[Web4lib] Seeking Advice: Switching Career Paths

[Deb Bergeron]

David,

I agree with the folks who chimed in with looking outside library-land and not to be discouraged. 

I don't know what your resume looks like, but you could re-write it to focus on your web development in tandem with your archivist position--if you haven't already done that.

Volunteering in library-related associations also works.  In addition to ALA your state should have a state-wide library association. Most often they will need web people to help maintain their sites or part of their sites.  You could be the 'webmaster' for the association or a division of it.

Good Hunting!

Deb

Deb Bergeron
System Administrator User Support
CLIC Cooperating Libraries in Consortium
1619 Dayton Ave. Suite 204A
Saint Paul, MN 55104
tel: 651-644-3878
fax:651-644-6258
email: bergeron at macalester.edu

--- Original Message ---
> 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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> http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/
David,

I agree with the folks who chimed in with looking outside library-land and not to be discouraged. 

I don't know what your resume looks like, but you could re-write it to focus on your web development in tandem with your archivist position--if you haven't already done that.

Volunteering in library-related associations also works.  In addition to ALA your state should have a state-wide library association. Most often they will need web people to help maintain their sites or part of their sites.  You could be the 'webmaster' for the association or a division of it.

Good Hunting!

Deb