Is it a good time to be enrolled in library school? Professional associations predict great numbers of librarians will retire within the next decade. At the same time, instructors preach the horrors of navigating the job market. Students graduate with MLIS degrees in hand, only to find their fancy parchment doesn't guarantee employment. Fortunately, there's plenty that students and new librarians can do to make their stars brighter. Priscilla Shontz draws on experience as a librarian, author, and webmaster to provide the valuable advice found in Jump Start Your Career in Library and Information Science.
The nine chapters in this book cover important factors in a librarian's employment path including: career planning, job searching, experience, education, networking, interpersonal skills, mentoring, leadership skills, writing and publishing. The practical advice within is geared toward librarians in public, private, academic or special institutions.
The author draws from her own experiences when illustrating many points in the book. She also taps into a wealth of information by featuring the knowledge and opinions of colleagues nationwide. Jump Start Your Career in Library and Information Science is the first field-related book I've read which addresses the wonderful world of library politics. Knowing what to expect in the real world will help you cope with it.
This handy tool also includes several tables that contain addresses to helpful web sites. Readers can find online job sources, networking resources, personality tests, and publication guides.
LIScareer.com is a web site run by Priscilla Shontz. It is designed as a companion to this book, not a replacement. Some books are merely print versions filled with information that can be found online. This isn't the case with this book and web site. Both are worth their weight in gold.
Jump Start Your Career in Library and Information Science should be required reading in any introductory library school course. Furthermore, this book is an asset to any personal LIS bookshelf. Shontz provides sound advice from which all MLIS students can benefit. Following the recommendations in this valuable text will allow potential and new librarians to maximize their career opportunities.
