Hi All:
I am a new librarian who is searching for a professional position. I have been offered a chance to interview for an entry librarian position in a large public library system in another major city (a city that I am not sure I really want to live in because I know no one who lives there.) Because this job would involve a major move across the county, I am trying to get some advice on how to figure out whether this job would be the right position for me. The reason I am asking is because to this date the only professional position I have been able to find since finishing my MLS Degree was a job as a Children’s Librarian in a large public library system in a major metropolitan city. In order to take this job, I had to move across the county. After working at this library for six months my boss my told me that I was not well suited for the job and asked me to quit because she did not think that I was well suited for the job. I tried to ask her several times why I was not well suited for the position, but she never really gave me what I think were a satisfactory answer. Since that time, I have been looking for another librarian position.

I realize that job market for librarians is very tight and that relocation is often necessary to find a job as a librarian. In addition, if the position were to be offered to me I would hate to turn down an offer. However, I can’t help being worrying about making another cross country move to accept a position that is very similar to my previous public library position that did not work. (In other words I am worried that if I accept the position and move, the job will not work out and I will end up without a job in six months in a city where I know now one.)

Thanks for any advice that anybody can offer on these questions- If anybody has specific ideas as to what kinds of questions to ask that might help me make these decisions, it would be great to hear them. Thanks

I realize that I am probably jumping the gun on some of these thoughts becuase I have not been offered the job. However, I thought it might be a good idea to think about some of these things before I decided whether or not to interview for the position.


Should I consider relocating to take this job?

Is this a job you would enjoy?

It sounds like the new position is not children's while your current one is, right? If so, that's a significant difference. If I were you, I would try to talk to your current boss to find out what you can do in the short term, during your job search, to see what you can do to address the issues that they are having with your job performance. In the meantime, don't stress too much about a job where you have not even interviewed yet. You didn't say whether it will be a phone interview or if you'll have to travel, and if so whether you will have to play the expenses. What's the job market like in the greater metropolitan area where you are now? Are there potentially other, non-children's openings in the same library that could work out better? Is this the only game in town, or are there other suburban libraries nearby that could work out? If you're hesitant to move again, what was it about this job that attracted your attention in the first place? I agree with Brian that this is something only you can decide, but I'm guessing that you are looking for suggestions of other factors to consider.