Careers in Library and Information Services: First-Hand Accounts from Working Professionals

Drawing on personal experience and expertise from library and information sciences professionals in 101 different roles, this edited collection is rich with diverse perspectives and candid details about professional paths in LIS. In five sections, the voices included here speak of work in public libraries, school libraries, academic libraries, special libraries, and a final section that shares the possibilities that exist beyond the library. From part-time work to upper-level leadership roles, the careers presented are at the same time broad and deeply personal: each contributor answered the same six questions based on their unique experiences, and no two entries read the same. The editorial choice to preserve the voices of the contributors is deliberate and incredibly effective. This collection is conversational and friendly, providing a strong sense of authenticity about LIS professions and the people drawn to these roles. Non-library and information sciences professionals will benefit from this candid collection as well; the guiding questions that the contributors responded to in diverse ways are crucial tools for self-reflection for any stage of an individual’s career journey, and this collection emphasizes the importance of shared values as an important factor in making career choices. Outside of library fields, this book may prove especially useful to scholars and academics, especially when considering the evolving nature of knowledge accessibility and community engagement.