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“What’ll I
do now?”—Alternative career options for librarians
Compiled by Bobbi Weaver, California
Western
School
of Law, San Diego, CA
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Books
De
Stricker, Ulla.
Is Consulting for
You?: A Primer for Information
Professionals.
Chicago, IL:
American Library Association, 2008.
Gordon, Rachel Singer.
What's the
alternative? : career options for librarians and info pros.
Medford,
NJ:
Information Today, Inc., 2008.
Available for order at
http://books.infotoday.com/books/WhatsTheAlternative.shtml
Shontz, Priscilla K.
A day in the life:
career options in library and information science.
Westport, Conn.:
Libraries Unlimited, 2007
Dority, G. Kim.
Rethinking
information work: a career guide
for librarians and other
information professionals.
Westport,
Conn.:
Libraries Unlimited, 2006.
Skrzeszewski, Stan.
The knowledge
entrepreneur.
Lanham,
MD:
Scarecrow Press, 2006.
Articles
Anne McKee, Beverley Geer,
Michael Markwith, Steve
Oberg, Bob Schatz,
Christine Stamison, Jeanne Langendorfer, “Hitting
the Trifecta:
Alternative Career Paths for Those with an MLS,” The Serials Librarian 54
(No.1 / 2, 2008):
179-192.
Rebecca
Brynteson Conner, “Records Management—An Alternative Library Career,”
Arkansas Libraries 65 (Fall 2008):
25-7.
Web Sites
Ask Tangognat: Alternative Careers for Librarians
(2006), at
http://www.tangognat.com/2006/08/09/ask-tangognat-alternative-careers-for-librarians/
--This article suggests careers such as Medical Records and Health Information
Technicians,
Computer Systems Analysis, Prepress Technicians and Workers, Desktop Publishing,
and Market
and Survey Researchers, with links to the U.S. Occupational Outlook articles on
each of these
positions.
Darwin McGuire,
Librarians in the Information Age:
Alternative Uses of MLS Degrees
(2003), at
http://www.liscareer.com/mcguire_alternativecareers.htm
--McGuire analyzes alternative careers
categorized by job venue (eg., government, corporate, etc.)
He even includes a “Way-Out-There” category, which is worth a read.
Sara Newton, Quick 10: Ten Surprising Former Librarians
(Apr. 13, 2009), at
http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/24574
Professional Associations
Donor Prospect Research
Association of
Professional Researchers for Advancement,
at http://www.aprahome.org/
--This Association’s web site provides information on educational and career
opportunities in the field
of fundraising research.
California
Advancement Researchers Association,
at http://www.caresearchers.org/
--This organization is the California Chapter of APRA (above).
Its web site includes links to job
announcements for positions in
California
as well as information about Chapter events.
Information Brokers and Consultants
Association of
Independent Information Professionals,
at http://www.aiip.org
--This Association’s web site includes information about being a consultant and
how to get
started in the field.
Records Management
ARMA International,
at http://www.arma.org
--This web site provides links to information on certification and education.
There is a job bank
available for ARMA members.
San Diego Chapter
of ARMA International,
at http://www.sandiegoarma.org/
--The web site includes information about Chapter activities and a job board
listing local available
positions in the field.
Medical Records Management/Health Information
Technology
American Health
Information Management Association,
at
http://www.ahima.org/certification/rhit.asp
--This web site provides information on training, including distance learning
opportunities, and
a job bank of available positions in the field.
California Health
Information Association,
at
http://www.californiahia.org/
--State chapter of the AHIMA.
Provides job listings and listings of accredited training programs
in California, including one at
San Diego
Mesa College
(http://www.sdmesa.edu/health-information/index.cfm
)
Medical Billing
Advocates of America,
at
http://www.billadvocates.com/
--I was watching a recent news program that featured the work of medical billing
advocates,
consultants who investigate the charges on patients’ medical bills for errors.
(The news story
and clip are available online at
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=7241383&page=1
)
According to the news report, medical billing advocates generally charge
a per-hour fee or a
percentage of the savings uncovered.
This job seems to use a lot of the research and
investigative skills that librarians generally have.
This organization’s web site provides
information on training opportunities.