This might actually be something that other libraries are doing and it’s just finally hitting the news. As a student who has had to invest in course packs, I think this is a great idea. What took so long?

about Book Obsessed? This is such a great idea.

Edited to remove link to blog post.

And here is more on the debate about MLS vs. non-MLS. Some excellent points are raised in this blog post. Until we have a MLS that is not just a jump-through-hoops, training-in-answering-questions-well, everyone-thinks-it’s-a-joke, there is absolutely no reason to expect that having that piece of paper makes anyone better than those without. Maybe this is a rather strong stance to take, but if we aren’t offering a rigorous educational program based on theory, then the MLS doesn’t really mean much.

For more about libraries who may have to cut staff, read this. The loss that seems the worst is that of the children’s librarian. Not that I’m saying reference librarians aren’t valuable, but it seems like most people have their first library experience in the children’s room.

While I don’t know about the whole gaming in libraries thing (although the possibilities are interesting), I do agree that librarians and library staff need to get out into the community. That’s one thing that I’m exploring where I work.

There you go. Just a few highlights of stuff floating around out there on the interwebs.

CV’s are really very different from a resume. For one thing, they can be much longer. And they are longer because they should be much more detailed. Bullet points are okay, but you might want to follow it with a few sentences on the point.

I know when I first developed my CV, I was confounded about what it should look like. So, I’m going to imagine that there are people out there who are as well. In response, I am passing along some links that may be helpful to you when developing your CV.

Writing a CV

What makes a CV stand out?

CV writing tips and templates

One of the things to think about is that you might need to tailor your CV somewhat to fit specific positions. This is somewhat different than how most of us approach resumes.

Keep in mind that when you are applying for jobs, the search committee hasn’t met you yet. The documents that you provide have to do an outstanding job of representing you and your skills if you hope to advance in the process.

Hope these links will help you prepare an outstanding CV.

The following exchange took place on a listserv I subscribe to, but I thought it was valuable to share with people who might not also be on that listserv. This creates some other interesting questions about the library’s role in the greater community. (And I bow to those who are more eloquent than I am in expressing themselves.)

Leslie Kay Swigart said:
“From all of these places, and more, with our favorite digital devices,
why not make ***them*** THE places to access the library? Waiting (at
your favorite spot), check out the Library for what you want to check
out to read / listen to / view, search the library’s database for
information you want/need, etc.”

Yes, certainly. Wherever you have the Internet, you have the “world”
and that includes the library, as well as __________ (here enter all
URLs the heart desires).

The library should have a presence on the Internet.

(I don’t see why, though, there need be a proliferation of library
Websites. Would it not be better for librarians to take the lead of
reining in the chaos rather than adding to it by using our multi-type
library consortiums, for example, as our front end? It would be good
“E-ecology”, no? Why does everyone and his uncle HAVE to have a
Website? Simply because we can???)

Leslie Kay Swigart also said:
“I love our interconnected world and often disconnect myself voluntarily
from it. But, I also think that if the LIBRARY is not connected to it,
then the LIBRARY will become DISconnected and irrelevant.”

I would not recommend the Library disconnect from the Internet.
Actually, I believe the Library and the Internet go hand in hand, more
so in the early days of the Internet (”yesterday, when [it] was young”).

The Internet of today has become a hodge-podge (or worse), no longer
limited to government and university researchers, no longer limited to
Education and Information conduits published by legitimate authority.
And it is THIS Internet that is attracting segments of society that
would never have come to the library before. We are fooling ourselves
if we believe that this segment that sits in the library, mouths agape
in front of the Internet, is actually IN the library. Of course they
are not! and I don’t believe this is what librarians ever intended or
expected when they went through all the effort and expense, (what a
price to pay!) to re-wire themselves.

I believe the library took a wrong turn when it let loose the reins of
its legitimate “bibliographic control”. The result? A world of
learning spinning out of control, spinning more rapidly than ever before
towards irrelevancy. You don’t think so? Run a circulation report from
the mid-90s to today. Study the “quality” of reference questions posed
by today’s students–the future.

But that’s okay. It’s not like the library ever was the venue of choice
for friends, Romans and countrymen all. We like to think it was. But
it was and is not. But the library was and is always there, ever ready,
ceaselessly collecting, organizing, tirelessly explaining and
re-explaining and helping and serving and loving every minute of it.
The library is a lighthouse, an outpost, a portal. (Bolded by me because I really was struck by this image.) Perhaps ours alone,
of all the professions, is unique in that the nature of our work AND our
workplace border on the entrance to Nirvana
(http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/229), that “place” where minds can
meet, that controlled “space” that is the librarian’s gift to the world.

Message from Anthony Verdesca

Sort of. Actually I just wanted to share a couple of job openings that we have for anyone who might be looking for something starting this summer.

