Career Development Reading List
Articles added April 2004
Are You Making What You're Worth? SLA's 2003 Salary Survey, Latham,
John
INFORMATION OUTLOOK 2003 VOL. 7 NO.11, page(s): 14-19
"For more than 35 years, the Special Libraries Association (SLA) has conducted
regular salary surveys either triennially, biannually or annually. These surveys
are invaluable resources for individual information professionals when seeking
proper recognition financially and for management when setting the correct pay
levels within their organizations." (Article also includes summary of SLA's
online career services)
Competencies for Information Professionals of the 21st Century (Revised
Edition, June 2003), SLA Special Committee on Competencies for Special Librarians
INFORMATION OUTLOOK 2003 VOL. 7 NO.10, page(s): 12-21
"The revised competencies identify what makes our profession so increasingly
more valuable, and the toolkit now being developed will ensure that all association
members have the opportunity to develop their competencies and to continue to
contribute to both the association and the profession."
Electronic Writing: Defining a Core Competency, Dashkin, Michael
INFORMATION OUTLOOK 2003 VOL. 7 NO.9, page(s): 34-37
"Information professionals are at the forefront of an activity dubbed 'electronic
writing,' that is, writing done with the medium of networked computing. Communications
sent as part of digital reference services are an example of electronic writing,
but value-added deliverables, weblogs, and technical communications also fall
under the category. Information professionals are in need of standardized practices
for writing and research that clearly articulate core competencies and recognize
the unique challenges that electronic writing presents."
The Future of Professional Development: A Vision and a Roadmap, Lowery,
John
INFORMATION OUTLOOK 2004 VOL. 8 NO.2, page(s): 32-33
The SLA's Director of Professional Development describes the association's new
career development and learning initiatives, including the planning of SLA certification
programs based on the core competencies identified in the association's Competencies
for Information Professionals of the 21st Century.
Get Over the "Graying" Profession Hype, Gordon, R.S.
LIBRARY JOURNAL 2004 VOL. 129 NO. 1, page: 62
"Tout your own contributions and accomplishments, but don't make the mistake
of thinking that older librarians lack their own. If we enter the profession
with the belief that we have nothing to learn from older librarians, they will
be justified in their own stereotypes about Generations X and Y having little
to offer but trouble. While assertiveness and a sense of our own worth are necessary,
neither quality requires attitude. Be willing to pay your dues. Your older colleagues
didn't drop into their positions by accident, and neither will most of you.
Welcome to a vibrant profession." (Advice for younger professionals on
how they can carve out new roles for themselves)
Industry Forced to Take on Consultancy Role, Alvestrand, Viveka
INFORMATION WORLD REVIEW 2003, NO. 194, page(s): 23 ff.
The article summarizes the results of a Lexis (US) sponsored survey which aimed
to determine how the role of information professionals has changed in the last
few years. The results suggest that there is a shift taking place in the information
profession and a majority of information professionals (91 per cent) claim that
their roles are shifting from information gatherer to that of "information
consultant".
Opportunity in the Air, Albanese, Andrew R.
LIBRARY JOURNAL 2003 VOL. 128 NO. 12, page(s): 36-38
Mary Lee Kennedy, Director of Knowledge Network Group, takes the example of
her career to demonstrate how librarians are using their skills to shape vibrant
careers in current, ever-changing organizations. She uses her experiences as
an illustration of how the information industry is evolving and the new opportunities
that are emerging for librarians who are willing to take a chance.
Professional Portfolios for Librarians, Saunders, Laura
COLLEGE AND UNDERGRADUATE LIBRARIES 2003 VOL.10 NO. 1, page(s): 53-59
"A portfolio is an invaluable tool for librarians in any stage of their
career. A portfolio can be used to document skills and accomplishments, and
give managers tangible evidence of a librarian's strengths as a professional.
The development and maintenance of a professional portfolio can be employed
as a job-hunting tool, as documentation to support performance evaluation or
promotion and tenure review, and as a personal reflection tool to encourage
professional development and career growth. With a little time and self-discipline,
a librarian can use a portfolio to advance throughout a career, and to make
one stand out from the crowd."
