by Naomi House, MLIS Why I Quit My Library Job and Why I No Longer Want One I have worked in libraries for the last ten years but as of December 2013 I have been working only outside of libraries doing my other job, renovating and selling old houses, and forming a new partnership. I have…
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Articles
Parting Words from a Parting Editor
by Aimee Graham, former Head Editor, INALJ Georgia Parting Words from a Parting Editor My journey began with INALJ in the summer of 2012. I was in a whirlwind, trying to complete my Masters of Science in Information Science from the University at Albany, SUNY within one year, and juggling work, family, four summer classes…
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5 Free Reader’s Advisory Resources
by Amanda May, former Head Editor, INALJ North Dakota previously published 10/21/13 5 Free Reader’s Advisory Resources There are many free reader’s advisory resources available on the Internet. Here are five of my favorites: Based on the Book – This resource is made available through the Mid-Continent Public Library. This page is a compilation of…
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3 Things to Remember about Gaming in the Library
by Brad McNally, former Head Editor, INALJ Ohio previously published 8/12/13 3 Things to Remember about Gaming in the Library I won’t lie: I love gaming. Luckily, many patrons in my library seem to as well (it helps that they are teens). Not everyone working in libraries feels the same about gaming in general, and…
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4 Reference tools that save my life (on a daily basis)
by Amanda Viana, Head Editor, INALJ Massachusetts previously published 5/13/13 4 Reference tools that save my life (on a daily basis) (editor’s note: Astrid is no longer available- add in the comments your nominees for #4) Diigo: There are quite a few social bookmarking sites out there, but Diigo has been my professional go-to site…
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Step-up your job hunt with more steps
by Ruth Lincoln, Senior Assistant, INALJ DC Step-up your job hunt with more steps “Job hunting” bears little resemblance to the “hunting” of our primal ancestors. We both may forage for the biggest prize (cavemen: meat and fish; recent library grad: a tenure-track position with benefits), but the librarian’s hunt burns fewer calories. All that…
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What I Learned From a Traumatic Experience: How to Store Important Documents
by Leigh Milligan, Head Editor, INALJ Wisconsin previously published 9/12/13 What I Learned From a Traumatic Experience: How to Store Important Documents Around 9 PM on July 26, 2013, I suffered from the most traumatic experience of my life. My apartment was destroyed in a fire that destroyed 48 other apartments along with my own.…
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Exploring Alternative Library Careers via Linkedin Groups
by Joy Rodriguez, former Head Editor, INALJ Delaware previously published 8/1/13 Exploring Alternative Library Careers via Linkedin Groups Joining groups on Linkedin is a great way to expand your professional network and keep track of the latest information in the LIS world. Several articles have been written on how to manage and network via LinkedIn…
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Unmotivated? Discouraged? Click Here
by Julie Watson, former Head Editor, INALJ Pennsylvania previously published 8/19/13 Unmotivated? Discouraged? Click Here Staying positive during the job search can be challenging, especially if you are not currently employed. When times get tough, I find inspiration in quotes. Sometimes I’ll pick a one for the week and use it like a mantra. Anytime…
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Be Proactive About Pest Prevention
by Lisa Iannucci, Senior Assistant, INALJ New Jersey Be Proactive About Pest Prevention It’s no secret that pests of all types are an issue in libraries, archives and cultural institutions; cockroaches, ants, termites, bedbugs and assorted rodents can take up residence in the unlikeliest locations. Even the cleanest, most organized establishment can have issues with…
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So You Want to Be a Law Librarian?
