My interview with success story Amy
Naomi: How did you find your current job?
Amy I identified an institution I wanted to work for and formed as many connections with it as possible. I am an alumna from the University of Minnesota so I knew their vision and philosophies were in line with my own. I then took two semesters of field work in different libraries at that university so I could gain experience there and make professional contacts.
Naomi: Favorite library you have been to?
Amy Without question, the Deutsche Kinemathek Museum für Film und Fernsehen. I have studied both German and film, so having the opportunity to visit this German film archive is based in Berlin was a dream come true.
Naomi: Favorite book(s)?
Amy As an avid science fiction reader, I have to cite Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? as my favorite book. I am also a big fan of the works of H.P. Lovecraft, Ray Kurzweil, and William S. Burroughs.
Naomi: Favorite thing about libraries/ library technology?
Amy There is never an excuse to be bored! The world of libraries and technology are constantly changing so we are always learning new things.
Naomi: Any websites or feeds or blogs we should be following?
Amy Besides INALJ.com of course, I find opencoverletters.com very useful. The ALA’s NMRT (New Member Round Table) is also a great entry point into the field and they have an awesome resume review service.
Naomi: Best piece of job hunting advice?
Amy Get involved in your field! Libraries are very diverse so there are many opportunities. Attend a webinar, learn Drupal, or present at a conference. Also, the American Library Association is a great place to start, especially the New Member Round Table for those who are new to the profession; the ALA consists of so many groups there is something for everyone. Also, don’t forget about your local library association; most of them have very useful job boards.
My name is Amy Neeser and I am a new librarian whose professional and research interests include metadata applications, information access and retrieval, academic and international librarianship, and technological literacy. I hold my undergraduate degrees in German Studies and Global Studies from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and finished my MLIS last spring through the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee’s distance education program. I am currently serving as the assistant chair for the American Library Association’s New Member Round Table Web Committee as well as NMRT representative on the ALA Round Tables’ Content Management Task Force.
I am excited to announce that I have recently accepted a position in the Physical Sciences and Engineering department at the University of Minnesota’s Walter Library where I provide in person and electronic reference assistance as well as web, electronic and print resource design and maintenance.