Skydiving, Quint, Barbara
SEARCHER 2004 VOL. 12 NO. 3, page(s): 4, 6
"So the information profession is at a crisis point and the future holds
only a horizon filled with crisis points. So now what do we do? Well, before
we all book passage to Jonestown and order up the Kool-Aid, let's take one giant
step back and see if there's a possible upside to the new developments looming
over our profession." (The author offers her vision of how librarians can
play an increasingly important role integrating resources into new collections
and developing possible revenue sources).
Supporting the KM Environment: The Roles, Responsibilities, and Rights of
Information Professionals, Henczel, Sue
INFORMATION OUTLOOK 2004 VOL.8 NO.1, page(s): 13-19
"(I)t has become increasingly evident to me that while some information
professionals have successfully embraced change and moved forward, many others
are struggling to find their place in the knowledge management environments
that have emerged within their organizations… Regardless of their tenure,
many individuals have seen their roles and responsibilities downgraded because
they were not perceived as contributing directly to KM initiatives. Some of
our readings tell us that we have to develop new skill sets to remain relevant,
while others tell us that we need a new mindset to move into our 21sr century
roles…"
Thinking and Working Outside the (Library) Box: From Revolutionary Idea
to Strategic Alliance, Bonner, D Ellen; Macadam, Carol; Mitchell, Anne;
Smith, Merrill; Sullivan, Sharon; Walker, Dana
SERIALS LIBRARIAN 2003 VOL. 44 NO. 3/4 , page(s): 155-200
Features a panel of five librarians who have worked both in libraries and in
the commercial environment. The panelists provide brief overviews of their careers
to date, then speak in greater depth about what they look for in a job, what
has motivated them to move from libraries to the commercial sector or vice versa,
and what they have learned in the process.
The 10 R's Facing Information Professionals in Our Association, Abram,
Stephen
INFORMATION OUTLOOK 2003 VOL. 7 NO.8, page(s): 28-29
The author outlines questions concerning the future of the profession: relevance,
re-skilling, renewed competencies, recruitment and retirement, rhythm, reinvention,
range (more of it), reserve (less of it), radioactivity (the message has to
shine through SLA), renewed energy.
Articles added June 2003
Charting Your Course: Taking Control of Your Professional Development,
Baird, Zahra
INFO CAREER TRENDS 2003 VOL.4 NO.3
"Professional development opportunities are all around us. If we are lucky,
or in the right place at the right time, some might even find us. But, what
about those that don't? I urge you to take charge of your own professional development.
If you don't make a conscious decision to scout around and familiarize yourself
with the possibilities, you will find that there will miss out on many. Create
opportunities for yourself by being well-informed, keeping alert, and trying
out a few of the following suggestions."
http://www.lisjobs.com/newsletter/archives/may03zbaird.htm
Competencies for the 21st Century Information Professional: Translating
the SLA Competencies into Business Competencies, Henczel, Sue
2002 SPECIAL LIBRARIES ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE Los Angeles, June 9 - 12,
2002
"This paper examines how the SLA competencies can be mapped to the broader business
competencies of marketing (promoting), packaging (product development), persuading
and performing (sales/customer service) and positioning (strategic manoeuvring).
It introduces a process whereby the skills, knowledge, understandings and attitudes
associated with each competency are identified and matched with the skills required
in a business environment...The author introduces a model for self-evaluation
that enables individuals to assess their strengths and weaknesses and identify
any skills gap that exists. The assessment can then be used to develop study
programs, to support requests for professional development and to supplement
performance reviews. "
http://www.sla.org/documents/conf/Competencies_for_the_21st.doc
A day in the life of an information broker: or, "So, you're tired of a steady
paycheck?", Bates, Mary Ellen
SEARCHER 2002 VOL.10 NO.7, page(s): 24-31
"Have you finally had one of those days when you just want to tell your boss
to take this job and ...? Do you spend more and more time fantasizing about
how much more fun you could have as your own boss, setting your own schedule,
and doing your own collections calls to deadbeat clients? That last item may
not rank high on your life-list of experiences to try, but creating and growing
your own business might." The life of information brokers.
Don't Let Your Dream Job Be Just a Dream, Gandhi, Smiti
INFO CAREER TRENDS 2003 VOL.4 NO.2
"Finding a job can be a daunting task. Trying to find a job that is the best
fit for you can be even more challenging - yet it's a dream worth pursuing.
