Info Career Trends

by Amelia Kassel

On January 26 of this year, I began teaching a new course about alternative careers to graduate LIS students. Alternative careers, or, should I perhaps say, non- traditional-careers, are not new to me - nor is teaching. I received my MLS in 1971 from UCLA, and then applied for and was awarded one of four pre-doctoral internships at the UCLA Biomedical Library, funded by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) for one year. We rotated through all departments of the Biomedical Library, including acquisitions, cataloging, reference. We also spent time working with the Pacific Southwest Regional Medical Library Service (PSRMLS), which offered training and other services to medical libraries in a four- state region (California, Hawaii, Arizona, and Nevada), and was also funded by NLM.

Starting Out Alternative

After I completed the internship, the UCLA Biomedical Library hired me. I stayed on for three more years, working half-time in interlibrary loans (where I did all the detective work needed to verify incorrect citations that came into the library), and half-time for PSRMLS. Working as a PSMRLS librarian, my first professional job, I consulted for and trained hospital librarians on how to establish health care collections for physicians and allied health care professionals. I also assisted hospital librarians in writing grant applications to receive monies available from NLM for starting or expanding hospital libraries. My first library job as a consulting and training librarian was an alternative career. Although I was based in a library, I did nontraditional work, traveling to libraries in the region to provide on-site workshops and consulting.

In 1974, I moved to Northern California and became an adult reference librarian for the Sonoma County Public Library. I worked there until 1982, when I became the reference coordinator for the North Bay Cooperative Library System (NBCLS), housed at the library. NBCLS is a multi-type library system that includes public and academic libraries, and at that time provided various library services to its 19 member libraries. NBC (as we called it) offered services such as acquisitions, cataloging, book processing, reference, and continuing education for librarians. Again, I found myself working part of the time in an alternative (or non-traditional) job. I provided reference service to libraries in the region when they could not answer questions from their own collections, and also coordinated continuing education programs for librarians in the system.

Striking Out Independently

In 1981, the forward-looking director of the Sonoma County Public Library decided that it was time to use online services, and we established an account with Dialog. All adult reference librarians were trained by an on-site Dialog trainer. When first introduced to Dialog, I was absolutely wowed. It opened up a whole new world of knowledge, much like what the Internet has done today. In late 1981, I began to consider establishing an information brokerage business based on skills I had learned as a librarian - mainly because I was looking for new challenges. While attending a conference at the California Library Association, I chanced across an exhibitor, Sue Rugge, who was demonstrating how her company (Information on Demand) conducted online searches for clients. I immediately decided that this was what I would like to do.

At about this time, both Apple and IBM had introduced microcomputers, later known as PCs, and the desktop revolution was on its way. You could buy a computer for home or office, and this opened up tremendous opportunities for home-based businesses. Online databases, on the scene since the early seventies from companies like Dialog and LexisNexis, were evolving and growing in numbers, with more and more full-text information available.

I needed new skills to start a business. I began taking classes at the local community college and attended workshops about business planning, marketing, and sales offered by the chamber of commerce and individual experts. I continued to hone my online research skills and established an information brokerage in 1982 while still working at NBCLS. During the early years, I attended breakfast meetings and evening business mixers to make new contacts. On my birthday in 1984, I gave myself a birthday present by resigning from my job and going into business full time.

Staying the Course

The focus of my business is online research, and I’ve worked on hundreds of projects for a wide range of clients during the last 20 years. The majority of my work today is business research - industry, market, or company research, plus a multitude of business topics. One area of interest is business research for law firms. Various applications for the research I conduct include market research, competitive intelligence, marketing, new product introductions, and mergers and acquisitions, but the sky’s the limit. I’ve also conducted medical information searches for consumers based on my medical library background, and accepted contracts in which librarians or other organizations outsource library and information services such as state-of-the art research, library and database organization and management, and intranet resource development.

