Going Public

Many of us who were on the special libraries track in library school couldn't imagine why anyone would choose public libraries over the high-tech, higher salary jobs in corporate research centers. After several years in these jobs, however, some of us are beginning to believe that public libraries may in fact be the right choice for the next career move. After 15 years working for large companies in the telecommunications industry, I chose to make the transition from corporate to public libraries and have never regretted it.

It's true, most public libraries offer a relatively stable environment, even during tough times. After years of mergers, acquisitions, and layoffs, job security is a welcome change from the stress of not knowing where (or even if) I will be working a few months from now. Benefits plans for medical coverage are more generous in public libraries than in large corporations, as companies cut back severely on employee benefits. And though salaries are undeniably lower in public libraries, the money saved on medical coverage can be significant. Pension plans, vacations, and sick time are also more generous in the public sector. However, aside from these quantifiable differences, the intangible benefits of working at a public reference desk make all the difference.

After years of sitting in a cubicle, with only email and a phone for communication, the personal contact at the reference desk can be more satisfying, if at times much more challenging. When a library patron returned to the desk after a couple of weeks to tell me how much she enjoyed the new author I recommended, I felt that I'd made a difference in some small measure. (Of course, at times I long for that cubicle, as when an irate patron approaches the desk demanding to know why his copy of The Da Vinci Code isn't in his hands the day after he requested it.)

In some corporate research centers, subject matter expertise is valued more highly than reference skills. It can be refreshing to become more of a generalist after years immersed in a specific industry. The variety of questions fielded by reference librarians in a public library is seemingly endless, urging the librarian to be creative and resourceful.

Finally, we can use our skills to accomplish goals that are perhaps more meaningful than the goals of a large corporation. Corporate librarians would be surprised at the number of people who need help using the Internet: senior citizens wanting to learn how to send email, new immigrants needing help finding immigration forms, and so on.

While everyone in a large company already has these skills (at varying levels, true), the general public still needs training on Internet searching, word processing, and email. Before I made the switch to the public sphere, I volunteered at a public library. There I had the opportunity to teach a basic Internet search class one evening. The group consisted of senior citizens and younger people who had no experience with the Internet. The seniors and students both discovered things that delighted them. When the class was over, it was rewarding to hear that the attendees felt they had more confidence and less fear of technology.

There are some unexpected differences in work style at a public library that I found particularly challenging. Owing to the need for reference desk coverage, public libraries have rigid work hours. Flex time and work-at-home policies can't be supported unless a librarian is providing virtual reference. It also takes some time to adjust to providing the best possible service within budget constraints, given the lack of access to some expensive online databases and other tools.

Before you make the switch away from large corporations, though, volunteer or moonlight at your local public library to get a feel for the environment, the pace, and the kinds of reference questions that a public librarian encounters. You may be surprised by how comfortable the transition can be. And, after years of being referred to as an "information specialist," "researcher," or some other corporate title, you may be glad to call yourself a "librarian." I was.

So, what's in the switch for public libraries? For the past several years, corporate librarians have been answering reference questions almost exclusively through electronic resources. As a result, we tend to be very comfortable with technology and can learn new programs quickly. We can easily help patrons find information on the Internet. For the same reason, many public libraries that offer virtual reference services may find that former corporate librarians will jump at the chance to staff this service. I have found that I enjoy the combination of virtual and in-person reference duties; each type of service requires a unique set of skills, and the trick is to provide solid service in both environments.

In special libraries, the level of stress is high, and very short deadlines are common. If your library has a particularly busy reference desk, you can be confident that a librarian with corporate experience will settle right in to the hectic pace.

Many corporate librarians also bring well-developed marketing skills, which public libraries can use internally and externally. Though I personally don't have experience in outreach and promotion, many corporate librarians do. They are practiced at showing what they're worth. This expertise could help the public library with outreach—creating usage surveys, marketing internal initiatives, and even developing promotional materials and branding for electronic communications. It may also translate to dealing with high-powered users. Corporate librarians may be more skilled at "managing up." This know-how can be called on in dealing with city officials and board members and in fundraising efforts.

It is important to remember some things about corporate librarians' experience, however. Because of the heavy reliance on e-resources in special libraries, a corporate librarian may need a refresher on the print resources used at the public reference desk. After the switch, I had to familiarize myself with reference books that I had not used since library school. Embarrassingly, I hadn't used a print encyclopedia in years.

Also, a newly minted public librarian is unlikely to have vast experience in dealing with a diverse community of users. In special libraries one does not work with the homeless, young children, the elderly, etc. Disciplining library patrons, especially adults, has been the most difficult adjustment for me. It may be wise to bring this up as a topic for discussion at a job interview.

Of course, there is no replacement for an excellent librarian with many years' experience in public libraries. But consider a reference department consisting of both seasoned public librarians and former corporate librarians. Mary-Jean Gurzenda, a public reference librarian and former corporate information specialist, shares an example of how well the corporate/public team can perform. "What comes to mind is when a patron has a business question—in particular when the question is about company information—the public librarian is very familiar with print directories like Wards or S&P while the corporate librarian may have experience interpreting financial information and knowing which SEC filings provide what information. Corporate librarians also are accustomed to identifying a company's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats." The public librarian is familiar with all of the area business libraries where a patron can go for further research, as well as the online resources available to the public at no charge. The combination of these two librarians' abilities can result in a well-rounded approach to a business reference question.

In fact, several public libraries have tried this arrangement and found that a team with both backgrounds can be very effective for expanding technical expertise, sharing ideas about resources, and finding creative ways of providing top-notch reference services.