All it requires is a more focused and aggressive job search strategy, tempered
with ingenuity and creativity."
http://www.lisjobs.com/newsletter/archives/mar03sgandhi.htm
Evolution and Survival of the Fittest in Library and Information Services,
Anderson, Janice C. et al.
INFORMATION OUTLOOK 2003 VOL.7 NO.2, page(s): 20-25
"Anyone who doesn't quickly and repeatedly to changing conditions will surely
not be able to meet the skill requirements for information professionals in
the world of tomorrow. We must evolve… or is that e-volve?… to survive as a
profession…When I interview, I'm not looking to verify degrees and coursework.
I want to hear their ability to articulate clearly and concisely the significance
of the contribution they can make in the world. I want to see people who are
comfortable with what they know; committed to continuous learning; creative
in applying, adapting, and communicating the principles of library and information
science; and capable of participating in dynamic environment."
Growth Through Change: From Archivist to Consultant, Nye, Valerie
INFO CAREER TRENDS 2003 VOL.4 NO.3
Tips on how to go about planning a career change within the information sector.
http://www.lisjobs.com/newsletter/archives/may03vnye.htm
In a Do-It-Yourself World, Who Needs Librarians?, Wilson, Scott J.
2002 SPECIAL LIBRARIES ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE Los Angeles, June 9 - 12,
2002
"The Internet has given the world numerous easy-to-use and inexpensive research
tools. Many library users are getting direct access to commercial databases
such as Nexis and Dow Jones, which have redesigned their search interfaces to
appeal to novice users... What at one time seemed like a narrow specialty confined
mostly to librarians has expanded to draw in a popular audience eager to find
information without having to know arcane searching methods. But rather than
being displaced by this shift, librarians are finding themselves in important
new roles. They are valued for their knowledge of constantly changing technology.
They are needed for their ability to sift through a fast-growing information
universe. And they are trusted for their skill in analyzing and assessing the
quality of online sources. So who needs librarians? Everyone."
http://www.sla.org/documents/conf/In_a_Do-it-Yourself.doc
Multitasking -- Or -- How to Manage Adult-Onset ADHD, Peters, Chrissie
Anderson
INFO CAREER TRENDS 2003 VOL.4 NO.1
"No one can do everything. No one should try to. When the joy of doing something
becomes lost in the pressure to get it done, it is time to take a break. This
is the time to take on fewer extracurricular activities and to take a deep professional
breath, so that you will be ready for something else that matters to you when
the opportunity presents itself."
http://www.lisjobs.com/newsletter/archives/jan03cpeters.htm
Tips and Tricks for Multitasking Success, DeClue, Stephanie
INFO CAREER TRENDS 2003 VOL.4 NO.1
"Multitasking is the art of doing seventeen things at once. It is the ability
to train yourself to use every hour of every day and to be productive at all
times. More and more students are entering library school at later stages of
life. That means there are more students who are juggling families, jobs and
school at the same time. As librarians (or librarians-in-training), we want
to be everything to everybody: parent, co-worker, friend, student, keeper of
the gates of knowledge, etc. Unless you learn the art of multitasking, this
juggling act will cause a nervous breakdown."
http://www.lisjobs.com/newsletter/archives/jan03sdeclue.htm
Where Do You Go When There Is No Up?, Isaac, Leann
INFO CAREER TRENDS 2003 VOL.4 NO.3
"If your dream job doesn't exist - invent it! Many of us find ourselves in situations
where we have gone as high up the corporate ladder in our institution as we
can. This is especially the case with solo information professionals; it's difficult
to move to a higher position when you are the only one there. Luckily, this
doesn't mean that you're necessarily stuck in a career quagmire or that you
have to find another position with room to grow. You can help yourself to grow
professionally right where you are. "
http://www.lisjobs.com/newsletter/archives/may03lisaac.htm
Articles added December 2002
Evolving: The Stories of Three Information Professionals, Shaver, Leslie
INFORMATION OUTLOOK 2002 VOL. 6 NO. 10, page(s): 28-32, 34.
"Like many others, information professionals have seen their conditions altered
during the past decade. The explosion of the Internet and the tech boom have
redefined job roles, while the ensuing 'bust' has forced everyone to re-evaluate
their roles in and value to their organizations…" The article profiles
how 3 prominent people have dealt with changes in the profession
The Graying of the Library Profession: A Survey of Our Professional Association
and Their Responses, Lenzini, Rebecca T.
