r/librarians

Hi, I'm graduating with my MLIS in a few weeks (yay), and I've been applying to jobs around a 50-60 mile radius where I live in Upstate NY. I know a lot of people recommend moving for a job, but I'm openly transgender and chronically ill (on Medicaid)... I know I'm very lucky to live in a state that treats me like a human being, and I'm horrified at the prospect of moving for a "real librarian" job to somewhere that is unsafe for me, or to only have a temporary job that leaves me somewhere without access to the medical care I need.

Right now, I'm applying to anything that comes up that I feel I can commute to, but if I can't find a job right after graduating, I might look for non-library work in the meantime where I am. Does anyone else have tips on what to do? Thank you in advance :)

Hello, currently I'm looking to apply for a librarian assistant 1 job at the local library and would like some assistance creating a cover letter, however I'm running into two issues:

-The first being that while I have an enormous passion for libraries, the written word and being able to help others I don't have a lot of experience specifically related to the job itself. I've been through periods of unemployment and have had to get a good will job or two (one from having a month left to stay with some roommates once family needed a place to stay), the other local and only a week after a teaching job I did a summer internship for told me "thanks for doing this but we don't have a job like we said we would, better luck next time.'
-Secondly, because of this (I have tried contacting the internship, they never got back), is that they require three references and I don't want to list the job I have right now due to me still working there and my undiagnosed dyscalculia not working well in a factory setting.

Usually when I've applied to librarian assistant jobs I've leaned into my passion and willingness to help others but I keep getting rejected, obviously I'll need to polish it but I'm unsure how to write something that would have the hiring manager see where I can really shine in these departments. Below is a rough draft I made a few years for reference:

Dear hiring manager,

I am writing to express my interest in the Library Assistant Position at the XYZ county branch library. With a deep passion for serving the people of XYZ county and a love of literature, I am passionate about supporting my local library system.

I have proven competencies in jobs that require courteousness and other interpersonal skills, assisting in data collection, writing, and copyediting, and placing orders. If our job helps people in any way to gain the information they need or continue reading then I am all for it. 

I have experience in all the skills that would make a great assistant librarian such as customer service, attention to detail, research, teamwork and a background of assisting both children and adults. Should the need arise for information on a certain subject or location of a title I will be certain to  find what the person needs promptly and with general information about the subject. In a similar vein my experience with children as a camp counselor lends me to being able to conduct jobs such as storytime easily and with the ability to do so with various groups of people.

My interest in the job also comes from my own adoration of literature. Since I was young I’ve always loved reading books of any genre. My enthusiasm in understanding the latest trends in the market and people’s preferences keep me keen on what kinds of books are growing in popularity and interest. Similarly, I strive for attention to detail in organizing the books on my own bookshelf by numerous metrics such as genre, series, and order of publication.

All this is to say that given the opportunity to work at the XYZ district branch library would be an incredible experience. I would be proud to say that I am a member of the staff there. I
believe given my skills and enthusiasm that I will be a helpful and efficient addition to the librarian team

Hi All!

I'm wondering how many public libraries have received a copy of Walt Mes's books in the past week. We received ours this past Friday and we are interested in knowing what other people think of these... interesting books.

Hi Librarians!

At an info session for an MLIS program, the representatives spoke about the role ai would play in both the program and the typical public librarian job.

They mentioned that a librarian may correct ai-generated metadata and therefore also teach the ai.

From my perspective, this sounds like cleaning up after ai and training ai - neither of which I'm interested in doing.

They mentioned ai is unavoidable in their MLIS program and pretty much unavoidable in the career.

How much of your career is doing things like cleaning up after ai or training ai? Would you agree ai has become unavoidable in public librarianship?

Thank you!

P.S. I know ai is a marketing catchall and that it doesn't even accurately describe the products/services currently available, so please feel free to use a better term!

P.P.S. This is my first r/librarians post and I chose this tag because the role ai has in librarianship is a factor is my pursuits, but if 'discussion' or something else fits better, pls lmk! Thank you!

several school librarians are all being “reassigned” or essentially laid off and have asked me, our community engagement librarian, to speak at the school board meeting.

my supervisor says it’s prohibited because it “looks bad” because we still need to work with the district even without the librarians and it’s considered “political” which goes against union guidelines even if i’m speaking on behalf of myself and not a library employee. i’ve pushed back saying that i feel like it’s not right to say that and am wanting to go over here to speak to the union representative, but i wanted to check in so see if folks have experienced something similar.

it feels wrong to not say anything, especially with how long we’ve worked together and how their jobs impact how we foster community engagement. i’m literally also seeing them for school visits all next month, so not speaking especially feels awkward when they’ve asked our department specifically to speak.

