Revitalizing Your Job at Mid-Career: get a new one or put the shine back on the old one

1. by Susan BoydMichel Orradre LibrarySanta Clara UniversityELD/ASEE Annual Conference and ExpositionPortland, ORJune 13, 2004 Revitalizing Your Job at Mid-Career: get a new one or put the shine back on the old one

2. The value of a year off, severance and a good career transition program. Assistance with self assessment, networking and job search resources and skills. Just-in-time time off for personal reasons. Crossing the “homemaker” career off my life goals. In the footsteps of “Madonna,” reinventing myself mentally and physically. Boredom no—freedom to explore, yes. The Pink Slip as a Beginning, Not The End

3. Why: More layoffs than job openings for special librarians in Silicon Valley. Leveraging experience with the high tech industry. Easier transition than to the public sector. Storytelling not on my top 10 list. Working with students and faculty vs. employees. Benefits of working in a larger library. Back to the “real” books vs. a virtual library. From High Tech to Academia

4. The Job The Library Budget Library Services The Culture Academia vs. Special: a comparison

5. Performance Review 1/year Paperwork for Advancement Collect extensive data Job Interview Possibly an all day performance Formal, structured C.V. Perks Given to faculty & top administrators 1/year Minimal Meet the managers Informal Resume Given to high level management The Job Academia Corporate vs

6. Work Hours Follows school schedule Hiring Process Slow Salary $57,552 mean (2003-4 ARL survey) Professional Development Required for advancement Professional Involvement Required for advancement Anytime Fast $63,151 mean (SLA 2004 survey) Time permitting Time permitting The Job Academia Corporate vs

7. Part of direct operating costs Yes Budget size fluctuation Less - dependent on enrollment, gifts, endowment, etc. Government funding Yes, for public institutions Departmental chargebacks None No (overhead) - first item on the chopping block More - dependent on revenue None Some The Budget Academia Corporate vs

8. Purchasing Process Written in stone Conference & Travel Expenses Partially covered Tuition Reimbursement Yes, for employee and immediate family Simple Fully covered Yes, if job-related; for employee only The Budget Academia vs Corporate

9. Environment Educational, intellectual Speed of Change 1st IBM PC Research Focus Scholarly communications Innovation Some Decision-making Democratic - slow Commercial, for profit Supercomputer Support the bottom line Required Autocratic - fast The Culture Academia Corporate vs

10. Job Security Tenure or continuing status Job Stress Seasonal Food Same mediocre vendor Fun Campus activities & events None Constant Same mediocre vendor Amount declined as the stock price declined The Culture Academia Corporate vs

11. Technology Comparable to other campuses Ethics Emphasized – taught on campus Management of the Library Library, IT & Media Services reports to CIO High tech Trying to be better than Worldcom Any department willing to have the library report to it The Culture Academia vs Corporate

12. Reference How to find the answer Users Students, faculty & staff Information Literacy Implementation plans Library Instruction How to find & evaluate information Librarian finds the answer Employees What is it? How to use tools Library Services Academia Corporate vs

13. User access In-person, phone, e-mail, web chat User location Campus Public access Yes Software training Yes, to campus community Phone, e-mail, web Global No Yes, to employees Library Services Academia Corporate vs

14. State and local professional associations Mentoring Find your passion Community involvement Be a library “craftsperson” Time off helps you revitalize yourself New or Same Job: other strategies

15. California Academic & Research Libraries (CARL) Interest Groups CARL IT - North – Information Technology Interest Group (Northern CA) DIAL – North – Diversity in Academic Libraries Special Libraries Association San Andreas Chapter (local) State and Local Professional Organizations

16. ALA – New Members Round Table NMRT Mentoring Project (Pilot program) http://www.ala.org/ala/nmrt/comm/careerpilot.htm ASEE ELD – Mentoring Committee http://www.lib.duke.edu/egr/eld.html SLA – Sci-Tech Mentoring Program http://www.sla.org/division/dst/stmentoring.html Others: Within the library, through local career organizations Mentoring Programs

17. ACRL – Spectrum Scholarship Mentor Program (Mentoring diverse library school and newly graduated librarians) http://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlproftools/mentorprogram.htm Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA) Mentorship Program Committee http://www.cala-web.org/ REFORMA’s Mentoring Project (Latin American-related) http://www.reforma.org Mentoring Programs for Diverse Populations - Examples

18. Be quiet and ask yourself: What drives you, and what gives you satisfaction? What would you regret not having done if your life was ending? What’s stopping you from moving forward and exploring your passion? Questions from: http://www2.oprah.com/presents/2005/self/print/self_passion_print.jhtml Find Your Passion

19. Pursue Your Passion

20. SCU Equestrian Club Staff Advisor ACT (Community Action Team) Annual clothing drive Other campus assistance activities Community Involvement

21. It’s not a “job,” it’s a “craft.” A craft is never perfect—you strive to improve it no matter how long you’ve been at it. Keep improving your craft by looking for new ways of doing things—don’t get stuck in the same rut. From: Izzo, John. “Second Innocence: Rediscovering joy and wonder,” San Francisco, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc., 2004. Be a Library “Craftsperson”

22. Gini, Al, “The importance of being lazy: in praise of play, leisure, and vacations,” New York, Routledge, 2003. We are an “overworked” society. Believe it or not, doing nothing, relaxing, helps the quality of your work. The best vacations are those where silence, solitude, and rest are included. Time Off Helps You Revitalize

23. A job change is an opportunity for mid-career revitalization. Successful transitions can be made between academic and special libraries. If you like your current job, there are options for service and self-reflection to keep out of a rut. Conclusion