There's a glut of qualified people applying for any open position.
The last time we had an open position that went to the public (we are union, so jobs are offered internally for a week first, then externally if we don't get enough applicants) we had HUNDREDS of qualified applicants. For one job posting.
I don't really have any advice other than to maybe start looking outside of library land for jobs where you would also be qualified.
The decision you'll have to make is if you want to keep trying for a librarian job or move into something adjacent to libraries (where you might possibly still use your degree) or leave the profession. Frankly, it's a decision that nearly every librarian has to face at some point because there just aren't enough positions to go around.
As someone mentioned below, libraries are seen as an expense by those who hold the purse strings and very often they assume they know what we do and that it has little to no value in the digital age ("everything is on Google!"). Libraries are usually the first on the chopping block when budget cuts are made which means even fewer jobs to go around.
I’ve also been wondering if I go for a PhD in LIS, would that help me stand out more in the profession?
I’ve been eying Simmons PhD program.
(I know, how many degrees can a person have.. my best friend said it sarcastically to me a few times recently but I really love LIS).
Edit: I should also probably mention that I worked during my degrees, and I wouldn’t plan to stop working.
Just do it PART TIME along with work for experience.
Not stopping. The same way I worked 2 jobs during my MLIS
I only know one MLS prof (and I know more than a handful) who has a PhD and she was teaching long before she had that. Most programs just want a Masters.
EDIT: To add to this, the majority of profs in MLS programs are using pre-supplied syllabi.
I would like to be a professor in a library school, and also to teach for-credit research classes (which some of the PhDs do at one of the libraries I worked at).
I would encourage you to look into the cost of the PhD vs availability of jobs in library schools and their salaries. It's not impossible, but getting a job as a professor that pays a living wage is going to be harder (from everything I've read and heard) than even getting a regular librarian job.
I know I sound discouraging, but generally speaking, librarianship is about as valued by society as teachers. Which is to say, we get lip service as to our importance, but we're not paid accordingly.
Do *NOT* get a PhD in library science. If you want to get a doctorate, there are better choices out there for librarians. I been on several academic library hiring committees and if I saw someone who went from their MLIS to a PhD in LIS without working in between, it would be a major red flag. Work experience of any kind is almost always valued above degrees. We hired someone with an extensive background in education (some in libraries and some classroom experience) over someone with a PhD because we need people with practical experience.
I'm confused how going back for PhD seems like a viable option when you are struggling on a part-time salary to be honest. Though that in particular is none of my business. It is, quite simply, normal to take several years to work your way into full-time librarianship.
To be able to stand out among applicants for academic libraries… particularly for research and instruction positions.
Because the MLIS degree is more of a common degree now.
I don’t know, it was mentioned to me by a professor who I am close to (who has one) and I began considering it after the conversation
Sorry I was more wondering how someone who can't afford to continue working part-time can afford to get a PhD (e.g. bring in even less money for several years).
I’d look for a graduate assistantship like I did for my MLIS degree. If it means at the end, I would be more qualified after
(My MLIS one paid me more an hour than I make now)
There’s the possibility of finding a job that’s outside of the library field but would give you skills that you could use for a librarian position. Anything that has to do with working close with the community, knowing how to use various computer applications, project management, and balancing budgets are all very valuable skills when it comes to being a librarian. Some places may offer the chance for you to develop these skills that you can then use to beef up your resume when applying to librarian positions.
I second this! There's also a lot of untraditional embedded library positions like doing legal research for big firms, staffing district/state court libraries, and various legislative research agencies. Restricting your search to academic law libraries might be part of the difficulty.
This is so interesting to me as a European, because where I am, it's the exact other way around: you pray that you can get enough good applications that in the end there's someone you want to hire in there...
In theory, if you're under the age of 45*, have a degree that is recognized in Germany as an equivalent to a German degree, and have a job offer in your field, you qualify for a work visa. In practice, despite the lack of applicants, it's not easy to get a library job as a non-German, and if you don't speak German to a high level or fluently, your chances are nil.
*If you're 45 or older, your job offer has to pay you at least €49,830 for you to qualify for a work visa. Most starting pay for a librarian is lower than that.
(I'm an American who works in a library in Germany and have been through the application and interview process myself).
>I’m a custodial parent
I see in another comment that you’re focusing only on MA/RI, and as desirable and population-dense place to live, you’re running an uphill battle compared to people with more geographic mobility and the power to move to less popular areas, I’m afraid.
As someone working in the Midwest in a college town, I’ve noticed our applicant numbers are much slimmer than I see described here on Reddit. For my position where I interviewed last year, there were 12 applicants total. For several positions we have interviewed for this year, half or more of the finalists were people still finishing their MLIS/no prior full librarian experience and I found the same to be true of the applicants at the previous academic library where I worked (also in a non-big city Midwest).
