IT Certification for a recent MLIS grad?
June 3, 2010 1:29 PM Subscribe
Should a new MLIS graduate pursue IT certification to be a systems librarian?
I just graduated with my MLIS from an accredited program. I am also, at the end of this month, moving from the SF Bay Area to a college town in New England. (This move is already a done deal; I know that conventional wisdom frowns on moving without a job in a new place, but it's what I've chosen to do. The SF job market is nearly impossible, and my aging parents live in New England.)
I have absolutely zero library experience, or almost none--I briefly worked in a rare books library during college, but I hardly remember the job. I was also relatively uninspired by library school, never nailed down a concentration in anything, and am honestly just glad it's over with. I am not confident that I can find a job as an entry-level library assistant and not convinced that I would like a job like that anyway.
I am interested in the systems librarian-type job description of managing the website, various databases, interlibrary loan, etc. I'm relatively tech-savvy and very eager to learn. I'm having trouble figuring out how to get an entry-levelish job as this type of librarian; these jobs seem to be very few and far between. Might I be more marketable as a systems librarian with an IT certification like the A+ certification? Is there another general certification (or not so general) out there that I'm missing? Or do systems librarians tend to work their way up from more general librarian positions?
My other idea is to become an Independent Information Professional and work on a freelance basis. Any anecdotes, advice, or thoughts about that track much appreciated. Thanks!
I just graduated with my MLIS from an accredited program. I am also, at the end of this month, moving from the SF Bay Area to a college town in New England. (This move is already a done deal; I know that conventional wisdom frowns on moving without a job in a new place, but it's what I've chosen to do. The SF job market is nearly impossible, and my aging parents live in New England.)
I have absolutely zero library experience, or almost none--I briefly worked in a rare books library during college, but I hardly remember the job. I was also relatively uninspired by library school, never nailed down a concentration in anything, and am honestly just glad it's over with. I am not confident that I can find a job as an entry-level library assistant and not convinced that I would like a job like that anyway.
I am interested in the systems librarian-type job description of managing the website, various databases, interlibrary loan, etc. I'm relatively tech-savvy and very eager to learn. I'm having trouble figuring out how to get an entry-levelish job as this type of librarian; these jobs seem to be very few and far between. Might I be more marketable as a systems librarian with an IT certification like the A+ certification? Is there another general certification (or not so general) out there that I'm missing? Or do systems librarians tend to work their way up from more general librarian positions?
My other idea is to become an Independent Information Professional and work on a freelance basis. Any anecdotes, advice, or thoughts about that track much appreciated. Thanks!
I have the job you want. I design and manage a library website, write apps for the library, keep the databases and e-journals talking to the website, wrangle the subject librarian blog software, fix the site against hacking, and stand as a first line of defense for any tech support questions the library staff have.
I didn't need a certification to get it or to do it, but I would say to anyone considering certification that it won't hurt and may make you more marketable. If you end up in a smaller institution, you may even be the person handling all the networking and IT stuff, and it would come in very handy. I work at a university library, so the higher-level tech stuff usually ends up being booted over to the campus IT department if neither my boss nor I can figure it out. They also physically manage the servers and do anything that we can't do remotely.
I've vaguely thought about looking into various IT certifications as my job responsibilities diversify - I'm now a baby sysadmin and about to get a Linux box of my very own, for one - and it wouldn't hurt if I ever left and looked for another job.
posted by telophase at 2:11 PM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
I didn't need a certification to get it or to do it, but I would say to anyone considering certification that it won't hurt and may make you more marketable. If you end up in a smaller institution, you may even be the person handling all the networking and IT stuff, and it would come in very handy. I work at a university library, so the higher-level tech stuff usually ends up being booted over to the campus IT department if neither my boss nor I can figure it out. They also physically manage the servers and do anything that we can't do remotely.
