Presentation made by Julia Garnett, ALIA NSW State Manager, on 7 February 2014 to CSU students in Wagga Wagga NSW.

1. What I Wish I’d Known in
Library School
Julia Garnett
ALIA State Manager, NSW
@ALIAsmNSW

2. ALIA
Willoughby
Canterbury
my background…

3. Customer Service
& Marketing
QUT Library
Cataloguing
my background…

4. Crowdsourcing the Question

5. “What is a monograph anyway?”

6. Career

7. Career Paths
Assistant
No qualification
Professional
Bachelor, Post Grad Dip or
Masters
or, current students
Manager
Technician
TAFE qualification
Extensive experience,
higher qualifications in
allied discipline e.g.
IT; organisational
management

8. “there's more librarians than jobs. Every
vacancy will have heaps of applicants, so
rejection doesn't mean you suck.”
@siandart

9. “Lack of job prospects. Can be a long
road.”
@DaveHoneybone

10. “Basically your job may end up being IT
.
Are you ok with this?”
@siandart

11. Flexibility
be willing to move
don't forget about rural opportunities
consider corporate, medical, law, public,
university, schools, local government, arts &
entertainment, special, GLAM sector
(Galleries, Libraries, Archives & Musems)
Don't get your heart set on being a … librarian

12. “there's more to it than the "l" word- what
else can I be? Info architect? Knowledge
manager?”
@liber_amoris

14. The Search
Make online job boards work for you
Create a LinkedIn profile (and update it)
Attend conferences and events
Consider your unique skills and how they are
applicable in a library context

15. Stand Out!

16. The Search
Keep at it! (Average is about 6 months)
Take a friend along to events and support
each other
Don’t be afraid to seek professional assistance
(e.g., Zenith and The One Umbrella)

17. Professional Development

18. “The importance of continuing
professional development in your own
time. Employers can't do your PD for you.”
@sallysetsforth

19. Professional Development
Be responsible for your own development
Plan beyond your formal education
Track your professional development with a
portfolio
Look for skills gaps
Nurture your interests

20. “which skills etc are most needed and
help getting work in a tough market. And
that degrees are great but experience is
needed too”
@TripleThreatLib

21. Attending a Conference
Looking for work?
Look at what the industry will need next
Network, network, network
Got a Job?
Keep your skills up to date

22. Information Online
Take advantage of ALIA member and student
rates
Follow @InfoOnline for updates
2-6 February 2015 in Sydney

23. New Librarians Symposium
Amazing experience for students, new grads,
new librarians, library technicians and
assistants…
Casual, Exciting and Fun!
Meet other people new to the industry
NLS7 is Next!

24. Mini Conference
Small, one-day conferences
- not as intimidating for first-time speakers!
Submit an abstract
Present to your peers
Practice presentation skills

25. "Unconference"
LibraryCamp
Unmeash
!
Run by attendees, for attendees
The program is put together on
the day
Relevant, recent topics
Heaps of enthusiasm and
inspiration!

26. “get on twitter and build professional
connections & a personal learning
network. It can be an important lifeline in
your career
.”
@lyndelleg

27. Social Media
Be Professional Online

28. Personal Learning Networks
Start building your network NOW
Lifeline during your studies, research assignments,
your first presentation, job search
… or when you need to ask important questions
PLNs can grow into your professional network

29. Mentoring
Get a Peer Mentor
Find a Mentor
Join the International Librarians Network
(ILN)
Follow Awesome People

30. International Librarians Network

31. Resources
International Librarians Network
http://ilnetwork.wordpress.com
Zenith
http://www.zenmgt.com
The One Umbrella
http://www.oneumbrella.com.au

32. People in the Profession
!
Pens and phones at the ready!
You’ll want to follow these people…

33. People in the Profession
“But you don’t look like a librarian” - Ruth Kneale
“Design Thinking” - Zaana Howard
“Cool and Collected” - Kim Tairi
“It’s not about the books”- Hugh Rundle
“Digital Engagement” - Mylee Joseph

34. Ruth Kneale
Systems Librarian for the
Advanced Technology Solar
Telescope project
!
Author and Speaker
prezi.com/vz8ec7gy9x3o/bedifferent/
!
@desertlibrarian

35. Zaana Howard
Lecturer & Trainer
!
Design Thinking
!
zaanahoward.com
!
@zaana

36. Kim Tairi
Campus Librarian
!
Speaker
!
Instagrammer
!
@KimTairi

37. Hugh Rundle
Info Management & Kew
Librarian
!
Blogger, Tweeter, Thinker
!
hughrundle.net
!
@hughrundle

38. Mylee Joseph
State Library of New South Wales
!
Project Leader - Innovation
Project
!
Social Media for Libraries
!
@myleejoseph
Photo: Flickr, Shanachietour

39. ALIA

40. How ALIA can help you
Accreditation! Keeping education relevant &
recognised
Employment! Elists, Job ads, Industry connections
Advocacy! Local and National support
Events! Conferences, PD opportunities, Trivia Nights
Access! INCITE, Journals, Databases, elists

41. Student Membership
$82 per year
Digital access to INCITE,
journals & databases
Elists and job ads
PD Postings
Discounts at
conferences

42. Employment and Careers

43. Professional Development Scheme

44. Get Involved
Professional Development Scheme
Groups
Write for INCITE or ALJ
Go to events and conferences
Get online & follow fun people

45. INCITE

46. ALIA Resources
@AliaNational
Elists: alia.org.au/our-communities/connect-us/
elists
Groups: alia.org.au/our-communities/aliagroups
PD Scheme: Judy.Brooker@alia.org.au
NSW State Manager: Julia.Garnett@alia.org.au

47. “don’t wait to graduate before entering the
library profession”
@jzgarnett

48. Consider different career paths
Be in charge of your own professional
development
Get involved in the profession
Join ALIA
Find a mentor and a PLN

49. Thanks
julia.garnett@alia.org.au
@ALIAsmNSW
!
LinkedIn:
http://www.linkedin.com/
in/jzgarnett
ePortfolio:
jzgarnettmlis.blogspot.com