As one strategy for marketing my business - and to project my expertise and credibility - I write, consult, and teach. Teaching is of key interest to me. I began giving presentations, workshops, and seminars in the eighties, and today travel within the U.S. and internationally to conferences to train librarians and business searchers on the skills they need to conduct market and competitive intelligence research. In the nineties, I taught a full-semester course in information brokering for LIS students. Subsequently, I developed a one-year educational program via e-mail for those wanting to start an information brokering business, which I call the Mentor Program. The program focuses on establishing and marketing information brokering businesses, and trains new entrants in how to conduct commercial database and Internet research time efficiently and cost- effectively.

Both in my research and training business components, I’ve worked with hundreds of organizations and taught people from all over the world, almost all virtually, almost all online. Since the start of my career, I’ve been able to put my graduate library education and a range of experiences to work to create an alternative career. Today, there is nothing I love more than imparting some of my knowledge to others embarking on new careers.

Becoming an IIP

This year, I began teaching a new distance education course for LIS students that focuses on IIPs (independent information professionals). Through various assignments and online class discussion, students are learning about diverse work environments, responsibilities, and the required education and skill sets for various settings. The final assignment is to select a hypothetical information-related business and prepare a business plan. Required books are:

• Bates, Mary Ellen. Building and Running a Successful Research Business: A Guide for the Independent Information Professional, 2003: http://books.infotoday.com/books/BuildingRunning.shtml
• Sabroski, Suzanne. Super Searchers Make It On Their Own: Top Independent Information Professionals Share Their Secrets for Starting and Running a Research Business, 2003: http://www.supersearchers.com
• One other title of interest from the Super Searcher series, or one of the following: The Accidental Library Manager, The Accidental Systems Librarian, or The Accidental Webmaster: http://books.infotoday.com/books/index.shtml

A few weeks into this semester, some students expressed trepidation about the idea of starting a business and writing a business plan. After one month of discussion and reading Sabroski’s Super Searchers Make It On Their Own, however, most have moved from fear to enthusiasm. We all know that establishing a business is not for everyone, but learning about the world of the independent information professional has started to electrify students, while nurturing awareness that many IIP skills have direct parallels to other types of jobs.

Amelia Kassel, M.L.S., is president of MarketingBase, a firm specializing in market research, competitive intelligence, and worldwide business information since 1984. She combines an in-depth knowledge of information sources and electronic databases with expertise in business and marketing strategies. She is the author of Super Searchers on Wall Street: Top Investment Professionals Share Their Online Research Strategies, and teaches in the United States and abroad. Amelia offers an e-mail-based training program for new information professionals and those wishing to expand their services at http://www.marketingbase.com/bio3.html.

by Elisabeth Filar

Librarianship has traditionally been a service profession — but what, exactly, does service entail? For a librarian, service includes helping patrons find materials by providing access to these materials, promoting the collection, and teaching classes. Yet service is more than in-house daily library activities. Service also involves librarians expanding their horizons, by growing, learning, and continually educating themselves and others about their field. Most librarians are in some way specialized, whether they are middle school library media specialists, academic map librarians, or anything in between. We need to constantly educate and be educated in our specialty areas. What better way to do this than through involvement in associations and organizations?

Library associations and organizations range from local to international, including many in specialized areas. Involvement in these organizations is beneficial, but there are also associations and organizations outside the field of librarianship that librarians should join. We need to look in our specialty areas for non-library organizations that benefit our library and ourselves. Joining such organizations also provides us with the opportunity to educate others outside our field about the libraries’ abundant resources and services. Through our participation, we will expand our knowledge base, network with others in our specialty field, and reap other benefits such as getting donations of resource materials or funding.

Mapping it Out

As the Map Librarian at the University of Colorado, Boulder, I am involved in several organizations and associations which focus on both library and non-library specialty fields. The importance of my involvement can better be understood with some background in what a map library contains.

A map library collection consists of government- and commercially- produced paper maps, atlases, reference materials, microfilm, and digital spatial data. Much of the digital data is for use in a GIS, Geographic Information System. A GIS is a computerized mapping system which can capture, store, manipulate, analyze, and display all forms of geographic and spatial information. Data can be in the form of themes such as population, zoning, topology, or aerial photos and can range in scale.