I've vaguely thought about looking into various IT certifications as my job responsibilities diversify - I'm now a baby sysadmin and about to get a Linux box of my very own, for one - and it wouldn't hurt if I ever left and looked for another job.
posted by telophase at 2:11 PM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
Best answer: You may not even need certification depending on whether you're moving to a big New England College town [Boston] or a small one [Hanover]. If you have tech experience like working with CMSes, or working with open source systems or other types of stuff, make sure it's on your resume in some sort of library-related way. Once you get up to Northern New England, you're not finding a lot of tech savvy librarians [there are some, but they're outnumbered] and having the degree which gets you in the door and the experience just noodling around with tech should be a great start. Dartmouth is hiring a few librarians this summer I think. If you want more specific advice, feel free to MeMail me about where you're actually going to wind up.
Some New England states have consortia which are like regional library systems that do tech stuff for a chunk of libraries and this is sometimes a neat place to work if you are into libaries but nt sure you want to work IN a library. Bad news is that Massachusetts is basically phasing theirs out and firing a bunch of people so it's not a great place to be working right now. Most systems librarians that I know do now have IT certification. You might also want to look into what they call "Instructional Technology Specialists" who are the people who run tech for a school [high school, elementary school, it varies] and who often overlap or coincide with the librarian position. There may be an opening in my town for one of these, so ping me if you'll be nearby.
posted by jessamyn at 2:24 PM on June 3, 2010
Some New England states have consortia which are like regional library systems that do tech stuff for a chunk of libraries and this is sometimes a neat place to work if you are into libaries but nt sure you want to work IN a library. Bad news is that Massachusetts is basically phasing theirs out and firing a bunch of people so it's not a great place to be working right now. Most systems librarians that I know do now have IT certification. You might also want to look into what they call "Instructional Technology Specialists" who are the people who run tech for a school [high school, elementary school, it varies] and who often overlap or coincide with the librarian position. There may be an opening in my town for one of these, so ping me if you'll be nearby.
posted by jessamyn at 2:24 PM on June 3, 2010
If you already have some tech skills, or can learn them from books/internet, you might want to start an account on Brainbench which has several free tests in basic IT knowledge categories, and will be a LOT less expensive than an actual A++ or MS certification if you decide to pay for it.(*)
Word of warning if you want to try 'just taking a stab' at some of them: Make a separate account and do it there. IIRC, repeated failures are documented when an employer views your portfolio.
If you want to see what the reviewers see when you forward them results, MeMail me with a email address and I'll send you one from my account.
(* - sign up for their newsletter, and they'll contact you with free offers occasionally for more tests in 'your' field.)
posted by Orb2069 at 3:18 PM on June 3, 2010
Word of warning if you want to try 'just taking a stab' at some of them: Make a separate account and do it there. IIRC, repeated failures are documented when an employer views your portfolio.
If you want to see what the reviewers see when you forward them results, MeMail me with a email address and I'll send you one from my account.
(* - sign up for their newsletter, and they'll contact you with free offers occasionally for more tests in 'your' field.)
posted by Orb2069 at 3:18 PM on June 3, 2010
The problem these days is that a lot of libraries use real it techs to do things like website work and stuff like that . I am a network tech for a library .
So to become a librarian that handles the tech stuff will be very hard. IF you want more tech related stuff take a microsoft cetification course or cisco. That will be your best route.
PS Keep in mind i got my current job because of my 2 degrees and experience over people with just certs and experience.
Also keep in mind a lot of libraries use the local civil service system . Here on long island in NEw york if you want to do IT then you have to take one of the IT civil service exams. You cant just go to a library and apply.
posted by majortom1981 at 3:23 PM on June 3, 2010
So to become a librarian that handles the tech stuff will be very hard. IF you want more tech related stuff take a microsoft cetification course or cisco. That will be your best route.
PS Keep in mind i got my current job because of my 2 degrees and experience over people with just certs and experience.
Also keep in mind a lot of libraries use the local civil service system . Here on long island in NEw york if you want to do IT then you have to take one of the IT civil service exams. You cant just go to a library and apply.
posted by majortom1981 at 3:23 PM on June 3, 2010
Getting IT certification can't hurt. And every librarian should be able to help with basic IT work. Over the long term, though, you want to keep a sharp distinction between librarianship and IT work. IT is the how, librarianship is the what.
posted by No Robots at 3:47 PM on June 3, 2010
posted by No Robots at 3:47 PM on June 3, 2010
"My other idea is to become an Independent Information Professional and work on a freelance basis."