Perhaps I am in my old lady curmudgeon mood today (It happens).

I am a Black librarian and a Branch Manager. Now I will admit today I have on some fresh just dropped Nike shoes on (but that’s because I have a bunion now and my old cheerleading injury has finally pulled a revenge move on me and now clicks when I wear heels). I also had on my jeans and a Sesame Street button up blouse and a cardigan (I was a children’s librarian once). Now I don’t look old but I surely don’t look like the young fresh early aughts graduate I was at the beginning of my career. However, even when I’m in a suit with undyed grey hair…I always get the shocked look when folks ask for a librarian. Then I get the double take and wide eyes when they say, “oh well I need the manager” and I respond with “Yes, how can I help you”. It is always assumed I’m a clerk, page or aide - except when I’m dealing with patrons who are Black.

Today it happened 5 times and I am just wondering is it just me?

Hello! I am 24 years old and graduated with my bachelors in education in 2024. I have since decided that I am not interested in being a classroom teacher, but instead a librarian. Not necessarily a school librarian because I know that requires 2 years of classroom teaching to be eligible for, but a public librarian, and specially a children’s and youth librarian. As I am beginning my journey to that, I’m trying to critically think about what may work best in my favor in terms of experience and resume building. I would like to start my masters in library science but obviously, money, so I will be working while doing so. I’m trying to decide what the best course of action would be for me, and for future job prospects down the road. I should add that I am not in any critical financial crunch nor set timeline, but here are the two potential options I’m looking at- please give your advice as to which one you think would be better and look better to future employers!

1. ⁠Part time job at some sort of bookstore, good amount of time to volunteer for the public library near me. This course would obviously take longer due to it being a part time job, but I would gain experience dealing with people and the public library sector through volunteering(Living situation is not a concern)

2. ⁠Full time job as a library aide at an elementary school, little to no time for public library volunteering. I can see the benefit to this being it is actual working experience in a library, and with children which is my degree and the age bracket I aim to work with as a librarian, however it lacks the public library aspect.

Which one do you think is a better course of action?

TLDR:

Which track to public librarianship (specifically for children and youth) seems better professionally: part time bookstore job with ample public library volunteering time, or full time elementary school library aide with little to no public library volunteer time.

TIA!

Hi Librarians,

I am located in Northern Jersey about 20-30 minutes West of NYC and we can't relocate because of my husband's work.

I would like to move from school librarian to academic librarian or public young adult/teen librarian. I know this change may take a long time.

Is there anything you recommend that I do to beef up my resume or even volunteer opportunities that would be good until I get part time or full time work in one of those types of libraries?

BACKGROUND:

I am a previous High School Spanish Teacher turned Independent School Librarian. I received my Master of Information in January 2024 and have worked as an Assistant Librarian turned Librarian for a College Prep school since 2021, when I begin my library degree.

I am leaving my work at the end of my contract year to not burn any bridges and use my supervisor (school Principal) as a reference. leaving for another job in the middle of a sy is seen as very bad.

Thank you for your help!!

Hello, I work in a system with 20+ branches. Generally speaking our public bathroom policy works well (wellness checks, signage). We had a situation last week and I would welcome advice. On 3 different days, a teenager locked himself in a stall for up to an hour. This particular bathroom is set up so that once you're in, no one else can use it. So we felt this was too much time and had a conversation with him yesterday to explain that this was not allowed. He mentionned he was suffering from Crohn's disease, which now has me thinking if we should allow someone with a chronic illness to be treated differently? And if so, i would apply this how... ask for a medical certificate? Tell me my mind is going too far with this?

I have a couple of patrons that don’t quite cross the line of sexual harassment, but really like to sit in chairs near our front desk and just watch us work. If they say something harassing, like call one of us ‘hot’, we simply yell ‘nope’ overly loudly. Majority of the time though, they just sit there and stare at us working. Any suggestions?

I'm sharing my letter of intent for anyone who doesn't have someone in their life who can help them write one (because, for the most part, I didn't either). I can't say what about the letter helped get me accepted, but I did get an offer of admission, so it can't be that bad lol.