SEARCHER 2002 VOL. 10 NO. 7
"Librarians may be getting better, but they're also getting older! Rebecca Lenzini
surveys the profession's library associations to get their responses and reactions
to the increasing depletion of the librarian ranks."
http://www.infotoday.com/searcher/jul02/lenzini.htm
Happily Ever After: Plateauing as a Means for Long-Term Career Satisfaction,
Montgomery, Denise L.
LIBRARY TRENDS VOL. 50 NO. 4, page(s): 702-16
What to do when there is no more room to move upwards in your job and work is
mastered and there is essentially nothing new to learn. The author discusses
solutions such as special projects, cross-training, etc.
The Info Pro's Survival Guide to Job Hunting, Mort, Mary-Ellen
SEARCHER 2002 VOL. 10 NO. 7, page(s): 42-59
"Rather than compile one more 'all you can eat' set of links to add to the other
sets of links out there (many of them quite excellent), let me outline an effective
online job search strategy you can adapt to your own career focus and industry
target. I want to show information professionals how to think about searching
for work. I'll cover the worst way to find a job, the easiest way to find a
job, and then map out 'The Invisible Job Market for Information Professionals'."
Many of the Web sites referred to are American but the concepts and strategies
apply to job hunting by LIS professionals in any country.
http://www.infotoday.com/searcher/jul02/mort.htm
Interviewing: Beware Blogging Blunders, LaGuardia, Cheryl and Tallent,
Ed
LIBRARY JOURNAL 2002, VOL. 127 NO. 15, page(s): 42, 44
"We've interviewed lots of job candidates recently, and we've seen plenty of
the usual application missteps: cover letters with typos, impenetrable slang,
and odd boilerplate salutations. We've waded through resumés so complicated
they required de-construction just to eke out the applicant's education, experience,
and skills. We've even had references submitted hand-written on scraps of paper
and on the backs of business cards. But some new behaviors have begun to surface
that truly startle us…. Many people blog nowadays (blogging = web logging,
posting a running commentary of your life on the web). Be aware that if you
are doing it with your professional name, you are making a public record that
is easily accessible. If you blog negatively about where you now work, for instance,
you could soon discover just how pervasive, and unforgiving, a communication
tool the web can be."
http://libraryjournal.reviewsnews.com/index.asp?layout=articlePrint&articleID=CA242269
Leaping Off the Edge: Thriving in Ever-Changing Information Futures,
Hunt, Debbie and Falanga, Rose
INFORMATION OUTLOOK 2002 VOL. 6 NO. 10, page(s): 12-14, 17-18.
"[The authors] have between them uncounted years of professional experience
in the library and information fields. While library school gave them a foundation
of service-oriented values, most of the skills they bring to their current cutting
edge positions have been learned on the job and through continuing education.
Their stories demonstrate how special librarians can remain valuable and marketable
assets to their organizations, or on their own as independent information professionals."
Midlife Career Choices: How Are They Different from Other Career Choices?,
Zemon, Candy
LIBRARY TRENDS 2002 NO.4, page(s): 665-72
"It was 1963 when Candy Start began working in libraries. Libraries seemed to
be a refuge from change, a dependable environment devoted primarily to preservation.
She was mistaken. Technological changes in every decade of her experience have
affected how and where she used her M.L.S. Far from a static refuge, libraries
have proven to be spaceships loaded with precious cargo hurtling into the unknown.
The historian in the author says that perhaps libraries have always been like
this. This paper looks at a midlife decision point and the choice that this
librarian made to move from a point of lessening productivity and interest to
one of increasing challenge and contribution. It is a personal narrative of
midlife experience from one librarian's point of view. "
A Resume That Works, Ireland, Susan
SEARCHER 2002 VOL. 10 NO. 7, page(s): 98-109
"If your resume has been circulating in the job market for more than a month
and you haven't gotten requests for quality job interviews, the problem could
be your resume. Here's a quiz to identify whether your resume needs improving
to produce results."
