[Web4lib] Seeking Advice: Switching Career Paths

[Mary Beth Faccioli]

Hi David,

My success has come from being willing to work in
other library positions, and encouraging job creep in
the web arena.  

Example: I was charged with putting a print procedures
manual online as part of my responsibilities as a
trainer.  I noticed that the staff that used this
manual, who happen to be located all over the state,
had issues with communication and feeling isolated.  I
developed an intranet that included the online
procedures manual, but also allowed for additional
information sharing, discussion, etc.  I built it with
Mambo (now Joomla).  So when I apply for jobs I don’t
just say I have Joomla experience – I talk about how
my web and other technical skills have been used to
creatively address and solve problems in an
organization.  

I think it is important to play as others are
recommending, but I believe you need experience in
context in the way I'm describing.  The suggestion to
work in a smaller library is a very good one – more
likely to be able to leverage the job creep in such a
setting because there is often this kind of need. 
They are rarely looking for the kind of uber web
programming and other skills that larger universities
tend to ask for.

I don't believe that having additional web
responsibilities added to your non-web job is being
taken advantage of - I think one is being given an
opportunity to develop skills in context in a way that
will apply to other jobs.  It is how I've done what
you're asking.

There is so much happening in the web arena related to
archives – perhaps you can beef this up a bit, since
you mention you have done it some in the past.  E.g.
get DSpace or another repository system going,
digitize a bunch of material and make it available,
etc.  Build a bridge from your archival experience to
more of the web stuff in this way.  A possible
approach?

Best of luck!

Mary Beth Faccioli, MLIS
Training Consultant, Colorado State Library
Web Support Specialist, EDUCAUSE

--- Dan Kammer <dan.kammer at gmail.com> wrote:

> Another possibility might be to initially go to a
> smaller environment where
> there is an unfulfilled need in this area.  At my
> last job (total library
> staff was 12) my title was "Reference Librarian" but
> I was able to become
> the web person and redesign the site and gain
> experience.  At my current job
> (campus of 2,000 students), and in the midst of a
> campus-wide financial
> crunch, there was a vacancy for the campus webmaster
> position and I
> essentially volunteered to take on these duties.  I
> now lead the campus web
> group and am learning details of networking, LAMP
> and CMS's.  Of course I
> realize I'm being taken advantage of as these are
> duties way above and
> beyond my regular job, but it does fulfill my desire
> to be involved in these
> areas and in the long run believe it will benefit
> the library as I become
> more knowledgeable.
> 
> Dan
> 
> 
> 
> On 8/30/07, David Kemper <siansleep at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > 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
> 
=== message truncated ===



       
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