[Web4lib] Seeking Advice: Switching Career Paths

[Wright, Jen]

Another way to add experience in the library web world is to get
involved with web committees in ALA.  Some divisions have web positions
that are partially pay, partially conference compensation.  Being a
section's web person will get your experience with content management
systems (ALA has had 2 in the last few years, hopefully that will settle
down), working within an approved design to make something nice, and
project management (one of the most important skills I developed as a
Web Development Librarian and supervisor).

It looks good on a library resume, too.

Jennifer R Wright
Electronic/Digital Resources Coordinator
Free Library of Philadelphia
215.686.2874
www.library.phila.gov

-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of David Kemper
Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2007 1:21 PM
To: web4lib
Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Seeking Advice: Switching Career Paths

Thank you all for your suggestions. I can see how each piece of advice
can help.

The hardest part for me so far has been getting potential employers to
see beyond the archivist role I have held for many years. I think
several assume--and a few have expressed directly to me--that I am an
archivist who worked on web projects, not enough experience or
qualifications for their particular Web Librarian / Web Development
needs. Breaking free from this will require an image change and, as many
have suggested, a portfolio and web presence. Funny, I get caught up
with creating web presences for others, but I forget about myself.

I agree with those who suggested I look beyond library-land. I really
like academic environments, and working in the library as part of a Web
team sounds ideal, but I have had not much luck. Sounds like a good
reason to look elsewhere.

While I have my XHTML/CSS and some JavaScript, I suspect more
programming knowledge is in order, and I think the languages suggested
are a good start

Besides web design, the Web as a communication, collaboration, knowledge
sharing, community-building tool fascinates me.

Anyway, please feel free to add more suggestions. I think there are
others in the same boat who could benefit from this advice.

Thank you!!

David

On 8/30/07, Will Kurt <wkurt at bbn.com> wrote:
> Although I'm not a Web Services / Web Development Librarian, I do run 
> a library job site in my spare time, so I do a fair amount of web 
> development work and also see around a thousand library job postings
> a year.   My 2 cents are:
>
> Jon makes some good points, although I fully believe that you (and 
> everyone who's posted) can get a web librarian job if you want it.  
> Too frequently libraries want an unreasonable number of qualifications

> for an equally unreasonable low pay. I could rant volumes about this, 
> but needless to say I think it's a poor practice.
>
> The point is don't be discouraged, and also don't be afraid to look 
> outside of library-land for positions that may be equally rewarding 
> and better paying.
>
> To echo what everyone else is saying: build something! The site that I

> run has been an incredible learning experience, and continues to scale

> as I learn new things.  Plus it provides a useful service to a lot of 
> people in the area.
>
> Don't be afraid of programming, find a language that works for you and

> enjoy it. Once you know one interpreted language well it's fairly easy

> to at least understand what's happening in another.  I'm going to have

> to put in my plug for Python, which is very easy to learn and works 
> well for everything from simple procedural programming, to OOP and 
> even Functional Programming.
>
> And finally- DO NOT accept the library dogma that getting low wages is

> okay and just part of life, it's not.
>
> --Will
>
>
> At 10:04 AM 8/30/2007, David Kemper wrote:
> >Colleagues,
> >
> >I am seeking advice on switching careers. I am currently in the 
> >archival field but would like to move into the field of web design 
> >and website management in a library and/or information center
environment.
> >I have been an archivist for almost 6 years. Throughout that time, 
> >while mixing in some archival research work and some processing, I 
> >was always recognized by supervisors and colleagues as the "web guy,"

> >the Webmaster, the guy tinkering with Dreamweaver and Photoshop, 
> >designing websites, taking advantage of web technology to give 
> >greater access to archival material.
> >
> >Lately, the desire to transform myself from informal web guy to 
> >formal web professional has become stronger, as I feel my interest 
> >drift further away from my current field. A case in point: I often 
> >feel more connected by discussions occurring here than on other
listservs.
> >
> >My attempts to switch gears have fallen short, however.
> >
> >On numerous occasions I applied for Web Services / Web Development 
> >Librarian positions (or something to that extent) only to be told 
> >that
> >1) I do not not have enough web experience, 2) I do not have enough 
> >technical know-how, and the most common 3) I should remain in 
> >archives because I have been doing it for so long. Like a Hollywood 
> >actor, I have been typecast, it seems.
> >
> >I am wondering what I should do to switch career paths effectively. I

> >have taken numerous courses on web and multimedia design; online 
> >information organization; graphic design and others. And I have a 
> >real keen interest in the web and the latest trends, and how they 
> >work to better communications and information delivery. I am 
> >wondering if a few programming courses are in order? I am not sure 
> >what should be my next step.
> >
> >Your input and advice would be much appreciated. Feel free to email 
> >me off the list at siansleep at gmail.com
> >
> >Thank you.
> >
> >David
> >_______________________________________________
> >Web4lib mailing list
> >Web4lib at webjunction.org
> >http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/
>
>
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