to civic groups, etc..  Writing for publication won't be a matter of peer review journals as much as penning convincing arguments on short notice and being able to dash off articles for publication by deadline in the local press.  --- Do you know how to manage a budget?  That might loom larger than any academic proficiency.

The biggest culture shock might be the realization that the "buck" stops at the public library director's desk - as the CEO of the organization --- and that there is no other department such as Business Office, HR, Maintenance, PR, Development, to handle various headaches.  If paychecks don't go out or health insurance is screwed up, the crisis is on the public library director's desk for resolution.

On the other hand, Public Librarians provide direct service to the taxpaying public and not just to a sub-set of that body (the student body of a campus), and as such, are more in the "public eye".  You will get your picture in the paper, be interviewed by the press whenever anything happens at the library and may end up being on a first name basis with local dignitaries such as Mayors and State Senators (for better or worse).

James B. Casey - My own views (married to an academic librarian)
Director of Oak Lawn Public Library
ALA Council Member





From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Tina Marie Adams
Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2008 2:02 PM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] Advice on Moving from Academic to Public Libraries

Hi All,

I am new to this list and subscribed because I am hoping to move from an Academic Library where I have worked as a Reference Librarian/Subject Specialist (in areas ranging from Business to Health) to a Public Library. I have been a professional for over 7 years. Can you give me any tips on what to highlight (do publications count or is more about experience, etc), what might I be asked in an interview? I have no PL experience. How difficult is it to transition?

Thanks for any insight.

Best,
Tina

Tina Adams
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Library Business Team Leader
Tina.Adams at nau.edu
928-523-6849
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



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