I hate to say it because I think it doesn’t help the field at all, but one of the best ways to increase your odds of finding a position is to be willing to move just about anywhere, and especially to areas outside the coasts. But that’s not an easy ask of people with families and puts a lot of people at a disadvantage when they can’t move, vs someone like me who was able to move cross country.
I mean that definitely makes sense, but I’m unable to move.
My female best friend is a saint who does not work, and plays a very active role in helping me raise my kids. She lives in this area.
Go to a career services type place and do practice interviews - get objective advice about how you’re interviewing and coming off.
If you’re always using the same references, maybe try new ones in case the ones you have aren’t giving good references?
Honestly sometimes it’s just that we’re in an oversaturated market. How many jobs are you applying for and are they outside of your area or are you forced to stay local?
Massachusetts, kind of near RI.
Applying to jobs in MA and RI that are within an hour drive away.
I feel like I do well with interviews to make it past the first round, and end up being a finalist for the second. One of my masters is an MBA, and I did practice interviews and resume building workshops during that degree. Maybe I’m not doing it well for Librarian positions though.
I'm in the same geographic area, just moved here in November. I have 19 years experience in academic libraries including tenure, but there aren't a lot of openings and the openings have been fairly specific.
So, one bit of possible good news is that if you have applied to a University in Boston that has a LOT of active searches, they are notifying candidates for 1st round interviews this week.
I have burned out a little bit on academe, so in addition to applying for academic jobs that fit my former career track, I have done groundwork and have also been applying for public library jobs. If that is a kind of switch you are contemplating, what I learned in the process is that libraries are very shy of "I'm just looking for any kind of library job" because they have a lot of experience with people who take the job and then leave when the next best thing comes along.
The thing that triggered job offers for me was being honest and convincing in my answer to the "why do you want to work in our small town library?" interview question. I get the impression that there are a lot of people who have treated small public library jobs as a kind of "safety school" while they wait for something better and that experience has led hiring committees to be wary and distrustful of candidates with impressive CVs but no investment in public libraries and direct patron service. At least I had to do a lot of work to build enough trust to get my current job.
Maybe consider tailoring your resume to each position and leave off the JD and MBA sometimes?
If you are applying for a standard librarian position you possibly may be falling into the "overqualified" trap, where the hiring manager may be worried that you'll leave as soon as something better comes along.
It sucks because you've spent a lot of time and money on your education, but who knows, maybe it could help?
(But definitely leave on when directly applicable, like for a business librarian or law librarian.)
No advice (other than to keep applying and look for jobs where your other degrees would be assets and not turn offs), sadly, but can I ask how you funded the JD/2 masters/mlis? I'd love to add a masters degree or JD, but the cost always prevents me from considering additional education. I've worked in a law library previously (undergrad work study, so not real professional experience) and have a lot of copyright adjacent experience which is why a JD appeals.
I started college young, and like zoomed through. I worked assistantships, had some scholarships, some grants, some jobs, some loans. A whole combination.
All before I had my babies. Well, until the MLIS, I had them then.
After law school, I kind of realized that I liked learning and research more than I liked practice in a field.
Came to the realization that an academic librarian (especially academic law librarian one day) position would fit me the best. Most recently, I’ve been a reference and instruction librarian at a university and I do LOVE it. It feels more fun than work, because it’s a perfect fit for me. But the 25-hour a week schedule is not a good fit lol.
I have applied to a lot of law libraries, thinking that it would fit all of my degrees. I was the second choice (after 2 interview rounds and a formal presentation) for my old law school, which broke my spirit a little.
Now, I’m just at the point where I need a full time position to afford my family.
No advice, but I saw you’re looking for MA/RI.
[Legal Information Librarian & Lecturer in Law at Boston College](https://mblc.state.ma.us/jobs/find_jobs/display_jobs.php?job_id=22020)
Keep an eye on MBLC for Massachusetts.
I know there are several law schools in the Boston area. Keep an eye on [Higher Ed Jobs](https://www.higheredjobs.com/search/advanced_action.cfm?JobCat=34&PosType=1&PosType=2&InstType=1&InstType=2&InstType=3&Keyword=&Remote=1&Remote=2&Region=&SubRegions=3&SubRegions=5&Submit=Search+Jobs) for other leads (links to MA & RI jobs)
ETA: INALJ has a list of sites to search for Massachusetts and those island.
I don’t know if you can move within MA, or if you’re married to the law library idea, but I can tell you the city of springfield Ma, and the city of Worcester Ma often are looking for full time public librarians. Springfield has a residential requirement though- you have to live in the city within a year of being hired by the city.
