American Library Association Chicago 2003 While extensive effort has gone into ensuring the reliability of information appearing in this book, the publisher makes no warranty, express or implied, on the accuracy or reliability of the information, and does not assume and hereby disclaims any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions in this publication. Composition and design by ALA Editions in Optima and Sabon using QuarkXPress 5.0 for the PC Printed on 50-pound white offset, a pH-neutral stock, and bound in 10-point coated cover stock by McNaughton & Gunn The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992. ϱ Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Kane, Laura Townsend Straight from the stacks : a firsthand guide to careers in library and information science / Laura Townsend Kane. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references ISBN 0-8389-0865-9 (alk. paper) 1. Library science—Vocational guidance—United States. 2. Information science—Vocational guidance—United States. 3. Librarians—Employment— United States. 4. Librarians—Job descriptions—United States. 5. Librarians— United States—Interviews. I. Title. Z682.35.V62K36 2004 020Ј.23Ј73—dc21 2003012800 Copyright © 2003 by the American Library Association. All rights reserved except those which may be granted by Sections 107 and 108 of the Copyright Revision Act of 1976. Printed in the United States of America 0706050403 54321 CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS vii INTRODUCTION ix 1 Public Librarianship 1 Spotlights 3 Head of Reference Services 3 Head of Circulation/Assistant Director 6 Library Services Supervisor 8 Consumer Health Librarian 11 Government Documents Librarian 15 Job descriptions 18 Reference Librarians 18 Circulation Librarians 20 Technical Services Librarians 21 Systems/Automation Librarians 22 2 School Media Librarianship/ Child and Young Adult Librarianship 24 Spotlights 27 Library Media Specialist 27 Head Media and A/V Specialist 31 Children’s Librarian 35 Reference/Young Adult Services Librarian 40 Job descriptions 43 School Library Media Specialists (K–12) 43 Children’s Services/Young Adult Services Librarians (Public Libraries) 45 iii iv Contents 3 Academic Librarianship 47 Spotlights 48 Head of Reference Services 48 Director of Cataloging 54 Head, Serials Department and Coordinator of Acquisitions Services 57 Director, Department of Preservation and Collection Maintenance 60 Library Systems Administrator 63 Associate University Librarian for Collection Development and Management 67 Job Descriptions 70 Academic Reference Librarians 70 Academic Circulation Librarians 72 Academic Instructional Services Librarians 73 Academic Acquisitions/Serials Librarians 74 Academic Cataloging Librarians 75 Academic Systems Librarians 76 4 Nontraditional Librarianship: Corporate and Freelance 79 Spotlights 81 Information Broker 81 Organizational Development Consultant Specializing in Libraries 84 U.S. Catalog Librarian 87 Director, Business Research Center 89 Knowledge Management Manager 91 Information Architect 93 Sales Coordinator 95 Job Descriptions 97 Freelance Information Brokers (Informationists, Information Consultants, and Independent Researchers) 97 Freelance Library Consultants 98 Corporate Librarians (Chief Information Officers, Knowledge Managers, Chief Answerists, and Information Specialists) 98 Information Architects 99 Contents v 5 Medical and Law Librarianship 101 Spotlights 104 Coordinator, Information Management Education 104 Bioinformatics Librarian 107 Associate Director, Library Services 110 Veterinary Medical Librarian 114 Clinical Librarian for Pediatrics 119 Assistant Librarian for Reference Services 123 Information Resources Systems Coordinator 126 Job Descriptions 130 Academic Medical Librarians 130 Hospital/Clinical Librarians 131 Academic Law Librarians 132 Corporate Law Librarians 133 6 Library Directorship 135 Spotlights 136 Library Director, Public Library 136 Director, University Health Sciences Library 142 Director of Law Library and Professor of Law 147 Director of University Libraries 150 Job Description 153 Library Director 153 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to extend my gratitude to all who have helped to make this project a reality. In particular, a heartfelt “thank you” to each of the gen- erous librarians featured in this book. They were a joy to work with, and their enthusiasm and cooperation made everything worthwhile! Thanks also to my co-workers, to my friends, and—most important—to my fam- ily for all their love and support throughout the completion of this endeavor. vii INTRODUCTION Early in my career as a professional librarian, a well-educated person said to me with disbelief, “You’re a librarian? And you have to get a master’s degree for that?” I was appalled. At around the same time, a co-worker of mine was speaking to an acquaintance at a party and mentioned that she worked as a cataloger in