Any librarians?

[jlpumkin]

I'm thinking of returning for MLIS... I'm not sure I have a realistic idea of life as a librarian. Would anyone currently working as a librarian like to share? I'm concerned about finding a job w/ no library experience. We are also homeschoolers. Ideally I would have a schedule that allowed me to be home during daytime hours on most days. Are homeschooling and working as a librarian compatible? Actually I'm sure there's a lot that I don't even know to ask... so if you feel there's something important to add throw that in too!
very much appreciated!

[readermaid]

I'm not currently working in the field, but I have my MLS. I think most people tend to get the degree after having worked in a library for a while. I definitely felt at a disadvantage with my only minimal library experience when I was searching for my first job. Currently, it seems like there are more MLS holders out there than there are library jobs. But they keep telling us that there will be a wave of retirements that will change that. Here's hoping! I'd love to get back in a library.

I do think that there is potential for it to be compatible with homeschooling. It likely varies quite a bit, but when I was in a public library, my schedule was pretty flexible. I didn't mind the nights and weekends because I loved having time off during the week. I was able to work 12-9 three days a week. And the weekend schedule was rotating. A lot of libraries are hiring more part-time positions right now, which may be able to be flexible in the schedule.

Hope this helps!

[Constant Gardener]

I'm the librarian's assistant in the children's section at our local library. I will go back and get my Masters after my kids are older so that I could be a full time section head. Public Library hours are not great. Open till 9pm and weekends. I would be ready for a long inconvenient work schedule. Other than that...it's the best job ever!!!

[jlpumkin]

thanks for the quick response ladies!

Readermaid - that's one of my big concerns... not having the experience. I've started trolling the library listing site in hopes of something part-time opening up.

[baltic_ballet]

I am a school librarian so my hours are better than public library hours and we get school holidays off.

I am in Australia and I think the majority of our library jobs are casual, you could start by getting a casual job shelving as it's a good way to get a foot in the door.

We have job companies here that are catered to just library jobs, have a look on the net and see if their is one in your state.

[listipton]

Hello I am the Head Librarian & I LOVE my job!! We are also considering Homeschooling and I think it could be very compatible. I am forever lugging home materials that patrons have checked out that just look plain cool . I work in a rural library and we are only open limited hours, so my schedule isn't as flexible as I would like it to be. I would love to work a 12-9 shift, but right now I work a lot of 9-6's. I had very little library experience before this job and currently do not have my MLS, but will be going to school for that in the next few years (hopefully the state funding will not be cut and I will be able to receive grants ). I would try to find a part time job first, then see what kind of state funding you can get to pay for your MLS before committing to it as a profession. You can also become involved with your local libraries Friends group and volunteer a bit to see if it is a good fit for you. Were you hoping to be a specialized librarian? One field that has interested me within LIS is Bio-infomatics and it seem that it might be a good fit for a science-type person and has WAH potential....

[jlpumkin]

listipton - I spoke with the director at my desired program and he suggested the same things. Especially the volunteering now so that I can get some in library experience on my schedule... since obviously hs comes first. He also recommended researching some of the different career fields that I may be interested in. He said that some fields have much higher demand than others, but of course that wouldn't be the sole basis for my desicion. I had no idea that any library field would have WAH possibilities so that could be a huge perk! thank you for your insights! I appreciate them.

[EFmom]

I'm an academic librarian at a state university, and have also been a special (corporate) librarian in the past.

I'm not aware of any library positions that would allow for you to be home during the bulk of the typical 8-5 workday. Some academic and public libraries hire part time people to fill in evenings and weekends, but that's fairly rare around here, and when it does happen it's only a few hours a week at pretty low pay at a couple of private colleges. Here, the regulars are expected to take a few weekend and evening shifts every semester, but it's so irregular that it wouldn't make child care any easier.

I love my job. There's great variety. I teach, do reference and collection development. We are tenure track faculty. The tenure process was dreadful, but I lived to tell about it. We must do research and publish, as well as be active in professional organizations.

As for getting library experience, that's a good idea, but also keep in mind that in many MLS programs, you will have to do one or two internships which will help you gain a little experience.

[jlpumkin]

EFmom - I guess I am just naive. I thought that since the libraries are open so late and 7 days that a librarian would have to be there. I guess I was hoping that some of those days would make up for the 9 -5. the sucky shifts another poster was speaking of were my first choice =) I don't know much about all of the fields yet, but find the academic field a little intimidating. I love to hear that you lived through tenure!

[*MamaJen*]

Volunteering or finding a part-time job at a library does sound like a smart way to dip your toes into the water. Even if you could just do eight or ten hours a week at your local library shelving books, it might be a good way to get a little experience and test it out.
Getting an MLIS is still a possibility in the back of my mind. I'm an editor now and planning on going back to grad school to get a masters in public policy, but there's a part of me that thinks I'd really enjoy being a librarian. I worked in a bookstore for a couple of years in my early 20s and loved it.

