By Tristan Draper, DeKalb Public Library
Looking for a new job, or a first job, in the library field can be daunting. The application and interview process can often seem like an endless cycle. For new library workers with fewer professional connections, finding a job can feel impossible, but there are resources that can help you find jobs and ace your interviews. This blog post is intended to highlight a few of the many library and information science career resources that can help you in your job search.
Exploring and Planning Career Paths
Whether you’re new to the library and information sciences field or interested in a career change, the below resources can help you learn about the wide variety of library careers.
- The ALA offers information about library careers including education and financial help as well as career pathways: link to ALA Career Information
- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics offers information on a number of careers. The following link will direct you to the Library Occupation page, where you can find information on entry-level education requirements, wages, number of jobs, and job outlook in a variety of library related fields: link to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Blogs and social media can also be a good place to find information about working in libraries directly from library workers. These resources can give you a better idea of the day to day work that people do in different library careers. Some examples include the I Need a Library Job Facebook group and the LIS Career Options LinkedIn Group.
Job Boards
Now that you have an idea of what career pathways exist in the library science field, it’s time to start the job search! But where to look first? Below are a few of the many job boards you can look at to find library jobs.
- The ALA has a job board that features a variety of library and information science job postings that can be filtered by location, job function, and job type. This is not an exhaustive list of available jobs, but it is a good place to start: link to ALA Job List.
- I Need a Library Job is a popular job board for information professionals. Users can search by keyword or location to find available jobs: link to INALJ.
- USAJobs lists federal government jobs, and they are often hiring librarians and/or information professionals for a variety of roles. Make sure to research the application process before submitting your application, however, as there are important guidelines for applying: link to USA Jobs.
- Lib Gig is another job board that focuses on library and information science jobs. Jobs can be filtered by location, job function, and other factors: link to Lib Gig.
- In addition to the above job boards that are more general in scope, make sure to look at specialized job boards as well. Professional societies often host their own job boards.
- The American Association of Law Libraries: link to AALL Career Center
- The American Alliance of Museums: link to AAM Career Website
- Medical Library Association: link to MLA Career Center
- Music Library Association: Link to MLA Career Center
- Society of American Archivists: Link to SAA Career Center
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign iSchool Career Resources. Scroll to the bottom of the page for lists of information science job boards: link to UIUC iSchool Career Resources
- Colleges and Universities often offer job assistance to current students and alumni. They also often have career resource pages that are available online to the general public. These pages can be valuable resources themselves, or help you find other resources.
- Don’t forget to check local library consortiums, library vendors, and state and local library associations for job postings. Thinking creatively about your skill set can open up a wide variety of job opportunities both within and outside of the library field.
Resume and Cover Letter Help
Good news, you’ve found a few jobs that you’re interested in applying for! All that’s left to do is fill out the application. Below are a few resources you can use to help make your resume/CV and cover letter stand out.
- Many University and College LIS departments have resume and cover letter writing guides that are available online for anyone. A few examples include:
- The ALA offers resume writing guidelines and tips: link to ALA Resume Help
- Florida State University has compiled a list of resume resources for LIS professionals: link to FSU Resume Resources
- The University of Iowa School of Library and Information Science also offers a list of career resources: link to University of Iowa LIS Career Resources
- General resume and cover letter resources can also be helpful. Some examples include:
- Purdue Owl resume help: link to Purdue Owl Resume Assistance
- Ask a Manager Resume help: link to Ask a Manager
- Open Cover Letters provides access to anonymous cover letters from hired librarians and archivists: link to Open Cover Letters
Interview Help
Your application was successful and you’ve landed an interview. Not sure how to prepare, what to wear, or what questions might be asked? The below resources can help you out!
- General interview and career help: link to Ask a Manager Interview Help
- Crowd sourced library interview questions database: link to Hiring Librarians Interview Questions
- Oxford Libraries Interview Tips and Tricks: link to Oxford Libraries Interview Tips
- The University of Wisconsin-Madison Information School Interview Assistance: link to UW Madison Interview Assistance
- University of Missouri Library Interview Prep LibGuide: link to University of Missouri Interview LibGuide
Hopefully, with these resources you can feel more confident in your job search. Remember to think creatively about the skills you already have and don’t be afraid to reach out to your connections and network to ask for help. Best of luck in your career planning and job search!