Thanks so much for sharing your experiences! I don't regret getting my MSLIS back in 2003, but still have not found a position as a librarian. I know others in my class who, like me, have since all but given up. Luckily I kept my day job during library school, which also paid my tuition. I wish you the best of luck in your job search, where ever it may lead!

Thanks, Denise. I'm glad you found a way to navigate the challenge! I hope others are as successful/lucky as you. (Including me!)

From what I understand, you're in a catch 22 situation. Your degree and likely time outside of the field has made it difficult to go back to what you were doing before, and not having enough experience has made it very difficult to find work as a librarian. Truth is, this profession has very few entry level jobs, and I don't anyone who has started at such a job. Has anyone reading this blog found an entry level position? I certainly didn't a few years ago, but I had a lot of experience prior to graduation and started in a job that was really mid career. Another factor is the ability to move because mobility to the less sought after places is one key to finding a job. Since you've said you can't do that right now, my thoughts are, why not go back to school for that second masters you've been talking about, and while obtaining it, find a mentor and a way to work as a volunteer with increasingly responsible projects within the type of library where you'd like to work? Or you could do your own research to find that you can put that degree to use in another field where you could obtain some additional training in a reasonably short time. Oh, another thing that would help on the academic side is becoming published for research you've done while you are still in school. That's how a friend of mine was able to obtain her academic job. Still, in the end, I think you'd have to move. Oregon in general and Portland in particular is a tough place to find a job.

I want to add my very best wishes to you, Staci, as you take your next steps. I believe you'll find your way.

I've asked myself why I'm bothering with this, and realized that you seem too good to just throw it all away. I'm on numerous listserves and something arrived today that I thought might interest you. Would you consider Boise which is a nice city and has two academic job openings currently at Boise State University. It's a 45-minute flight from Portland and would be a place that would be more likely to consider new librarians if you have the ability to do what they are asking for. It's on today's LISjobs.com. So would it be worth it to you to try one last time? You never know.

Hi Staci!

Have you been able to attend any conferences? I attended one conference. Prior to the conference, I sent out around 5 job applications. For all of those I either received a rejection letter or no response.

After talking with and meeting people at the conference, I applied to three jobs and received three offers. Also, one place that I sent a letter to prior to the conference informed me of an upcoming position and expressed interest in me.

So I think going to a conference or any event that allows you to socialize or talk to people outside of formal sessions can pay off. It also helps in writing a cover letter when you can mention you that you talked to someone from the Hiring Library, learned about x and y, and want to work there because of x and y.

After a few years of attending and/or presenting at conferences, I haven't seen conferences help people on the regional or state level, but on the national level it could make a difference. I was going to attend an ALA midwinter conference a few years ago in hopes to find a job, but was offered a job independent of any conferences before I registered. For those of you who have some experience and are able to move, I think this is a very good idea.

Great point Kim! I definitely took a risk going to the conference considering the cost of travel and lodging (as a MLIS student, my registration was free). However, things worked out for me and I had zero experience. It was great getting advice on applying to jobs. The offers that I received were from institutions that had representatives at the conference. I was able to talk to these librarians a bunch of times and that surely helped in my application. Luckily I was able to move almost anywhere. The job search sure caused me a lot of worry.

This note is posted in thinking that Michael, who never told us that he graduated (I believe in December), nor has he posted past since last August, might benefit (below). What amazes me about this student blog is that LJ apparently thinks it's not important enough to have current content -- e.g., students who are actually still students. I'm a new department head at my library and I think it's important to keep all content updated at all times. Keeping online information updated shows some professionalism, or at least that you might give a dang. Anyway, here's the ad, Michael, it you are still out there somewhere.

As for LJ editors (if you are out there somewhere,if you occasionally track your website and read this comment, the fact that you have not updated this section for months shows a lack of professionalism from people who are supposed to be "

The lack of professionalism is further demonstrated in the the antiquated way in which this site just cut off my posting. ... "information professionals."

Here's the ad:
Posted: 3/27/09
Visual Resources Coordinator
Closes: 5/1/09
Portland, OR

Aubrey R. Watzek Library seeks applicants for the position of Visual Resources Coordinator. This position administers the visual resources program of the Library at Lewis & Clark College. This includes the licensing and management of image collections to support the college curriculum, supporting faculty in their use of still and moving images in classroom instruction, providing general and image-specific reference and instruction to faculty and students, and curating unique visual resource collections of the College.

The successful candidate must possess a Master’s degree in library/information science, or a related discipline; a Bachelor’s degree in art history or a related discipline; and one year of professional experience in a position supporting visual resources. The candidate will have a broad knowledge of art history across a range of time periods and cultures; current knowledge of digital and analog image sources; experience with digital asset management systems and metadata management.

This is a full-time exempt position, with an anticipated start date of Oct. 1, 2009.