September 2, 2008 - vol. 9, no. 5 - ISSN 1532-0839
Read the entire issue online, with live links: http://lisjobs.com/career_trends/
Welcome back! Today's issue, on nontraditional careers, contains a wealth of ideas and experiences from contributors that have taken their own careers off the beaten library path. (And, if you want more, more, more, let me gently plug my title on the topic: What's the Alternative? Career Options for Librarians and Info Pros offers more stories, tips, and possible directions for those contemplating alternative careers.) Also, be sure to check out Kim Dority's column this month on Going Independent: Asking the Key Questions, for more advice on pursuing a career as an independent information professional.
Meta notes
An unfortunate technical issue in July led to the loss of a lot of comments. So, if yours has disappeared, please don't take it personally -- and do feel free to comment again. If you haven't commented in the past, but have thoughts or opinions about an article, please do share now. Authors love getting feedback on their work, and your voice contributes to the ongoing conversation.
You can also now easily read and comment on older articles: All ICT back issues are now housed on the blog, which means they're both searchable and browsable by date or category from the sidebar on your left. (If you are reading this via email or RSS, click through to enjoy.) The old archives will be going away within the next six weeks or so when I launch the new LISjobs.com, so if you link to a pre-2008 article or issue outside of the blog, please be sure to update those links now.
Let's talk about it
Speaking of comments, what's up over on the forums? Popular topics lately include:
* MLIS vs. non-MLIS
* How to address a long stretch of unemployment
* Online vs. traditional programs
* New issues, conferences, or readings
Come participate in the discussions -- because it's just not a community without you!
Let's think about it
I regularly receive email asking for advice on job-hunting or career-related issues. While I do my best to respond to these, I don't have much time to do so, and my personal expertise is limited to certain areas. You'll get much better results when you turn to the Info Career Trends Career Q&A columnists or to the collective wisdom on the forums. So, if you have a job-hunting or career-related question:
1. Email the Library Career People at librarycareerpeople@lisjobs.com. Your question can be answered on their Career Q&A blog, benefiting you and the many other people with similar questions. (And yes, you can remain anonymous!)
2. Ask your question on the forums over at the LISjobs.com online community. Registration is free -- all you need is a valid email address, so you can remain as anonymous as you'd like -- and you benefit from the insights from experienced moderators and community members.
We all have questions, so don't be shy about asking yours!
Let's write about it
How else can your voice be heard? Well, I'm seeking contributors for the following thematic issues:
January 2009: Alternative work arrangements
Do you cobble together a career through part-time work at one or more institutions? Do you work as a substitute librarian? In a job-sharing situation? Have you worked out a flex-time or telecommuting arrangement with your organization? Have you parlayed alternative work into a regular full-time position? This issue talks about all sorts of alternative work arrangements and how they might work for you.
March 2009: Education
Do you value your MLS? Now that you're on the job, what do you wish you'd learned in school? Has your non-library education been useful to you in your library career? Have you continued your education post-MLS? Are you pursuing an LTA or post-graduate certification? A PhD? What's the best way to fund an MLS, or to fund continuing education? If it's related to the education of librarians and info pros, find it here.
Please send your queries via email to editor@lisjobs.com. Let me know what you want to write about, for which issue, and why you're a good person to do so. I'm looking forward to hearing from you!
- Rachel
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