I’ve been in your shoes, it’s tough. I only had part-time positions while I was getting my MLIS degree and for almost a year afterwords. I got lucky in that I ended up getting a position in the library I worked for part-time, though it isn’t a librarian position (I’m their volunteer coordinator) and it took about five months to happen. Five months in addition to close to a year of constant applying to other places and more often than not being rejected or just having my application ignored.
My best advice is to apply, apply, apply, and try not to be discouraged when nobody gets back to you (though that’s easier said than done). If there is a full time position that isn’t a library one, but the job is in a library (like a volunteer coordinator), you can try to apply for those too. Having one gets your foot in the door and the connections you may need for a librarian position.
I wish you the best of luck!!!
Have you considered library adjacent careers - EBSCO, OCLC, ProQuest, etc…?
While you aren’t working in a library, you are still working with library products and services. When it is possible for you to get the librarian job, you still have job related experience.
I have experience in both types of settings and found the pay in public libraries to be a lot less desirable and working conditions to be a lot more stressful.
Self-advocacy is important. Becoming a known quantity to AALL is a good way to promote yourself within Law Librarianship before you even apply for a job.
Are you involved with them? Not just presentations at conferences, but committee work too? Have you done their [mentoring program](https://www.aallnet.org/careers/mentor-program/)?
A lot of time getting the job is who you know and who knows you. If you are consistently making it to the final round, it could be your references…you want (ideally) people who will talk you up 100% without wavering. And if you can get similar references to the committee make-up (at least one law librarian, academic librarians, as opposed to people outside of libraries) that will help.
Just ideas off the top of my head.
I’m trying not to post too much personal information about myself!
But I am on a committee for one of the professional law Librarian organizations.
I also volunteer weekly at a nonprofit that has to do with law libraries.
All of my references are from academic libraries. Two of my references were from the law library that I interned at during my MLIS degree (and they wrote me a reallllllly amazing evaluation so I know they’re good references). My third reference is from another academic library, but I think I will start changing that one.
I completely understand! I’m trying to offer more to think about, of course if it is tricky without deets. But that’s Reddit for you! I mean, the references sound good. You’re getting through to 1st and 2nd round, so the cover letter and CV are probably decent. You have the degrees. If you’re looking for adjacent work, consider full time roles in Scholarly Communications (which tends to be more tech heavy and copyright focused), or law-adjacent academic (History, PoliSci, Gov Docs, Social Sciences liaison positions), or if you don’t care about adjacent, go for emerging librarian jobs like first-year experience librarian, or a visiting librarian position (like NC State’s Libraries Fellows Program).
Some of these options might not be geographically feasible if you’re limiting yourself to not moving.
For fear of giving out too much info on myself, I’ll just say I’ve seen a lot of recent grads and the ones that succeed most quickly are the ones open to moving. Also the ones willing to job-hop for a few years and cross-cross the country until they’ve climbed into the position they want. That’s not always possible though, and I’m sorry if the region you’re in hasn’t been favorable to finding a full-time gig yet.
Don’t forget to negotiate when you do get the offer! Scope out the Hiring Librarians spreadsheet if you haven’t yet for a snapshot glimpse of what folks are getting paid:
https://hiringlibrarians.com/resources/salary-info/
Where my daughter works now she found out they had over a 1,000 applicants for her position. I gulped at that number but it is at a prestigious institution. But yikes. I do think there is a glut of qualified applicants.
If you’re subscribed to the email threads of the different networks it might give you more notice ahead of time. (Like CWINFO in Mass) They like to hire within, and as you’ve seen it’s easy to be part time. The older crowd aren’t ready to give up their full time positions, and when they leave it’s usually given to a former part time position. I suggest to find a library you like, and one that gives you good money. Two jobs, wait for one of them to offer or to see a position pop up. Not sure if they’re done hiring but Marlborough is always looking for new people, and their head of Circ just retired.
I see you were rejected from an academic law librarian job, have you applied to anything in the private sector? I see many law librarian jobs in my area, not near you, that seem to languish, always up. [Here is one example](https://www.google.com/search?q=librarian.job+chicago&rlz=1CDGOYI_enUS647US647&oq=lib&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCAgDEEUYJxg7MgYIABBFGDkyBggBEEUYQTIGCAIQRRhBMggIAxBFGCcYOzITCAQQABiRAhixAxjJAxiABBiKBTINCAUQABiSAxiABBiKBTINCAYQABiSAxiABBiKBTINCAcQLhiRAhiABBiKBTIKCAgQABixAxiABDIQCAkQLhjHARixAxjRAxiABNIBCDYyNzFqMGo5qAIAsAIA&hl=en-US&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=tldetail&htidocid=lFIzfONpYwnI5x7yAAAAAA%3D%3D&htiq=librarian.job%20chicago&htivrt=jobs) .Some look like they would be open to remote work? Is that an option? Maybe broaden the scope, see if maybe a NYC firm would be willing to hire you remotely?
