Rethinking the librarian role; using librarian skills in alternative ways.

1. Alternative Career Options For Librarians 1

2. About Me Theatre Background Work for Work’s Sake (just a job to pay the rent…) When I got older, I wanted a career Library School With no library experience, where to work? Librarian Trainee, NYPL 2

4. Archival work

5. Special librarianship

6. Independent info professional“Librarian” can have many different meanings. 3

7. Thinking Beyond “Librarian” Looking at the resume I had built before getting my MLS, I married my new-found information gathering abilities with skills learned in a previous job. When going for a job at an advertising agency, I was already familiar with advertising directories and databases, as well as large agencies and a good idea of the industry as a whole. 4

8. Job Search Procedure 5

9. As Library Workers… Think beyond “Librarianship” to “Information Work” Self-Knowledge: Look at the skills and interests you have / acquire new skills to get the job you want Be open to new opportunities Rely on professional associations and contacts 6

10. A flexible career demands flexibility The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook (2008) states: "More and more, librarians apply their information management and research skills to arenas outside of libraries--for example, database development, reference tool development information systems, publishing, Internet coordination, marketing, Web content management and design, and training of database users. Entrepreneurial librarians sometimes start their own consulting practices, acting as freelance librarians or information brokers and providing services to other libraries, businesses, or government agencies." 7

11. Consider this “While librarianship has traditionally been perceived as a fairly stable career, neither people nor institutions are static. Your skills, desires, goals, life circumstances, and institutional environment are all subject to change; any of these changes may make alternative work a more attractive option.” –Rachel Singer Gordon 8

12. Recommended Resources What’s the Alternative? Career Options for Librarians and Info Pros, Rachel Singer Gordon, Information Today, 2008. Rethinking Information Work: A Career Guide for Librarians and Other Information Professionals, G. Kim Dority, Libraries Unlimited, 2006. 9