I don't want to be discouraging, but especially in today's economy, this is more difficult than it sounds. Without going into my entire story... I once worked for a publishing company, left on good terms. I also worked in executive recruiting. My point being that I had plenty of good contacts, references etc. Long story short, the outsourced work I was doing for the publishing company actually all went back in-house when the economy tanked. The other gigs I had dried up. My sole remaining client was venture-backed. When they lost their backing, I lost my entire business. Because I was freelance/contract/consulting, I got killed when tax time rolled around. Sure, I'd set aside a good chunk of everything that came in, expressly for taxes - and I estimated just right. BUT I was living in the Bay Area, and since you're there now, I don't have to tell you that without work coming in, that account dried up pretty quickly, in rent alone. Before I knew it, I wound up back in the midwest where I've been trapped for the past three years. If finding work in Cali was difficult, it's been nearly impossible here. Now I'm working at a university job, out of my field, for an hourly rate that's compatible with summer jobs I had in high school - in the 1980s.
I'm not saying you shouldn't freelance at all, but I'd think very carefully about making it your sole source of income. Take a 9-5 gig and if you happen to get independent gigs on the side, great! If you can get paid under the table, even better, but the request alone can make you seem less legitimate.
posted by lolo341 at 6:58 PM on June 3, 2010
I don't want to be discouraging, but especially in today's economy, this is more difficult than it sounds. Without going into my entire story... I once worked for a publishing company, left on good terms. I also worked in executive recruiting. My point being that I had plenty of good contacts, references etc. Long story short, the outsourced work I was doing for the publishing company actually all went back in-house when the economy tanked. The other gigs I had dried up. My sole remaining client was venture-backed. When they lost their backing, I lost my entire business. Because I was freelance/contract/consulting, I got killed when tax time rolled around. Sure, I'd set aside a good chunk of everything that came in, expressly for taxes - and I estimated just right. BUT I was living in the Bay Area, and since you're there now, I don't have to tell you that without work coming in, that account dried up pretty quickly, in rent alone. Before I knew it, I wound up back in the midwest where I've been trapped for the past three years. If finding work in Cali was difficult, it's been nearly impossible here. Now I'm working at a university job, out of my field, for an hourly rate that's compatible with summer jobs I had in high school - in the 1980s.
I'm not saying you shouldn't freelance at all, but I'd think very carefully about making it your sole source of income. Take a 9-5 gig and if you happen to get independent gigs on the side, great! If you can get paid under the table, even better, but the request alone can make you seem less legitimate.
posted by lolo341 at 6:58 PM on June 3, 2010
I am an ILS administrator. Dropped out of library school, never finished. Have a CNE, which I haven't kept up. Would laugh at anyone showing up with A+ certification or Brainbench stuff. That is for the corporate world where HR doesn't know crap and needs an easy checklist to figure out who to hire. They only prove you can memorize. Library systems work still does things the old fashioned way, mostly, where you demonstrate what you know in an interview and by showing previous work.
Most of the ILS people I know kind of fell in to it, including me. I got a number of vendor specific certs after being hired at my first job supporting an ILS. The last two jobs I got, that I already had that training was a huge advantage. No one has cared about any other certs or even known what they were.
I started as a volunteer in a public library, then became a page, then an aide (BA level work, lots of circ), then an automation librarian (while running what was then the largest public access LAN in Michigan). Later, after a trip into the corporate world, I started at what was basically help desk level supporting the ILS in a public library co-operative. Now I am the ILS program administrator for a bunch of courts.
Web design is not systems work. Nor is being a basic computer monkey (which is what the A+ cert "prepares" you for). I've done both of those, and they require very different skills. Neither of those require an MLS. Neither does running an ILS, but it does help if you know what a MARC tag is, how to catalog, why serials are so fucked up and know about Boolean logic and other basic searching techniques.
