Settling in

One of the fascinating things about being a new librarian is that everything you do is new (this is probably true of every profession, but I think it needs to be said anyways). Learning a subject area, teaching students, liaising with faculty, purchasing materials – all of it is unfamiliar territory at the beginning. Combined with all the other aspects of starting a job, the first one or two years is often a very exciting period (and, let’s be honest, somewhat nerve-racking at times).

It’s been a year and half since getting my first academic job, and that time has gone by in a blur. I’ve changed positions a couple of times, which has contributed to the blur and meant that I’ve had a lot of variation in duties. However, now that I’ve moved into a tenure-track position, I’ve come to the equally exciting realization that some things will become more of a routine over the next few years. The classes I am teaching for the first time will come around again next year; the relationships with faculty members who I am meeting now will continue on over the years.

It’s a nice thought - rather than concentrating solely on doing things with at least a basic level of competency, I can now work a little more on refining what I’ve already done, experimenting with new ideas, and building on my experience. Of course, even if I am over the initial learning curve, I don’t expect to do any less learning! There are always new challenges on the horizon.

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Supporting ebooks Means You Want to Kill Bookstores (and Libraries?)

That, at least, is the suggestion in Mike Shatzkin's recent article, Why are you for killing bookstores? Shatzkin's article doesn't actually address the fate of libraries, but Tim Spalding of LibraryThing fame makes the connection in his (depressing) follow-up, Why are you for killing libraries.*

As a health sciences librarian, I see ebooks as realistic necessities in health care environments, and could thus be lumped under the ebook supporting, library killing umbrella. Of course, that type of literature is not the type of literature that bookstores typically sell and libraries typically lend, so that type of ebook adoption and usage is not, I'm sure, an indicator of book repository death. True. More or less.

But even speaking generally, I'm not sure we're talking about an either/or proposition here, that ebook adoption kills book repositories. Yes - the library-as-book-repository is probably dying and the ebook probably has a part in its demise. But, by no means does that mean that the library in general is dying. On the contrary, you could flip the argument around and say that "the proliferation of ebooks makes libraries more relevant 'cause it provides 'em with the flexibility to do modern stuff with their space."

To me, it's not so much the proliferation of ebooks that kills libraries, but the inability to adapt to the times that does.

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* For some discussion, take a look at the chat forum on LibraryThing as well.

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Righteous Freedom Fighting

Lately I’ve been thinking about righteous freedom fighters. You know, those librarians and future-librarians who see the task of librarianship as a global one. They go to far-flung places preaching the noble words of information literacy, access, and organization for causes like equality, political agency, self-sufficiency and empowerment. Sometimes they’re easy to pick out – look for Ché t-shirts or an Adbusters magazines – but don’t stop there, because righteous freedom fighters also look like your average, well-mannered librarian. Until the topic of conversation turns to the issue of global inequality. Then you’ll know.

I had the opportunity to review a library school application letter for an aspiring library student a few weeks ago. This person shall remain nameless since I don’t have her permission to use her name, but let me tell you: I wish I could yell her name off the libraries’ rooftops, because she is a righteous freedom fighter. We’re talking CIDA Internships, volunteering in developing countries, doing literacy work for underprivileged people; all the good stuff. When (not if) she gets into library school, she’s going to be an incredible addition to our profession. I know several other librarians like her, and I’m so proud of those who take on these big, difficult issues with a mind to instilling real, positive change through library work.

There’s also the fledging group, Librarians Without Borders. They describe themselves as a group of “socially-minded librarians” (a.k.a. righteous freedom fighting librarians), “who wanted to address the vast information resource inequity existing between different regions of the world. Our vision is to build sustainable libraries and support their custodians and advocates -- librarians.” The stuff they’re doing is really impressive – Building a library in Angola, a student trip to Guatemala, salvaging cultural heritage in Haiti. This type of work goes beyond the local public library, and extends to places where basic assumptions like reading, freely accessing information, or having the infrastructure in place to support electronic information resources is simply not there.

