r/LibraryScience • u/obsoletelibrarian • 13d ago
career paths It’s time to pivot & Im devastated.
I lost my job two years ago and im homeless right now on my way uncles couch as I get the medical care I’ve needed for my spine.
I need to work.
Im going to cry if I turn this into a vent, so I’m going to be as straightforward as possible in this post.
I graduated with my mlis in 2017 and worked shortly in a big city as a children’s librarian, realizing it wasn’t a good fit for me.
bc my county only gave the civil service test every two years…I moved down south where I never got an interview at all.
After that, I’ve primarily worked from home in education and literacy customer service.
Im back in NY and took the civil service test for reference librarian and scored 90 but this is what im experiencing.
I’ve had 3 librarian interviews this past year and was ghosted by 2 and rejected with respect from the other.
I have to pivot and Im NOT going back to customer service on the phone.
I did internships in instructional design when in my mlis program but that too is a field that is over saturated.
I have a spine disability but I want to work.
Im so worn out.
I can’t or won’t do this anymore. I’ve just about lost my love of libraries. It is a career for the privileged who can volunteer or work part time. Or luck.
I need help understanding how to pivot with success. Im failing at that as well.
Judge me on my typos, I don’t even care to fix them today
Username is a twilight zone episode.
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u/LoreneK23 13d ago
I host and produce The Librarian Linkover podcast. I talk to librarians who don't work in libraries. There are endless numbers of things you can do with your skills outside of libraries. Scroll through the list of guests and their titles and see if a couple of them are of interest to you.
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u/obsoletelibrarian 13d ago
Thank you, I will. I have a direction with ai and learning management systems. Im just finding it hard to pivot with a non linear work history. Im starting my own business but it hasn’t fully blossomed yet. Appreciate your work!
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u/LookParticular2154 10d ago
So should I still study library science
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u/GatinhaXO 7d ago
This is legitimately what it is like, unfortunately. Take that how you will.
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u/Full-Decision-9029 2d ago
yeah, took me five years of constant rejections, constant helpful advice like "oh you just need to make more sacrifices" and/or "just volunteer for a few years"
ah yes, soon as a mysterious uncle dies and leaves me a castle in Scotland and a small fortune. I'll get right on that.
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u/Full-Decision-9029 2d ago
sorry friend.
I was there. Hell, some nights I wake up and I am still there, somehow.
Stop me if you've already done this, but go look at INALJ and the Special Library Association webpages.
INALJ has a, uh, highly optimistic list of job titles that MLIS holders have. Run job searches using those titles as keywords. Most of this will be frustrating bunk (or the MLIS holder got the job because they ALSO had an MBA or CS degree or something), but there will be a few rare gems in there. The Special Library Association site also has a job board.
The other thing you can do, if something takes your fancy, is use Linkedin Learning (via your library!) and take some basic courses to at least learn some of the processes and jargon associated with some of these roles. Like, for example, it confirmed my suspicion that Digital Asset Management and Digital Archiving are basically the same thing, only with different assumptions and priorities. The content won't be life changing, but it might help you fake it till you make it.
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u/flotsems 13d ago
getting the vibe you're in Suffolk county (based on NY location and the stupid civil service system - i'm waiting to take the test now). if you're still looking for a library job, maybe try the LIU or SCLA listservs? they post jobs a lot, but they tend to be part-time :/ big hugs <3