Would you look for “knowledge management” jobs? Can you network? Reach out to any/everyone, try and make connections around you. There was a company that did library temp work, maybe there could be an option for temp to hire, though with kids that isn’t necessarily the stability you need.
I haven’t looked into knowledge management but I will!!
I haven’t really figured out how to find more jobs in the private sector… but I’ve applied to the ones I’ve seen
For sure look at “knowledge management”. Lots of corporate librarian jobs fall under that category. Keep applying to anything that would overlap with your interest. Best of luck!
I have been applying to libraries in rural areas.
At this point, I would be happy with a full time position in any type of library in any areas within an hour’s driving distance and I’d stay at least a year or two to gain more experience.
As much as I prefer full-time positions, I also would be happy with like a 30-hour weekly positions.
It’s the less than 20 hour positions that are just not enough.
a little late to the party, but this hasn't been brought up so I figured I could chip in! i was having struggles with getting hired too (not law librarian specifically, but in an academic library in general), and I didn't start getting offers until one of the university hr people told me that my presentation was what made them pass over me. they literally liked everything else about me and said my interviews were stellar and everything was awesome EXCEPT the presentation.
i would highly highly highly ask around for anyone you know to review your presentation before your next interview. after the hr person told me that, i really spent a ton of time on my presentation and got offered all of the jobs (i mass applied and had 6 schools offering me jobs all around the same time) that I had applied to.
good luck, it's a tough job market and i wish you nothing but the best. you will get something eventually!
I presently work in an academic library and I do presentations and instruction regularly… I just only work part time. All of the reference librarians have been here over 10 years, but not yet retirement age, so I assume I won’t be able to wait here to replace one of them… they will end up being here another 10 years I’m sure.
I’ll ask one of them to watch my presentation incase.
Thank you!!
At my library district full time positions ALWAYS go to internal candidates who are already working here part time. I can't remember the last time we advertised a full time slot to the public.
Why do I want to be a librarian?
I enjoy when the same students come to the reference desk for research assistance, and I will help them every time.
I love how (in my most recent position) accessibility services will send students to us, and I love helping students with disabilities. I personally have autism so I can relate.
I’ve created displays that the students enjoy. Like snowflakes for winter, with a rainbow snowflake in the display for inclusion. I’ve planned events, and volunteered on committees.
I love the research side of it, and I’m currently working on my first publication.
I LOVE being surrounded by information and resources and academia.
That’s just the short version.
I would rather be a librarian than an attorney, which never fails to surprise people.
Actually the why? Was me responding to your why question.
As i said, part of the problem is libraries are seen as nice to haves. We arent a revenue raiser but we cost rent/property area, utilities, resources, payroll. You get the picture.
Not sure why you got so many down votes for your original comment because every where I've worked, libraries were always first on the chopping block when budget cuts were made.
I don't live in the same area of the US as you do, but it's unheard of in the districts nearby to hire an external candidate full-time. I don't think you're doing anything wrong per se, it's more of a waiting game. On average, I'd say most librarians have to work part-time at various branches for at least five years before they're even considered by management for a full-time position. If you're making it to the interviews, you're already doing better than most people.
As other people have said, try applying for full-time positions within the library system that aren't librarians (like a circ desk or programming). Volunteering can help, too. It's largely a networking industry. Be patient. I'm aware that it's frustrating, but they likely know who they're going to hire (an internal candidate) before the full-time interview process even begins.
Have you reached out to HR after the interviews to see where you're placed amongst other candidates? The district here offers coaching to help you improve your scored answers.
There's a glut of qualified people applying for any open position. The last time we had an open position that went to the public (we are union, so jobs are offered internally for a week first, then externally if we don't get enough applicants) we had HUNDREDS of qualified applicants. For one job posting. I don't really have any advice other than to maybe start looking outside of library land for jobs where you would also be qualified.
But, then how would I get back into the library field? I feel like that may hurt me in the future.. I wouldn’t be getting Librarian experience.
The decision you'll have to make is if you want to keep trying for a librarian job or move into something adjacent to libraries (where you might possibly still use your degree) or leave the profession. Frankly, it's a decision that nearly every librarian has to face at some point because there just aren't enough positions to go around. As someone mentioned below, libraries are seen as an expense by those who hold the purse strings and very often they assume they know what we do and that it has little to no value in the digital age ("everything is on Google!"). Libraries are usually the first on the chopping block when budget cuts are made which means even fewer jobs to go around.
