Library Careers

CW: Discussions of Transphobia, Homophobia, Hate Speech, Suicide, Violence

As LBTQA+ identities become more widely acknowledged and accepted, it is critical that libraries ensure that their hiring processes are kept up to date and as inclusive as possible. This presentation is designed to assist potential hiring committees in developing best practices to ensure that these identities are not only respected, but that their presence does not negatively prejudice the committee against the potential recruit. It will primarily address transgender identities, but is broadly applicable to many others in the LBTQA+ community. By the conclusion of the presentation, you will have a versatile toolkit to ensure your library’s positions are truly open to all who apply.

In a time when workloads have never seemed heavier and resources more scarce, many of us feel overworked, under-appreciated, and frustrated. One approach in achieving better work-life balance is becoming empowered through knowledge about the policies, collective agreements, and processes that shape our work. In this hands-on workshop, attendees will have the opportunity to explore the scope of their rights in their workplaces as members (or prospective members) of collective bargaining agents (unions). To gain a deeper, practical understanding of their own workplace context, participants are encouraged to bring a print or digital copy of their own union’s collective agreement. Possible topics to explore include: free speech in the workplace and beyond; code of conduct policies; workload and overtime; access to professional development; performance reviews; job descriptions; and discipline and termination.

This session will explore the library “story” or brand in a broad way and challenge you to begin thinking about your own library’s brand. Find out how library staff and volunteers (including trustees) contribute to that story every day, and how social media (both the library’s social media and individual employees' or volunteers' social media) can affect that brand.
Learning Objectives:

• Understand what the library brand is, and apply that to your library
• Recognize how individual employees and volunteers build the library brand
• Identify the elements of a good social media policy

It’s 20 years since the class of 1998 graduated! They are working in academic, public, and medical libraries, in government, in library consortia, as curriculum specialists, learning designers, information specialists, and more. For students or those early in their librart careers, this is a great opportunity to see the astonishing variety of career paths available to MLIS graduates and get some tips.
Learning Objectives:

• Learn about the different jobs and career paths open to librarians
• Get career advice from SLIS grads
• Discover top skills and strategies to succeed as a librarian