Job Analysis in the MLIS Profession

While I am still struggling to define what my ultimate dream job in the MLIS field would be, I have found a couple of different jobs that have really peaked my interest. 

Reference Librarian
What are some of the skills a reference librarian needs?

• Strong customer service skills
• Strong communications skills both in writing and communicating verbally
• Effective and efficient searching skills- both on line and using other sources
• Computer skills: software knowledge and the ability to teach others how to use the software as well
• Sense of humor (really I saw a job ad that asked just exactly this from applicants!)
• A reference librarian probably reports to a library director or manager
• How might this help position help me later on in my career?  Know how to research and get information is always a necessary requirement in a library setting.  This knowledge would also be useful in the future for other positions not in the library field.  Possibly I could open up my own freelance business as well, researching information for others.

Library Director
What are some skills needed to be a library director?

• Management skills: hiring, scheduling, human resources, overseeing staff, job reviews, discipline, etc
• Basic knowledge of all jobs in the library- cataloging, programming, reference, tech help, circulation, shelving, weeding, etc.
• Administrative skills: Payroll knowledge, accounting skills, budgeting skills, advertising, marketing, public relations
• Community relations: Policies and procedures in regards to the community, work with government officials within the community towards common goals, working with the public to give the library a good image, dealing with upset patrons or community members, knowing about millage issues and how to work towards a successful millage
• Fundraising
• Managing and growing collections
• Working for and with a board of directors
• How would this position help me later on in my career?  A library director doesn't just have to have library skills but they must also have business knowledge and know how to run a business.  A library director doesn't work for just one person but instead works for an entire board of directors.  At this time, I see being a library director as an end job, one that I would be able to retire from.  Originally this is the job I had in mind when I started my MLIS journey.  I worked for several years for a not for profit organization where I thought maybe someday I would be able to be the manager.  Since that organization has changed drastically, that is no longer an option.  I was able to obtain many skills during my time there such as those in accounting, supervision, budgeting, advertising, marketing and public relations.

Systems, Reference, Instruction and Web Librarian
What are some skills that this profession would require?

• Library promotion
• The ability to teach students library skills, database, and web searching and evaluation skills
• Help patrons develop effective research strategies and provide copyright assistance
• Collection Development
• Maintain and develop a websites
• Be able to work with a group on developing collections
• Ability to work with IT department to keep library systems maintained and running
• Must be able to use good judgment in handling sensitive or difficult situations in a pleasant and professional manner
• This position reports to a director of library and learning commons
• How would this position help me in my career?  This would be a great end role position, again one I could retire from.  I believe that this job would be interesting, ever changing and allow me the opportunity to teach others about all the great things a library holds (although other jobs would do this as well).

These are a few of my favorite job postings out there at the moment!  All involve a library as I love my current job working for two.  All involve interacting with people which I enjoy as well.  They all are slightly different with two of them being in more of a managerial role.  At this point in my life, I am not seeking a long career path.  I have already followed a couple career paths and at this point, I am seeking my end path that will lead me into retirement.  Maybe once I am retired I would look into using my skills in a part time side career or maybe I will just head off into the sunset and enjoy the beach most days. 

 

Professional Associations for the MLIS Field

Professional associations are a part of any professional field.  They are a great resource, bring many individuals facing similar issues together, and most usually help those in the field continue learning about new advances or challenges their profession is undergoing.

In the MLIS field, there are many professional associations because there are so many different divisions of the Library and Information field.  I chose two different organizations to look into the Michigan Library Association and the Reference and User Services Association.

The reason I chose the Michigan Library Association is because at the moment, I am located in Michigan and wanted to see what would be somewhat local for me.  I visited the MLA's website at www.mla.lib.mi.us.  I liked what the MLA's mission is: "Helping Libraries and Library Professionals Succeed" (Michigan Library Association, 2014).  This is exactly what I as a MLIS student is looking for, an organization that will continue to help me grow as a professional and help me become a successful professional.  The MLA has many membership benefits including advocacy for library professionals, professional development, statewide networking, leadership and career advancement.  All these benefits would be an asset at this point in my career and education.  There are some seminars that would be within driving distance for me in the near future that I believe would be good opportunity to learn and network.


MLA has a presence on Facebook and Twitter as well.  MLA also has three publications: MLA Update, Professional Development Update and Advocacy Update however only MLA members have access to these publications so I was unable to explore them further. 

While MLA has many great qualities, the biggest pitfall in regards to membership for me is the cost of membership.  For a student membership the cost is $50.00 per year.  That is a bit steep for a student however I do believe I will keep this association in mind and hopefully be able to join sometime in the next year or so.

The second association I researched was the RUSA: Reference and User Services Association.  They are a subset of the ALA or the American Library Association.  I first visited their website at http://www.ala.org/rusa/.  I chose the RUSA because the reference field is one that I am very interested in and wanted to gain more knowledge about.  Like the MLA, the RUSA offers conferences, opportunities to connect with others in similar situation as your own and helps to continue to education its participants. 

The RUSA has many on line discussion boards, a RUSA blog, a RUSA wiki as well as a presence on Facebook and Twitter.  This is a huge convenience as RUSA members are all throughout the United States and it gives the users an easy way to connect with each other.  The RUSA also offers on line learning tools for its members.   RUSA has a quarterly newsletter that I was able to review that contains current information on what is going on at RUSA.  RUSA encourages its members to become involved in RUSA through volunteer work on committees. 