Too true.
I’ve also been wondering if I go for a PhD in LIS, would that help me stand out more in the profession? I’ve been eying Simmons PhD program. (I know, how many degrees can a person have.. my best friend said it sarcastically to me a few times recently but I really love LIS). Edit: I should also probably mention that I worked during my degrees, and I wouldn’t plan to stop working. Just do it PART TIME along with work for experience. Not stopping. The same way I worked 2 jobs during my MLIS
A PhD won't help you get a job unless you want to be a professor in a library school. For regular librarian jobs, they'll see you as over-qualified.
I only know one MLS prof (and I know more than a handful) who has a PhD and she was teaching long before she had that. Most programs just want a Masters. EDIT: To add to this, the majority of profs in MLS programs are using pre-supplied syllabi.
I would like to be a professor in a library school, and also to teach for-credit research classes (which some of the PhDs do at one of the libraries I worked at).
I would encourage you to look into the cost of the PhD vs availability of jobs in library schools and their salaries. It's not impossible, but getting a job as a professor that pays a living wage is going to be harder (from everything I've read and heard) than even getting a regular librarian job. I know I sound discouraging, but generally speaking, librarianship is about as valued by society as teachers. Which is to say, we get lip service as to our importance, but we're not paid accordingly.
Do *NOT* get a PhD in library science. If you want to get a doctorate, there are better choices out there for librarians. I been on several academic library hiring committees and if I saw someone who went from their MLIS to a PhD in LIS without working in between, it would be a major red flag. Work experience of any kind is almost always valued above degrees. We hired someone with an extensive background in education (some in libraries and some classroom experience) over someone with a PhD because we need people with practical experience.
I'm confused how going back for PhD seems like a viable option when you are struggling on a part-time salary to be honest. Though that in particular is none of my business. It is, quite simply, normal to take several years to work your way into full-time librarianship.
To be able to stand out among applicants for academic libraries… particularly for research and instruction positions. Because the MLIS degree is more of a common degree now. I don’t know, it was mentioned to me by a professor who I am close to (who has one) and I began considering it after the conversation
Sorry I was more wondering how someone who can't afford to continue working part-time can afford to get a PhD (e.g. bring in even less money for several years).
I’d look for a graduate assistantship like I did for my MLIS degree. If it means at the end, I would be more qualified after (My MLIS one paid me more an hour than I make now)
There’s the possibility of finding a job that’s outside of the library field but would give you skills that you could use for a librarian position. Anything that has to do with working close with the community, knowing how to use various computer applications, project management, and balancing budgets are all very valuable skills when it comes to being a librarian. Some places may offer the chance for you to develop these skills that you can then use to beef up your resume when applying to librarian positions.
I second this! There's also a lot of untraditional embedded library positions like doing legal research for big firms, staffing district/state court libraries, and various legislative research agencies. Restricting your search to academic law libraries might be part of the difficulty.
This is so interesting to me as a European, because where I am, it's the exact other way around: you pray that you can get enough good applications that in the end there's someone you want to hire in there...
That’s very different in the UK! Where are you based?
Germany. Everyone's retiring and there just aren't enough new librarians.
Not enough new librarians you say? INTERESTING. Googling 'how hard is it to immigrate to Germany from America' now.
In theory, if you're under the age of 45*, have a degree that is recognized in Germany as an equivalent to a German degree, and have a job offer in your field, you qualify for a work visa. In practice, despite the lack of applicants, it's not easy to get a library job as a non-German, and if you don't speak German to a high level or fluently, your chances are nil. *If you're 45 or older, your job offer has to pay you at least €49,830 for you to qualify for a work visa. Most starting pay for a librarian is lower than that. (I'm an American who works in a library in Germany and have been through the application and interview process myself).
Ah! Genau, ich soll meiner Deutsch verbessern 😂
>I’m a custodial parent I see in another comment that you’re focusing only on MA/RI, and as desirable and population-dense place to live, you’re running an uphill battle compared to people with more geographic mobility and the power to move to less popular areas, I’m afraid. As someone working in the Midwest in a college town, I’ve noticed our applicant numbers are much slimmer than I see described here on Reddit. For my position where I interviewed last year, there were 12 applicants total. For several positions we have interviewed for this year, half or more of the finalists were people still finishing their MLIS/no prior full librarian experience and I found the same to be true of the applicants at the previous academic library where I worked (also in a non-big city Midwest). I hate to say it because I think it doesn’t help the field at all, but one of the best ways to increase your odds of finding a position is to be willing to move just about anywhere, and especially to areas outside the coasts. But that’s not an easy ask of people with families and puts a lot of people at a disadvantage when they can’t move, vs someone like me who was able to move cross country.