Some tips I followed:

-Don't do what I did and write half of it the day before. If I were prepared, I probably could have taken it to the career or writing centers at the university. I was not.

-Pay attention to program-specific questions (mine asked us to talk about what EDID means to us)

-Don't be afraid to stroke the university's ego. Even if you're applying to dozens, they should feel like their university is your top pick. Similarly, what about this school is unique? Are they inclusive, focus on public librarianship, research, etc.?

-Similarly, hype up researchers and professors in the department. Go to the department page and look at what kind of research is being done. Is there someone you admire? Is there unique research being done? Is there research that aligns with your experience? Read some of their research.

-Even if you are not applying for a thesis route, propose some research ideas that you would like to explore. You will still have to do some research and write papers. This shows that you are engaging with the professional AND academic sides of the discipline. A lot of ppl ignore that information science part of the degree.

-List core courses that you are excited about. I didn't hear this tip from anyone, so maybe it doesn't help, but I assume its good to show that you are interested in the less flashy aspects of the degree.

-Show that you understand what librarianship is about outside of reading. Are you prepared and excited for the customer service parts? Show that you understand the demographics in your area. What populations will you be working with?

-If you are applying to a specific program (such as an online option), talk about why this is beneficial to you, even if you have to fluff it up a bit (I do enjoy online courses and they work for me, but realistically, I would do fine in-person as well).

-Idk how much you are expected to get into why your GPA is low, so I went with the most vague option. I still don't know if I could have explained more, but I didn't want to take up space either.

Dear Admissions Committee,

Growing up below the poverty line meant that libraries were an essential resource for my family. The inclusion, acceptance, and warmth they offered were a rare and precious thing. While I have always loved libraries, my interest in becoming a librarian began when I was helping students with learning disabilities pick out books. Seeing their eyes light up when they discovered that an author had as much trouble learning to read as they did was more fulfilling than any other part of teaching. I solidified my decision while I was working with unhoused youth and realized that as a librarian, I could help people of all ages access the information and resources they needed. I could still help children and youth discover a love of reading, but I could also run a wide variety of literacy programs, support unhoused patrons, and so much more. I am deeply passionate about helping people navigate the world around them, whether it's using the computer for the first time, filling out paperwork, accessing community resources, or building meaningful connections. In short, an MLIS will give me the skills and knowledge to launch a career that combines my passion for community service, education, and academics.

My interdisciplinary background lends well to a career in information science and the School of Library and Information Science’s mission statement. During my history degree, I developed strong research skills, an appreciation for resource preservation, and the ability to critically evaluate information. It also inspired the desire to make the humanities and social sciences accessible to people outside of academia. A master’s in library science would give me the skills to develop programs that connect people with the stories and histories that are important to them. My psychology degree has given me a profound understanding of mental health and an appreciation for quantitative research. The MLIS program would provide me with the opportunity to combine my understanding of human behaviour to better support library users. As a youth mentor, I didn’t work in a library, but we offered many of the same services. I loved running book clubs where youth could critically engage with the world around them. I saw how impactful it was to have access to video games, movies, music, and computers. What youth programs and public libraries have the most in common, however, is their commitment to free third spaces. I am passionate about upholding spaces in the community where all people can go to feel safe, included, and valued. Lastly, my experience in education left me with a love of teaching that I hope to put towards developing community programs.

I chose the [university] for three reasons: their accessibility, wide range of practical courses, and commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization (EDID). The flexibility of asynchronous classes allows me to adjust the pace of learning, personalize my learning schedule, and engage more deeply with the material. It also ensures that I can work and volunteer while I study, both of which are very important to me.

I am interested in attending the [University] because of its commitment to EDID and excellence in research and scholarship. In 2015, Journalist Brooke Lea Foster wrote an article for The Boston Globe where she discussed the experiences of low-income scholarship students at Ivy League universities. Students reported feeling a strong sense of alienation and culture shock. Foster discusses the idea that these students are “doubly disadvantaged” because they lack social and cultural capital as well as financial capital. To me, this sums up the heart of equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization. Working to get underprivileged and minority students into university, or any other social institution, is a worthy cause, but it's not enough. We have to acknowledge that literacy is about more than reading. It is the cultural, social, and economic literacy that really makes a difference. Librarians and information professionals are crucial because they create spaces where inclusion and collaboration can come together to create a more equitable society. Public libraries do more than allow marginalized peoples to exist in the building; they build spaces that support and empower them. This is why I was drawn to [professor at university's] research on sex work activism. [professors] examination of collaborative research methods embodies the idea that collaboration is just as important as inclusion. The [project] fills an important gap in historical preservation and achievement, challenging the narrative that some histories are too unsavoury to be protected. It would be an invaluable opportunity to learn from [professor] and other members of the School of Library and Information Science.

