New England Teen Summit 2022

This past week I (virtually) attended the New England Teen Summit and, as always, it was fabulous! I sometimes feel a slight pang that I don’t get to participate in person anymore but, honestly, it’s WAY more convenient virtually (and this way I don’t have to talk to other people if I don’t want to – #introvertlirbarian.) Pre-covid, this event was put on by the Massachusetts Library System, and librarians from neighboring states could attend if they were able to. Switching to virtual has made it possible for all 6 New England states to work together and everyone has the opportunity to attend – even those from outside the New England states. Librarians without the funds to attend an event like this can now attend for free and will be able to view the zoom recordings when they are posted at a later date.

I missed viewing the keynote speaker but I was able to attend 4 live zoom sessions: One Trusted Adult (presented by One Trusted Adult creator Brooklyn Raney), How to engage teen patrons using Discord, Using Discord to Build a Community for Teens at Your Library, and the MA Teen Choice Book Award Panel. I really didn’t know much about Discord, so these two presentations were excellent and gave me some much-needed knowledge about Discord itself, as well as how (and sometimes how NOT) to use it for teens at a public library.

Other presentations going on simultaneously as the sessions I attended included: Anyone can Cartoon! presented by Daryl Seitchik, Beyond the Book Bans – Creating Inclusive Spaces for LGBTQ+ Youth – Equality Maine, Youth Summer Career Bridging Workshop, and Mission Impossible: Deciphering Teen Behavior. All of these presentations will be up on the MLS site to view in the next few weeks, so take advantage! The keynote presentation with Mike Curato is already available since it was pre-recorded. Hoping to watch it sometime this week.

This isn’t maybe the most exciting “last post” but I thought it was a good reminder that we need to take advantage of these amazing – and FREE – resources and continue to help each other out. I actually feel fairly confident that my 41-year-old self can start a teen Discord community after watching those 2 presentations. Am I crazy? Probably! But I’ll give it a go. 😉

Cheers, and thanks for the support!

~ Molly

 

A Helpful Resource for Connecting with Teens and Tweens

As libraries grow and change, so do the teens and tweens we get visiting. Trends come and go, but teens and tweens always need help with finding good sustainable resources.

The Teen Librarian Toolbox through School Library Journal has always been a blog I recommend. I love reading this blog pretty much daily and take inspiration from it.  It has great ideas for crafts and programs, but it also talks about real things that teens are going through and they can relate to. I recommend this blog because of the broadness of it and what it contains.

I have taken ideas from this blog and really taken the time to talk to teens in our teen area and get to know them and what they are going through. From there I have been able to use other resources if any of them need help.

The author has a teen daughter and it has helped to see how they have handled different situations over the years. I use these to then help the teens around me.

During Covid I put out a chat box where the teens could leave me notes and if they wanted a response they left their email. I got to connect with more teens this way and help them through the difficult times that were happening.

I have used some of the Cindy Crushes Programming ideas too that are featured all the time.

I know this is only one resource, but it has such great ideas for doing things with teens and helping them.

A few more helpful resources:

YALSA

Teen Sites for Texas Public Libraries

Mental Health Help for Kids, Teens, and Young Adults

What I Wish I Had Learned in Library School- Networking!

I really enjoyed library school and really found my niche while I was working on my master’s degree. I think the thing that helped me the most while I was in library school was working in a library. I could apply what I was learning to my job and really focus on the area I wanted to have a librarian position in later.

The thing I wish that I would have learned more of is how to network and talk to people!

Networking is such a relative skill to have in any job now. Once I became a full-time librarian, I realized to do any kind of programming you need connections or you need to be good at conversing with people to gain connections. I was lucky that in my first position as a Youth Librarian the library already had a lot of connections around the area for performers. But we needed more support from sponsors in the area. Libraries don’t inherently have a lot of money, so much of the time you have to go out and network and find sponsors or obtain grants. This is not a skill that just everyone has. It is a learned skill in some cases. Grant courses are there for a reason and there need to more of them available.

I have learned that using people you know and networking through those people is really important. Creating new connections for your library is also really important. And you can’t forget to thank them to continue to have a relationship with them in the future.

Networking is such a key component these days. So if you are in library school or thinking about going to library school, use your resources and connections around you to further your education to get you further in life.

Notes on Attending an All-Day Virtual Conference

At the beginning of the year, I looked forward to attending an all-day librarian event in New York City in May. I don’t need to explain what happened. Like so many other conferences planned for 2020, this one went virtual. While I was bummed to miss out on all the fun things that come with going to events like these (Swag! Hanging with colleagues! Meeting authors!) – I did feel grateful that the event hadn’t been canceled altogether. (And my library was pretty stoked, too, because my registration fees had been refunded!)

Like any other librarian, I’ve attended a fair amount webinars. But I’d never attended an all-day virtual event before. I wanted to make the most of my day in front of the screen, so I prepped in a lot of the same ways I do for an in-person professional development program.

How it was the same

I took time prior to the conference to look over the day’s program. There were multiple panels happening simultaneously, so I made my choices in advance of which I was to attend. As with in-person conferences, I also marked off a few alternates in case a particular panel was full (or if I wanted to bail part-way through and slide into another one. Come on, we’ve all done it.)