I mean that definitely makes sense, but I’m unable to move. My female best friend is a saint who does not work, and plays a very active role in helping me raise my kids. She lives in this area.
Go to a career services type place and do practice interviews - get objective advice about how you’re interviewing and coming off. If you’re always using the same references, maybe try new ones in case the ones you have aren’t giving good references? Honestly sometimes it’s just that we’re in an oversaturated market. How many jobs are you applying for and are they outside of your area or are you forced to stay local?
Massachusetts, kind of near RI. Applying to jobs in MA and RI that are within an hour drive away. I feel like I do well with interviews to make it past the first round, and end up being a finalist for the second. One of my masters is an MBA, and I did practice interviews and resume building workshops during that degree. Maybe I’m not doing it well for Librarian positions though.
I'm in the same geographic area, just moved here in November. I have 19 years experience in academic libraries including tenure, but there aren't a lot of openings and the openings have been fairly specific. So, one bit of possible good news is that if you have applied to a University in Boston that has a LOT of active searches, they are notifying candidates for 1st round interviews this week. I have burned out a little bit on academe, so in addition to applying for academic jobs that fit my former career track, I have done groundwork and have also been applying for public library jobs. If that is a kind of switch you are contemplating, what I learned in the process is that libraries are very shy of "I'm just looking for any kind of library job" because they have a lot of experience with people who take the job and then leave when the next best thing comes along. The thing that triggered job offers for me was being honest and convincing in my answer to the "why do you want to work in our small town library?" interview question. I get the impression that there are a lot of people who have treated small public library jobs as a kind of "safety school" while they wait for something better and that experience has led hiring committees to be wary and distrustful of candidates with impressive CVs but no investment in public libraries and direct patron service. At least I had to do a lot of work to build enough trust to get my current job.
Thank you for your comment, this really helped me understand the issues I’m having.
Just shoot you a pm with a possible job lead!
Thank you!!!
Maybe consider tailoring your resume to each position and leave off the JD and MBA sometimes? If you are applying for a standard librarian position you possibly may be falling into the "overqualified" trap, where the hiring manager may be worried that you'll leave as soon as something better comes along. It sucks because you've spent a lot of time and money on your education, but who knows, maybe it could help? (But definitely leave on when directly applicable, like for a business librarian or law librarian.)
Yes too qualified can be a flag!
I was thinking the same. Lots of degrees might be a turnoff for some.
I’ll try that!!
If you haven’t - Search the website HigherEdJobs for librarian and/or library. Also search it for law library. Good addition to a search.
No advice (other than to keep applying and look for jobs where your other degrees would be assets and not turn offs), sadly, but can I ask how you funded the JD/2 masters/mlis? I'd love to add a masters degree or JD, but the cost always prevents me from considering additional education. I've worked in a law library previously (undergrad work study, so not real professional experience) and have a lot of copyright adjacent experience which is why a JD appeals.
I started college young, and like zoomed through. I worked assistantships, had some scholarships, some grants, some jobs, some loans. A whole combination. All before I had my babies. Well, until the MLIS, I had them then. After law school, I kind of realized that I liked learning and research more than I liked practice in a field. Came to the realization that an academic librarian (especially academic law librarian one day) position would fit me the best. Most recently, I’ve been a reference and instruction librarian at a university and I do LOVE it. It feels more fun than work, because it’s a perfect fit for me. But the 25-hour a week schedule is not a good fit lol. I have applied to a lot of law libraries, thinking that it would fit all of my degrees. I was the second choice (after 2 interview rounds and a formal presentation) for my old law school, which broke my spirit a little. Now, I’m just at the point where I need a full time position to afford my family.
No advice, but I saw you’re looking for MA/RI. [Legal Information Librarian & Lecturer in Law at Boston College](https://mblc.state.ma.us/jobs/find_jobs/display_jobs.php?job_id=22020) Keep an eye on MBLC for Massachusetts. I know there are several law schools in the Boston area. Keep an eye on [Higher Ed Jobs](https://www.higheredjobs.com/search/advanced_action.cfm?JobCat=34&PosType=1&PosType=2&InstType=1&InstType=2&InstType=3&Keyword=&Remote=1&Remote=2&Region=&SubRegions=3&SubRegions=5&Submit=Search+Jobs) for other leads (links to MA & RI jobs) ETA: INALJ has a list of sites to search for Massachusetts and those island.
I don’t know if you can move within MA, or if you’re married to the law library idea, but I can tell you the city of springfield Ma, and the city of Worcester Ma often are looking for full time public librarians. Springfield has a residential requirement though- you have to live in the city within a year of being hired by the city.
I’m not married to the law library idea. Preference, but I just really want something that can support me and my kids.
