Day in the Life: Career Options in Library and Information Science » (New Edition)

PRISCILLA K. SHONTZ is a freelance writer and webmaster/editor of LIScareer.com.

RICHARD A. MURRAY is Catalog Librarian for Spanish & Portuguese Languages at Duke University.

Many people, not just those new to the field of Library and Information Science, are curious about their career options. The editors of LIScareer.com have assembled 95 authors, each of whom describes a "typical" workday or work routine, sharing joys, sorrows, and annoyances in refreshingly candid fashion. In the process, they offer those interested in finding a similar job exposure to useful skills and advice across a wide variety of traditional and nontraditional jobs. In addition to public, academic, school, and special libraries, consortia, associations, LIS programs, vendors, publishing, consulting, and other non-library fields are also covered. This is a perfect guide for library and information science students, prospective information professionals, new librarians-or anyone considering a career change.

B. Susan Brown - Library Journal

Coeditors Shontz (Jump Start Your Career in Library and Information Science; webmaster, and Murray (cataloging, Duke Univ. Lib.) asked 95 individuals working in the library and information science field to provide a brief job description, describe a typical day, list pros and cons of their job, and advise how someone might find a similar position. Because not all the contributors followed the guidelines, there is a certain unevenness. Most work in the United States and Canada in traditional areas of librarianship-public, school, academic, and special-though school librarianship only has two entries (neither are from a public school), and public libraries are represented by only 11 entries. The remaining profiles cover consortia, associations, library schools, vendors, publishing, and "nontraditional" jobs, including a "community evangelist"-someone who wants you to believe in their idea or product as much as they do. If a general overview of what one can do with a library degree is of interest, this work may prove useful.

