by Sarah Roark Schott, Head Editor, INALJ Arizona

Interested in Applying for that Job in Tucson?

8 reasons you should consider relocating

Have you been checking out different states on the INALJ job boards lately? Thinking about moving somewhere new? Have you considered Tucson, Arizona? With over 20 public library branches, a bunch of museums, the largest public school district in Southern Arizona, and a University and Community College in the area, Tucson is a great place to start searching for your next library gig! Here are more than a few reasons you should think about an old pueblo job search! (This is not a real Saguaro hug)

 

 

1. The University of Arizona Libraries. The Arizona campus is packed with different libraries with lots to offer. The Arizona State Museum Library will take you back in time among the antique and oversized shelves and tables piled high with books on anthropology and archeology. The Arizona Health Sciences Library will link you to the modern and ever advancing University Medical Center. Arizona’s Special Collections houses a wide range of impressive collections from illuminated manuscript facsimiles to early photographs of the University, and the Center for Creative Photography boasts impressive collections by artists such as Ansel Adams.

 

 

Photo: Arizona State Museum via: http://uanews.org/blog/rusty-nail-tells-tale-2000-years-old

 

 

2. Mission San Xavier del Bac. A gem in the desert, this Mission is an architectural beauty that will transport you back to the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Although the Mission is a functioning church, there is an impressive museum and you can book tours. Everyone is welcome to visit the beautiful Mission, including the local dogs!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. All these cool museums:
Pima Air & Space Museum
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Arizona Historical Society
The Mini Time Machine Museum
MOCA

While a student at the University of Arizona’s School of Information Resources and Library Science I volunteered at the Pima Air and Space Museum archive. I had so much fun working with airline memorabilia from the 1950s and 1960s, and learned a lot about how to properly house collections of oddly shaped artifacts. All of these museums (and others in the Tucson area!) are always looking for volunteers, but you should also keep checking their websites for job openings! I know I’ve seen lots of openings at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum during the past few months.

 

 

Photo: Super Guppy at the Pima Air & Space Museum via: http://www.pimaair.org/collection-detail.php?cid=1

 

4. The All Souls Procession. Want to be involved in an authentic Southwest tradition that also benefits a good cause? Volunteer with The All Souls Procession! There is nothing like dressing up, parading through the city, and gathering for a giant party to celebrate those who have passed.

5. Proximity to beautiful Mexican beaches. San Carlos is a 5 1/2 hour drive from Tucson, and Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) is only 4! After a long week of work in the library or archive a quick weekend beach trip is the best!

 

 

 

 

(Vina del Mar, Puerto Peñasco)

 

 

6. Proximity to more than just the Painted Desert! Mt Lemmon is a 25 minute drive from Tucson, where temperatures are much cooler. If you enjoy fishing, skiing, hiking, or boating the White Mountains are about a five hour drive from Tucson.

 

 

 

 

White Mountains camping, 2011

 

 

7. Well-loved local bookstores! Antigone Books, Mostly Books, and Bookmans are great places to look for a job or your next page turner. Booksmans is always accepting applications, and was voted “Best Place to Work, Best Business Growth and Employee Retention, and Best Community Involvement” by Wells Fargo Copper Cactus Awards.

8. Tucson Festival of Books is one of the most beloved events of the year in Tucson! Authors, artists, musicians, librarians, dancers, and Park Rangers descend on the University of Arizona campus for a weekend in March to celebrate learning, books, creativity, and community outreach. This is a great place to connect with your Information Professional peers and do a little job hunting.

If you are looking for some place new, consider Tucson. The cost of living is low, the weather is great most of the year (can you handle 100 degrees for a couple of months?), and the community is wonderfully accepting and progressive. I encourage you to check out the Arizona job page if anything in this article has caught your interest! All our great opportunities can be found here!