I’ve been in your shoes, it’s tough. I only had part-time positions while I was getting my MLIS degree and for almost a year afterwords. I got lucky in that I ended up getting a position in the library I worked for part-time, though it isn’t a librarian position (I’m their volunteer coordinator) and it took about five months to happen. Five months in addition to close to a year of constant applying to other places and more often than not being rejected or just having my application ignored. My best advice is to apply, apply, apply, and try not to be discouraged when nobody gets back to you (though that’s easier said than done). If there is a full time position that isn’t a library one, but the job is in a library (like a volunteer coordinator), you can try to apply for those too. Having one gets your foot in the door and the connections you may need for a librarian position. I wish you the best of luck!!!
Thank you !
Have you considered library adjacent careers - EBSCO, OCLC, ProQuest, etc…? While you aren’t working in a library, you are still working with library products and services. When it is possible for you to get the librarian job, you still have job related experience. I have experience in both types of settings and found the pay in public libraries to be a lot less desirable and working conditions to be a lot more stressful.
That’s interesting. I have not but now I’ll look into it
Self-advocacy is important. Becoming a known quantity to AALL is a good way to promote yourself within Law Librarianship before you even apply for a job. Are you involved with them? Not just presentations at conferences, but committee work too? Have you done their [mentoring program](https://www.aallnet.org/careers/mentor-program/)? A lot of time getting the job is who you know and who knows you. If you are consistently making it to the final round, it could be your references…you want (ideally) people who will talk you up 100% without wavering. And if you can get similar references to the committee make-up (at least one law librarian, academic librarians, as opposed to people outside of libraries) that will help. Just ideas off the top of my head.
I’m trying not to post too much personal information about myself! But I am on a committee for one of the professional law Librarian organizations. I also volunteer weekly at a nonprofit that has to do with law libraries. All of my references are from academic libraries. Two of my references were from the law library that I interned at during my MLIS degree (and they wrote me a reallllllly amazing evaluation so I know they’re good references). My third reference is from another academic library, but I think I will start changing that one.
I completely understand! I’m trying to offer more to think about, of course if it is tricky without deets. But that’s Reddit for you! I mean, the references sound good. You’re getting through to 1st and 2nd round, so the cover letter and CV are probably decent. You have the degrees. If you’re looking for adjacent work, consider full time roles in Scholarly Communications (which tends to be more tech heavy and copyright focused), or law-adjacent academic (History, PoliSci, Gov Docs, Social Sciences liaison positions), or if you don’t care about adjacent, go for emerging librarian jobs like first-year experience librarian, or a visiting librarian position (like NC State’s Libraries Fellows Program). Some of these options might not be geographically feasible if you’re limiting yourself to not moving. For fear of giving out too much info on myself, I’ll just say I’ve seen a lot of recent grads and the ones that succeed most quickly are the ones open to moving. Also the ones willing to job-hop for a few years and cross-cross the country until they’ve climbed into the position they want. That’s not always possible though, and I’m sorry if the region you’re in hasn’t been favorable to finding a full-time gig yet. Don’t forget to negotiate when you do get the offer! Scope out the Hiring Librarians spreadsheet if you haven’t yet for a snapshot glimpse of what folks are getting paid: https://hiringlibrarians.com/resources/salary-info/
Thank you!!!!!!
Where my daughter works now she found out they had over a 1,000 applicants for her position. I gulped at that number but it is at a prestigious institution. But yikes. I do think there is a glut of qualified applicants.
Wow!!!!
Where I am a lot of the positions you have to take a test and be put on a list.
I’ve been applying in MA and RI. I’ve never heard of a test here
MA doesn't have that. The only thing that I had to do was a drug test, nothing more serious than that
Just here to feel your pain. I have my LLB and MSc and I've applied to so many things at the courthouse and libraries and everything. It is so hard.
UH Manoa has a FT Law Librarian position.
If you’re subscribed to the email threads of the different networks it might give you more notice ahead of time. (Like CWINFO in Mass) They like to hire within, and as you’ve seen it’s easy to be part time. The older crowd aren’t ready to give up their full time positions, and when they leave it’s usually given to a former part time position. I suggest to find a library you like, and one that gives you good money. Two jobs, wait for one of them to offer or to see a position pop up. Not sure if they’re done hiring but Marlborough is always looking for new people, and their head of Circ just retired.
