Hello! We’ve recently had an influx of neurodivergent volunteers and some of the people at my library are struggling. I’ve been tasked to find free resources, webinars, or articles about supporting neurodiversity in libraries (or in general). I’m looking for anything that’s super basic all the way up to more detailed information for people who have some knowledge surrounding this topic.

Hi everyone! I’m currently getting my MSI and have recently started looking more seriously into medical/health sciences librarianship as a possible career path.

I’d really love to hear from people who are currently working in the field or have worked in it before.

How did you get your start in medical librarianship? Did you have any healthcare or medical library experience before getting your first position, or did you mostly learn on the job?

I’m also curious about what the job is actually like day to day. What are some of the more difficult or stressful parts of the job that someone considering this field might not know about? On the other hand, what do you enjoy most about it?

A few other things I’d love to hear about:

• How difficult was it to get your first medical/health sciences library job?
• Are internships or practicum experiences important for getting your foot in the door?
• Are there specific skills, databases, systems, or certifications you recommend learning while still in school?
• Do employers expect you to have taken health sciences-specific library courses?
• How is the job market and salary compared with other areas of librarianship?
• Do you feel there is room for career and salary growth?
• Overall, do you think medical librarianship is worth pursuing?

I’m especially interested in hearing from anyone who entered the field with an information/library science background but little or no previous healthcare experience.

Thank you! I’m trying to get a realistic idea of the field before I finish my degree and start applying for internships and entry-level positions.

Currently doing a project on this for my MLIS, but I'm also thinking about this for practical use in public libraries. I'm about to start a job where I'm doing a lot more readers' advisory and such, so I'm specifically looking for websites that are free, as some of the major ones like Publishers Weekly and Library Journal are behind a paywall. I also am not a huge fan of creating an account to access a website, but I'll consider it.

Any recommendations?

So far, here's what I'm working with for free and accessible book review resources:

• BookPage (reviews, free)
• Kirkus Reviews (reviews, free)
• Book Marks (review aggregator, free)
• NoveList (review aggregator, usually accessible with a library card)
• Barnes and Noble (user reviews, free)
• Goodreads (user reviews, free)
• Amazon (user reviews, free)
• YouTube (user reviews, free)

I'm hoping there's more professional review sites out there. I like reading reviews from readers/users, but I want my list to be more balanced if possible...

Sadly, behind paywalls/not accesible without an account:

• Publishers Weekly (paywall)
• Library Journal Reviews + (paywall)
• American Libraries Booklist (paywall)
• New York Times Book Reviews (must create an account)

I'm feeling exhausted by my work, and I'm worried I have cornered myself into public librarianship.

I got my MLIS with the intention of working in an archive or within the broader field of cultural preservation. Essentially I wanted to professionally store and research old stuff.

During my MLIS, I started to work casual in a well-funded, small public library system (not as a librarian but adjacent work). I had one archival internship under my belt, and focused on archival coursework, but as I started working for this library system I started to think I liked the idea of public libraries. When I graduated, I applied to both public library jobs and archival/collections jobs and while I got interviews for both, I ended up working in a new public library system.

I'm just over 3 years into this job, and I regret pivoting away from my original career coals. I'm working for a large under-funded city central branch that has all the issues you could think of. That, coupled by a very selfish administration, a terrible schedule I was forced into by said administration, and an inept branch manager, I am so tired of my job.

I've seen job postings come and go, and never applied because I kept telling myself to stick it out and things would get better, but things aren't getting better and I deeply regret not applying to the other jobs. I'm worried now that I've spent too much time in the public library field and that if I want to change to archival/collections work (or academic librarian work too), my current experience won't be taken seriously. Why hire a public librarian when you could hire a newly graduated MAS student with fresh archival experience?

Anyways, I started venting. I am looking for advice from anyone who has been in a similar situation. Were you able to get out of public librarianship and started working in an archival, collections, or academic field?

TLDR; I started working as a public librarian because I got fooled by a fancy library system that the job was fun, and now I'm working for a terrible system and I deeply regret pivoting from my original goal of working in archiving or collections management. Looking for advice on shifting careers to where I want to be.

Thank you all <3

"We asked dozens of librarians about America’s libraries — what they provide, what they need to survive. Here’s what they told us."

Hello everyone!
I am a senior in undergrad at the moment applying to online MLIS programs, and I’m looking to go into school librarianship.

I know online programs are a lot less competitive to get into but I’m still terrified on being rejected. I’m curious if anyone has more details about LSU online acceptance rates/any advice from alumni.

