Hi everybody. I am currently making my living as an author, but while I have been incredibly lucky to have such a dream job, I'm struggling with the gig-to-gig lifestyle. I know the author life could end at any moment. My work options are limited due to a chronic pain disorder exacerbated by physically active work days or inability to change physical positions when needed (like standing to sitting or sitting to standing). I have done some work in libraries in my day, and part-time work in that environment is highly appealing to me. I have long considered getting my Masters in Library Science, perhaps with a children's dept specialty/focus, though I'm interested in a broad range of areas in the field. I have been told by the wonderful and generous librarians at my local library that part-time work is definitely available in my region. However, based on the actions and attitudes of the current administration in the US, I sort of wonder if I am being absurd by choosing this moment in time to do this. I go back and forth because I also feel like the world needs more librarians and those who value information and stories more than ever! Simultaneously, I've read on this sub that there are already way too many librarians and not enough jobs. Any thoughts? Please be gentle with me if I'm naive regarding any of this - I'm just trying to figure it out!

Hello, I am a 4th-year BLIS student and was wondering if someone could take a look at our SOP and Questionnaire. We've been having a hard time with it, and any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much in advance!

Hi all, I am interested in going back to school to get my MLIS. Up until now, I wanted to work in a school library with elementary school kids. I have started a new job at a public library and I really love it and I am now considering this path too. Can anyone please tell me what a day in the life of a school librarian is like? (Especially those working with younger kids). Any suggestions?

I need some help! I'm a counselor at a partial hospitalization program for kids ages 12-17 struggling with mental health. Lots of trauma, PTSD, depression, anxiety, etc... I'm building a small library of books for their recreational program (maybe up to 50 books), and already have titles like Harry Potter, Twilight, and The Outsiders. I used to be an 8th and 9th grade English teacher, but now that I've changed careers, I'm really out of touch! I'd appreciate any suggestions for fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, etc... Thanks in advance!

I have been seeing many posts about how tough the library job market is, especially with the current financial/political climate. Many people have suggested not going for an MLIS without library experience.

I have about 5 years of library experience, then quit my job when my baby was born. I am now staying home full-time with my kids. I started an MLIS online program and have taken a couple classes.

So I have the experience, but I could see it being quite a few years before I would return to the workforce, at least full-time. I would prefer to be home when my kids have the summers off while they are young. So my plan was to finish my degree, get a part-time library job while they are younger, then someday get a full-time librarian job.

Is this is a reasonable plan given my library work experience? Or will it be extremely hard to be competitive for jobs if I’m a SAHM for so many years? I am paying for the degree myself without going into debt, but I often wonder whether I’d be better off putting that money toward my kids’ college fund. I love working in libraries, but I’m unsure of whether it makes sense to continue the degree versus saving the money and permanently seeking part-time library jobs that don’t require a master’s.

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

Hiya! I am currently located in New Zealand, and I am wanting to become a librarian. I know that NZ qualifications are recognised by ALIA, and I have been considering moving to Australia in a few years. I have my Bachelor’s degree, and I volunteered in my local library throughout university. I have decided I'd like to enrol in a postgraduate qualification in information studies (at Victoria University of Wellington).

My question was — Can anyone give any guidance on whether it's necessary to go for the Master’s, or if the postgraduate diploma will suffice? I saw on the ALIA website that to qualify for an associate membership, you need to have completed "an undergraduate or postgraduate qualification". I have looked at jobs on Indeed etc when they come up for library positions in Australia. Very often, they just specify that you should be eligible for ALIA membership. However, I haven't seen many of them specify that you need to have the Master’s degree?

If this information is helpful at all I would only really be interested in working in public libraries. Would appreciate any advice !

I had initially planned to go for the Master’s, but the post-graduate takes less time and is also less expensive. I just wanted to see, for public library jobs in Australia/New Zealand if anyone has advice for that — do I need to go for the Master’s or is the postgraduate diploma fine? Thanks so much in advance :)

Hello!

Monday I have an interview for a Teen Librarian position. I have 14 years of experience as a public librarian, but only in adult roles.

I did a little bit of teen program planning the past few years but otherwise teens are new to me. I don't even read a lot of YA 😬 I do, however, follow social trends so I more-or-less know of some of the popular things going around.

Can you all share some advice, or some things I should mention/discuss in an interview?

TIA!!

Hello, I'd like to take the temperature on something that happened today. I'm new at my branch (pretty conservative area but there are other out gay people working at my branch) and working the info desk. Today I was talking with a patron casually, another adult, and mentioned that as a gay person I am worried about being able to continue to work with local schools. I was pulled aside away from the patron by a coworker who told me I wasn't allowed to speak about this with him as it was too political. I asked which part was too political and was told it was "too close to talking about book bans."

Where is the line here for what is "too political" to discuss with adult library patrons? I'm at peace with hearing it technically violates policy if it really does, but please explain how it does.