In terms of practical coursework, the [University] offers a multifaceted program whose research in social class, queer studies, disability, and cultural studies will provide the knowledge and skills required to serve the community as a librarian. I am particularly interested in [small list of mandatory courses offered by the program]. I am also excited for courses such as [courses-elective ones] because I have a passion for children’s history. I argue in my forthcoming article in Central Europe Yearbook that children are active and vital participants in the social world whose contributions are too often overlooked. As an MLIS student, I would love to explore how people of different cultures and economic classes interact with information and what this means for creating inclusive and accessible spaces. I would also be interested in doing research on the ways that young people have shaped the public libraries we know today and how their histories are preserved and disseminated.

I realize that my GPA at the [University I was graduating from (my second degree)] is not as strong as it could be. My family was experiencing some challenges, which means that my record does not reflect my capacity. These challenges have recently been resolved, and I will be able to dedicate myself fully to the MLIS program. I am confident that my research experience, adaptability, and dedication make me a strong candidate for the MLIS program. I am eager to contribute to the academic and professional communities through the promotion of literacy, research, and inclusivity.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

[my name]

Hello library pals! I'm not sure I've used the right tag, so apologies if not.

I've been given permission to plan a Pride Party at my library, and I was wondering if anyone has had any ideas or experience they'd be willing to share. Financial resources are minimal (shocking, I know), but we do have a well stocked craft cabinet and I'm rich in labor resources, since my coworkers are the absolute best. I'd like this to feel like a major event for the community, and have a little something for everyone. We have some outdoor space so I was hoping to do a lot of outside activities like bubble machines, sidewalk chalk and tie dying. There's a chance we get a performer, but I don't want to count on that.

If you have any ideas, suggestions, warnings or resources, I'd love to hear them! For once in my life, I'm getting a head start on things, so I have ages to plan. I just want this to feel like a real celebration and a message to our queer community members that their library love love loves them.

Thank you in advance!

We got a request today from a student to ILL a paper based off a citation in an article they read. After investigating, we determined the paper didn’t exist. Then we started looking and at least the first 7 references don’t exist.

Here’s the paper: N. Margatan and T. Oktavia, "Critical Success Factor of Discord Usage: A Systematic Literature Review," 2024 International Conference on Intelligent Cybernetics Technology & Applications (ICICyTA), Bali, Indonesia, 2024, pp. 601-606, doi: 10.1109/ICICYTA64807.2024.10913223.

This is the paper the student requested:

Khan, M. L., & Hoffmann, C. P. ( 2022 ). Fostering a sense of belonging in online communities: The case of Discord servers. New Media & Society.

As you can see there are a couple of red flags: It appears to be a journal article, but there’s no DOI, there’s no volume or issue number, there’s no pages.

I contacted IEEE “publishing ethics” office. The professor who taught the course also contacted IEEE.

But I’m curious what other libraries are doing in response to this, what you’re doing to educate users, etc? Does anyone know of any tools that can detect if a citation in an article or book is possibly fake? Have you or your ILL team encountered this yet?

Hi - is anyone out there a liaison to physical sciences with related collection development duties? If so, do you have any go-to resources for reviews or lists for books in the physical sciences (physics, chem, bio, earth sciences, etc)? I have access to Choice Reviews and lists through Gobi, and beyond faculty recommendations, I'm finding this a bit of a challenge.

Any resources or tips are appreciated! Thank you.

Edit: Thanks for the input everyone! I got the response I was mostly expecting. In other fields, it seems like it is a lot more acceptable to play loosey goosey in job titles, which is why it was on my mind (perhaps too much r/resumes for me).

Hello!

I am an MLIS student, and I currently work in an elementary school library with the job title "library clerk." I am looking to change jobs. There is a position open in an area I would very much like to move to. I'm refreshing my resume, and one thing that I am concerned about is the translation of the title "library clerk" to what I actually do. I feel like "clerk" kind of denotes a more junior position than "assistant" or "associate", which is the language used in the job I am applying for. In reality, I think this move would actually be a decrease in responsibilities.