Value-Added Deliverables: Rungs on the Info Pro's Ladder to Success,
Kassel, Amelia
SEARCHER 2002 VOL. 10 NO. 10, page(s): 42-53
"[As part of a growing trend, many] librarians…described how their work
had changed considerably with the addition of value-added deliverables as a
major activity. Several librarians had changed positions or departments. They
had left libraries behind and became part of competitive intelligence or market
research units. Along with new responsibilities came new job titles, including
research analyst, knowledge manager, research consultant, and global content
manager, to name a few. As part of their research responsibilities, several
prepared templates for value-added company and industry reports to expedite
procedures."
http://www.infotoday.com/searcher/nov02/kassel.htm
Would You Hire You?: Continuing Education for the Information Professional,
Ebbinghouse, Carol
SEARCHER 2002 VOL. 10 NO. 7, page(s): 110-115
"Continuing education, telecourses, online classes, distance education, lifelong
learning, professional development. Must we all become professional students?
Or, as my Dad quipped, are we "'perpetual students' until you learn to make
money by going to school!"?. We all know we need to get better at what we do
and prepare for what we will do in the future. Employers expect that when new
librarians come on board, they will hit the ground running. This new millennium
demands not just "instant expertise," but constantly acquired expertise."
Articles added May 2002
"alt.lawlibrarian": New Career Paths for Law Librarians, Balkin, R.
Cassidy, J. L. Dunn, D. J. Forman, M. S. Heroy, D. T.; Jones, R. W. Saint-Onge,
M. Thomas, D. A. Houdek, F. G. Beaird, A. M.
LAW LIBRARY JOURNAL 2001 VOL 93; PART 3 , page(s): 375-422
"Contributors offer personal vignettes that illuminate how they have used the
knowledge, abilities and experiences gleaned during their careers as law librarians
to move into 'alternative' positions or careers."
http://www.aallnet.org/products/2001_20.pdf
Beyond the square: career planning for information professionals in the
new millennium, Blair, L.
NEW LIBRARY WORLD 2000 VOL 101, No. 4, page(s): 175-180
"Career planning is about getting clear about what you want in your life, your
knowledge, skills, abilities and your values, aspirations, wants, needs, dreams,
personal style. It involves self-analysis and self-reflection, preferably with
the involvement of someone else who can help you. Some people are strategists
who are on a career path and very clear about what they want, others want a
quick fix, others want a methodical step-by-step process, and others want to
ponder their options. These preferences can be related to personal style. Some
people have not yet caught up with the realities of the 1990s, let alone being
prepared for the millennium. Information professionals are in a privileged position
to have maximum flexibility in their careers. Reference librarians have highly-marketable
skills."
Building Successful Relationships with IT Professionals, Heyman, M.K.
INFORMATION OUTLOOK 2001 VOL 5, No. 4, page(s): 34-42
"Speaking IT, and staying a librarian…The literature reports three critical
success factors necessary for establishing a relationship conducive to influence.
These factors include a clearly defined and understood common purpose, shared
responsibility for results, and mutual trust…The recent explosion of affordable
information technology solutions has placed corporate librarians and information
scientists squarely in the midst of many task teams with information technology
professionals. Librarians are challenged to work with technology without becoming
lost in it. This article offers one practitioner's views and experiences on
how librarians can collaborate successfully with IT professionals without losing
their identities as librarians."
The Business World Discovers the Assets of Librarianship, Koenig, M.
E.D. and Srikantaiah. T.K.
INFORMATION OUTLOOK 2002 VOL 6, No. 4, page(s): 14-18
"For information professionals, it seems apparent librarianship skills are a
central component of knowledge management. [The authors] propose that the business
world has been 'woefully uninformed' about that relationship... Dissecting the
stages of knowledge management, [the authors] suggest this gap can and should
bridged - soon."
Care and Maintenance of the Successful Career: How Experienced Law Librarians
Make Their Work Rewarding, Bausch, D. Billings, C. Chick, C. L. Dowling,
S. L. Gasaway, L. N.; Gruben, K. T. Holcomb, J. M. Myers, A. K. O Connor, S.
H. Seer, G.
LAW LIBRARY JOURNAL 2001 VOL 93; PART 4 , page(s): 535-588
"Experienced law librarians explain how at midcareer they continue to find challenges
in their jobs and enthusiasm for their work…"
http://www.aallnet.org/products/2001-27.pdf
Career Alert: Do you have a plan? Casey, V.
