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 Re: Becoming a Librarian...where do I start?
Author:R.A. "Red" Lawhern
Date:Tuesday, 3rd Aug 2004 13:31
Views:2,947 (excluding Digests and RSS feeds)
Category:Information Issues
URL:http://www.freepint.com/go/b29548

If I may, I'll add a little different flavor to some of the responses you've gotten about becoming a librarian. By all means, it may help to talk with local librarians about how they came to be in their positions and what they think of the field generally. And I recognize that you are in the UK rather than the US. However, based on my own talks with corporate and technical librarians in the US, I would suggest (with every intention of courtesy, I assure you) that your immediate course of action should probably be influenced by your longer term objectives.

If you intend to move into librarianship as a profession rather than as simply a job, then I believe you may find yourself at a serious disadvantage if you do not complete the actual coursework for a MS in library science. (Master of science, not master of arts degree). Experience in a library is certainly useful as familiarization with the field in general. But serious study of resources and processes has become a basic requirement for nomination to positions of management or oversight.

Another useful resource in your search may be to look up Newsgroups on the Internet, where long-term interactive discussions are underway between librarians. Spend a few days "lurking" and listening to the topics being discussed. Read the newsgroup Frequently Asked Questions file. Then post an inquiry, if you're sure that you are in a discussion venue where such inquiries are appropriate.

I realize that I am suggesting there may be no rapid or "easy" way to do what you want to do. Others on Free Pint may see options for you that I don't. I merely encourage you to take a longer view so you don't paint yourself into a blind alley before you know you're there.

Regards and best wishes,

R.A. Lawhern, Ph.D.

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Topic Author Date ID
  Becoming a Librarian...where do I start?
Hi, I hope this is in the right place... I graduated in 2003 with a degree in Linguistics and Sociology, and ...
Gillian Kirby 31/07/04 18:59 29530
   Re: Becoming a Librarian...where do I start?
To become a librarian you certainly have that passion for information, research and library work. There is no easy or ...
falhlax olak 03/09/04 09:11 29862
   Re: Becoming a Librarian...where do I start?
Hello Gillian The huge variety of possible jobs, roles, workplace settings and specialisations is, for me, the biggest advantage of librarianship ...
Michelle Homden 16/08/04 12:23 29702
   Re: Becoming a Librarian...where do I start?
Gillian: This might not be practical, but here goes. I live in the U.S., and listen to National Public Radio ...
Ernest BETHE 11/08/04 00:39 29636
   Re: Becoming a Librarian...where do I start?
Hi Gillian You seem to have got a lot of very good suggestions from the other posts, which I hope will ...
Áine O'Connor 10/08/04 14:44 29625
   Re: Becoming a Librarian...where do I start?
Not too sure what the story is in the UK, but in Ireland you are not considered for a place ...
Ciara O Duinnin 10/08/04 11:51 29623
   Re: Becoming a Librarian...where do I start?
As it doesn't appear to have been suggested yet I'd encourage you to speak with some recruitment agencies that specialise ...
Jela Webb 04/08/04 17:50 29580
   Re: Becoming a Librarian...where do I start?
Can I talk you out of it?
Karen 04/08/04 13:22 29577
    Re: Becoming a Librarian...where do I start?
Karen wrote: > > Can I talk you out of it? Only if you tell me why....is there something I should know?
Gillian Kirby 04/08/04 17:46 29579
     Re: Becoming a Librarian...where do I start?
I am qualified and have worked in the public sector (academic, NHS), private sector (business, law) and am now back ...
Karen 06/08/04 09:46 29590
      Re: Becoming a Librarian...where do I start?
If I had my time over again, the very last profession I should choose would be Librarianship/Information work. I ...
Atalanta 10/08/04 15:48 29626
      Re: Becoming a Librarian...where do I start?
Hi Gillian It's very sad to read such negative comments about the librarian profession. I only qualified a few years ...
Angela Jones 10/08/04 14:36 29624
      Re: Becoming a Librarian...where do I start?
Karen wow you're brave ... or slightly stupid ... I've yet to decide! Guess what, I'm one of those unqualified people who ...
Shaun 07/08/04 10:18 29599
       Re: Becoming a Librarian...where do I start?
Shaun, Brave and slightly stupid perhaps ... What is a professional anyway? You say above: "Perhaps it's because I have 20 ...
Karen 09/08/04 16:24 29611
        Re: Becoming a Librarian...where do I start?
That's why I'm looking for experience...at least I'll have a year or more to really see what I think rather ...
Gillian Kirby 11/08/04 01:28 29637
   Re: Becoming a Librarian...where do I start?
You could explore all your career options by getting in touch with your nearest university careers service and asking to ...
Margaret McPhail 03/08/04 14:31 29553
    Re: Becoming a Librarian...where do I start?
This is for information. I appreciate that Margaret is in Scotland and things are different there. The TECs ceased to ...
Diana Nutting 03/08/04 17:06 29561
   Re: Becoming a Librarian...where do I start?
If I may, I'll add a little different flavor to some of the responses you've gotten about becoming a librarian. ...
R.A. "Red" Lawhern 03/08/04 13:31 29548
    Re: Becoming a Librarian...where do I start?
Hi Gillian, RE: Chosing a course/graduate traineeship. If you want further information, or advice and shared experiences from recent graduates, and ...
J Richardson 04/08/04 10:16 29576
    Re: Becoming a Librarian...where do I start?
Thank you for your advice. If I want to take a degree to qualify me as a librarian, I will ...
Gillian Kirby 03/08/04 13:41 29549
   Re: Becoming a Librarian...where do I start?
Start by doing some research. Speak to librarians who manage the sound and non book media collections in your local ...
Diana Nutting 02/08/04 12:27 29540
    Re: Becoming a Librarian...where do I start?
Hi Gillian - Cilip have a web page showing traineeships, yes. But these come on stream from February onwards, so ...
Zena 03/08/04 16:17 29558
    Re: Becoming a Librarian...where do I start?
I've looked at CILIP and there doesn't seem to be any traineeships open at the moment. I can't afford to ...
Gillian Kirby 02/08/04 13:46 29542
     Re: Becoming a Librarian...where do I start?
your best bet is to check with the courses to which you are thinking of applying, as they will all ...
Darren Jones 02/08/04 14:28 29543
      Re: Becoming a Librarian...where do I start?
Hi Gillian Great that you have made the right decision to think about moving over to an exciting and fast moving ...
Jonathan Crowhurst 03/08/04 14:29 29552
       Re: Becoming a Librarian...where do I start?
Thanks...I'll have a look at that. I worked in a record exchange for three years when I was younger which ...
Gillian Kirby 03/08/04 14:42 29554
        Re: Becoming a Librarian...where do I start?
I think that there are lots of options available to you, not just doing a trainee year. Try getting ...
Katherine Ingham 04/08/04 09:50 29575
         Re: Becoming a Librarian...where do I start?
Another option to consider is that if you find work as a library assistant your employer might actually pay your ...
Vicky 27/08/04 12:42 29822
          Re: Becoming a Librarian...where do I start?
I think you have raised a very important point here - the high levels of student debt will discourage people ...
Trevor Harvey 31/08/04 14:14 29844

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