Patricia Alvayay …Success Story

This interview is over 1 year old and may no longer be up to date or reflect the interviewee/interviewees’ positions

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Naomi House’s interview with success story Patricia.

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Naomi:
  How did you find your current job?
Patricia:  I actually found it on INALJ! I applied for this job in February 2012; however, there were budgetary issues that put the job into a hiring freeze. But it all worked out in the end.

Naomi:  Favorite library you have been to?
Patricia:  Roseville Public Library. Nothing particularly special about it but it was the library I went to as a child and I like that it still looks and smells the same. It’s very comforting.

Naomi:  Favorite book?
Patricia:  A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’engle, my entry way to science fiction.

Naomi:  Favorite thing about libraries/ library technology?
Patricia:  Other than the free books, movies and music, I just like the feeling of walking into one. You always know there is something new to discover.

Naomi:  Any websites or feeds or blogs we should be following?
Patricia:  Marshall Breeding’s website about library technology with a focus on integrated library systems. (http://www.librarytechnology.org/)

Coursea is a website that provides free classes on a variety of topics. It often has classes on a variety of library disciplines like metadata, gamification, etc. (https://www.coursera.org/)

Indeed.com is a great job search site. There is even an app that you can have on your smart phone and you can e-mail postings to yourself or others. (www.indeed.com)

Awful Library Books is a really fun site. I have actually used this website as an anecdote during a job interview. (http://awfullibrarybooks.net/)

LISNews is basically what it sounds like, it’s library news. (http://lisnews.org/)

Naomi:  Best piece of job hunting advice?
Patricia:  Pretty much check every single day for jobs, particularly if you are interested in public libraries. Many public library jobs will only accept the first fifty applicants or something to that affect. You can bookmark a job and have it disappear that weekend. This is rare in academic or private libraries but I have seen it happen. If it is a job you really are interested in I would definitely apply immediately. Also, make a specific cover letter for every job and research the library. If there is a special project going on at the library mention it in the cover letter. This is especially important if you have an in person interview. You need to be able to talk about the library as a whole not just the position you are applying for. If the library has receive a special grant or is going under a reorganization make sure you can explain how you would be an asset. I applied to over 245 jobs in a 6 months period and only got 3 job offers and still there were many jobs that I didn’t apply to. Also, try to think of this as your first job not your last. Apply to jobs that will give you experience for your dream job even if it has elements you may dislike.

Hi, my name is Patty and I recently became the Acquisitions/Systems Librarian at the University Of Kentucky College Of Law. I was born in Georgia but raised in California. I went to California State University, Sacramento for my undergraduate degree in English and then I went on to Syracuse University and received my graduate in Library and Information Studies.