FELICITER 2000 VOL. 46 No. 4, page(s): 167
"A career plan begins with self-examination - a skills and interests inventory.
This involves an honest assessment of individual strengths and weaknesses, likes
and dislikes."
Competencies of Special Library Professionals: An Institutional Perspective,
Rehman S.u.
CONTRIBUTIONS IN LIBRARIANSHIP AND INFORMATION SCIENCE 2000 VOL 93 ,
page(s): 91-108
The essay is part of a volume entitled 'Preparing the Information Professional
- An Agenda for the Future' From the abstract: "Redesigning information education
in response to the market dynamic requires clear articulation of the expectations
of employers, identification of competencies for professionals, and appreciation
of environmental, institutional, and situational contexts. The author responds
to these needs in a systematic and scientific manner by describing methods of
translating market demands into defined sets of capabilities to serve as parameters
for formal education of information professionals. He also provides a research
framework for differentiating between undergraduate and graduate levels for
developing educational models. Serious disparities in coverage and treatment
of information education in different parts of the world are noted and analyzed
using a global view." http://www.greenwood.com/books/BookDetail.asp?dept_id=1&sku=GM0673&imprintID=
Digital Futures, [anonymous]
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS INFORMATION BULLETIN 2001 VOL 60; PART 2 , page(s):
49
"The Library sponsored a workshop of library professionals on identifying and
developing competencies in digital futures environment of libraries"
http://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/0102/digital_futures.html
Exploring Uncharted Waters: Alternative Careers for the Serialist, Griffith,
J. Tusa, S. Teaster, G.
SERIALS LIBRARIAN 2001 VOL 40; NO 3-4 , page(s): 317-324
The Future of Information Professionals - Seize the Day, Lettis, L
INFORMATION OUTLOOK 2000 VOL 4, No. 3, page(s): 26-32
"Sometimes we ignore the need to go forward because it is safe and comfortable
right where we are. Although being stationary may be comfy, you can become an
easy target. Lucy Lettis urges information professionals to seize opportunities
and work as business professionals. If we market our skills instead of hoard
them--we won't need to worry about the future--we will be the future."
Greeting and Shaping the Future: Information Professionals as Strategists
and Leaders, Dearstyne, B.W.
INFORMATION OUTLOOK 2000 VOL 4, No. 8, page(s): 32-36
"Everyday brings new evidence about the importance of e-commerce, e-government,
and the general shift to a digital economy… If this is the case, why aren't
information professionals such as librarians, information centre managers, records
managers, and archivists thriving? Why are our confidence and optimism so often
accompanied by anxiety and apprehension? Why are we so often exhorted in our
professional journals to react, change, and reinvent ourselves?"
Helpful hints for heading South, MacKinnon, C.
FELICITER 2001 VOL. 47 No. 5, page(s): 236-237
The article contains many hints on how to adjust to working and living in the
United States: everything from getting a work visa to dealing with US banks,
getting a Social Security Number, finding Canadian radio stations and learning
to forget our beloved Metric system
Information Professionals: Changing tools, Changing Roles, Newman, N.C.,
Porter, L. and Yang, J.
INFORMATION OUTLOOK 2001 VOL 5, No. 3, page(s): 24-30
"No profession will undergo more radical change between 2000 and 2010 than will
the Information Professional… [Our jobs] must expand beyond traditional
information management and services. Roles are fusing with those of analysts.
Information professionals will increasingly diagnose problems, 'discover' relationships…,
network with topical experts, and make action recommendations. To take on these
challenges, information professionals need to be path-breakers in the derivation
of new knowledge forms (e.g. literature profiling), and be adept at using and
training others to use the tools to generate that knowledge (i.e. text mining,
data visualization)."
Make your own luck: a study of people changing career into librarianship,
Deeming, C. Chelin, J.
NEW LIBRARY WORLD 2001 VOL 102; ISSUE 1160/1161 , page(s): 13-25
Mentoring - Personal Reflections of a Special Librarian, Jones-Quartey,
T.
INFORMATION OUTLOOK 2000 VOL 4, No. 7, page(s): 26-30
"I currently manage the library and information center of a major specialty
chemicals company. What I share with other successful professionals is that
I did not achieve success by myself. Along the way, I have sought and received
a lot of help from other successful people - my mentors."
