Anti Patriot Act in Action

Well folks, it looks like the Anti Patriot Act is going to be used against libraries for the first time. How absolutely disarming.

Professional Development

This blog is going to be the focus of a training session at my institution's annual get-together. My presentation will be an intro to blogging for faculty and staff with a focus on using blog and rss technology for professional development. Sounds fun, hmmmm? The title's going to be something like, "THE LONG-HAIRED LIBRARIAN TEACHES YOU HOW TO BLOG."

I've got a new job!!!

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Another disclaimer:
This post contains some extreme versions of my personal opinions and views. They mostly stem from my experience in finding the first professional job. I've exaggerated a little to make it interesting and slightly amusing. If you're not amused, please refer to the sidebar and various other disclaimer posts.
D.H 8/2005
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Yes, it's true. I am now actually employed as a professional LIBRARIAN! "unbelievable," you might say. "Inconceivable!" you may exclaim, but it really is true.

How did I do it? Am I a better librarian than the other 300,000 people with MLS's not working in libraries in this country? Probably not, though I do have a passion for this field that many lack, and I am more tech savvy and motivated than some of the older, dying breed. Am I exceptionally charming and physically attractive? Well, to boost my miniscule ego I'll take that into light-hearted consideration, but realistically the answer is no. The reason I've got a professional job while so many of my fellow MLS-holders do not is.............................drum roll please....................................I was in the right place at the right time.

Granted, that is a very simplistic perspective, but it is a relatively true statement. As I've mentioned in previous posts, I've been incredibly frustrated in my attempts at "breaking into" this profession. I naively assumed that upon graduation from library school, with eight years of progressively responsible work under my belt, I would have no problem finding a full-time, professional job. Could I have been more wrong?! Through my research I discovered that there are very few "entry level" librarian positions advertised, and the people who usually get these entry level jobs are long-time library professionals.

I have a slightly skewed view of the traditional librarian (a Gormanesque, babyboomer, technophobe, who should have retired at 62 but is hanging onto his/her library job until death; yikes. Did I insult anyone there?). This is an unfair, overgeneralization, and is most definitely downright offensive to some older, progressive, tech savvy, well-read library professionals. If you're offended please see my disclaimer in the sidebar to your right and leave a comment. These people need to retire and let in some young blood. There are veteran librarians applying for and attaining entry-level positions that should be going to young, fresh-minded, progressive folks. I have no doubt that in the one hundred or so jobs I've applied for in the past two years, I've been passed up 80 percent of the time for an older librarian with more professional experience but less gumption, technological skill, and passion.

So, how does a young librarian break through this wall of geriatrics? (whew, another terrible overgeneralization that should get me hog tied and basted) Based on observations and experience, my answer is: Wait for someone to die or retire! Get a para-professional position somewhere, and just wait it out. Good luck!!!

Another disclaimer

I've realized that in my posts I sometimes tend to bash the older generation of professionals in my field. While on almost every occasion this is prompted by a rant about employment (or lack thereof), I'd like to set my actual view on this subject in stone, or in this case binary code.

I realize that there are many, many, many, many (many) librarians older than me. In fact, I was the second youngest student in my graduating class. A goodly chunk of these colleagues of mine are exceptional professionals, embodying the very essence of librarianship in every action they take. Regretably,I have encountered the occasional chronic misanthrope librarian who enraged me to the point of ranting on my blog about stodgy, old, behind-the-times, surly, beehive styling, ninnies (I'll garuntee you those words have never been used in exactly that order. I just googled it).

There have been many influential librarians in my life who've shaped my views and passions into what they are today, and I cannot begin to express my gratitude to them. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! You've had more of an impact than you know, and I truly love you for it! You are the people who keep me from going to culinary school. You continually shatter my unfair stereotypes by breaking the rules on a regular basis and proving I'm a narrowminded twit.

Celebrity Gossip

Leave it to the British Library to create a searchable database of renaissance celebrity gossip. Well, that's kind of a skewed interpretation, but imagine if these "festival books" were as widely distributed then as gossip mags are now! "Thaddeus, can you beleive the Duke and Duchess are having another young master? That's ten heirs now!"