New librarian seeking career pathways
February 2, 2023 5:32 PM Subscribe
I am a recent MLIS graduate strategizing my pathway forward. Considering the options before me, which are most likely to help me advance through the profession?
I am currently employed full-time in circulation at a well-funded public library.
I might be interested in working at a university library. Why? Because I like the idea of helping people with research and putting together resources for them. I am also interested in designing online/video-based instruction. Digital humanities is another potential interest. I would also really love a job that includes tuition benefits.
So, how do I get there? Should I first get a Librarian job at a public library, and then try to make my way over to a university as a librarian?
Or should I start with a weekend job or internship at a university library to get university-specific experience? In my area there is one small community college, several small well-regarded private colleges, and 2 prestigious large universities. Which of these are more likely to give me the most experience and learning?
Or, should I take my circulation experience to the circulation department of a university library?
I am generally content in circulation, but a job that increases in responsibilities and opportunities is what I would like to get to in the long run.
I am currently employed full-time in circulation at a well-funded public library.
I might be interested in working at a university library. Why? Because I like the idea of helping people with research and putting together resources for them. I am also interested in designing online/video-based instruction. Digital humanities is another potential interest. I would also really love a job that includes tuition benefits.
So, how do I get there? Should I first get a Librarian job at a public library, and then try to make my way over to a university as a librarian?
Or should I start with a weekend job or internship at a university library to get university-specific experience? In my area there is one small community college, several small well-regarded private colleges, and 2 prestigious large universities. Which of these are more likely to give me the most experience and learning?
Or, should I take my circulation experience to the circulation department of a university library?
I am generally content in circulation, but a job that increases in responsibilities and opportunities is what I would like to get to in the long run.
Can you move? If so, apply to every librarian position of interest at every college or university where you’d consider moving to. The longer you’re in non-librarian post-MLS, the harder it will be. This isn’t a big step now. You’re a new librarian with library experience, which is excellent. Apply apply apply. Like, send out tons of applications. Don’t focus on local. Your first job will possibly be the hardest to get, so be flexible with location, and if you stay a year or two, you’ll find many more options open after that. You don’t need to work for free or intern. You do need to apply with a great cover letter to tons of jobs.
posted by bluedaisy at 10:25 PM on February 2, 2023 [7 favorites]
posted by bluedaisy at 10:25 PM on February 2, 2023 [7 favorites]
Also I really want to emphasize: do not apply for staff positions. Apply for entry level positions that require the MLS. You are a librarian, and so apply for librarian positions. Your experience is applicable to reference and other public services work. Ask us here if you have questions about how to talk about that.
posted by bluedaisy at 10:27 PM on February 2, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by bluedaisy at 10:27 PM on February 2, 2023 [5 favorites]
If you are geographically flexible—go straight to academic. Yes, apply widely. You are a new grad right now, and there will never again be a time in your career when you are seen as “new” or “fresh” the way that you are now. Getting Job 1 is a hurdle. Public —> academic is (often) another hurdle. Don’t give yourself two hurdles if you can avoid it.
Your interests suggest long term growth in a librarian position. The happiness you currently find in a position with (frequently, if not always) little advancement potential may vanish sooner than you think.
posted by cupcakeninja at 5:12 AM on February 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
Your interests suggest long term growth in a librarian position. The happiness you currently find in a position with (frequently, if not always) little advancement potential may vanish sooner than you think.
posted by cupcakeninja at 5:12 AM on February 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
I am a digital humanities librarian at a large research university. Everybody here has given great advice, particularly about trying to cast as wide a net as possible during early career. If you can move for a job, that's usually helpful, but you will know whether you can move or not so it's not advice I generally give. We have some folks at my library who have moved from public / community college to university, but it's not terribly common. You didn't mention where you are located or what your nationality is, but if you're American or Canadian, you can get a work permit to work in either America or Canada, or rather your employer can get one -- it's called a TN-1, so if you see a plum job in the country you're not in and want to apply make sure to note in your cover letter that you are eligible for a TN-1 permit.
If you want to talk shop about digital humanities librarian work, please feel free to memail me. Happy to chat.
posted by the dief at 11:01 AM on February 3, 2023
If you want to talk shop about digital humanities librarian work, please feel free to memail me. Happy to chat.
posted by the dief at 11:01 AM on February 3, 2023
I’m another research librarian at a large private university. Everyone’s advice is spot-on. I would strongly recommend getting instruction experience as soon as possible, even if it’s just workshops on how to browse the catalog. And move over to academic as soon as you can.
Even a nod to data visualization and/or coding will help get your resume in the second-look pile. Academic librarians often have multiple advanced degrees, so if there’s a way you can continue your education, even a class at a time, it’s probably worth it.
posted by aspersioncast at 9:08 AM on February 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
Even a nod to data visualization and/or coding will help get your resume in the second-look pile. Academic librarians often have multiple advanced degrees, so if there’s a way you can continue your education, even a class at a time, it’s probably worth it.
posted by aspersioncast at 9:08 AM on February 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
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1) it used to be hard to move from public to
Academic, but that seems to have relaxed in the last two decades, especially in circulation positions.
2) it’s not always easy to move from circulation to reference & instruction, where you’d be helping with research (some circulation positions do help with research, especially in off hours).
3) if the institution has faculty librarians, it’s often hard (but not impossible) to move from circulation (which are often staff positions) to reference & instruction (which are usually faculty positions).
4) if you want to aim for a dean or director position, circulation will give you more administration experience.
5) community colleges can be a little more “dead end,” but they also have shorter chains of communication, so promotion can be easier (or harder, if the positions are recently filled with younger people who want to remain in the area).
6) all of the above is heavily modified by institutional culture, so you might do well to ask for a meeting with someone in an administration position at a couple of the schools and ask them some of these questions. It would also get you on their radar for possible temp or part-time jobs.
I’d be happy to field more questions; feel free to memail me, and we can set up a meeting with me or one of my faculty.
posted by GenjiandProust at 6:29 PM on February 2, 2023 [3 favorites]