Data produced for use in a GIS is created by local, state, federal, international, and commercial agencies; some is distributed freely, but most is for sale. Most libraries do not have funds to buy these resources, given that might take several hundred CDs of data to cover just one state at an adequate scale. If data is not detailed enough, users probably will not be able to make use of it. Librarians must find alternative ways to obtain these resources. They must also inform the GIS professionals about the funding issues facing libraries and how such issues affect the public.

GIS Success

I have become deeply involved with a resurgent Colorado organization called GISCO (GIS in Colorado). In fall 2000, I attended the first meeting aimed at recreating this GISCO organization into a strong statewide GIS organization. I quickly realized that most of the other attendees were the government workers in the field who actually created the data I wanted to acquire. What better way to possibly get access to this data then through my involvement in the organization?

I volunteered to start up a web site and e-mail discussion list for the group, in order to promote the organization and communicate ideas quickly and efficiently. As I became known as the webmaster for GISCO and manager of the GISCO list, people in the group would recognize me, call on me, and possibly provide me with useful information (and, especially, resources). I could then educate them as to the needs of the library-using public. Others in the GIS field would hopefully realize the importance of librarians’ skills — in organizing information, from the web site, and managerial skills, through the e-mail list.

Benefits of Belonging

Over the past few months, I have been attending board meetings, maintaining the web site I created, managing the e-mail list, and networking with people around the state. I have been involved in discussions concerning issues related to the GIS and map field that have both helped to educate me professionally and helped my map library. I have heard about new issues, new resources, and now have direct connections to those people managing, creating, and maintaining the resources I am hoping to acquire.

If nothing else, I have an “in” and have networked with others. I have also expanded my knowledge base, and have gained insight into the complexities that everyone faces, whether they are the creator or acquirer of the resources. I have also taught others how important it is to have these resources available to the public. I have explained that there is a lack of library funding to purchase such materials, and have promoted the importance of librarians as information professionals in specialized fields.

As the year continues, I hope to make even more progress and more connections. I wish to acquire data or at least to gain the knowledge of how cost-effectively to acquire such data for my library. Other members on the GISCO board have even mentioned setting up a repository for statewide data, looking to me as the manager of such data. The benefits of becoming involved in this non- library, specialized organization far outweigh the time spent, and I encourage other information and library professionals to do the same. Look outside the library field to gain open minded, open-ended opportunities by participating in such organizations.

Elisabeth Filar has an undergraduate degree in Geography/GIS from Johns Hopkins University and an MLS from the University of Maryland. She has been the Map/GIS Librarian at the University of Colorado, Boulder for almost two years and is involved in many organizations and associations, locally and internationally. Check out her Map Library web site.

by Sam Werberg

After finishing my MLIS in 1997, I left Austin, TX to spend three years in Fes, Morocco working with the Peace Corps as a University Librarian. Based on this experience and my preparation for it, I would like to share a few tips about working internationally.

Getting There: Deciding to Go, Identifying Opportunities, Applying, and Getting Ready

As I was finishing up my MLIS, I decided that I would look for a librarian position overseas. For me, it was the right time, both in my personal and professional life. Timing will undoubtedly be the most important factor for many librarians in deciding to go abroad, but the world is not as big as it once was. It is now easy both to keep in touch with loved ones and to keep up professionally while overseas. As for me, the world was waiting, and I had some library skills to put to work!

After deciding to go “somewhere,” I began to identify opportunities. A career office is a great place to start, and many of the top library job sites regularly post overseas positions. The challenge, however, lies in the fact that some organizations with ongoing library positions only post their jobs on their own sites, so you have to keep your eyes open for opportunities. Some of the agencies I looked at were the Peace Corps, United Nations, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the World Bank, the U.S. Information Agency (USIA) and the Fulbright program. (See resources at the end of this article.)