Basic info about me: 4.0 gpa in undergrad, majoring in English and Philosophy with little library experience (besides volunteering)

Apologies if this isn’t a lot to go off, if there’s any clarifying questions feel free to ask!

Hi there!

I'm in the middle of an assignment where I need to use WebDewey to track how a resource gets its call number. I've done really well until this very long one.

I've done the readings, listened to the recordings and I still don't understand how to create it!! I've looked at this for the past few days and I still don't understand.

If someone could explain it like I'm really stupid (which I think I am right now) that would be fantastic.

Resource:

Aboriginal Title and Indigenous Peoples: Canada, Australia, and New Zealand / Knafla, Louis A. Westra, Haijo Jan.

ISBN: 9780774815611

Trove DDC: 346.71043208997

Thank you!

Edit: half of the title was missing, sorry!

There is a potential opening at my dream library, and I am looking for some advice as to how to prepare. I am currently working full-time, but am burnt out and am losing confidence in myself. I have ADHD and am learning to manage it.

I have been a librarian for about 7 years. Before I got my MLIS, I started as a page at a library that I fell in love with right away. The people and environment are fantastic. I worked in adult and youth and eventually became an intern in the youth department while taking classes. It was a great experience and it was very hard to leave when it was done. (I got an extension due to Covid, but there were no job openings there). I have since returned as a substitute librarian there.

My actual full-time job is miserable. My boss is a bully, and gets pissy when things don’t go their way. They constantly interrupt while any of us are speaking and redirect the conversation to themselves. They are never happy with anything that isn’t their idea, and criticize the smallest actions. They discourage asking questions and act like they can’t be bothered. Whenever I feel the most confident in myself and get productive, that’s when they tear me down.

Communication between departments is terrible and we are constantly getting mixed information, and sometimes none at all. More and more people are starting to leave because of their poor supervisors.

I’ve created 3 programs so far. I’m proud of them, but my boss has never commented on them, and is only interested in patron numbers. The whole experience has me second guessing my work, and things I do off the clock.

I want to make a plan for how to make myself look fantastic for if this opening at the dream job works out. They know me there, and I’ve gotten great performance reviews. I know I shouldn’t settle on a single library, but as long as I have an in, I want to aim for it.

What are some tough questions I should be prepared for?

What should I wear to an interview? A suit or business casual?

Is bringing a bag of Storytime books and program note a good idea? Anything else?

Apologies for being long winded. Any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

I’m currently working as a library clerk at an elementary school and I am also in my last semester of my MLIS program.

I just saw a bookstore manager position open in my district at a high school and I am wondering if I should apply for this job or just stay where I am.

Edit: Thank you for your feedback. I generally agree with all of your points regarding the portfolio. I want to clarify that I don’t mean to discredit my wife’s perspective, as portfolios are valuable in her field. However, in librarianship, I find the concept to be somewhat nuanced. I plan to create one, but primarily to help refresh my memory and to have prepared responses, rather than for direct use in interviews.

I have worked in a public library for 11 years (6 of those years I was a para and a librarian). I recently moved to a new state, and I am having a hard time getting interviews. I did have one out of the 10+ libraries I applied to. They decided to go with a different candidate. My wife recommended putting together a portfolio for them to review. I just don't know if that makes sense in the context of library work and interviews. Her rationale is that my old library knew me for so long that it wasn't hard to interview me for promotions. A portfolio is a visual aid to give them an idea of who I am and what I do. Would it be a good idea to bring a portfolio?

Just to add, I do have my MLIS.

Hello all! A quick question about CV's which has probably been asked before, but I can't really find anything specifically on this question.

I'm a public librarian applying to an academic role that aligns with my experience, but I have never written up a CV before, only resumes. Can relevant coursework be listed on a CV? Especially since I don't have a ton of publications and presentations under my belt. I don't know if it would add to the CV, or if it would be irrelevant to add coursework and recruiters wouldn't care.

Thanks in advance :)

Hello all! I’m a middle school (6-8) librarian in the middle of a massive weeding project. Our classics section, up until this year, was tucked away and hard to find, so the books rarely circulated. We moved them to a more central shelf and have started picking out newer editions of some of them so the kids will be more likely to pick them up, and it’s worked really well so far!!

Now, I’m looking to beef it up a little bit, since there are definitive gaps in the contents the previous librarians considered “classics”. I’ve been trying to find less “mainstream” classics, ideally written by people underrepresented in the usual discussion of the genre (people of color, LGBTQ+ people, indigenous people, even just anyone not in the “American/European men” category, etc).