Mentoring programs: in search of the perfect model, Law, M.
FELICITER 2001 VOL. 47 No. 3, page(s): 146-148
Describes the evolution of mentoring at the University of Alberta Libraries
Moving Up and Out, Zampetti, L.J.
INFORMATION OUTLOOK 2000 VOL 4, No. 11, page(s): 24-29
"Newton's first law states that a body in motion remains in motion and a body
at rest remains at rest. This is true not only in physics, but also in careers.
A person who makes changes and takes advantage of opportunities always seems
to have something new going on in their career…Knowing what you really
want from your job will make your job search much more efficient, as you can
focus on the most desirable opportunities."
Prison Librarians Needed: A Challenging Career for Those with the Right
Professional and Human Skills, Lehmann, V.
IFLA JOURNAL 2000 VOL 26 No. 2, page(s) : 123-128
"The author examines the background and roles of prison libraries in North America
and Europe. The similarities and differences between public libraries and prison
libraries are described. The information needs and reading interests of inmates
are highlighted, and reference is made to international and national prison
library standards and guidelines. The author also looks at the educational and
human qualifications needed to be a successful prison librarian and explains
the difficulties and rewards inherent in this still non-traditional career choice."
http://www.ifla.org/V/iflaj/jour2602.pdf
(Note: you have to scroll down to the article)
Qualification Management in Information Services: My Grand Design, St.Clair,
G.
INFORMATION OUTLOOK 2000 VOL 4, No. 6, page(s): 32-36
"We information workers, and particularly those who have management responsibilities,
have for some time been troubled by a seeming lack of quality in the employees
who come to work with us. It's not that they are incapable of doing good work.
In fact, these employees are often… mentored into positions of considerable
accomplishment in their parent institutions and organizations. But not always,
and when our interactions with these employees fail and we find ourselves left
once again with a bored, uninterested information worker just biding time until
a better job comes along, we find ourselves thinking about what we could have
done differently, when we sought to fill that position."
Retaining Workers in the Knowledge Economy, Wesley, D.
INFORMATION OUTLOOK 2000 VOL 4, No. 10, page(s): 34-39
"Six propositions for a new paradigm for managers and employees in the information
economy. One: people circulate, institutions learn. Two: It's all in the connections.
Three: Managers build institutional wealth. Four: Employees are engaged as individuals.
Five: Combine and innovate. Six: The individual's work is essential"
The Revenge of the Library Scientist, Ainsbury, B. and Futornick, M.
ONLINE 2000 VOL. 24, No. 6
"It's high time for business professionals to thoroughly understand the profession.
They will be surprised at just how suited librarians are to the dot com world.
Lets explore the Valley of the Librarians. Traditionally, they have been responsible
for conducting research, gathering information, and organizing information.
To do so they have been trained in several key areas… librarians are uniquely
trained for the Web, but others don't know it. Worse still, many librarians
are reluctant to speak up."
http://www.onlinemag.net/OL2000/ainsbury11.html
Skills and Competencies Needed in a Knowledge Economy , Oxbrow, N.
INFORMATION OUTLOOK 2000 VOL 4, No. 10, page(s): 18-22
Based on a presentation of international research findings to the SLA annual
conference in Philadelphia 2000 "The international project explored what roles
and skills were required for the effective implementation of knowledge management
and involved in-depth case studies, expert interviews, and consultation…"
What Does the Future Hold for Information Professionals?, Church, D.
INFORMATION OUTLOOK 2000 VOL 4, No. 5, page(s): 20-24
"The rate of change in today's market requires great flexibility and openness
to new approaches, roles, and structures. The author explains why information
professionals need to look beyond the management of content to encompass the
changing bounds of the external market and internal organization structure."
What role does activity in a professional association play in assisting
information professionals find career success? Anderson, M.