The cost of RUSA to students is $25 per year, this is much more manageable for students with limited financial resources.  To me, it appears that RUSA also has many resources available to its members which makes this cost well worth while.

Both of the above associations have some really great opportunities for members.  In the LIS profession, continued learning and education is essential.  I believe any organization that help connect like individuals is a great asset.  I look forward into looking into more organizations in the future when my career and education goals are more focused and set.

My Goals and Objectives for my MLIS Studies

Goals and objectives are essential in life, especially when one is thinking about furthering their education.  On the other hand, I also feel that flexibility is extremely important as well.  I can attest that even the best laid plans can get disrupted and the path you were sure that you wanted to follow can throw up road blocks and curves.  I must admit, my current goals are only ideas at the moment.  Ideas that are flexible and able to change when necessary (or when a great opportunity comes up).

A co-worker first suggested the MLIS program to me and my first thought was I could then run a library.  This still is one of my main goals.  Many of the jobs that I see listed in our co-op require an MLIS for their library managers or directors.  Some smaller libraries (such as the one where I work) do not require a masters degree but they do require a bachelors.  For me, more knowledge is always better and I feel that I want to be as prepared as possible if and when I ever run a library.   The areas of ethics, what a library should be, how to service the community to the best of the library's ability would be the main objectives I would like to learn in this area.  I also want to be flexible in where I might live in the future in case as my family flees the nest, my husband and I can decide if we want to live somewhere else.  I believe that having the additional education will help me secure a job in another location.

Since there are so many other options out there for individuals with an MLIS, one of my goals is to research other opportunities as well.  The research and reference field intrigue me so I would like to learn about job opportunities in these fields.  My objectives would be to figure out what classes would be beneficial if I went this route and what other skills should I work on.  History is also a huge love of mine so looking into the archival certificate might be something I wish to do.  Or maybe the information management might be the way to go.  As I start to weed through the different opportunities, I am hoping to firm up my goals along the way.

Basically, I am here to learn.  Learn everything I can about the MLIS field.  Learn everything I can that might help me in my future career.  Learn everything I can just because knowledge is essential and necessary.  I always feel that every single one of us can learn something new each day that will help us in our jobs.  I love learning new ways of helping out our patrons and sharing that information with them.  I am glad that I have started this journey.

 

What is a librarian/library?

In my current job we often joke about the librarian stereotype: Older lady with her hair all done up in a tight bun, glasses slid down her nose, cardigan and sensible shoes on and her mouth constantly posed in a shushing position!  Heaven forbid that anyone make a sound louder than a whisper in her library and everyone must always show the proper respect to the books.  Does this sound familiar? 

Every person has had different experiences with libraries and librarians.  If you asked 5 different people to define what a library meant to them, you probably would get five different answers.  None would be wrong because they would reflect what those individuals had experienced in their lifetimes.


These are some of my current beliefs in what the library sciences profession is (at the beginning of my MLIS journey):

1. Libraries do not include just books anymore.  Librarians need to be able to adapt to all the changes that are occurring the world.  Today libraries contain books, audio books, dvd's, computers, electronic books, etc and librarians have to be comfortable with these medias in order to help their patrons navigate all this material.  Librarians don't need to be professionals but they do need to have good resources where the patron can be directed to.  Basic knowledge is necessary in case the resources are unavailable at a particular time however. 

2. While technology is great, librarians should support and encourage traditional ways as well.  Actual physical books have been around for so long it would be sad to see them go by the wayside.  Librarians should continue to encourage kids to learn how to look up information in a book instead of always on the internet.  Today most children run directly to the internet for all of their information.  This is a great resource but other resources should be encouraged as well.

3. Librarians need to be supportive of all their patrons and their choices.  This should be reflected in the material that the library stocks on the shelves as well.  Just because the librarian wouldn't want to read a particular book or watch a particular movie does not mean that everyone feels that way.  There should be a variety when materials are being purchased for the library.  Patrons should also feel comfortable approaching a librarian to ask questions regarding particular material and not feel uncomfortable.

4. Libraries should be there for the entire community, not just a chosen few.  It can be tempting to just focus on those who consistently use the library according to our beliefs and only bring in material and programs just for them.  However the library is there for the entire community and efforts should be made to make material and program fit all aspects of the community.  The library should be a place of learning for all.  Everyone should be comfortable walking into the door of the library.

What are your thoughts of libraries and librarians?

Welcome

Welcome to Kerry's MLIS Blog.  My name is Kerry and I am a student at Wayne State University in the Masters of Library and Information Sciences program.  I currently work for two small libraries in Saranac and Clarksville, Michigan as a library assistant.  My main duties include working the circulation desk, shelving books, helping patrons find books and answering questions.  I also handle most of our tech help appointments, write a monthly newspaper article full of library events and whatever else comes my way which can be anything from cleaning to shelf reading.

I realized once I started working at the libraries that this field was where I was destined to be.  I worked for many years at a not for profit organization in Ionia, Michigan where I was able to wear many hats.  Working for a small library is very similar but I also get to be around all kinds of reading material, which is something I love.  I decided to pursue my passion and here I am.

This blog will be my tool as I work through the MLIS program where I can express my thoughts and opinions on what I am learning, reading, and experiencing.  I hope that  you enjoy the insights and the process.