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Re: No Experience
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Thomas Roche
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May 13, 2003 11:24 PDT
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This is certainly true, but ought it to be so? If I
have an MLS, I am a professional librarian, and am
qualified for entry-level professional library posts.
If, on the other hand, I have no MLS but a resume
including various paraprofessional library posts, I am
not a professional librarian, but an experienced
library paraprofessional. Professional posts should
be restricted to those holding professional degrees,
as in virtually every other profession.
--- Gail Lancaster <glan-@yahoo.com> wrote:
| | Boston is a tough job market for librarians. If
you've had no library work experience before
attending
library school, that may raise some flags for
people.
Think about how to market the life experience you do
have. Networking is a good start. Volunteer for
any
and all library programs/meetings/conferences in the
area. Whenever possible, have specific goals you
want
to accomplish while volunteering (gaining storytime
experience, practicing Internet instruction to
specific groups-students for research, elderly,
unemployed for jobs, etc.). Compile a portfolio of
projects you participated in or planned, organized
and
conducted, school assignments or volunteer. Get as
many letters of rec. as you can in your school file.
I can't emphasize enough the need to network, make
yourself known and show people what you can and are
qualified to do. Enthusiasm can make up for lack of
work experience. No one expects a new grad to know
everything but it is expected that you will be
willing
and eager to learn.
Simmons' advice is very good and has definite merit.
Letters of interest to selected academic libraries
shows initiative, you've done your homework, and a
certain passion for your chosen career. Plus, you
on
the outside, not privy to the inside mechinations,
will never know who is planning on leaving and what
positions are anticipated to be opening. You should
expect to renew these letters of inquiry every 6
months. Focus on what about the institution
intersts
you, is it the location do you have family/friends
in
the area, or the library's reputation for some
special
collection or whatever. Tell them why you want to
work for them and what you can do to help them
achieve
their mission to their community.
Well I hope this helps.
Good luck,
Gail
--- Jessica Smith <jrsmi-@aol.com> wrote:
| | I am new to the list, so if you discussed this
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topic
| | recently, please
forgive me. I am getting my MLIS in less than a
week. I started the
search last month, and have applied for about
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twenty
| | positions so far.
I don't mind moving, but I have no real library
experience. I am
planning to start volunteering at the local public
library, but my
aspirations lie with academic libraries. Will
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that
| | transfer? What else
should I do? I also joined the ALA and the ISOC
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to
| | help my chances.
The jobs I have been applying for have been web
services oriented in a
lot of cases. Another questions is, does it
normally take academic
libraries a while to even call you for an
|
interview?
| | If yes, then I
might still be in the running for some of the ones
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I
| | applied for at the
beginning. Still another question: the people at
the Career Education
Center at my school (Simmons in Boston) told me to
send out letters of
inquiry to directors of libraries where I would
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like
| | to work that don't
have any openings listed. Does this have any
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merit?
| |
So sorry for such a long list of questions from
someone so new to the
list. The fact is that the butterflies I had in
|
my
| | stomach a couple of
months ago have transformed into elephants as my
nervousness has grown.
Thank you for your help.
|
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=====
Dr. Thomas P. Roche
Librarian
The Marvelwood School
476 Skiff Mtn. Rd.-- PO Box 3001
Kent, CT 06757
tertullia-@yahoo.com
(my opinions do not reflect those of my employer)
__________________________________
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The New Yahoo! Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo.
http://search.yahoo.com
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