The way my school district works, I am the only staff member who works in the library about 80% of the time. There is one district elementary librarian for the four elementary schools in the district. I do all of the day-to-day work. This includes: shelving, signage, displays, programming, teaching mini lessons, book repair, projects/initiatives, checkouts, reader's advisory, student council, library helpers (i.e., volunteer management), and anything else incidental that comes up. The big thing that I don't do is OPAC management, ILL, and book orders, but I do give suggestions to the librarian that are respected because I am the person who actually works with the patrons/students in the day-to-day. The librarian also is the one who does the lesson plans for the lessons I teach.

I was considering changing the job title to Library Technician because it seems more indicative of the scope of my work. I'm not a librarian; I don't have an MLIS (in my second semester), but I do more work than a regular assistant/associate. In one of my previous jobs, library technicians were a very specific intermediary role between assistant and librarian, which is why I'm not sure if it's entirely appropriate.

I wanted to ask the group if one: this is an inappropriate substitution (i.e., I do not do the work of a library tech) and/or if this is an inadvisable idea (i.e., I shouldn't change my job title at all). For reference, if you looked at my district's website, you'd be able to see my real job title.

Thank you!

Hello!

Our library recently switched from Encore to Vega, and we haven't been given much information on how Vega works. (For context: I work in cataloging/collection development, and we use Sierra. We are part of a large library system that shares records [much to my chagrin] and we primarily do copy cataloging, although I also do original cataloging and have a basic understanding of RDA.)

We are struggling to understand how exactly Vega pulls from the MARC to roll formats together into one record for patrons. From what I've gathered, Vega converts MARC to BIBFRAME, but I do not have experience with BIBFRAME.

Previously, each format type would have a separate record. Different format types still have separate records in Sierra, but one of the "perks" of Vega is that it can roll all of the formats into one record for patrons. We are having trouble figuring out exactly HOW it links these records, though. Does it pull from a particular MARC tag? Multiple tags?

Ex: For one title, Vega is currently showing 3 different records for 3 different formats instead of rolling all of the formats together into one record. We noticed the titles weren't consistent, so I made them all match EXACTLY in Sierra, refreshed Vega, and nothing happened. (The titles aren't even changing, and we were told that any changes made in Sierra are supposed to be reflected instantly in Vega... but that's another issue, or maybe it's related to not having the proper tags in the MARC?) Clearly, it's not pulling from the title, and it's obviously not pulling from the ISBNs.

Does anyone have a solid understanding of how MARC translates in Vega? I just need to know what tags to pay special attention to in order to ensure things are showing up properly in Vega.

Thank you!

Hi! So I’m soon graduating from the library and information science degree - officially becoming a librarian.

But I have seen so many school library jobs that just take 30 %, so two work days a week. These make out most of the jobmarket as of right now. And I know I don’t want that for me, I want something fulltime where I know my efforts and position matters.

I’m now waiting to see if I’m a candidate for the role, librarian in public library- because why wouldn’t I be? I have the degree. I have experience. I know what I bring to the organisation.

But I can’t help but be anxious. What if I don’t get the job? Even though I have the degree and the experience in advantage?

Hello! I'm preparing to take the Senior Library Clerk Civil Service examination in New York State. I'd welcome & appreciate any advice. I have a couple study guide books, but one is a little out-of-date and the other is brand new but reeks of AI. Can anyone suggest online resources or provide any general advice? Thanks in advance!

I'm finishing up my MLIS at WSU and I'm deep into the full time job hunt.

I've been applying to full time positions since January of this year, and nothing. I currently work as a librarian part time at a couple libraries in the area.

Is it common to work in multiple part time jobs for awhile post grad before moving into something full time? I'm trying to not get down on myself, but it's been difficult for sure!

I'm a digital archivist working on a webinar for library staff about helping patrons with digital preservation (photos, files, etc.). Most of my experience is in special collections, so I'm trying to get a better sense of what this actually looks like at a public service desk.

I’ve asked a few public librarian friends, and a lot of what I've heard so far leans more toward general tech help, like setting up a new iPhone. I'm curious where digital preservation comes up, if it does.

• What kinds of questions do patrons ask about saving or keeping their digital stuff?
• Are there situations where you're not sure what to tell them?
• Any memorable interactions?

Just trying to make this as practical as possible. I'd really appreciate any insight!