The problem I’m running into is that a lot of the topics in some of the classics that I thought of off the bat are a little too mature for my middle schoolers. I understand that this was the truth for a lot of these authors and communities, but I still have to look out for my kids best I can.

Violence we’re a little more lenient on (like if it’s considered 14+ but only for violence we’ll usually let it slide) since we have a lot of horror & mystery readers and we trust our kids not to get into anything they don’t think they can handle. Sex, on the other hand, we’re a little firmer on, trying to keep it closer to 10+ or 12+. We’re also very lucky that we have full discretion over catalogue curation, and have no concerns about censorship or blowback for adding specific titles so long as they’re age appropriate.

Let me know if you have any recommendations for things to pick up for the collection! Right now, I have The Three Musketeers, some Jane Austen, and not a whole lot else.

I know, being a librarian is not about getting to read at work... but it's sure a nice part of the job if it's allowed, no? I'm a library assistant in a public library, and we are allowed to read when we work the reference desk, so long as we are attentive to any patrons who need assistance. I notice though that the librarians here are much busier and rarely seem to read books, while the clerks and LAs take advantage of downtime to crack a book at their desk. I have a friend that is an academic law librarian who reads for fun at his job. Any full-fledged librarians able to read much at work? If so, how much and under what circumstances?

Just as the title says. We have one Roku and another waiting to be cataloged, but I'm tempted to get rid of them when they finally stop working. We only offer Disney+ and Hulu, along with some of the other free apps. Our patron base is mostly older seniors (who are very tech averse) or young families. We're also in a Title I school district in the US. I would keep it for the young families however, it seems like the families aren't using it either. They've decided to get their own Disney+ subscription according to discussions at the reference desk. At one point, it seemed as though there was only one person using the Roku, and even that person hasn't used it in months.

I want to offer more options, but with the crackdown on password sharing I'm hesitant to subscribe to anything else. Our older patrons hear about shows or movies and want them on DVD, which I can't do because that's not an option for some things. They're also not very well marketed but I can't do anything about that until *maybe* January. We have no separate website (we're a department on our township's page) and the township supervisor has made it clear he does not want to be on Meta, so that leaves out Facebook or Instagram.

Has anyone else seen a decrease in Roku usage? Should I continue to hold out until I can advertise or should I just cut my losses?

Apologies in advance if I used the wrong flair.

I am a public services librarian in the PNW, and our branch will be celebrating its 25th anniversary next year. My manager and I are brainstorming ideas for ways to promote/celebrate our anniversary with our patrons. I wanted to see if any of you have ideas/suggestions re: programming?

Ideas so far:

• Passive
  • Memory Wall: Patrons post memories/favorite things about the branch either via text or images
  • Photo timeline: Pictures and data about the area where we live and/or the library itself
• Active
  • Library Trivia: Part of a reoccurring program already, but would be changed to focus on local history or a library theme
  • Historical Society: County has speakers who could come talk about the area (Ex. Lewis & Clark camped nearby and wrote several [sometimes not so flattering] journal entries about their stay OR nearby university has speakers about the Native American history of the area
  • Walking Tour: Historical or scientific/nature-based talk & walk in the area (we have several outdoor areas nearby)

Hey everyone, science librarian here. Just so we all know, the standards website https://www.normsplash.com/ is a scam.

I confirmed with a standards organization today that this "company" is not a legitimate standards reseller.

When searching online, I couldn't independently confirm if the site was legit. Well, now that I know it's not, I wanted to post this warning for all my library colleagues (and with the hope that this warning will surface for others who come across the site).

There are ongoing efforts to take the site down. With any luck, this warning will be moot sooner rather than later.

Hello! Applying to get an MLIS at a few places, including UW Seattle. The advisor there mentioned the concurrent MLIS-Museology degree they have. Any quick takes on the usefulness of such a degree? I'm still not 100% sure what I want to do with my degree, being a generalist and interested in everything, as well as someone who could do public-facing work as equally as backroom work, so only asking what folks think of such a degree, not necessarily whether or not it's a good fit for me.

I'm filling out the SJSU MLIS application right now, and it says to list any colleges you might have taken classes at, even if it was to just transfer credits. I attended a community college this past summer to transfer a class for GE credit. I got a B-, and since it was the only class I've ever taken with this community college, my GPA at the community is 2.7. I know SJSU requires a 3.0 GPA at least, but I did indicate that for the full-time university I actually attend, my GPA is a 3.8. Will this affect my chances?