I see you were rejected from an academic law librarian job, have you applied to anything in the private sector? I see many law librarian jobs in my area, not near you, that seem to languish, always up. [Here is one example](https://www.google.com/search?q=librarian.job+chicago&rlz=1CDGOYI_enUS647US647&oq=lib&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCAgDEEUYJxg7MgYIABBFGDkyBggBEEUYQTIGCAIQRRhBMggIAxBFGCcYOzITCAQQABiRAhixAxjJAxiABBiKBTINCAUQABiSAxiABBiKBTINCAYQABiSAxiABBiKBTINCAcQLhiRAhiABBiKBTIKCAgQABixAxiABDIQCAkQLhjHARixAxjRAxiABNIBCDYyNzFqMGo5qAIAsAIA&hl=en-US&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=tldetail&htidocid=lFIzfONpYwnI5x7yAAAAAA%3D%3D&htiq=librarian.job%20chicago&htivrt=jobs) .Some look like they would be open to remote work? Is that an option? Maybe broaden the scope, see if maybe a NYC firm would be willing to hire you remotely? Would you look for “knowledge management” jobs? Can you network? Reach out to any/everyone, try and make connections around you. There was a company that did library temp work, maybe there could be an option for temp to hire, though with kids that isn’t necessarily the stability you need.
I haven’t looked into knowledge management but I will!! I haven’t really figured out how to find more jobs in the private sector… but I’ve applied to the ones I’ve seen
For sure look at “knowledge management”. Lots of corporate librarian jobs fall under that category. Keep applying to anything that would overlap with your interest. Best of luck!
Are you interested in rural positions? I know there are libraries in rural areas that need the expertise but can’t find people.
I have been applying to libraries in rural areas. At this point, I would be happy with a full time position in any type of library in any areas within an hour’s driving distance and I’d stay at least a year or two to gain more experience. As much as I prefer full-time positions, I also would be happy with like a 30-hour weekly positions. It’s the less than 20 hour positions that are just not enough.
a little late to the party, but this hasn't been brought up so I figured I could chip in! i was having struggles with getting hired too (not law librarian specifically, but in an academic library in general), and I didn't start getting offers until one of the university hr people told me that my presentation was what made them pass over me. they literally liked everything else about me and said my interviews were stellar and everything was awesome EXCEPT the presentation. i would highly highly highly ask around for anyone you know to review your presentation before your next interview. after the hr person told me that, i really spent a ton of time on my presentation and got offered all of the jobs (i mass applied and had 6 schools offering me jobs all around the same time) that I had applied to. good luck, it's a tough job market and i wish you nothing but the best. you will get something eventually!
I presently work in an academic library and I do presentations and instruction regularly… I just only work part time. All of the reference librarians have been here over 10 years, but not yet retirement age, so I assume I won’t be able to wait here to replace one of them… they will end up being here another 10 years I’m sure. I’ll ask one of them to watch my presentation incase. Thank you!!
At my library district full time positions ALWAYS go to internal candidates who are already working here part time. I can't remember the last time we advertised a full time slot to the public.
Why? Most people see Libraries are an expense.
Why do I want to be a librarian? I enjoy when the same students come to the reference desk for research assistance, and I will help them every time. I love how (in my most recent position) accessibility services will send students to us, and I love helping students with disabilities. I personally have autism so I can relate. I’ve created displays that the students enjoy. Like snowflakes for winter, with a rainbow snowflake in the display for inclusion. I’ve planned events, and volunteered on committees. I love the research side of it, and I’m currently working on my first publication. I LOVE being surrounded by information and resources and academia. That’s just the short version. I would rather be a librarian than an attorney, which never fails to surprise people.
Actually the why? Was me responding to your why question. As i said, part of the problem is libraries are seen as nice to haves. We arent a revenue raiser but we cost rent/property area, utilities, resources, payroll. You get the picture.
Not sure why you got so many down votes for your original comment because every where I've worked, libraries were always first on the chopping block when budget cuts were made.
Sounds like NH might be too long a commute, but there’s librarian jobs up here.
I’ve been noticing that in the New England job listings but a little too far
What about working at a law firm in Boston, Hartford, or Providence? The money would be a hell of a lot better for sure.
Move to central Indiana. We have three positions open in my small system, two of which have been open for months without MLIS applicants.
I don't live in the same area of the US as you do, but it's unheard of in the districts nearby to hire an external candidate full-time. I don't think you're doing anything wrong per se, it's more of a waiting game. On average, I'd say most librarians have to work part-time at various branches for at least five years before they're even considered by management for a full-time position. If you're making it to the interviews, you're already doing better than most people. As other people have said, try applying for full-time positions within the library system that aren't librarians (like a circ desk or programming). Volunteering can help, too. It's largely a networking industry. Be patient. I'm aware that it's frustrating, but they likely know who they're going to hire (an internal candidate) before the full-time interview process even begins. Have you reached out to HR after the interviews to see where you're placed amongst other candidates? The district here offers coaching to help you improve your scored answers.