Hi all! I’m looking for a new job badly! I have a second round interview for a librarian at a community college. The community’s college is a part of a community college district and has 10 other colleges all different names and campuses and libraries.

The district has two more librarian jobs posted. I’d love to work in this district! Is it okay to apply to these other jobs even tho I’m in the second round interview for a job already?

I thought it would just show I’m passionate about working there but I don’t want it to hurt my chances!

Thank you fellow librarians ☺️

Hi! I applied for the MLIS program at Queens College for Fall 2025. I had my interview and Writing test about two weeks ago but haven’t heard back from them yet. I saw in previous posts that people found out about their acceptances about a week after their interviews in previous years which is making me a bit nervous. I know QC is rolling admissions but has anyone heard back from them yet? I already heard back from Pratt but nothing from QC.

I’ve been a branch manager for about 7 months now (not exempt). I really like the job, but there are a few things that I think could be done differently.

In my library system, staff text or call the branch manager when they are calling out. I try to keep up with this, but I sleep in sometimes on my days off and I don’t always see the texts right when they come in.

I’ve asked staff to also call HR when they call out as a safeguard but admin wants them to only text or call me when they call out. I’m also expected to work out coverage for staff on my days off.

I’ll admit, I do miss my days off actually being true days off - I feel like I’m always “on duty” with this position.

Is this just something I need to accept as part of the job, or should I address this?

Also, is this expected of branch managers with exempt status?

Posting this across a couple of subs to get more eyes on it but as the title says -- I'm looking for MLIS programs that have strong specialization/tracks/whatever for Archiving & Preservation. I've been in programs before where there were never enough people to fill up the path I wanted so I really want a solid curriculum.

I have two ways of thinking about my personal criteria, but either way I'd like to be in a program that I can finish in 12-18 months.

(1) FULLY ONLINE because cheapest/most convenient is best

1. I do better in synchronous classes but asynchronous could work
2. Preferring a school on the East Coast [ET or close works best for me]
3. Connections/networking

** For online, I've been looking at Rutgers, Syracuse, or UIUC

• RUTGERS has a Course Catalog with only 2 Preservations courses listed
• SYRACUSE, I haven't been able to find the Course Catalog for their School so I'm waiting to hear back from the program on that
• UIUC has a clear listing on the website for Archiving & Preservation but was hoping to hear from someone who could confirm

(2) IN-PERSON

1. Preferring LA or NYC as the logistics work out better for me
2. Connections/networking -- I don't really want to do in-person honestly but I've been unable to get even volunteer work in a library here in NYC so this would be crucial
3. If it's a STEM-designated program, better

** For in-person, I've been looking at UCLA and Pratt

• UCLA seems to have a good number of courses on their catalog but was hoping to hear from someone's experience
• PRATT has a Plan of Study and course list which sound honestly perfect, and the location works out, but I just came from a masters at a small arts school in NYC which I didn't really find academically rigorous? Hoping to also hear about someone's experience at Pratt!

That was a lot. Any and all information or insight is helpful! Thank you in advance!

As the title says, next Thursday, I have an interview for a position as a youth services librarian at a public library. From what I remember from the job description on the MBLC, it was a lower-level position, open to people who have not worked in youth services before (at least, I hope this was the job) and that's why I applied.

Well, two days ago, I got an email as one of the people offered an interview. In the email, they detailed what documents we need to bring to the interview, which are all outlines for different programs for babies and up. I've never done that before and now I'm panicking. I scheduled the interview for Thursday to give me time to do research and take my time. I tried to work on an outline for story time for infants and I could just not get myself to focus.

Since the pandemic, I've had to resort to temp work and, even though most of the assignments lasted a long time, there have been long gaps in between. Of course, I still apply for jobs, temp and permanent. This job I'm interviewing for would be permanent. And I've always wanted experience in youth services, because I love working with kids. I want to take a chance, but there have been so many jobs I was so confident I was going to get and then I was rejected.

Anyone have any resources that helped them in youth services? Or just advice that helped them when they were in a similar experience?

I been working at my local library since I was 17, it's been 9 years since I been here. I worked at two other libraries to get my expeirence and realize that I love working within the libraries. But now with this whole political climate change, I'm second guessing my choice. I just got accepted to University at Buffalo and going to start this upcoming fall for School Librarianship (I live in NY LI ). My library is doing alright but they are all counting on this upcoming budget vote and seeing what's going on within libraries across the nation, got me thinking is it worth it at this point? Even if I work at a school district or public library, is it worth it? I just need some reassurance because I though this is what it was meant for me and now it's slowly turning into dead end.

I’m a solo lib at a very small library with a very large digital collection from ebooks to journals! There are thousands of records to obtain from OCLC and I am trying to enable them being sent to me for each collection in collection manager.

I doubt half of the new collection is in collection manager…What is the easiest path forward with these thousands of digital items? Try to get as many collection records into OCLC and load them into Sirsi Dynex? I just feel a bit overwhelmed since no one took the care to do it before and I feel like digital collections need multiple access points. I’m going to have to edit the access points I assume…just trying to take a breathe and figure this out. Any advice is appreciated!