a library. “Well,” the man replied wryly, “I sup- pose someone has to do it.” That was ten years ago. Thankfully, the his- torically stereotypical image of librarianship has changed for the better, and people now recognize the importance of well-trained librarians in this technology-driven era. Still, we hear worrisome predictions about the future of our profession. In a few years’ time, the bulk of the workforce will have retired and there will not be enough librarians to fill the vacant positions. To make matters worse, those positions will be high-level ones, and libraries will be left without well-trained leaders. Why is this? Librarianship is an exciting and versatile career; those working in the field today are taking an active part in shaping the Information Age. Why, then, are there not more students clamoring to earn advanced degrees in library and information science? Looking back, I have to be honest with myself and admit that, if it hadn’t been for luck and circumstance, I myself would not be a librarian today. I set out to be a Spanish teacher, and it was only when I started tak- ing education courses that I realized teaching was not for me. At the time I was working as an assistant at the Augusta Technical Institute Library in Augusta, Georgia. A friend of mine who also worked there decided to pur- sue a graduate degree in library science. Despite the fact that I had volun- teered or worked in libraries since elementary school, the idea of becom- ing a professional librarian never occurred to me. I spoke at length with my friend about her decision, and in a few months’ time I decided to fol- low in her footsteps. I moved to Columbia, South Carolina, and earned my master’s degree in library and information science from the University of South Carolina. ix x Introduction I realize now that the reason librarianship was not my initial career choice was simply because I did not know enough about the profession for it to be a viable choice. Despite being a prime candidate for the profession, no person or organization ever approached me to explain the merits of librarianship. This, I think, is one reason why there are not more people choosing the career. It is also one of the primary reasons I decided to write this book. People need to be made aware of the wonderful opportunities available to those with advanced degrees in library and information sci- ence. Though we are information specialists, many of us aren’t so great at distributing information about and promoting our own profession. The second purpose for writing this book was to help those already in the field make informed career choices. I am a cataloger at an academic health sciences library, but once again I did not consciously choose this path of librarianship but rather stumbled upon it. In library school I was unsure whether I wanted to work in a school library, a public library, or an academic library. I didn’t know if I wanted to work in public services or technical services. Luck made the decision for me. To help pay tuition, I worked as a graduate assistant at the USC School of Medicine Library, and was offered a job there as head of Cataloging and Acquisitions soon after graduating. I have been in that position ever since. I love my job, but after ten years I sometimes wonder, “What else is out there? What career choices can I make as a librarian? Are there opportunities I’m not aware of?” I felt the need for a source that would provide an overview of all the different career choices available to those in my field. I wanted to learn firsthand what others with library degrees have accomplished throughout their careers. Such a source was not available, so I set about making one. What an amazing process it turned out to be! I learned so much, but the number one revelation that remains with me is that librarianship is, first and foremost, a helping profession. Before I began, I worried about how to find people willing to talk about their jobs and their careers. It turns out I needn’t have worried. After using the Internet to locate the names of librarians working in various positions, I nervously bit the bul- let and started making calls and sending e-mail queries. I was over- whelmed at the response. Not only were these librarians willing to share a bit of themselves with me, they were eager to do so! Some even consid- ered it an honor. This project has served to renew my pride in being a librarian. Though the librarians featured in this book have jobs and backgrounds that are unique and diverse, they are all bound together by a common thread. Introduction xi Many might say this commonality is information, but that is not quite accurate. It is a spirit of generosity that links them all together and serves as the backbone of our profession. CHAPTER 1 Public Librarianship There are only a few places in a community where every population group—regardless of age, race, ethnicity, or social status—is made to feel welcome.