Steven Bell
John Shank
Brian Matthews
Lauren Pressley
What is your career path? What is your mountaintop? Not everyone wants to be an ARL library director, so you have to think about what you want to do.
This session originated in an earlier blog post by Steven Bell entitled, "Are you where you want to be professionally?"
Career planning should be strategic and thoughtful.
- Reading things such as inside higher education and chronicle of higher education is key.
- Publication is also good; whether on a blog or other social media. It can get you noticed.
What catch-phrase summarizes your path?
- Steve: hills and valleys: it is a long road that takes many turns. Don't focus attention on someone that is getting a lot of attention; focus on yourself. Keep persisting.
- John: tenure with a twist: focus on things about which you are passionate, and match those with your personal strengths. traditional institution in a non-traditional position (instructional design librarian).
- Brian: Emeril Lagasse of librarianship: goal to be transformative or purposeful. a lot of people didn't watch cooking shows until Emeril. How can I change the library profession
- Lauren: Start early and keep it in high gear: had a rough first job search, and didn't want to have another one.
- If at first you don't succeed, smash your head into the wall again and again
- I'm scared out of my mind right now (first person going up for tenure in over 20 years)
- Fake it 'til you make it (you have to try everything until it comes to you)
- Don't be afraid to fail, instead, embrace opportunity.
- You never know what's coming around the corner (take the blinders off)
- Find the gap and then fill it (interested in international librarianship)
- Play your career like you'd play at poker
- Opportunistic humanist (wanted humanities-related jobs, but remained open to go where the jobs are)
- Give back!
Publications are key, but shouldn't be about tenure.
What role has publishing and presenting played in your lives?
- Lauren: blogging as publishing has been key. You must pay attention to what's going on in the field at large. and this has forced me to learn more about and become an expert in some areas - leading to presentations and now a first book
- John: Publishing (traditional) is needed for tenure process. Hadn't published in previous positions. sharing your knowledge, expertise and experience with others. Blogs, as an example, is a publishing medium. Not yet recognized for tenure, but who knows.
- Brian: did a scholarly article, but it was "dry and boring." But wasn't that replicating what was previously published? Write for the widest audience possible. (John: when you're writing an article, think about the outcome; this will determine the venue).
- do you need to publish in scholarly publications, even if you're tenure track? Service to the profession could also be important.
- Presenting is just as important - local, regional and national conferences can also be a means to share information. Submit proposals. Also a good way to meet people.
- Publish and present whether or not it is required. Can make you a better candidate for jobs and gives you practice.
- You need not present on "traditional" library topics. Publish about things related and relevant (like Wikipedia)
- Presentations can help you get jobs. Don't limit yourself to "library" topics.
Learn about new technologies.
What's your perspective on innovation and entrepreneurship in developing your career strategy?
- Brian: GA Tech provided opportunities. Stepped away from the library profession and joined a local marketing group. Learn from the corporate/business colleagues
- John: Creating new and innovative positions. Collaborations between library and IT or library and other departments. You'll get a different perspective form those who aren't librarians. How can these ideas be integrated into library work?
- Lauren: innovation is about risk. Stakes are relatively low, but payoff can be huge.
From the audience:
- if you wan to be innovative, work at a small college or community college or work as a solo librarian.
- Learn things that you don't know; you may be required to teach them later
- take on new, non-traditional responsibilities (teach outside of the library profession, in your subject area).
- Lauren: Continue looking for ways to contribute, help institution, develop skills. Look for more opportunities
- Brian: The move into administration. How can I remain "edgy" and political?
- John: Starting a doctoral program. Capitalize on the partnerships with faculty and others on campus and applying those to the library to help raise awareness.
- Steven: not sure. enjoys working with others who are new to the profession and enjoys sharing insight and information.
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