Reference and Instruction Librarian (two tenure-track positions)Emporia
State University Libraries and Archives Join us in creating the future!
We are looking for librarians who are excited about information and instruction in a changing academic world. We want people who are
innovative and capable of bringing cutting-edge ideas to the table for
reference and instruction services, as well as collection development
liaison activities for assigned academic departments. The Libraries and
Archives invite candidates for two Reference and Instruction Librarians.
The ideal candidates will thrive in a culture of teamwork and are
energized by active learning collaborations with students and faculty.
The positions are 12-month tenure-track at the level of Assistant
Professor, and report to the Head of Information and Instructional
Services. Some evening and weekend rotation at the Reference/Information
Desk is required. Required qualifications: ALA accredited MLS.
Experience or coursework in reference and instruction; demonstrated
ability to work collaboratively with a variety of people and as part of
organizational and analytical skills; demonstrated oral and written
communication skills; and the ability to meet tenure requirements of
teaching or performance of primary duties, research and service. Salary
begins at $36,000. Send a letter of application, current vita, and
contact information for three references to Denise Britton, Reference
and Instruction Librarian Search Committee, University Libraries and
Archives, Emporia State University, 1200 Commercial Street, Box 4051,
Emporia, Kansas 66801; dbritton@emporia.edu ; phone 620-341-5208.
minorities and women to apply.

Somebody was kind enough to describe us as worth reading! I certainly hope so. And on that note, let me talk a bit more about tenure trekking.

I’m going into my ninth month at my job and it’s been an interesting ride so far. Some of the biggest stress has been caused by the whole tenure thing.

Now stress isn’t always a bad thing, no matter what people might think. In this case, it’s probably lighting a fire in me (or under depending on viewpoint and what you need) to do things that I would normally be reluctant to do.

Like presenting. I’m an introvert who normally would avoid talking in front of large groups of people. It’s likely that I won’t be sleeping much in the next month because I’ve got five presentations spread out over three conferences. Craziness! But it’s also good for me. As a presenter, I’m more likely to meet more people because they will approach me about something I’ve just talked about. Being a shy person myself, it’s not as likely that I’ll just turn around and start talking to someone. (So if you see me and I seem uncommunicative, I’m really not!)

On the other hand, I’m actually involved in less things that I’d normally be inclined to get myself into because the stuff I am doing needs more attention. I tend to be somewhat scattered. But I’ve really had to narrow my focus because preparing presentations, doing research, writing, serving on committees, and such takes up lots of time. Yes, I have lots of long weeks sometimes, but I also wouldn’t change it.

Being fairly new, I’m still trying to figure some things out and am still looking for where my talents and skills best fit. However, in general, I’m lucky to be in a place that gives me freedom to explore things. There are some advantages to being in a smaller academic library where things aren’t so compartmentalized. (Just an aside for those of you who are on the job search. And btw, we have two positions open here!)

So far, it’s turning out to be an interesting journey. I’m learning more than I ever could have imagined. And I’m glad to be on this path.

Why would you give any credence to programs when the evaluation is done by the dean of the program, the program director, and a senior faculty member?

Has anyone seen this blurb?

I knew there was a reason I don’t pay attention to the rankings in popular news sources.

How about talking to the students? Or the people who hire the graduates from these programs? They might be able to give you a better idea of the actual quality. While we’d all like to believe that people are truthful, universities have become all about getting students in to make money. Okay, maybe not all are that way, but I don’t think that we can be so idealistic to think that administration is so altruistic that they’re going to be completely, boldly honest about deficiencies. There is always a spin put on things so that it looks good.

And do we even really know what makes a good library program? There’s already been some discussion of this in an earlier post. It’s obvious that there are some major disagreements (and some huge problems) about what the MLS program should look like. So what are we to do? And how do we evaluate something when there are so many questions?

The idea of privatizing libraries doesn’t really surprise me. It’s been tried on so many other types of things.

One thing I can’t figure out is why a private company would want to step in and take over a library. We’re not money making businesses.

And can a library really be run like a typical business?

The concept of privatization raises all sorts of interesting questions.

Rachel Singer Gordon has an interesting post about who or who isn’t a librarian.

While I do recognize that many of the people I work who do not hold an MLS are just as capable and knowledgeable as many of the MLS holders, I’m still concerned with the trend of those who seem to place no value on the effort that many of have made in getting this degree.

Unfortunately, not all library schools are created equal and not all MLS holders are getting the training they need to make a good argument in defense of keeping the MLS requirement in what has traditionally been professional librarian positions. And on some level, if ALA is certifying programs, we need to hold them accountable part of the problem. One thing I take issue with is people teaching in libraries schools who have never practiced as librarians. Who cares if they hold a PhD if they have no idea what the real world is like and are so out of touch? What good are they doing future librarians? (I’d caution those considering library school to look closely at who the faculty are. Have they been or are they practicing librarians? Have they contributed to the field in any significant way? If not, you might want to look at another school.)

I do agree that there are plenty of paraprofessionals and other types of library workers who are very engaged in their jobs, go to conferences, and are absolutely fabulous. And there are plenty of people with MLS degrees who aren’t worth the paper that degree is printed on. I’m not sure what the answer is here.

And I do agree that no matter what, regardless of if you have the MLS or not, library workers need to see themselves as on the same side. Anyone who is dedicated to doing a good job, taking care of patrons, learning more about what we do, etc. has something to offer and it’s unfortunate that some people work in places where they feel undervalued.

We all need to be working together to remind “outsiders” that libraries are still a necessary part of our society.