AUSTRALIAN LIBRARY AND INFORMATION ASSOCIATION BIENNIAL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION
1998 5TH , page(s): 57-60
Books
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McCook, Kathleen De La Pena, Margaret Myers, Blythe Camenson. Opportunities
in Library & Information Science Careers. McGraw-Hill, 2001
Offers job seekers essential information about a variety of careers within
the field of information science and includes training and education requirements,
salary statistics, and professional and Internet resources
Order from http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0658016415/priscillashon-20/103-4627013-1672660
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Nesbeitt, S. and Gordon, R.S. The Information Professional's Guide to
Career Development Online. Information Today, 2001
This is the first book designed to meet the needs of Internet-connected
librarians interested in using online tools to advance their careers. Authors
Nesbeitt and Gordon provide practical advice on topics ranging from current
awareness services and personal Web pages to distance education, electronic
resumes, and online job searches. Up-and-coming librarians will learn how
to use the Internet to research education opportunities, and experienced
information professionals will learn ways to network through online conferences
and discussion lists.
Supported by the Career Development Online Web Page (http://www.lisjobs.com/careerdev/),
featuring updated links to important reader resources. Since 1995, Nesbeitt
has compiled Library Job Postings on the Internet (http://www.libraryjobpostings.org/),
a web-based guide to help librarians find employment. Gordon is Head, Computer
Services at the Franklin Park Public Library, Ill. She is the webmaster
of the library career site Lisjobs.com (Lisjobs.com) and
the founding editor of the Info Career Trends electronic newsletter (http://www.lisjobs.com/newsletter/index.htm)
Order from http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1573871249/priscillashon-20/103-4627013-1672660
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Newlen, Robert R. Writing Resumes That Work : A How-To-Do-It
Manual for Librarians (How-To-Do-It Manuals for Librarians, No 82).
Neal-Schuman, 1998.
The first book specifically designed to meet the job-searching needs of
the library and information professional, this manual guides readers through
each step of creating a resume that describes their personal histories (including
accounting for periods of unemployment), defines their job objectives, connects
their skills and experiences with those objectives, and helps them reach
their goals. Dozens of real resumes from all types of librarians (academic,
public, school, special, etc.) have been selected as models for librarians
in nearly every specialty. Versions for library school students and for
those moving to non-traditional library jobs are also included. A final
checklist to make sure everything is in order, an appendix of action verbs,
chapters on using computers to create resumes, keeping your resume sharp,
and writing cover letters. Newlen is Head, Legislative Relations Office,
Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.
Order from http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1555702635/priscillashon-20/103-4627013-1672660
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Pantry, Sheila and Peter Griffiths. Your Successful Lis Career : Planning
Your Career, Cvs, Interviews and Self-Promotion (Successful Lis Professional
Series). Library Association Publications Ltd, 1999.
This very practical book covers career planning and job searching in the
British library environment. Much of the advice is applicable to anyone,
but many of the tables point to British organizations, job postings, and
other resources. The book focuses primarily on career planning and job hunting,
and does not really cover "on the job" career management advice (ie, networking,
interpersonal skills, etc).
Order from http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1856043290/priscillashon-20/103-4627013-1672660
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Sellen, Betty-Carol. What Else You Can Do With a Library Degree : Career
Options for the 90s and Beyond. Neal-Schuman, 1997
The book includes 62 personal case studies and is divided into the following
sections: (1) publishers, writers, booksellers, reviewers, (2) products
and services for libraries, (3) independent librarians, (4) independent
librarians with companies of their own, (5) association work and work in
the academic world, (6) librarians employed in the corporate world, (7)
some librarians who have traveled farther afield (includes private investigator,
archivist, etc). Valuable and inspiring first-hand information
Order from http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1555702643/priscillashon-20/103-4627013-1672660
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Shontz, Priscilla K. Jump Start Your Career in Library and Information
Science. Scarecrow Press 2002.
This book contains advice and anecdotes gathered from research and interviews
with more than 70 information professionals in a variety of library-related
careers. The book is written in a practical, easy-to-read style. The modular
format allows a reader to read any chapter on its own or to read the chapters
in any order, choosing which ones are most relevant at any point. The book
covers eight broad topics: career planning, job searching, gaining experience
and education, developing interpersonal skills and leadership skills, networking,
mentoring, and writing for publication. Lengthy lists of related readings,
as well as related web sites, are included to allow the reader to follow
up on any topic.
Shontz is Library Supervisor at the University of Houston System at Cinco
Ranch. She is a Past President of the American Library Association New Members
Round Table and has served as editor of the Serials Review column. The book
has a companion web site: http://www.liscareer.com/index.htm
Order from http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0810840847/priscillashon-20/103-4627013-1672660
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