Dream Job?

Over the past few weeks I have been encouraged to think about not what particular kind of library job I would like, but rather what I’d like my career in library science to look like.  This reflection, combined with the advice to build on my existing skills and strengths, has brought me to a place of consideration of what kind of jobs I would like to do as part of a long career in libraries.

I wrote earlier about my motivations and sense of calling to work at particular kinds of libraries in particular communities.  Right now, the kind of jobs that make me the most excited is reference services positions and management positions in an urban community.  Looking at my current strengths, I now have almost three years of management experience and so it makes sense to build on that capability.  I also have five years’ experience in helping people find the things and information they need, even though it is outside a library setting.  I enjoy that work of interacting with people, figuring out what their needs are and how to fill them and find it meaningful.  One public service job in an urban setting that I found is this one in Takoma, WA for adult services.  It is a good entry level position in the field of public service and the kind of community I would like to work in.

However, just and adult services job does not use my management skills and so it would be nice to move towards something like this Manager of Library Operations job in Oklahoma City. This position is in a medium-sized community library and calls on a variety of skills that I would find challenging and fulfilling, including “facility management, staff and volunteer management, budget preparation and oversight, programming, [and] community related activities.”  They are looking to hire someone with one year of management experience (which I have) and “excellent customer service skills, building and maintaining strategic relationships; planning and organizational skills; and the ability to create and maintain a library that is an inviting and innovative link to the world.”  This is very similar to the hospitality work I do now, as I welcome travelers to DC, manage interns, do bookkeeping and budgeting and maintain a 100 year old townhouse.  I would like to transfer these skills I already have into a library setting.

Hopefully a beginning management job like that would move me in the direction of a position with more responsibility.  A job that more fully represents what I’d like to move towards in my career is this listing for an Assistant Public Services Director at the main branch of the Cleveland Public Library.  The job listing explains the scope of the job as “Directs and manages the activities, collections, and staff of the Main Library to ensure that quality service is delivered to the public. Participates in the development of system-wide plans, policies, and procedures. Serves as member of the Public Services leadership team.”  This combines both my desire to make sure that the public receives good service at the library but also my experience in managing staff, a physical plant and finances.  This position is looking for eight years of management experience in a library setting, something that I could hopefully build up to.

As a bit of side note, because I’m taking an information technology course right now, I’m particularly attuned to what job lists are asking for as far as computer and technology skills go.  Among these listings, some are vague such as familiar with “21^st century librarianship” and “ability to adapt to new and updated software and procedures.”  But some list more specific technology requirements such as “advanced computer skills including use of MS Windows, word processing, spreadsheet processing, electronic communication, database management, and Internet browsing.”  I should make sure to look for opportunities to develop and hone these computer skills as I begin to look for jobs.

And that brings us to the real point of this exercise.  If I am interested in this kind of work, I need to be focused on what skills I need to still gain and develop in order to be qualified and competent.  This is the direction in which I now want to head and if I want to get there, I must put in time, energy and effort to learning and gaining experience.