There was a time, many moons ago when I thought I’d be a righteous freedom fighter. As a political science student, I pictured myself deep in the Peruvian jungle, slashing through heavy vines and slapping away gigantic bugs, to share with locals the world of – well of any number of things, really. Political empowerment, gender equality, enriched grains. You name it. And even my application letter to library school had a line that read, “a Master of Information Studies degree will give me the skills and knowledge to teach others how to access information. This process – which is the formative step in learning, education, and creating knowledge – is to key to people's engagement and empowerment.” And yes, I DO that at work. I help students and faculty and staff learn how to access information and think critically about their information sources. Except I do that in my really comfortable office. I’m surrounded by people with the same opportunity and privileges I have. Not exactly what I’d had in mind when I wrote those righteous freedom fighting-words. Now, don’t get me wrong. I love my job. I love my students. I love my colleagues. And frankly I love my office. But righteous freedom fighting it is not. Somewhere between library school and professional development and wanting to pay of my student loans, I lost sight of becoming a righteous freedom fighter.

Does anyone else thing about that stuff, or am I just angsty? Any suggestions on how to get my righteous freedom fighting fill without, you know --- quitting my job, burning my office clothes and booking a one-way ticket to the developing world?

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Cold Calling - Neccessary or Annoying?

It's me again - the resident library student - must be time to ask for more advice!

Recently, a professor at our library school 'recommended' we start cold calling libraries as part of our job search. Actually, it was more like "What?! Why haven't you started cold calling? You need to do that now!". Regardless of how the message was delivered, it certainly has instigated a lot of discussion among all of the soon-to-be-graduating students.

And when I say discussion, I really mean fear.

Here are a few exclamations I've heard around the student lounge after the cold calling announcement:

• We're supposed to show up unannounced at random libraries and handout resumes?
• Doesn't this make us seem needy and overly keen?
• Do we visit or call or email resumes?
• Do we have to do this? Or is it just a recommendation?
• Isn't applying to a job ad enough?
• But I'm shy!

Another professor mentioned libraries tend to keep cold call resumes on file for three to six months before discarding them. They then encouraged us to submit our resumes over and over again. However, even after being told to cold call by two professors, some of us are still dubious about how effective it is, or even how to do it properly.

Christina's recent post on Job Search Strategies yielded some fantastic resources, but none that really mentioned cold calling. The Toronto Public Library has a page about cold calling, but it is not tailored to library jobs.

So I'm just wondering:

• Is cold calling necessary, or annoying?
• Does your library have a policy for dealing with cold calls?
• Would your library prefer an in-person visit or an email or a phone call?

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Job Search Sabotage

A few weeks ago, I was going through one of my email accounts I haven’t checked in a while and came across a link on “job search sabotage”. The topic of the link originated from a spam email but it got me thinking about how those preparing for employment in libraries and the information profession can avoid job hunting pitfalls.

Have you had a job search sabotage?

I’m sure we can all attest to having made errors at some point: in drafting out cover letters and resumes, the application process, networking, during interviews, and even on the job, etc.. Once we realized what we’ve done, "we promise ourselves never to repeat them again and create strategies that work for us” (1). I noted below a few links that share “collective wisdom” on job hunting mistakes and planning ahead.

1. http://inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2009/what-not-to-do-when-applying-for-library-jobs

2. http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/worklife/06/15/job.search.sabotage

3. http://www.getajob.ala.org

4. http://newgradlife.blogspot.com/2010/01/job-openings-new-jobs-job-search-job_11.html

Whether you are in library school preparing to graduate, in a contract position with the end date looming, or yet employed, it helps to be reminded that we have all failed at some point, and that lessons learned from mistakes only enable us to be and do better. Take courage. Let's reflect, learn, and move forward.

(ostrich: http://blog.trustoncorp.com/ostrich_20head_20in_20sand_20sign.gif; cat: http://n2.nabble.com/file/n1613401/embarrassed.jpg; stairs:http://tru2me.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/steps-to-success.jpg; mistakes: http://www.ineedmotivation.com/blog/2009/07/why-you-should-celebrate-your-mistakes)

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