I'd suggest that you need to brush up on the IT stuff a bit, learn what is really systems and what isn't, learn some unix (as much for the thought patterns and to prove aptitude as anything) and try out a few things to see what is interesting. I'd suggest trying to intern, but with the privacy issues in public libraries, that might be very, very difficult. If the unix stuff is fun, learn perl, java, shell scripting, etc. If the web stuff floats your boat, learn javascript, cgi stuff, that kind of thing. If you can swing going to the Access conference in Canada, I suspect you'd learn a ton and make some good contacts.
posted by QIbHom at 7:36 PM on June 3, 2010
Most of the ILS people I know kind of fell in to it, including me. I got a number of vendor specific certs after being hired at my first job supporting an ILS. The last two jobs I got, that I already had that training was a huge advantage. No one has cared about any other certs or even known what they were.
I started as a volunteer in a public library, then became a page, then an aide (BA level work, lots of circ), then an automation librarian (while running what was then the largest public access LAN in Michigan). Later, after a trip into the corporate world, I started at what was basically help desk level supporting the ILS in a public library co-operative. Now I am the ILS program administrator for a bunch of courts.
Web design is not systems work. Nor is being a basic computer monkey (which is what the A+ cert "prepares" you for). I've done both of those, and they require very different skills. Neither of those require an MLS. Neither does running an ILS, but it does help if you know what a MARC tag is, how to catalog, why serials are so fucked up and know about Boolean logic and other basic searching techniques.
I'd suggest that you need to brush up on the IT stuff a bit, learn what is really systems and what isn't, learn some unix (as much for the thought patterns and to prove aptitude as anything) and try out a few things to see what is interesting. I'd suggest trying to intern, but with the privacy issues in public libraries, that might be very, very difficult. If the unix stuff is fun, learn perl, java, shell scripting, etc. If the web stuff floats your boat, learn javascript, cgi stuff, that kind of thing. If you can swing going to the Access conference in Canada, I suspect you'd learn a ton and make some good contacts.
posted by QIbHom at 7:36 PM on June 3, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
We have about 100 staff members, about 90 public terminals, and about 100 staff terminals, plus the wide variety of networking, and A/V equipment that you need to run all of that and secure your networks.
There are three positions on the tech team.
1) Technology Trainer (myself), who teaches classes, does various computer-janitor type work, and also works reference part of the time
2) Training Supervisor, who plans our class curriculum, helps to manage to the web site, and tackles various problems as they arrise
3) Technology Supervisor, who is in charge of updating our computer software/hardware, generally looking after the machines, and handling networking stuff when it comes up.
A little more in depth on 3, since it seems that's what you're asking about...
He's responsible for dealing with the multitude of vendors that we have contracts with (our circulation system, our time management system, etc.)
He has remote access to public machines, which is usually how he rolls out new software updates (Java, Flash, Adobe, etc.)
He's the point-person for main administration when it comes to pricing and buying new technology.
When we recently built a new library, he was more or less in charge of laying the cat-5, setting up the network (like making sure everything had a properly configured IP, and there weren't any terrible glitches).
In our system the other things you mention...
We contract our website out, but we have a graphic designer, and the guy mentioned in #2 who mostly handle that.
Our patron and material databases used to be handled on-site, but have since been moved to the cloud (this is the case in a lot of branches).
The databases we offer to patrons are mostly handled by our collection development team.
Interlibrary loan is handled by a senior member of our circulation staff.
Of course, every system is going to do it differently.
If you can get a library assistant gig, then do it. If you're looking for a job, and can maybe volunteer a few hours a week at your local branch (you might even mention you have technical expertise), then do that. I think that certification would also help (the guy described above is certified, but doesn't have any prior experience in libraries).
Getting that first foot in the door lets you know what technology issues are facing libraries on a day-to-day basis, which will give you an edge in addition to whatever technical certifications you have.
Nearly everyone applying for the IT position will have that cert, but only so many will have library experience.
posted by codacorolla at 1:48 PM on June 3, 2010 [1 favorite]