My interview with success story Ashley
Naomi: How did you find your current job?
Ashley: By scouring city and county websites every day for nearly six months. I made a list of all the websites that had relevant jobs and blocked out time each day to check out if anything new had been posted.
Naomi: Favorite library you have been to?
Ashley: My favorite library is definitely the Fletcher Free Library in Burlington, VT. I may be a little biased since I worked there for three years, but it’s a very open and welcoming environment with a large selection of materials. The children’s area is housed in the original library building and it quite charming.
Naomi: Favorite book?
Ashley: This is a tough one! I have about a dozen books that I love to read over and over again, but the one I return to the most is Tithe by Holly Black. That whole trilogy is wonderful! It’s whimsical but the themes are very relevant to adults. I’ve been a fan for years.
Naomi: Favorite thing about libraries/ library technology?
Ashley: My favorite thing about library technology has to be the e-reader. I know, I know; some librarians think e-books are blasphemous. My take on them is that they get more people reading, which is really the ultimate goal. Why should it matter what format people are using as long as they’re reading?
Naomi: Any websites or feeds or blogs we should be following?
Ashley: None that I can think of off the top of my head. I stuck mostly to local websites for my job search so unless you’re looking in CA my websites won’t be much use!
Naomi: Best piece of job hunting advice?
Ashley: Don’t get discouraged! I was rejected by numerous employers and was basically unemployed for five months before I got this job. If the first job you land is part-time (or barely that, like mine was at eight hours a week), take that as a positive sign and keep looking until you find the job you really want. Also, don’t over-analyze your interviews once they’re finished. I was sure I bombed this one and ended up with the job!
I’m Ashley, a twenty-something who moved from Upstate NY to the San Francisco Bay Area to find a job in public libraries. I started my librarianship journey as a freshman in college without even knowing I was doing so. I found a work-study job in a public library and ended up loving it, but not really thinking about it as a career (because who knows anything about MLS programs at that age). A chat with a coworker led to the discovery of library school and various other library jobs, including positions at both medical and anthropology libraries. Fortunately I’ve made my way back to the realm of public libraries. I start my new job on May 14; here’s hoping it works out!