[shooflymama]

The Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-2009 gives a really nice overview of the field and predicted growth for librarians:

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos068.htm

Definitely worth a look. Also, the AMerican Library Association employment area:

http://www.ala.org/ala/educationcare...ment/index.cfm

ANd US NEws and World Report listed librarian as a top job for a few years running now:

http://www.usnews.com/money/careers/...eers-2009.html

THat said - I would suggest looking at job postings in your area, to see if there are any, and their requirements. Also - I'd check out the public libraries or wherever you're interested in working, and see what hours they are open AND what hours they staff the reference desk (in some libraries, this is not the same thing). That may give you more of a sense of what you might realistically expect. (I did see an academic librarian position in my area from 2-10 pm five days a week, a few years back.)

IMHO, for what it's worth, it may not be worth going down this path if you have to take out loans to do so, because I personally feel like right now there aren't many jobs, lots of people are getting MLS degrees, and even full-time jobs are generally not cash cows. ANd I do think library experience is really important; other customer service experience, if you want to do reference, can also be useful.

I work part-time as a reference librarian (pt because I'm home full time with my kids, if that makes any sense), and totally love my job. I've worked in academic and special libraries before becoming a mom.

I hope this helps a little, and good luck!

[shooflymama]

Just wanted to add - part of my perspective may be colored by living in a state with several ALA-accredited MLS programs, including one about an hour from here, so maybe more MLS holders than other places? And there are lots of libraries in the city, but many fewer in rural areas.

And the threat of a shut-down of the entire public library system for a major city (due to a budgeting impass from their funding sources) an hour from here was averted, but had it occurred, the job market would have been ostensibly been flooded with more librarians.

So this probably colors my thinking. At the moment, it seems like a rough time for library budgets, and thus, libraries.

AM writing quickly - hope this makes sense! You could do some Google news searches on libraries and library budgets, just to get a better idea of the current challenges.

[jlpumkin]

I have spent quite a bit of time on the black and white stuff yk... data, projections, outlooks... I'm comfortable with what I've found out there. But now I'm interested in the day in day out of how librarians in all areas work... what field are you in, why do you love it (or not), something that maybe isn't what you expected or think someone considering should know.. already I've learned some great stuff from those in or close to the field so keep 'em coming =)

[shooflymama]

i'd still suggest the Occupational OUtlook link, since you said you are exploring different areas within librarianship - it's very detailed, and might help you explore different areas, different things librarians can do. it's a really awesome resource, if you haven't read through it before . really a great overview of possibilities and so on.

and i still look through ALA job listings, etc. from time to time myself, even though i've been a librarian for 8 years, working in a library for almost 10, and hope to stay at my current job a long time! i just feel like it helps me stay up to speed with what's going on in the field.

btw, i taught introductory courses for an online mls program when my kids were really small, and enjoyed that and felt that i was good at it. but i really missed reference work and found teaching on online to be a sort of lonely experience. even though i'd kept current in the field after my kids were born, had years of good and diverse library experience (and worked for a major book retailer before that in a job with heavy customer service responsibilities), and excellent references from very well-placed librarians, it took me two years to find something where i live. (in the interim, i also volunteered at a birth center's library - helped them weed and classify their books, and made suggestions for future purchase.) there were just hardly any openings, let alone part-time openings, and i had childcare constraints that made some jobs impossible. just when i was seriously exploring going back to school to be a nurse (i'd done lots of research, and even attended open houses), i found my current position. i am so grateful for it - i love what i do, but i was increasingly afraid i wouldn't have the opportunity to do it again.

hope this helps, and if i repeat stuff you already know, i apologize - just trying to help. and i don't mean to be discouraging - your area may have more opportunities than mine did and does, and i do love what i do.

good luck!!!

[e(Lisa)beth]

There was another thread on this a while back that you might want to look at:

http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1027154

[jlpumkin]

Thanks Lisa - I'll check it out!

[meandmine]

I have been an academic librarian (rare books/special collections), research librarian (rare book cataloger), library contractor (cataloging) and now, much to my surprise, I am an elementary school librarian.

My thoughts: love what I did and what I do! If you love learning; if you like working with people; if you believe in customer service, then being a librarian in any context is a blast.

Public Libraries will offer you the most non-traditional hours. School libraries will offer you a schedule that allows you summers off and long holiday breaks. Academic Libraries will offer you intellectual challenge and maybe some flexibility, but usually evening hours are covered by a rotating schedule of the full-time staff.

As for experience ... volunteering, getting a part-time library assistant job might be strategies.

It is a tough time for libraries. Cities are closing their public libraries; school districts have fired their librarians; in my district middle schools lost all their library assistants and so did many elementary schools.

It is ironic, because in tough economic times library patronage goes WAY up.

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[studentmomma]

I'm currently in an MLIS program and I think from what I hear that the job market is *slowly* starting to look up. Also, from looking around at job opportunities, you may have to be flexible... i.e., there's not much around where I live (I'm looking at academic or archives) but in other parts of the state (and there are several MLS programs) there is more of a demand. (Or maybe I'm just overly optimistic since I have already committed to this.)

[jlpumkin]

I really do think that the number of MLIS programs in an area has a lot to do a problem finding employment.. but again, that may just be wishful thinking on my part.