Tag Archive for mlis

“Why do you need a master’s degree to be a librarian?”

by Alexis Waide, former Head Editor, INALJ Minnesota “Why do you need a master’s degree to be a librarian?” Crowdsourcing an answer for an irritating question Recently, I went to a party attended largely by librarians and/or friends from library school.  Several of us were discussing the minor annoyances of our respective jobs and one…

The (Pregnant) Elephant in the Room

The (Pregnant) Elephant in the Room by Jen Park My husband and I had tried for a long time to have a baby. When I finally became pregnant I was in my last term of library school. I was thrilled and very, very nervous about applying for positions. Although I was working part-time in a…

Amber Clement: My Superior Librarian

Amber Clement: My Superior Librarian by Kevin Alexander I am very proud of my fiancée, Amber Clement.  She grew up in the Upper Peninsula on the shores of Lake Superior near a small city which boasts the Soo Locks, with accessibility to Soo, Canada, the Mackinac Bridge and other amenities of wildlife and nature.  She grew…

Managing Student Employees in your 20s

Managing Student Employees in your 20s by Laura Birkenhauer Going from a being a student to managing students can be tough, especially when you still have the baby face and unbounded enthusiasm of a newbie 20-something. So, here are some of the upsides (and cons to steer clear of!) of managing student employees in your…

There’s a Twitter Chat for That

There’s a Twitter Chat for That by Naomi Gonzalez, Senior Assistant, INALJ Virginia    For those of you who spend what could be called an inordinate amount of time online (ahem), the world of Twitter chats is probably not new ground to you. For those that prefer to spend your time in the physical realm…

Librarian Certification and Good Vibrations

Librarian Certification and Good Vibrations by Rose Noel, Senior Assistant, INALJ Kentucky I felt the vibrations as I entered the library. There was a new energy pulsing through the beautiful, but normally serene public library building. I wondered as I stuffed my purse into a spare employee locker whether I had forgotten a particularly grand…

Ask a Special Librarian – March Edition

Ask a Special Librarian – March Edition Tracy Z. Maleeff Library Resources Manager at Duane Morris LLP in Philadelphia @LibrarySherpa & LibrarySherpa.com   Spring cleaning time is almost upon us. It’s a good way to clear out some cobwebs, air some things out and just prepare for a new season of your life. Yes, I’m…

Addressing Diversity in the Job Search Process

Addressing Diversity in the Job Search Process by Oscar Giurcovich, Senior Editor As an LIS job seeker, I come across something along the lines of the following quite frequently when looking at the requirements of a position: interest or ability to work in a multicultural environment. What does this mean? What are they looking for?…

When in Doubt, Take the Practicum

When in Doubt, Take the Practicum By Rose Noel, Senior Assistant, INALJ Kentucky   I have been in school since 2009; I am only just tackling my second semester of library school this spring. It would be an understatement to disclose that I’m feeling a little bit of burnout. In that time, I have gone…

Library School: Some Thoughts in Hindsight

Library School: Some Thoughts in Hindsight by Gabrielle Spiers, Senior Editor   I graduated from library school in August 2012 which I realize is not really that long ago. However I feel it is just long enough ago that I am able to reflect on the experience with the distance and perspective I did not…

Why do you want to be a librarian?

Why do you want to be a librarian? by Cassidy Charles, Senior Assistant, INALJ NYC   The question comes up in graduate school orientation, conference happy hours, professional development workshops, and job interviews: Why do you want to be a librarian? The answer can be as simple or complex as you want to make it.…

Ask a Special Librarian – February Edition

Ask a Special Librarian Tracy Z. Maleeff Library Resources Manager at Duane Morris LLP in Philadelphia @LibrarySherpa & LibrarySherpa.com Lucky for you, the special librarian saw a shadow and now we have at least six more weeks of the “Ask a Special Librarian” column! I was thrilled to see the great response from my inaugural installment of…

Show Our Value

By Sarah Morrison, Senior Assistant, INALJ Alberta and INALJ Manitoba Show Our Value When I first started at library school, I really didn’t know if my previous experiences would be useful – how relevant will a Master’s degree in a bunch of dead languages and a 3 year stint in retail management (albeit in a…

How I Survived Library School

by Oscar Giurcovich, Senior Editor   How I Survived Library School For my first blog post, I thought I’d talk about something that has recently happened in my life: finishing library school. Before I continue, let’s set the scene: I live in a state that does not have a MLIS-type program, so I had to…

Fun for all that librarians call their favorite time of year!

By Kate Kosturski, MLSIS, Canada and International INALJ Volunteer Coordinator Fun for all that librarians call their favorite time of year!   (Now you have the song from A Charlie Brown Christmas stuck in your head.   Sorry about that.  Okay, maybe not ) Much like the Golden Globes kick off the film awards season, January…

So, you think you might want an MLIS?

by Sarah Porter, former Head Editor, INALJ California previously published 4/5/13 So, you think you might want an MLIS? A few months ago, an acquaintance thinking about pursuing an MLIS sent an email inquiring about my personal experience with earning an MLIS. Her main objective was to hear if I thought it was worthwhile. More…

MLIS: The First Few Weeks

by Paul Marks, Head Editor, INALJ Virginia MLIS: The First Few Weeks This month, I moved to Pittsburgh, got a job, a pet, three houseplants, and the dozens of books I’ll need for my first MILS classes. The anxiety that had been built in anticipation was wiped away once the ducks were in their colloquial…

Considerations for an MLIS Abroad

. .  by Matthew Tansek, Head Editor, INALJ Rhode Island Considerations for an MLIS Abroad Looking for a more exotic local to complete your library and information science degree, but worried that you may not be able to get a job back here in the states?  Have no fear, I’m going to give you all…

5 Reasons Why I’m Starting the Job Hunt Early

by Sean O’Brien, Head Editor, INALJ Colorado 5 Reasons Why I’m Starting the Job Hunt Early This week is kind of an exciting time for me.  Why?  Because I’m finishing up the last of my summer classes, which means that I only have a single semester left before I finish grad school.  But, with excitement…

Soon-to-be grads: have you considered an internship?

by Ryan Nitz, Head Editor, INALJ Alaska Soon-to-be grads: have you considered an internship? One of the most frustrating aspects of being a recent graduate in any field is the how-do-I-get-a-job-without-experience-but-how-do-I-get-experience-without-a-job conundrum. Well, if you’re still in your LIS program (not that it’s impossible to do an internship outside of school, but it’s harder and…

MLIS and Motherhood

by Dawn Thompson, Head Editor, INALJ Ohio MLIS and Motherhood While attending graduate school my partner and I decided to try and have our first baby. We’d seen lots of friends go through the process and figured that we’d have just as much if not more trouble so we didn’t need to worry too much…