by Billy Hinshaw, former Assistant, INALJ Minnesota previously published 12/18/13 So You Want to Be a Law Librarian? Law librarianship is a great career avenue for those who either a) are library professionals interested in legal work, or b) are former attorneys or legal professionals seeking an alternate career. Regardless of background, law librarians use…
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Connect with the Library World When You Don’t Work in a Library
by Ruth Lincoln, former Head Editor, INALJ Washington, DC previously published 12/17/13 Connect with the Library World When You Don’t Work in a Library Look inside any organization, university, or business, and you’ll probably find a few people with an MLS. They might be called “Knowledge Manager”, “Information Architect”, or any number of titles (see…
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Corrections at the Reference Desk
by Sarah Porter, former Head Editor, INALJ California previously published 7/24/13 Corrections at the Reference Desk Yesterday a patron corrected my grammar at the reference desk. I said “those ones” rather than “those”. She said I would hate her for the correction, but she could not resist. She couldn’t have been more right about hating…
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Meet Clive Maishment of The Alberta Library (TAL)
by Christina Wilson, Head Editor of INALJ Alberta and INALJ Manitoba Meet Clive Maishment of The Alberta Library (TAL) I’d like to introduce readers to one of Alberta’s outstanding library organizations and its visionary and effective leader. Formed in 1997, The Alberta Library (TAL) is a consortium of 49 member libraries serving over 300 locations in Alberta. It was established…
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What I’ve gained from working as a temp librarian
By Harold Rougeux, INALJ Alaska Assistant What I’ve gained from working as a temp librarian After what seemed like an endless string of applications and interviews, I finally had a solid job offer on the table. It had come kind of unexpectedly. I had just finished doing a short online presentation as part of the…
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Acing the job interview: Surviving the Interview
by Angie Solis, Head Editor, INALJ Missouri Acing the job interview – Surviving the Interview (Part 3 of 4) In Part one and two we discussed pre-interview prep and personal and professional interview prep. Both these articles were written to get you to this day. The BIG day! INTERVIEW DAY! So now that we’ve made it here…
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Strategizing for the Job Hunt
by Naomi House, MLIS, INALJ Founder and Editor Strategizing for the Job Hunt In October 2013 I was not only furloughed but also lost my job in the great and tremendously wasteful federal government shutdown. I wrote an article Furloughed & Job Hunting: why strategizing 1st is the key to success, with advice about what…
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Laugh a little! Webcomics for Librarians
by Yandee Vazquez, former Head Editor, INALJ Texas previously published 6/21/13 Laugh a little! Webcomics for Librarians I am a huge fan of webcomics. The medium is itself fascinating in terms of sustainable self-publishing, the development of the community’s writers/illustrators alongside and yet apart from the more established world of syndicated comic strips and graphic…
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When a Sprint Becomes an Ultramarathon
by Adrith Bedore Bicchieri, former head editor, INALJ Maryland previously published 8/9/13 When a Sprint Becomes an Ultramarathon: Tips for an Extended Job Search The end of July marked one year of job searching for me, an anniversary I’d rather not have celebrated. A job search of any length longer than you had cared,…
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10 Library-Themed Businesses I’d Love to Frequent Some Day
by Sandra Hoyer, former Head Editor, INALJ Washington. previously published 12/5/13 10 Library-Themed Businesses I’d Love to Frequent Some Day Here are 10 library-inspired places that I would love to visit. The Library in Rome, Italy. – Run by a library aficionada, this off the beaten path bar offers a cozy spot for both wine and…
Interviews, Success Stories
Cairie R…. Lambda Archives & INALJ Success Story
This interview is over 1 year old and may no longer be up to date or reflect the interviewee/interviewees’ positions by Mary-Michelle Moore, Head Editor, INALJ California Cairie R…. Lambda Archives & INALJ Success Story Mary-Michelle: How did you find your current job? Cairie: On the INALJ California page. My most current position at Lambda Archives was…
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Patience, Grasshopper
by Claire Schmieder, now Senior Editor, and formerly Head Editor, INALJ New Jersey previously published 12/4/13 Patience, Grasshopper It’s official – after an eleven-month job search, I have accepted a position with the Alice Paul Institute. You’re looking at their new Program Associate, folks, and I am so, so excited about the work I’ll be…
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How to Survive Your MLS Distance Program: 6 Tips from a Recent Grad
Marian Mays, Senior Editor, INALJ How to Survive Your MLS Distance Program: 6 Tips from a Recent Grad The transition to full-time online classes can be extremely tough, especially for new students. Online classes can make you feel isolated, require more personal diligence, and can be a time management nightmare. Plus, MLS programs don’t always offer students…
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The Condition in Which You Leave Your Library Position
by Jess Bruckner, Assistant Editor, INALJ Virginia The Condition in Which You Leave Your Library Position If you’re leaving a library position, the condition in which you leave your job has an impact. Before you move on, you should make a mental checklist of things that need to be done so the new person is on track…
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4 Sites That Every Librarian Should Know and Show
by Fallon Bleich, Senior Assistant for and former Head Editor of, INALJ Arkansas previously published 3/18/13 4 Sites That Every Librarian Should Know and Show I’m a giant techie and love discovering new sites and sharing them. As a librarian in training, it is even more fun to share the findings with patrons. Below are…