What's the Alternative? Career Options for Librarians and Info Pros

by Rachel Singer Gordon

As the global information economy grows, librarians who are able to retool and transfer their skills are finding themselves increasingly in demand. Here, Rachel Singer Gordon explains the dynamics of the shifting market for information-based work, reveals a range of nontraditional employment opportunities for librarians, and encourages info pros to utilize their skills in new and exciting ways. Mixing practical advice with real-life stories of librarians working in various fields, Gordon provides a wealth of useful ideas and resources for info pros rethinking their career paths. Whether you re a recent library school grad facing a tight job market, a working librarian seeking improved work/life balance, or an info pro with an entrepreneurial streak, What s the Alternative? will help you explore your options and maximize your career potential.

Genres: Nonfiction, Library Science, Books About Books, Professional Development, Librarianship

272 pages, Paperback

First published April 8, 2008

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Non-Fiction Library Science) This book is a well-organized, informative look at career options for librarians. In the current economy state, this book is vital.

[Rachel Ayers · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably wouldn't have grabbed this to read if I'd realized how old it was. Good fundamentals but the times they are a'changin'.

[Ferio · Rating 4 out of 5]

En estos tiempos en que la antigua carrera de Biblioteconomía y Documentación se ha transformado en un grado informe donde la Biblioteconomía casi ha desaparecido y se estudian técnicas modernas de minería de datos, Big Data, interacción humano-ordenador (HCI) y cosas similares, uno ya no sabe dónde van a terminar sus huesos laboralmente hablando. Por eso hace falta gente experimentada que nos cuente qué es lo que hacen los graduados y másteres de países donde este cambio se originó antes que en Europa si no encuentran o no quieren trabajar en una biblioteca o un archivo.

Ahora bien, también les digo que la situación de estas disciplinas más o menos clásicas es desoladora, ya que en dichos países el grado ha desaparecido y ahora solo queda un master de 1 año en el que (desengañémonos) se enseñan todas las habilidades técnicas (catalogación, clasificación, etc.) con creces, y mientras te has formado en tu major y tu minor sin introducir asignaturas de Economía y Empresariales para justificar el número de créditos necesarios. Vamos, que nos lo tenemos que hacer mirar.

Sea como sea (y disculpen por la digresión), resulta interesante comprobar cómo el mercado laboral tiene acomodo en los tiempos modernos para los especialistas de la Información y la Documentación que, si bien van a tener que modificar sus roles clásicos, pueden jugar papeles muy importantes en entornos que, hasta el momento, estaban reservados a otros perfiles (matemáticos y/o informáticos). Aunque también les digo que me da un poco de pena, que yo lo que querría en primera instancia es trabajar en una biblioteca y no en el frío centro de datos de una multinacional. El futuro es frío y está hecho de silicio en vez de celulosa, ¡y yo leyendo en libro electrónico!

[Adrienna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have obtained a MLIS degree in 2004 and having a difficult time getting a job in the field or getting a high score on the library exams. This gives me other options, alternatives, for other career opportunities...and see paralegal one makes more than being a librarian after her professional experience. I see some had to take no-pay interns, volunteer, and/or low paying jobs to gain the experience. I have a future of hope now. I will see where it will take me too. I am finally working in a library through a temp service on a special project for about 6 months. Keeping fingers crossed and this book helped tremendously.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contained some great ideas for those getting a degree in library science and unsure of what they want to do with their lives. I used some of her ideas when I was job searching towards the end of my MLIS program, and while I ended up finding a relatively traditional job in a corporate library, I know this book helped me find some less traditional positions to apply to -- and get interviewed for.

[Ree · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am learning what else I can do with an MLIS. It is expanding my career horizons as a librarian and information studies professional!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book with many enlightening ideas for library information professionals looking for a non-traditional career. Highly recommended.

[Aubrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book because I'm a month and a half away from graduating with a Master's in Library Science and my fears are high that there just won't be jobs out there or that those hiring will not see what I can bring to the table.

What many do not realize, who are not in the field, is that librarians (aka information professionals) do not work solely in libraries. They also work for companies, as freelancers, have their own business working with information and library related skills, and more! This book focuses on that. It stresses "career options" outside of working in a library. In fact, I think a whole other book can be written on library positions for digital libraries or repositories.

Either way, this book gave me more confidence. I walked away with many notes scribbled on my yellow legal pad and after writing this review I will be saving many URLs, organizations, associations, and job related sources on my computer. I'm a think outside the box kind of person and this book made me think a little bit further, so I really appreciate that.

I do recommend it for recent graduates who are just as nervous as I. Granted, my heart is in public libraries and I want nothing more than to work for public libraries but the positions are limited in current times and even if I might be a great candidate I might just not be what the library is looking for. In addition, I might just find that other areas interest me, using library skills. What this book shows is how many positions are out there that require library related skills. So we can apply for these positions and build our library/information skills, even if we are not working in a library. That way if we still want to keep applying or go back to working for a library then the skills are easily transferable.

As a side note, not every aspect in this book is applicable to everyone. What Rachel stresses is that we must hone in on our skills and desires for are career and identify what they are and what we want. With that said, it doesn't hurt to read the other sections because it opens ones mind to the options out there.

All in all, this book gave me confidence in finding a job when I was feeling very low about it. So I thank Rachel for that and for all of the fabulous links and tips! And lastly, Rachel mentions that many in the library world view others switching to the non-library world as being the act of a traitor, as if the person leaving working in a library is betraying libraries. I don't know if this view is still upheld at a high level because I think many more understand how open-minded we must be in this job market. In addition, it is not the act of a traitor but supportive of libraries. In the end it doesn't matter what others think. You have to work with the market, keep positive, focus on your skills and try to build more skills in areas that you want to work in.

[Jamee Pritchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a recent MLIS graduate, I found this book very informative about nontraditional career paths in the field library and information science. After reading this book, I'm very optimistic about my career path because I know I can use my LIS skills in so many different avenues. I loved the structure and organization of the chapters, and I enjoyed that Gordon provided insight from professionals in these alternative fields. The resources in the book about different professional associations are very beneficial for a librarian looking to learn more about careers outside of the public and academic library system. I especially like the chapters about applying the LIS skill set to the private sector. Great book! I recommend to current MLIS students, new librarians, and librarians looking for a career change.

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won’t lie, I just skimmed this book at best. I read through the TOC and plucked pieces to read. I gave it 3 stars since anything else felt wrong since I didn’t actually read it. But, note to self: you didn’t find anything new here and the content looked light on tech role definition. It mentions tech, but no real insights into other tech roles I could pursue and what they’d look like. The author mentions IA, but doesn’t really vary far from the stock definition on the web, for example.

[Brandon · Rating 1 out of 5]

I feel like this book would be good for older librarians who do "traditional" librarian work. I am a manager at a public library, and very few things in here were of any use to me. Most of the suggestions are along the lines of "go write stuff" or "do copy editing," as if every librarian has the skills to do that.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great ideas.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This I don't need right now but it was eye opening all the same. The plethora of career options available to librarians will come in handy as soon as I get my degree. Particularly interesting to me is the job of an indexer, it is definitely something that I might like to do in the future.

[Liz De Coster · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was pleased to see that this book had an associated website intended to keep the web content up to date, so the information in the book seems relatively up-to-date. So far, this is probably the most helpful book I've read on the topic.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would say I skimmed this vs. read this. Is it horrible that I do that with most nonfiction? I skim...I guess nonfiction (except memoirs/biographies) don't hold my attention.

[Erin Lee]

reading

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of useful information. Gave me much needed information.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was pretty good. some of the jobs I had not reslly heard of.