IS Career Fest 2009

Tomorrow: Make More Money!!

2009-05-11T10:13:00.000-07:00

Please Join Us for

"Negotiating Job Offers"

presented by Keri Botello

ALSC Student Session: How I Got My First Library Job

2009-03-18T17:55:00.000-07:00

The Association of Library Services to Children (ALSC), a division of ALA, is holding a free, online program, How I Got My First Library Job: Tips from Library Directors, Thursday, March 19, 5:00 pm CDT.

To attend visit:

http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/membership/Students/index.cfm

SAA Archives Panel, March 3, 2009

2009-03-04T15:09:00.000-08:00

What makes the archive field unique?

John Calhoun (the Seaver Center for Western History Research)

http://www.nhm.org/research/history/seaver_center.html

Calhoun has a background in History.

Where he works is a natural history, anthropological and archaeological special collections, and includes 300 collections of photographs, maps, ephemera.

Sue Hodson (Huntington Library—private research library)

http://www.huntington.org/

Has an English degree background. Got Masters in English, then MLIS at UCLA.

The Huntington focuses on collections in English and American literature and history…Sue mentioned that they have been broadening collections into works by women and people of color. Also some history of science.

Library has a Rare books dept. and a Manuscripts dept. Hodson is with the Manuscripts dept. Most people that come in to the library are academics doing high-level research. Some days can be taken up entirely by academics/researchers doing high-level research. But she can also work daily with rare book and manuscript buyers, addressing reference questions, help scholars/researchers on-site, emails, phone calls, communications dept., bookstore. Every day is varied with lots of interaction with people, which provides a good working environment. Every day is something new and different and interesting. The Huntington allows its employees opportunities to conduct your own personal research (mostly evenings and weekends).

Andrea McCarty (Archives Mgr. at HBO)

http://www.homeboxoffice.com/

Did not have an archive background.

The HBO archive is a studio archive (in-house archive)…does not deal with researchers. The lending library for the studio is to help with projects regarding syndication, etc.

Oversees the older video tape formats, digital migration, older material through mergers and acquisitions, etc. Oversees management, storage, and use of the entire collection. McCarty echoes the variety the comments of the other speakers in that there are always a variety of tasks that archivists must deal with on a daily basis. It is really changing her job with the company. She is learning more about traditional archival practices and organizing, long-term storage and preservation. All different types of positions within the moving image archive field: use, preservation, access.

Paul Warmser (the National Archives, Laguna Niguel)

http://www.archives.gov/pacific/archives/laguna/finding-aids/holdings.html

Warmser has a background in history. Works in one of NARA’s 12 regional archival branches throughout the US—Laguna Niguel.

NARA traditionally likes candidates with strong history and government backgrounds, though this seems to be changing. Warmser also agrees that working within an archive is interesting b/c there is something new to discover everyday working in an archive. Challenging and stimulating issues. A lot of reference queries at this location have to do with naturalization and immigration records.

Morgan Yates (Automobile Club of Southern California)

http://www.aaa.com

Yates has as a background in history, and was interested in museum work/studies. Interned at state archives in Sac, CA. Auto Club has a corporate environment, though non-profit—involved in public programming. Yates has an ongoing article in the organization’s magazine publication (Westways), allowing him to write and research regularly.

2009-03-04T14:45:00.000-08:00

YACS (Young Adult and Children’s Services) Panel

featuring Youth Services Librarians

Feb. 18, 2009

UCLA

Panelists:

· Erica Cuyugan, Young Adult Librarian, Santa Monica Public Library: erica.cuyugan@smgov.net

· Shawn Thrasher, Senior Youth Services Librarian, Monrovia Public Library: sthrasher@ci.monrovia.ca.us

· Laura Henry, Young Readers Department Manager, Palos Verdes Library District: lhenry@pvld.org

· Michelle Simon Frommè, Head Librarian, Wildwood School, Second Faculty Head: msimon@wildwood.org

Introductions:

· Erica: Publishing Background, UCLA Grad, Worked in Northern California Library for 6 months before relocating to Santa Monica; Least Favorite thing about job: Being the only YA librarian can be overwhelming; Favorite thing about job: Working with Teens and YA Lit

· Shawn: Graduated from Emporia State in Kansas; Children’s Librarian in Kansas for 5 years at 2 different branches then moved to Pasadena Library as a Teen Librarian; Senior Librarian at Monrovia for 3 years; Least Favorite thing about the job: Grumpy Adults who have no stake in children; Favorite thing about the job: Reader’s advisory and having a kid come back to tell how much they loved the book

· Laura: Originally wanted to be a teacher but decided against it and attended UC Berkley for MLS instead; Worked at LA Co. La Verne Branch, West Covina, and a library in Wisconsin where she was the only full-time professional; Has been at PVLD for 9 years; Least Favorite thing about job: Problem Patrons and Performance Appraisals; Favorite thing about job: Storytime

· Michelle: Museum/Archives focus in library school (UCLA Grad) and knew a friend who recommended her for the School Librarian position; Most challenging thing about the job: Collaborating with Teachers; Favorite thing about the job: Being able to have relationships with students (past and present)

Education/Career

· Erica: Most Valuable classes were YA/Children’s classes, especially those by Walter, Cart, & Meyers as well as subject cataloging. She followed professors more than topics. Also internships were vary beneficial as they can help you determine the size of library you would like to work in, the type (its good to have a variety just to test the waters), and good to establish mentors/networks. Expected of Entry level children’s librarians is being responsible for part of a collection, programming (tenns/storytimes), outreach, class visits/tours, being on committees; Reference desk is best learned on the job

· Shawn: didn’t go to a Public Library focused school; thinks school is a great place to make connections/network since it’s a small world for librarians and you will invariably run across your classmates/professors again. For an entry level librarian (and librarians in general), you need to not only sell yourself in the interview, but to the public as well, especially in a small library/community where you will bump into these people at places like the market.

