Making the most of your library career

An MLIS can provide the skill set needed to get a library job, but building a library career means knowing how to maximize your potential every step of the way. Benefiting those fresh out of library school as well as experienced professionals, career librarians from every corner of the profession offer a personal, down-to-earth view of "what it's really like out there." Filled with valuable insights into how to better launch and manage a library career, this book addresses important topics likeHow to work and adapt at a new organizationWhat management expects and how to view everyday activities from that point of viewHow to make suggestions for changeAdvice on navigating the cyclical nature of a librarian's work yearThe rewards and challenges of professional organizationsWhy a library degree is valuable outside a traditional library settingThose new to the field will find the contributors' seasoned advice both inspiring and practical, while veterans of the profession will find guidance on retuning their careers in librarianship's changing environment.

• Preface p. vii Lois Stickell and Bridgette Sanders
• 1 First Impressions p. 1 Melinda Livas
• 2 The View from the Top p. 11 Theodosia Shields and Annie Payton
• 3 The Accidental Librarian p. 21 Tamara Acevedo
• 4 We've Always Done it this Way p. 31 Katherine Farmer
• 5 Professional Associations and You p. 41 Lynda Kellam
• 6 Life Cycle of a Librarian's Year p. 51 Jenny Dale
• 7 Assessing the Job p. 61 Greta Wood
• 8 Developing a Plan B p. 71 Beth Martin
• 9 How Not to be One of the Penguins p. 81 Phil Blank
• 10 What If the Job Doesn't Work Out? p. 91 Kelly Evans
• Afterword p. 101 Lois Stickell and Bridgette Sanders
• Contributors p. 103
• Index p. 107