Placements & Salaries 2010: Waiting To Make Her Mark
New librarian Molly Kelly reflects on her first few years in the profession By Molly Kelly Oct 15, 2010 |
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| Library Assistant | ||
| Fitch Ratings | ||
| Chicago, IL | ||
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I tell everyone I meet that I want to work in a public library. I keep hoping that one day someone will say, "Well, I've got the perfect job for you!" Realistically, I know it doesn't work that way. It's been about two and half years since I graduated from grad school and began my search for that perfect job. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I didn't think it would be this hard. The endless cover letters, the endless rejections—they begin to take a toll. Yet I'm optimistic that one day I will find the job that is right for me, a job that will let me begin to make my mark in public libraries.
A foot in any door
During grad school, I heard all about the retirement exodus that would be happening just in time for me to find a great job; the economy's downfall taught me otherwise. I graduated in May 2008, and while I did take five weeks to travel and realize my goal of studying abroad in France, I didn't find any library work until that September. This may seem quick to some, but the job was a part-time volunteer position at a museum. I was definitely grateful to get my foot in any door, but a heavy weight stuck with me. I needed to pay my bills. It was as simple as that. As I learned to inventory rare book collections and sort through catalog cards (yes, they still exist!), I continued my job hunt.
Six months later, I was hired for a paid, part-time internship at a fire consulting firm. I was happy. I learned how to catalog, research for collection development, and answer basic reference questions. Engineering is not my forte, but I found myself picking up skills that I knew would be beneficial in the future. Yet the frustration did not go away. Though I'm by nature an optimist, I still felt the pinch of bills and the rub of not being where I wanted to be in my field. Then, to top things off, I was let go, owing to companywide cuts. Seven months into my career, I was back at what seemingly felt like square one.
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Keeping afloat
My job hunt ebbed and flowed while volunteering and working as an intern. Everyone knows it's hard to find a job while working, but people do not understand the true physical and emotional stress unless they have been in that situation. I was drained. I wanted so badly to work in a public library, or any library at that point, but I had to look for any job in order to keep afloat. That was disheartening.
Luckily, I was able to find a retail position to help me out financially while I continued the hunt for library work. I knew I needed to do more than apply for jobs. I interviewed with a library work temp agency.
One of my best moves: I began setting up informational interview appointments with public librarians in the Chicagoland area. Not only did I learn a great deal from the helpful librarians I met, but the meetings strengthened my belief that public libraries were for me. I started thinking more about specific projects I wanted to complete for public libraries, and I advocated for public libraries in all aspects of my life, from my family and friends to the online world and coworkers. Throughout, my love of public libraries never wavered.
Still waiting to land
In January 2010, I received an email that finally gave me a sigh of relief. My temp agency wanted to know if I'd like a 35-hour-a-week position as a library assistant at a corporation in Chicago. Did I ever! Knowing that I would be able to work full time in my field and pay my bills brought a feeling I'll never forget. As clichéd as it may sound, I could breathe again. I could focus on finding a public library position while having some stability. It truly felt like a blessing.
To top it off, I also began volunteering on a bookmobile at the public library I went to as a kid, and the fire consulting firm even hired me back part time.
So, here I am, working one full-time position, one part-time position, and one volunteer position. I am grateful. I don't take any of this for granted; still, I'm longing for public libraries. I sometimes feel like, "What do I have to do?" but I know I'm doing what needs to be done: working, searching, and knowing one day I will start my first job as a public librarian.
Read about the other new librarians Justin Hoenke and Karen Keys.
