How many veteran librarians are there???

Just another rejection notification to add to the pile.  But this is the first time I've ever been told that it is because there are veteran librarians who have applied.

I only know of one librarian who is a veteran.  We had several classes together, we ended up sitting next to each other in each class and being partners in numerous group assignments.  They were getting their MLIS through the GI Bill.  But other than that, I don't know of any others nor do any of my library people.

I'm not mad about not getting any further in the hiring process for this particular position because there were veterans applying for it.  I'm just really curious as to how many there are.  I would prefer they get the job than some random who shouldn't haven't gotten their MLIS in the first place.

Librarian Employment Plan B.

My library friends and I are coming to the realization that we should broaden our job search outside of the library realm.  I'm sure that the majority of MLIS holders have and will do the same.  There are too many MLIS's and not enough jobs.

So playing to our strengths, we have determined that the best option for me would be Personal Shopper.  I know my way around online shopping: coupon codes, cash back options, price-matching, and ways to get free shipping.  I believe in never paying retail, I also feel comfortable shopping for most things: cars, clothes, electronics.  Now I can add "Baby Stuff" to my repertoire.

Here are two of my latest satisfied customers:

My niece with her favorite toy, and my supervisor's baby sporting her summer clothes.

The Library Job Market is Sh#t

First off can I just say that in general I do not swear, it's good practice when you work with the public.  But seriously, F*CK LIBRARY MANAGEMENT and all its political BULLSH$T.

I know of 4 different people who have recently applied and interviewed for 4 different positions at 3 different library systems.  Just to make it to the interview process is a ray of hope.  I know that the job market in general is "tough" but more so in the library world.  The positions are scant and becoming rarer, and the pool of candidates is overflowing.  Libraries looking to hire can post a position and be inundated with applications within a few days.  Not all of the applicants will be qualified but the libraries are in a position to say, "Jump" leaving applicants asking, "How high?"  Libraries are using and abusing this leverage to get applicants to jump through inane hoops in the mindset that by making interviewees go through the whole dog and pony show ("cat and pony" more appropriate for a library setting?), that the best qualified ones will rise to the top. 

Now, out of these four individuals that I personally know, not a one of them received word that they didn't get the position. Naturally as time wore on, their hope died a little bit each day.  This shouldn't have been the case, maybe those in the hiring decision process never had to personally go through the dread of waiting to hear back themselves.  So let me break it down to you, it's like ripping off a band-aid, do it quickly and the pain doesn't last as long compared to the slow deliberate method.

 Cut the BS, learn how to ask the right questions, contact references and learn to ask them the right questions, learn how to conduct better interviews and for crying out loud: let people know if they don't get the position.

It's the least you could do instead of dragging these people and their hopes along.  How hard is it to send a freaking email nowadays???  If people announce critical life moments in their Facebook statuses, and break-up through texts, you can take the time to send an email.  Hell, even a canned, "copypasta" one would do.  Here, I'll do it for you:

Hello [Insert Applicant's Name],

We at [Insert Library System Name] would like to thank you for taking the time and effort to apply and interview for the [Enter Position Name] position.  I am sending this email to inform you that we have chosen to select a candidate whom we feel is a better match for the position.

Thank you again for your time, good luck in your future endeavors.

Sincerely,

[Insert Name]

You're welcome.  

"Good News: Library Job Growth Exploding!" ... et tu Library of Congress?

According to this blog post on the Library of Congress website, library job growth is exploding.  Exploding?  Really?  I'm not quite sure the blog author is using the right term.

This is an example of something exploding:

This would mean the contents were expanding so quickly and/or vastly, that this poor lemon could not contain it.

I personally would describe the "growth" of library jobs as imploding:

The internal structure was weakened to the point where the whole structure and everything attached to it crumbles unto itself.

The reasoning behind that blog post is that there are other jobs titles that share the same characteristics as librarian positions.  Using this thought process, librarians would make great "Computer and Information Systems Managers."  Let's see what tools and technology are related according to the same source that links the top 4 tasks between the professions.