All of these groups have postings on their web sites, but make sure you get enough background on the organization to understand all of the requirements. Some, such as the Fulbright, may offer nine- to twelve- month projects, while others require a two- to three-year commitment - - or longer. Each organization will have a very specific application process, and you will need to supply multiple copies of your work papers (resume, CV, transcript, reference letters, etc.) and personal papers (passport, birth certificate, medical records, etc.). Also keep copies of all your completed applications, especially the ones sent overseas.

When actually applying, if you are intent on going overseas, avoid putting all of your eggs in one basket. This may mean not only identifying and applying to more than one overseas job, but also keeping an eye out for U.S.-based jobs should things fall through. Overseas jobs can be much more contingent on outside factors than U.S. jobs, or at least contingent on factors that we never consider here in the U.S. If you have been accepted to a U.S. government position overseas and a war breaks out in the country you are supposed to go to, chances are you will have to change your plans. Political turmoil, unrest or even forces of nature can change the situation enough to give the sponsoring organization second thoughts. The point — have a back-up.

When it comes time to get ready to go, do a simple needs assessment. It cannot hurt to know the local language ahead of time, but, if you do not, you can at least be ready to learn. In Morocco, the official languages are Arabic and French, but the most common spoken language is a dialect of Arabic. I used a simple phrase book to teach myself the Arabic alphabet and some basic greetings before I left. The Peace Corps is very good about emphasizing the importance of language, and the two-and-a-half month training period in the capital included four hours a day of language classes. If the country you are headed to is not English-speaking, most organizations will either offer language training or require you to know the language ahead of time.

A little knowledge of the cultural and historical aspects of your host country would also be a welcome asset. Whether you stay for a month or a year, your host country will have a different society, with a different religion, dress, food, gender relations, and customs than you are used to. Getting work done comes from cooperation, and cooperation comes from understanding.

Finally, if at all possible, try to find out which technical skills are needed in the situation you are entering. Is there a specific software program that you could get familiar with ahead of time? In Morocco, I found myself having to do a bit of basic navigation in MS- DOS while at the same time needing to be able to troubleshoot the latest Windows software. The specific library package we used was UNESCO’s CDS/ISIS package, which has a good deal of documentation. You may also need to familiarize yourself with international classification schemes, such as UDC (Universal Dewey), or with locally-developed ones.

Being There: Assessing Needs, and Being Local

You will need to understand how to undertake a full needs assessment, but, in this case, you will particularly need to identify partners among either the staff of the library or the community it is meant to serve. This is no different than in the States, except that your ability to assess the real needs of the community will depend, not just on your library skills, but also on your language, cross-cultural and sociological skills.

By being local, I do not mean going native — although when in Rome, my belief is that you might as well eat Italian food. In this case, I mean seeing the local needs through the local perspective. An Internet connection, for example, may be a boon to our information services in the States, but if no one is available to provide training or to maintain the machine, it can be distracting. What kind of expertise, insight or training can you provide that is not otherwise available?

Coming Back: Remaining In Touch, Looking For Work, Bringing It Home

No matter how long your service, project, or work contract lasts, you will eventually need to think about coming back to the U.S. (unless you have caught the “travel bug” and immediately head off somewhere else!). With the Internet, it is much easier to keep track of job opportunities, either through online postings or e-mail discussion lists. Do not forget to keep up with issues and events in your specialty, whether through a library association magazine or online publication.

When looking for jobs back in the States, you will want to have references available from both your current overseas position and your previous stateside positions. Sending an interesting postcard, letter or pictures to your U.S. references cannot hurt. Plan ahead before you go and bring your contact lists, as well as copies of your resume and reference letters. Even from a short-term overseas position, you will want to get at least one reference letter to present to future U.S. employers. Also, do not forget to get copies of any other documentation of your work, such as project reports, pictures, or presentations.

Resources:

Peace Corps

USAID

United Nations

World Bank

Other International Job Postings:

http://www.state.gov/p/io/empl/

http://www-slis.lib.indiana.edu/cfdocs/SlisJobs/index.cfm

http://www.lisjobs.com/nonus.htm

Sam Werberg currently resides in New York City and works as a research consultant at FIND/SVP. He specializes in research in technology and telecommunications and can often be seen muttering to himself in Arabic.