Job Analysis Part 2

Public Library Director

Skills, competencies, and knowledge required for a Public Library Director job include a Master's of Library Science from an ALA accredited school, excellent communication skills, at least 5 years of experience working in a public library in a supervisory, leadership role, familiar with the role of a library board, understanding of finance and budgets, ability to work with government officials, current knowledge of library trends. Skills that I bring to the table today are, currently working towards a MLIS degree, 3 years of supervisory experience, 1 year of professional library work, familiar with and have attended library board meetings, work with a budget on a branch level, keep current with library trends. I do believe my current path can lead me towards a public library director job. I need to finish my degree, have more experience under my belt, and inquire more into the administrative roles. I believe networking is also of great value towards my goal.

Director of Rare Books and Manuscripts

The Director of Rare Books and Manuscripts job is a little off the career path I have found myself on. The skills competencies, and knowledge required for this position includes a Master's of Library Science from an ALA accredited school, PhD preferred in a relevant subject area, experience building and preserving primary source materials, successful experience in developing and managing outreach and exhibition programs, demonstrated experience working with faculty and students, management and supervisory experience in a complex organization, proven ability to manage budgets, experience with fund raising and grant writing, a full understanding of the role of technology in preserving and enhancing a collection. The skills I bring to the table today include working towards a MLIS degree, 3 years management experience, 1 year professional work in a library, experience creating successful programming, and experience managing outreach programs. In order to obtain this position, I would need to continue my education, gain experience working with a rare books and manuscript collection through entry level positions and internships, and networking. 

References

ALAJobLIST. (n.d.).ALAJobLIST. Retrieved February 16, 2014, from http://joblist.ala.org/

Director, Rare Book & Manuscript Library - New York, NY - employment opportunity or job position     METRO METRO. (n.d.). Director, Rare Book & Manuscript Library - New York, NY - employment       opportunity or job position METRO METRO. Retrieved February 16, 2014, from http://metro.org/jobs/director-rare-book-manuscript-library-488/

Library Director - Position Description. (n.d.). Menasha Public Library. Retrieved February 16, 2014, from http://www.menashalibrary.org/directorpositio

Job Analysis Part 1

There are two career paths that have sparked my interest, Public Library Director and Directory of Rare Books and Manuscripts.  Each of these jobs have very different aspects and requirements, but they both require excellent management skills.

Public Library Director
The position of Public Library Director in a multi-branch library system requires a high performing skill set and years of experience.  The Director manages all aspects of a library system. It is their responsibility to hire and manage branch managers, delegate key library functions, prepare budgets, continually evaluate library services, represent the library's financial interests to city councils and boards, advocate and promote the library and library services.  A director has to have excellent communication skills. They answer directly to a library board, and work with the board to plan and evaluate future needs and services of a library. Most job postings for a Library Director require an MLS from an ALA accredited program and a minimum of 3-5 years of library experience in a management role.

Director of Rare Books and Manuscripts
A Director of Rare Books and Manuscripts oversees all aspects of a rare book special collection. These jobs are mainly found in Universities and museums.  A Director of a rare book collection manages a budget, implements public outreach programs and exhibitions, leads fund raising activities, directs projects such as preservation and digitization of a collection, and supervises staff. Job requirements include an MLS from an ALA accredited program with an advanced degree preferred, experience working with and preserving special collections, experience developing exhibitions, proven ability to manage budget, ability to supervise staff, excellent communication skills, and an understanding of technology and its role in preserving and organizing materials.

References

ALA JobLIST. (n.d.). ALA JobLIST. Retrieved  February 16, 2014, from http://joblist.ala.org/

Director, Rare Book & Manuscript Library - New York, NY - employment opportunity or job position     METRO METRO. (n.d.). Director, Rare Book & Manuscript Library - New York, NY - employment       opportunity or job position METRO METRO. Retrieved February 16, 2014, from http://metro.org/jobs/director-rare-book-manuscript-library-488/

Library Director - Position Description. (n.d.). Menasha Public Library. Retrieved February 16, 2014, from http://www.menashalibrary.org/directorpositio

Professional Associations

Two LIS professional associations that I am particularly interested in is the Indiana Library Federation and the American Library Association.

Indiana Library Federation

The Indiana Library Federation is a well respected association among librarians and library staff in the state of Indiana.  According to their website, http://www.ilfonline.org/, their mission is to, "foster the professional growth of its members and to promote all types of libraries in Indiana." Member benefits include, but not limited to, discounted rates on conferences and workshops, ample networking opportunities, access to the members only area of their website which include exclusive news, information, and job boards, and opportunities to be a committee member on several projects that promote the importance of Indiana libraries throughout the state. Membership fees are $40 for new members with yearly memberships based on a sliding scale depending on income.

The Indiana Library Federation has two publications, Focus on Indiana Libraries and Indiana Libraries. Their official newsletter, Focus on Indiana Libraries, is published 11 times a year and delivered electronically to all members of the Indiana Library Federation. The newsletter focuses on topics of interest to those working in libraries in the state of Indiana. Indiana Libraries is a professional Open Access journal that focuses on topics of interest to librarians and media specialists in the state of Indiana.  

I will be joining this association within the next year. There are several benefits of joining such as my employer sends members to the conferences and workshops, and membership will give me access to job listings within my state and keep me informed of networking opportunities. 

American Library Association

The American Library Association is a well respected name in the library profession. According to their website, www.ala.org, their mission is, “To provide leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.” Benefits of membership include opportunities to network with professionals in many areas of library work, access to online courses, and discounts to conferences, events and workshops. Membership fees are anywhere from $34-$133 depending on several factors such as, but not limited to, employment level or whether or not you are a student. 

The American Library Association are responsible for several publications including, but not limited to, American Libraries, Booklist, ALA TechSource, Library Technology Reports, Guide to Reference, and Resource Description and Access Toolkit. All of their publications are dedicated to the education and advocacy of the library profession and the ALA mission.

Several of my coworkers are members of the ALA. For now, I believe membership to the Indiana Library Federation will be of more benefit to me. As I branch out in my career and look for more opportunities in my field, membership to the ALA will become more beneficial by providing opportunities for nationwide networking and discounted conferences. 

References

American Library Association. (n.d.).American Library Association. Retrieved February 1, 2014, from http://www.ala.org/

Indiana Library Federation. (n.d.).Indiana Library Federation. Retrieved February 2, 2014, from http://www.ilfonline.org/