Leaving Librarianship: some recent blog posts
This past weekend I read three excellent blog postings by librarians and info pros who have left or are considering leaving the library field. Money is a huge part of the equation. Librarians, Masters holders that we are, are grossly under-compensated and often wrestle with being treated as less than professionals by others. I am fighting the good fight within the field (for right now) but very much support the decisions of both of these authors and wanted to share with you here.
Please, check them out:
Breaking Up With Libraries by Nina McHale
Hey Libraries: It’s Not Me, It’s You by Kate Kosturski, INALJ New York State Head Editor
Hey Libraries: It’s Not Me, It’s You Part 2: Who Gets to Keep the Couch? by Kate Kosturski, INALJ New York State Head Editor
photo from UAE trip in February 2013
previously published 6/2/13 (I added a link on 6/8/13)
@Edie I’ve been in exactly the same position. I’ve been working in another field doing similar work for the past few years, interviewed for a couple of librarian positions, and realized the numbers were just not going to work right now given the scale of the pay cut I’d be taking. I’ve been saving and trying to get adjusted to a lower standard of living since then, so I can still keep my head above water if/when I do finally go back to a library.
I do understand their feelings. I was lucky that for a short period of time I was in a job that paid well – the job and I parted ways for political reasons not through any desire of mine. I landed a job, taking a significant pay cut, outside of librarianship. The organization claimed they wanted a librarian however, I am not doing anything remotely related to either one of my two Master’s degrees. Recently, I was invited to interview for the type of library position I have long been seeking. It required another significant pay decrease. I tried to convince myself I could manage the pay cut then my car required 1K worth of work and it hit home that I would be living far too close to the financial edge were I to take this dream position. I am highly (read: over) educated and most of the starting salaries for library positions are well below what someone of my educational background and experience should be making. It is a very sad commentary on the value this country places on information professionals.