This document summarizes Ann Walker Smalley's career path in libraries and related fields. She began her career at the State Library of Ohio and later worked at Battelle Memorial Institute, the Department of Housing and Urban Development Library, and the National Restaurant Association. Throughout her career, she utilized skills like research, writing, public speaking, and relationship building. After taking a 13-year sabbatical, she returned to librarianship through various consulting roles. She advises MLIS students to gain a variety of experiences, advocate for themselves, and look beyond traditional library roles.

1. +
Ignite the MLIS
Ann Walker Smalley
St. Catherine University MLIS Summit
May 2, 2011

2. +
In the Beginning
 BFA, Art History, The Ohio State University
 Research
 Exhibit preparation from selection to catalog
 MLS, Kent State University
 Kent Public Library Practicum
 State Library of Ohio, State Agency Reference

3. + State Library of Ohio: Library Development Division
Administrative Assistant to Head of Consultants
 Research on library issues, library district
boundaries, library policies, and more
 Consultation with local public libraries
 LSCA grant oversight
 Reference sub
 Statewide Programming for Bicentennial
 Long range planning

4. + Battelle Memorial Institute
Senior Research Consultant
 Research on library service, library structure, library
networking
 Creating recommendations for change & how to enact
change
 “Earn your salary” with proposal writing
 Clients
 Library of Congress, National Library Service for the Blind &
Physically Handicapped
 State Library of Virginia
 State Library of Pennsylvania
 Association of Research Libraries

5. + Aspen Systems: Department Housing & Urban
Development Library, Head of Public Service &
Law Library
 First completely privatized federal library
 Required a lot of team development
 Management under stress
 Relationship building
 Proposal writing to maintain the contract

6. +
National Restaurant Association: Head
of Information Services & Library
 Members only service
 Small business questions with restaurateurs
 Library-to-library questions from the big companies
(General Mills, Dominos, Miller, Coke, McDonalds…)
 Manage writers for the research series
 Wrote for RestaurantsUSA magazine
 Worked in press room at the convention
 Moved the library

7. +
Commonalities of All These Jobs
 MLS
 Responsible to contribute dollars directly to the
organization’s bottom line
 Proposal responses/grant writing
 Writing—reports, policies, plans
 Public speaking
 Public contact with clients & stakeholders
 Consulting

8. +
Commonalities
 Relationship building
 Independent work & teamwork
 Travel
 Long range planning
 Advocacy for personal advancement
 Information as a commodity
 Variety of responsibilities and projects

9. +
13-year Sabbatical from Libraries
 Grant writing
 Writing Products for sale—non-profit earned income
 Curriculum writing
 PBS Series Content Director
 Freelance writing and editing for authors and publishers
 Freelance writer for local publications
 Contract research

10. +
More Odd Jobs
 Summer Enrichment programming for K-10
 Started afterschool program for Grades 6-8
 Hmong National Organization language help
 Desktop publishing
 Newsletter production
 Microbusiness in art fair world

11. +
All involved library skills
 Information collection & research
 Information analysis
 Information organization
 Information delivery
 Information application
 Content creation

12. +
Or skills learned as a librarian
 Long range planning
 Strategic thinking
 Grant writing
 Expository writing
 Public speaking
 Ability to learn independently—and quickly
 Dealing with difficult people

13. +
What did I learn on this sabbatical
 I really can apply my previous skills & experience in new
settings
 Pay to play—volunteer, professional
associations, relationships, availability
 More grant writing—Common application, non-library federal
grants, private foundations
 Non-profit management
 Value of earned income to organizations
 Importance of personal & professional advocacy
 How to work with Minnesotans

14. +
Re-entry into librarianship
 State Library of Minnesota as multitype system consultant &
media program
 An introduction to Minnesota libraries
 How the library world changed
 An instructive not-quite-a-year
 Government shutdown
 9/11
 Strike
 Layoff

15. +
WomenVenture
 Time to re-examine
 Self-analysis
 Where to go next
 Result
 I do like bring a librarian and like library people
 I want to stay connected to libraries
 What next?

16. +
Freelance Librarian
 Metronet
 Check It Out studies of school library media programs
 MILI development
 SELCO/SELS
 ELM database lesson plans
 Senior Techies
 Online help using screencasting
 MELSA
 Customer service workshop series
 MLA/MEMO
 Committees & presentations
 Minnesota Library Council

17. +
Metronet Director
 Ability to visualize projects
 Find the funding
 Develop partnerships
 Reach out to all types of libraries
 Present in multiple venues

18. +
Free Advice to Ignite the MLIS
 Choose your supervisors and mentors wisely
 Find lots of opportunities to determine your particular skills
 Hone your skills
 Stretch—write, present, share
 Don’t be afraid to sell your skills (literally)
 Advocate for yourself & libraries
 Be involved in library and other associations

19. +
Get Out of the Library-centric Way
Of Thinking
 Look outside libraries for
inspiration, procedures, services, training.
 Work or volunteer somewhere else—experience how they do
things.
 Define and re-define yourself.
 Use libraries other than your own.
 Do not spend your entire career in one job or in one place.
 Expect and accept change—seek it out.

20. +
Once a Librarian,
Always a Librarian
Ann Walker Smalley, MLS
 ann@metronet.lib.mn.us
 @annws
 651.646.0475