This document summarizes a webinar presented by librarians from UNCG University Libraries on career skills not taught in library school. The webinar covered practical skills like technology, budgeting and time management. It also discussed teaching skills like instructional design, interpersonal skills like communication and collaboration, and management skills like delegation and self-promotion. The webinar provided tips on gaining experience in these areas through internships, conferences and professional involvement in library organizations.

1. Things I Didn’t Learn in Library
School
A career-building webinar from the UNCG
University Libraries. March 26, 2013.
Anna Craft, Metadata Cataloger
Nataly Blas, Diversity Resident
Librarian
Mary Krautter, Head of Reference and
Instructional Services
Beth Filar Williams, Coordinator of
Library Services for Distance Learning
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2. Before we jump in,
Previous LIS career-building
webinars are available online.
We’ve covered:
 Become the Successful Job
Candidate: recording and
slides, 4/10/12
 Successful Interviews:
recording and slides, 4/17/12
 Resume Workshop: materials
and recorded session, 10/1/10
 Resume Workshop: materials
and recorded session, 4/23/10
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3. Our overview
 Practical skills
◦ Technology, budgeting, and
other on-the-job skills
 Teaching skills
◦ Instruction and instructional
design
 Interpersonal &
Management skills
◦ Communication, collaboration,
supervision, and more
 Professional involvement
◦ Networking, conferences,
scholarship, continuing 3

4. Your overview
Let us know: what
do you want us to
cover today?
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5. In my first library job, I realized I
needed to know…
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6. In my first library job, I realized I
needed to know…
 Basic Management Skills
◦ Leading people
◦ Managing time
◦ Delegating responsibility
◦ Promoting myself
Like herding cats…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/78128495@N00/23361425 6

7. In my first library job, I realized I
needed to know…
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8. In my first library job, I realized I
needed to know…
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9. Practical skills
 Specific job skills
 General technology
skills
 Budgeting
 Time management
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10. Library-specific skills
 “…familiarity and expertise with SirsiDynix Symphony”
◦ http://www.slis.indiana.edu/careers/view_job_specific.php?job_id=13953
 “Data management experience”
◦ https://jobs.lclark.edu/postings/3532
 “…providing reader’s advisory and reference and circulation
service”
◦ http://www.slis.indiana.edu/careers/view_job_specific.php?job_id=13885
 “Develops and maintains online tutorials and LibGuides to
promote library resources, services, and online learning.”
◦ http://publicboard.libgig.com/job/evening-reference-librarian-pensacola-fl-university-of-
west-florida-b53369ea0c
 “Demonstrated ability to process manuscript and archival
collections.”
◦ http://joblist.ala.org/modules/jobseeker/controller.cfm?rssjobid=22353
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11. Library skills – how to get
them?
 Practicums, internships, other work
experience
 Conferences, webinars, workshops,
other professional development
 And don’t forget to read current job
postings to see what employers want!
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12. Technology skills
Created with http://www.wordle.net/create 12

13. Tech skills – how to get them?
 Library workshops:
http://uncg.libguides.com/content.php?pid=280830&sid=2856
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 Digital Media Commons:
http://library.uncg.edu/spaces/dmc/
 Coursework through UNCG or other
institutions
 Teach yourself!
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14. Budgeting and time
management
 Budget
involvement is not
just for
administrators!
 Time management
– in your work life
but also in your job
search!
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15. How?
 Budgeting
◦ For grants – look for
grant-writing
workshops.
 Time management
◦ Webinars, other
library-specific
professional
development
◦ HR workshops
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16. “The buck stops here”
Image via Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dovertownlibrary/4544092612/ 16