Preface   Priscilla K. Shontz   Richard A. Murray     xiii
Acknowledgments     xv
Introduction: What Do Librarians Do All Day?   Jessamyn West     xvii
Public Libraries
Adult Services Librarian   Katie Dunneback     2
Teen Librarian   Sophie Brookover     6
Children's Librarian   Jenna Innes     11
Client Services Librarian   Helen Kwaka     16
Multimedia Librarian   Marci Cohen     20
Electronic Services Librarian   Sarah Houghton-Jan     24
Technical Services Manager   Nanette Wargo Donohue     29
Rural Library Director   Joy Huebert     33
Urban Branch Manager   Jim Pearson     37
Administrator   Osei Akoto Baffour     40
Territorial Librarian   Alison Hopkins     45
Consultant, State Library   Mylee Joseph     49
Academic Libraries
Reference Librarian   Amanda Etches-Johnson     54
Reference Librarian at an Overseas American University   Nancy Fawley     59
Reference Librarian and School of Nursing Liaison   Lisa A. Ennis     64
Reference/Government Documents Librarian   Karen Davidson     67
Social Sciences and Outreach Librarian   Samantha Schmehl Hines     72
Distance Education Librarian   Marie F. Jones     76
Collection Development Librarian   Alexis Linoski     81
Curriculum Specialist   Ann Brownson     85
Conservator   Whitney Baker     89
Cataloging/Training Librarian   Ellen Symons   Anne Brule     93
Special Materials Cataloger   Douglas King     98
Serials/Electronic Resources Librarian   Sarah Sutton     103
Ordering Librarian   Jesse Holden     108
Access Services Librarian   Christine Ciambella     112
GIS/Data Librarian   Kim M. Ricker     116
Metadata Specialist   Robert Wolfe     121
Systems Librarian   Doris J. Van Kampen     126
Technology Librarian in a Developing Country   Chinwe Anunobi     131
Human Resources Librarian   Jenifer Abramson     135
Information Literacy Coordinator   Michelle S. Millet     140
Head of Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery Services   Michelle Batchelor     144
Electronic Periodicals Manager   Susan Davis     148
Head of Information Services   Laura Townsend Kane     153
Head of Technical Services   Karen Douglas     158
Library Services Coordinator   Erin Barta     162
Learning Resource Center Director   Lonnie Beene     167
University Library Director   E. Lorene Flanders     171
School Libraries
Private School Librarian   Barbara Karp     176
International School Librarian   Paula Pfoeffer     181
Special Libraries
Librarian, History of Medicine Library   Alyson Dalby     186
Medical Librarian, Pediatric Hospital Library   Elisabeth Rowan     190
Library and Information Officer, Nonprofit Health Organization   Natasha Davies     194
Librarian/Vice President, Financial Company   Dan Cherubin     198
Technical Librarian/Document Controller, Oil and Gas Company   Jennifer Morrison     202
Librarian, Internet Start-Up Company   Steven M. Cohen     207
Director of Library Services, Law Firm   Kelly Devlin     211
Law Librarian, Private Law Firm   Katharine Coolidge     215
Public Law Librarian   Laurie Selwyn     219
Librarian, Art Museum Library   Jonathan W. Evans     224
Public Access Coordinator, Film Archive   Snowden Becker     229
Librarian, Private Social Club   Mary Jo P. Godwin     234
Golf Librarian   Doug Stark     238
Information Resource Director, U.S. Embassy   Petter Naess     242
Head, Legislative Relations Office, Congressional Research Service   Robert R. Newlen     247
Information Specialist, Government Research Organization   Celia Waters     250
Armed Forces Librarian   Stephanie DeClue     254
Police Force Librarian   Tom Rink     259
Coordinator of Correctional Libraries   Glennor Shirley     263
Librarian for the Blind and Disabled   Sarah Pitkin     268
Consortia
Internet Trainer   Michael Sauers     274
Member Support Coordinator   Cynthia I. Wilson     277
Metadata Specialist   Rebekah Kilzer     281
Knowledge Manager   Christina Stoll     284
Lis Faculty
Assistant Professor    Lynne C. Chase     290
Visiting Instructor at an International University   Dallas Long     294
Library Vendors
Director of Sales for North America   Dena Schoen     300
Sales Coordinator for International and Special Markets   Ann Snoeyenbos     303
Training Resources Manager   Julie Harwell     307
Cataloger   Bryan Baldus     311
Senior Product Strategist   Candy Zemon     315
Publishing
Editor, Publisher, Author, Speaker   Judith A. Siess     320
Assistant Editor   Tracy Shields     324
Author of Young Adult Novels   Clare B. Dunkle     328
Indexer   Enid L. Zafran     333
Freelance Book Producer   Vernon R. Totanes     336
Rights and Permissions Manager   Alisa Alering     340
Electronic Marketing Manager   Betsy Van der Veer Martens     344
Web Marketing Coordinator   Michelle Mach     348
Database Librarian   Marc Vera     353
Associations and Agencies
Director, Library Association   Jenifer Grady     358
Director of Information and Communications/Privacy Officer, Advertising Association   Jo-Ann McQuillan     362
Senior Program Officer, Federal Agency   Elaina Norlin     367
Senior Planning and Development Specialist for Library Services, Federal Agency   Nancy G. Faget     370
Program Coordinator, Health Organization   Shelley Hourston     375
Project Coordinator, Nonprofit Corporation   Melody D. Parker     379
Nontraditional
Personal Librarian   Michele McGinnis     384
Independent Information Professional   Mary-Doug Wright     388
Consultant, Entrepreneur, Marketing Manager   Carol A. Berger     392
Senior Program Manager   Samantha Starmer     396
Information Architect   Lynn Boyden     400
Competitive Intelligence Analyst   Michael Russell     405
Knowledge Management Specialist   Lana Krolikowski     409
Community Evangelist   Jenny Spadafora     412
Epilogue: A Day in the Life of Priscilla and Rich's Editor   Sue Easun     417
Index     421
About the Contributors     429
About the Editors     445
About LIScareer.com     446