Brent Mills …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 Brent.

brentmNaomi:  How did you find your current job?
Brent:  I had worked previously at the Hood River Library District and the Director informed me of a position that was going to be posted soon, thinking I might enjoy it. My on-call position at Beaverton Public library was from a daily email alert I had set up for “Library Jobs” in Portland, Oregon from simplyhired.com.

Naomi:  Favorite library you have been to?
Brent:  It’s a tie between the Suzzallo at UW and the Klementinum library in Prague. They’re both knockouts.

Naomi:  Favorite book?
Brent:  Journey to the End of the Night by Louis-Ferdinand Céline.

Naomi:  Favorite thing about libraries/ library technology?
Brent:  The best thing about working in a technical role in a library is that your job role is always changing along with the technology. You could be teaching, troubleshooting or learning the ropes of a new system. It’s refreshing to see so many libraries figuring out a positive way to incorporate technology so that it benefits both patrons and staff.

Naomi:  Any websites or feeds or blogs we should be following?
Brent:  Cindy Romaine’s Twitter is always a good source of trends (@CindyARomaine), I also like Joe Kraus (@jokrausdu). And of course, the Librarian in Black.

Naomi:  Best piece of job hunting advice?
Brent:  Keep at it and don’t think you’re above any type of job. Just because a job listing says “entry-level” or you think it’s below your pay range or ability. Applysage library and come at the job with an open mind and willingness to learn. Your boss will notice. Take in every resource you can and make more library job/school friends. They’re your allies!

I am a technical support specialist for the SAGE library consortium of Eastern and Central Oregon as well as being an on-call circulation aide at Beaverton Public Library. I live in the great city of Portland, Oregon and am thankful for the opportunities Oregon provides (hiking, biking, coffee-ing. I am about ¾ finished with my online MLIS from the University of Washington and I am interested in open source possibilities for libraries as well as working with integrated library systems.