17. Teaching skills
Library instruction in…
◦ Academic Libraries
◦ Public Libraries
◦ School Libraries
◦ Special Libraries, Special Collections, and
Information Centers
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18. Teaching Skills
Teaching
Philosophy
Learning
Assessment Outcomes
Student Faculty
Engageme Library Connection
nt Instruction s
Online vs. Information
F2F Literacy
Tech Tools
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19. Teaching Skills
Learn the Theory
• Read relevant literature
• Take a course, possibly in the School of Education
Helpful Websites
• ALA Library Instruction Round Table (LIRT)
http://www.ala.org/lirt/
• ACRL Instruction Section (IS)
http://www.ala.org/acrl/aboutacrl/directoryofleadership/sections/is/acr-insec
(AASL & PLA have similar resources for teaching)
• NCLA – NC Bibliographic Instruction Group and NC
Distance Learning Group
http://www.nclaonline.org/
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20. Teaching Skills
Find a Teaching Buddy
• Shadow instruction sessions (online
vs. f2f)
• Co-teach
• Have your buddy evaluate your
teaching
• Ask for opportunity to design a lesson
and in-class activity
• Discuss assessment
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21. Teaching Skills
 Technology
◦ Libguides, Tutorials, Website, Bb
Collaborate, etc.
 Designing Media
◦ Handouts, posters,
in-class activities,
etc.
blogs.forsyth.k12.ga.us
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22. Teaching Skills
agreenblatt.blogspot.com
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23. Interpersonal & Management
Skills
Collaboration
Teamwork
Group Dynamics
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24. Interpersonal skills
Emotional intelligence
◦ Sensitivity
◦ Empathy
◦ Listening skills
◦ Understanding others
◦ Influencing others
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25. Interpersonal skills
Conflict management
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26. Management Skills
Being the BOSS : how do you lead?
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27. Management skills
Delegating responsibility
◦ But if I do it myself, I know it will be right!
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28. Management skills
Communication:
Never enough and always too much
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29. Professional involvement: organizations
Start now - join!
• Campus/Community
• Local (triad) – NC-LITe, LISSA
• State – NCLA, NCSLA, SNCA,
• Regional – SEMLA, LOEX
• National – ALA, SLA, PLA, AALL, AASL
• International - IFLA
• Non library orgs – EDUCAUSE, UNC-CAUSE
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30. Professional involvement: TIPS
• Ask what orgs UNCG Librarians are in
• Consider an NMRT
• Find a group that does something you want to learn
• Join one where you can share or collaborate with
others
• Consider a virtual committee if you can’t travel
• Try one that produces something like a report or
bibliography
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31. Professional involvement: Conferences &
Workshops
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32. Professional involvement: Conferences,
workshops, webinars
• Local/triad  UNCG libraries’ webinars
• State  NCLA Conference Oct 2013
• Regional  EDUCAUSE SE Regional Conference May
2013
• National  ALA Chicago or SLA San Diego, June
2013,
• International  IFLA conferences in August
• Non-library orgs  Computers in Libraries April
2013
• Webinars  http://neflin2.blogspot.com/
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33. Professional involvement: scholarships &
awards
 Potential scholarships:
◦ www.ala.org/educationcareers/scholarships
◦ www.ala.org/nmrt/initiatives/applyforfunds/applyfunds
◦ www.ftrf.org/?Conable_Scholarship
◦ www.LISjobs.com/careers/conferencing-funding.asp
◦ statelibrary.ncdcr.libguides.com/trainstation
(conferences)
 ALA student to staff program:
http://www.ala.org/groups/affiliates/chapters/student/resources/studenttostaffprogram
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34. Professional involvement:
Scholarship
(mainly for academics!)
Presentations, writing & publishing
◦ Start small:
 Blogs, newsletters, LIScareer.com
 Un-Hushed, Launc-ch, iDEALS, ALA posters
◦ Collaborate w/ mentor, librarian, peer
◦ Write for ALA at conferences/reporter
◦ Grad assistantship/internship/practicum - projects
can lead to more!
Tenure!
◦ Keep your e-portfolio up-to-date
◦ Keep documents, examples
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35. Professional involvement:
Mentoring
 LIS Dept. official mentoring program
http://lis.uncg.edu/current-students/
 ALA mentoring
http://connect.ala.org/mentorconnect-help
 Professional jobs mentoring programs
 Unofficial - reach out!
 Post questions on social media & connect
 Can be virtual!
 Volunteer/Connect
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36. Professional involvement: Keeping
Up!
 Professional listservs/google groups
◦ Join now! Don’t wait until you graduate.
◦ Look at your orgs & committees
◦ ALA (http://lists.ala.org/sympa)
 Etiquette! “reflect before you click”
 Other ways to keep up with current
trends
◦ Twitter, RSS feeds, journal alerts
 ALA Student Blog:
http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/student-member-blog
 LIS Guide on Conferences & Funding
http://uncg.libguides.com/lis
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37. Any questions?
Image credit: Flickr user Travelin’ Librarian
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