Librarians:

Tools used in this occupation: Bar code reader equipment — Barcode scanners Film projectors Microfiche or microfilm viewers — Microfiche readers; Microfilm readers Photocopiers — Photocopying equipment Scanners

CIS Managers:
Tools used in this occupation:

Computer servers — File servers; Mid-range computers; Netware servers; Web servers

Facsimile machines — Fax Machines

Floppy drives

High end computer servers — Workstations

Network analyzers

Librarians:
Technology used in this occupation:

Data base user interface and query software — Ex Libris Group Aleph; Microsoft Access; Saora Keepoint; Thomson Scientific Dialog

Information retrieval or search software — Classification Web; LexisNexis software; Westlaw

Library software — Online Computer Library Center OCLC; RCL Software Media Library Manager; Surpass software; WorldCat *

Web page creation and editing software — Adobe Systems Adobe Dreamweaver; Really Simple Syndication RSS; Wiki software; Yahoo Flickr

Web platform development software — Cascading Style Sheets CSS; Extensible HyperText Markup Language XHTML; Hypertext markup language HTML; PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor *

CIS Managers:
Technology used in this occupation:

Customer relationship management CRM software — ACT! software; Microsoft Dynamics CRM; Oracle Siebel Server Sync; Performance Solutions Technology ManagePro

Development environment software — C; K2 Business Process Automation; Microsoft Visual Basic; Progress OpenEdge ABL

Enterprise resource planning ERP software — Infor ERP Baan; Microsoft Dynamics AX; Microsoft Dynamics NAV; Oracle E-Business Suite

Object or component oriented development software — Borland Paradox; C++; Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services SSRS; Practical extraction and reporting language Perl

Web platform development software — Hypertext markup language HTML; JavaScript; Progress WebSpeed Workshop; Ruby on Rails

O*Net Sources: Librarians, CIS Managers.

The blog author mentions that that they personally know more librarians who match the CIS Manager description more so than the Librarian one.  You don't say, you work at the LOC.  You're not going to see the regular, run of the mill librarians.  Let's face it, the public library sector employs more librarians than any other flavor of libraries.  Also, a lot of my core MLIS courses were also public-library centric as well. 

Oh, and yes, even though the position description may seem "parochial" and outdated, but librarians still use "cash registers, microfilm readers, photocopiers and public address systems and technologies such as email, spreadsheets and desktop publishing software."  I'll say it again, "Librarianship" is so damn broad that you cannot try to define it efficiently and succinctly without alienating one facet or the other.  I would also question the currency of the CIS position, "floppy disks"?  Are you serious?

On a related note, I think it is a double edge sword when librarians try to sidle their way into core IT positions.  There is just no way librarians can compete with academically disciplined computer science grads.  Library schools that offer these so-called "tech classes" are a joke.  I took some of these classes and what they taught was basic 101 undergrad material.  Leave the IT/Comp Sci stuff to those graduates.

With that kind of article title and overstatement of facts, I would expect this sort of erroneous and out of touch library propaganda to come from the likes of ALA but not the LOC --- for shame.

There's Always Money in the Banana Stand...

It's been 6 months since graduating and still no full time librarian job, but this was expected.  It took my friend a little over a year after getting her MLIS, so that is what I am marking on the calendar as desperation day ground zero.  My parents have mentioned going through their network to see if they have any possible leads or connections.  If that isn't awkward/embarrassing/sad enough, one of my ex-girlfriend's offered to take a look at her company to see if there's any relevant positions for me.  She recently texted me out of the blue because she had a dream about me and asked how I was doing, obviously not so well in the job department.

I'm contemplating starting up eBay/Amazon/Craigslist hustling again, but the profit margins are no where near the same with increased seller fees, PayPal fees, and shipping costs.

Now on the occupational back-up list: Baked Goods.

Limited Edition Nike Fondants:
Two-Tone Pink/White and White/Red Color way

This past weekend my mom held a baby shower for my sister (her first baby--woot!) and she asked my friend if she could make cupcakes for the event.  For what I lack in the cooking skills my friend more than makes up for it and I wasn't going to let her slave away by herself.  Although, my "helping" usual involves taking orders, cleaning stuff up --- usual my own mess, and other non-technical procedures such as placing those sugar pearls on the frosting.  I did make 1/4 of the booties shown below.  I think they turned out pretty well considering I had a hand in it.

48 Shades of Diabetes

ALA Presidential Campaign Adviser for Hire...

I don't like to take credit when I know I don't deserve it, but, is it just a simple coincidence that I happened to called out Millsap and she ends up losing the ALA Presidential race --- Yeah, probably but whatever. 

It is just not mathematically possible that the 5 readers of my blog could have accounted for the 1,786 difference in votes.  But I'm just saying, if any of you 5 readers plans to run for ALA President in the future, it would be sage of you to consider hiring me as a Presidential Campaign Adviser. 

Librarian vs. Librarian

So it looks like my friend and I will be going head to head again for a job.  I told her that if she gets the job, I will hate her and we won't be hanging out getting drunk together for awhile, I'm pretty sure the feeling's mutual.

Last time we interviewed for the same position, there were 3 open spots and we both got it.  Unfortunately there is only 1 position open, time to Hunger Games it out!