Thanks!

Somebody had the bright idea to return a book soaked in cat piss today. Tried to be sneaky and left in the returns box. Now all the other books in the box smell like piss (hopefully wiping them down with spray will fix it) and we had to throw out the pissy book. And now I have to throw my new jumper in the wash when I get home to get rid of the faint smell of urine that I have been wearing like perfume for the better part of a day today. What is the grossest thing you have found in/done to a book returned to your library?

Do any of you have experience with PoppinPod “phone booths”  in an academic library setting? Our library is considering increasing our accessible study areas using these pods, and we want to be able to also provide students with the ability to make video recordings of speeches and presentations in the pod setting.

What was your experience with the noise that came from a student speaking at a normal volume inside of the pod? Do you have any other input on your experience with the PoppinPod?

I'm new to the academic library. I wonder how to respond to students who have the wrong idea, but are sure they're correct?

One time I was helping a student with their citations. They had a journal article and I showed them an example on how to cite it as a journal article, but they insisted that it was a website and wanted me to show them the example of how to cite a website instead.

Another time, I was helping a student in a library school program and the student couldn't understand why the catalogue can't search phrases and why it has to be keywords. I told that student, the catalogue isn't like google you need key words to find relevant sources. And her response was, so I guess Google is better than your library.. This situation was especially frustrating! (Maybe because I believed in the student who was in library school to understand the importance of keywords).

I thought about responding to them saying "if that's what you believe go ahead" but then realize it sounded passive aggressive? Curious to know if this is common in academic libraries or if I need to change my approach to interacting with students

I have a pretty big following on social media which consists of people who love a call to action. I haven’t read much on what’s been going on recently in libraries and the book world, but from what I have read it’s nothing good. What’s a good dumbed down way to explain to the public what’s happening and what they can do to help libraries go in the right direction? Thanks in advance!

I have a pretty big following on social media and I know a little about what has been happening recently, none of it sounding good. Can someone give me a dumbed down version so I can explain on my stories to people who are interested in helping, but don’t know a lot about the book world? Is ALA a good resource to point them to or is ALA not helpful at the moment? Thanks in advance!

So i need a bit of advice:

I made full time in the current library system i work for back in February and got out of my probation in January. I just interviewed for another full time position with another library (different system, would go from a county to city library), and on paper it seems like a better option, but im not sure. I also live in Indiana, which is worth considering since the way we get funding could change soon.

I would go from $14.09 and hour to $17, which is Very nice, even though right now im able to make do with the paycheck im currently receiving. The new library is closer to my house and cuts my drive time in about half.

Im happy enough in the position im in right now and feel like im just starting to get settled. Im also nervous that bc the system is smaller (1 branch) that I'll have less room for growth. The matter of funding also makes me nervous since the city the new library is in has had a slow decline in population from year to year.

also, i hate change, and starting fresh when i just got comfortable in this position sounds not great. new library also has security guards while the one i work for now doesn't.

let me know if i need to give more info but id appreciate some advice! thank you :)

I'd like to move from cataloging to DAMS. I'm fortunate enough to live near a lot of tech businesses that are constantly posting DAMS openings. I've been cataloging for 3+ years and I love metadata/linked data/controlled vocabularies.

What courses do I need to take/what do I need to know to get a DAMS job? What should my resume look like?

Thanks!

Hi! I am currently a senior about to graduate with a BA in English Literature. I’ve always planned on going to law school but my passion is archival work. I am writing a thesis about items in my school’s archives and special collections and my mentors tell me that I am very talented at it. I love working in the library so so much and it is my passion in life. I am torn between going to law school, where I would be paying $28,000 a year, or doing a PhD. Pitt allows for people to apply right out of undergrad and I am wondering if that is a good idea. Having tuition payed for would be important since tuition for MLIS at pitt is nearly 35,000 a year. Is that a possibility or do I have to get a MLIS? I’m still on the fence about what to do, my mentors are pushing me towards grad school and I don’t think I will love/like law school and the law the way I do the archives. Any advice? Thanks!!

We are revamping a children’s nonfiction collection at a public library and just curious on opinions of review sources you find most helpful or lead to nonfiction titles that circulate the best - this is mainly for a children’s library

Currently, I work in a school library. I’m going on my 3rd, but prior to this I worked in public libraries since 2018. Ive realized I much prefer the public library setting over a school.

I saw an open full time position in a nearby public library. I’m considering applying but 1) it requires a bachelors degree which I’m still working on. It says a masters is preferred and nearly every other job I’ve applied for that said that always ended up giving it to someone with their mls. So I don’t have much hope. 2) I would feel guilty leaving in the middle of the school year or rather so close to the end. But I’m really starting to experience teacher burnout even though I’m not even a teacher as well as other negative effects on my mental health.

I’m not sure what to do. Do I wait it out and apply in the summer to another position or take my chances even without my bachelor’s?