· Laura: best classes were storytelling, intellectual freedom, and cataloging. Most of the children’s classes she took were more common sense and better learned on the job and were not that helpful. For entry-level librarians, internships help people to know what they’re getting into and gives them practical knowledge about libraries rather than an idealized view which may not come to fruition. This experience can also be gained through things like volunteering. Knowledge of up-to-date technology, especially for groups not currently utilizing the library is important as well as understanding customer service and how people work (and actually liking people) and good problem solving skills are a must.

· Michelle: Subject and Descriptive cataloging as well as Reader’s Advisory. Her archives background helped in teaching students how to conduct more meaningful and fun research by showing them that you can find documents and things other than books to use as research materials, especially by incorporating new media like podcasts. In an entry-level librarian, she looks for people who fill her own gaps (for example, her strong suit isn’t cataloging, so she looked to hire someone good at it) as well as flexibility and a willingness to do anything.

Professional Associations

· Erica: Associations are good for networking as well as gaining different perspectives on the profession and seeing how others do things; good place to share misery and help you acclimate to a new place (especially good for re-location). In Northern California, she joined BAYA to help make friends and learn more about the profession. Currently she is a member of MCLS and YALSA (on the quick picks selection committee). Being active in an association often requires large time commitments (especially national associations) and your library will have to be willing to let you go to things like ALA Annual and Mid-winter. Local organizations are best if the library won’t support national-level commitments. Local organizations force you to go into the community and participate in outreach

· Shawn: Active in YALSA for 8 years – chaired committees, selected DVDs for YA. Best for making connections and networking, but associations can be rather cliquey and daunting. Local Associations are almost as important if not more important than national associations. Local associations he’s involved with are: MCLS Children’s committee and Southern California Children’s Committee. Also a thing to remember, is that even if you’re not active, its still good to join associations because your dues are supporting other people who are on the front lines and people who are doing research.

· Laura: Member of ALA and CLA and think that associations are important to hear what your colleagues are saying. Also important are list-servs like pubyac. She suggests that if you can be active and time constraints are not an issue, go for it

· Michelle: Member of YALSA and ASL; reads blogs/newsletters & magazines to stay up to date; also a member of a local school library association, Independent School Library Exchange (past president) which has a listserv and helped with her learning curve; There is also the California School Library Association although she is not a part of it since life is very different for private school libraries than public.

Most Successful Teen Programs?

Erica: Built through time and investment; Teen Council (where she has a core group of kids who then branch out into her other programs); Gaming Club; Teen Film Festival; Partner with Farmer’s Market (Iron Chef challenges); College Prep; Least Favorite/Successful: Arts and Crafts; Best programs come one you know your community and groups of kids change and so do their interests, making one program not necessarily always successful year after year.
Shawn: The more money you spend, the smaller the number of people who will attend. Book groups never worked for him. One of the more successful programs he had was chocolates for Christmas. Tweens are a group that is in need of services right now and really want services.
Laura: Most successful programs involve food; Extreme Makeover (making houses out of graham crackers); Candy Sushi
Michelle: Kids are too busy for book clubs so she does literary circles instead. Gaming Programs are big – no games with violence, especially since it’s a private school. She likes to have DDR, Wii Bowling, and collaboration/team work types of games. For her gaming programs, the kids bring their own consoles and share.

Get More Money!

2009-02-21T12:26:00.000-08:00

*NEW DATE*
~~April 22nd, 2009~~ *Tuesday, May 12th*at 12:30pm
Keri Botello presents
"Negotiating Job Offers"

GSE&IS 2nd Floor Salon
Sponsored by SGB

Learn tactics that will help you get the salary you deserve!

-Shelly Ray, SGB Social Chair

2009-02-20T21:41:00.000-08:00

March 3rd, 12:30-1:30pm Archives Panel sponsored by SAA and AMIA

Come and learn about working with photographs, art, film, and more! Actor George Takei (second from left) likes visiting archives, come and see what all the excitement is about!

-Diana T., ALA Co-President

photograph from the Los Angeles Public Library Photo Collection

This Year's Fest

2009-02-14T00:25:00.000-08:00

Hello,

Please check back to our new site for more information on upcoming panels. Topics for upcoming panels include:

Conducting Job Searches
Archives and Special Collections
Interviewing Techniques
Salary Negotiation
How to Write Cover Letters and Resumes
Resume Workshop

Thanks,
Trisha Lendo
AMIA Student Chapter Vice President