I decided what to wear. Just because I planned to spend the day on my couch instead of a convention center didn’t mean I should neglect my wardrobe! Instead of figuring out which were my comfiest shoes for a day of hoofing it, I found myself evaluating which of my sweatpants were the stretchiest. When it comes to any conference, whether it is virtual or in person, comfort is always the priority.

I set up an auto-response email, just as I would when I attend any other in-person professional development event. Just because I’d been working from home for a few months, and would be home still while participating in the virtual conference, didn’t mean that I was planning to check email. My scenery hadn’t changed, but I knew I couldn’t expect myself to multi-task. So I made sure my co-workers knew that too.

How it was different

I was exceptionally more engaged in what the speakers had to say. This surprised me, but it shouldn’t have. While I missed the aspect of interacting with my fellow librarians, I found that without the distractions of being around other people I could focus more on listening to the panelists. 

I took pages and pages of notes without abandon or the usual self-consciousness I feel while note-taking in public. And, for the first time ever, I actually referred back to my notes after the conference!

How it was the same, but different – both, at the same time

The last thing I need is another tote bag. But if I’d gone in person I know I would have come home with one. At least. But this event was not light on swag! The publisher booths offered everything from free eARCs, downloadable bookmarks, Reader’s Advisory lists, and more. Aside from digital swag, some publishers had forms to fill out to receive physical swag in the mail. A few weeks later, I received a box of books, a poster, window clings, stickers, and temporary tattoos. 

My social media game was still as strong as it was had I been there in person. I live-tweeted and took photos. I took photos of my screen as if these esteemed authors were actually in my living room. I Instagrammed a pic of one author and commented that I owned the same shirt she had on and she responded with, “Twinsies!” I followed the hashtag and retweeted the awesome takes from other librarians. Though we were all so distant, it actually did feel like we were together.

I made connections. I traded email addresses with publisher reps instead of passing business cards back and forth. I saw familiar names pop up in the chat boxes and got a kick out of “running into” people I knew. At a conference. That I attended from my couch.

It felt like I was really there. And that’s because I really was.

 

Staying Up To Date with Your ABCs (of LGBTQ+)

When your library is in the midst of a pandemic and safety is your first priority, it’s easy to let other things fall to the bottom of the pile. Pre-pandemic, I had a lot of teens in the library who identify outside of the generic gender check box. Now, we rarely see any teens in the library at all, and my GSA group is temporarily on hold. But as librarians, we need to keep in mind that any of our patrons at the library, whether obvious or not, might identify as something other than male or female.

If pronouns and LGBTQ terminology are not at the top of your staff meeting agenda, then maybe as the Youth Sevices or Teen Librarian, you can make it part of your job to keep up with the terminology. Have a paper handy to give to a coworker, or create a flyer/pamphlet to give to staff or post on a staff board with some of the important highlights. Staff sensitivity training is a great way to get staff thinking about how their words and actions can have a big impact.

Here are a few good websites/resources you can bookmark, or maybe even add to your library’s website/teen page so your staff can access the information when they have a chance. Keep in mind that terminology changes frequently, so it’s a good idea to check in and see if there are any updates from time to time!

Human Rights Campaign – Glossary of LGBTQ+ Terms

GLSEN: Pronouns

PFLAG: Allies 

This resource is a great slide presentation that could be adapted for staff training.

New York Times article: The ABCs of L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+

I do not profess to be an expert AT ALL, and I mess up a lot. As a straight woman, assigned female at birth, I don’t have much personal experience, but it is something that I feel strongly about. If anyone has any other great websites or resources, please share in the comments!

Webinars and Where to Find Them

The education of a librarian does not stop once we receive our MLS. Our field is ever changing and growing and there is ALWAYS something new to learn. Whether it is a simple as discovering new books coming out, learning a new computer program or learning about what others are doing in our field. Continuing our education is something we all should be doing whenever we can.

Not everybody has access to in person opportunities to further their education. If they need a certain amount of Contact Hours or Credits, they may not be able to obtain enough in person as well. This is where Webinars come in handy.

Webinars are a live internet based presentation where one or more individuals can connect to multiple individuals at the same time to share their information. Webinars can be slides with audio or video based.

Here are some helpful sources for webinars:

AASL – http://www.ala.org/aasl/ecollab/upcoming

While no webinars are currently available as of my writing this post. This source is a school librarian focus division of ALA meaning webinars should be geared towards teens and children.

Booklist Online – https://www.booklistonline.com/webinars

These often 1 hour based webinars often take place on Tuesdays at 1 PM Central Standard Time. The often feature a selection of publishing houses talking about new books, and various topics relating to the world of libraries. Webinars that focus on YA or Teens will say so. Registration is required but FREE.

Education Week – https://www.edweek.org/ew/marketplace/webinars/webinars.html

These webinars are geared towards teachers and those working in the school setting and therefore worth a look if you work in a school library.

Info2Go – https://libraries.idaho.gov/continuing-education/info2go/

This site is meant for librarians in Idaho but even if you don’t live in that state you may find the information they provide useful for your own library. Registration is required but free.

InfoPeople – https://infopeople.org/training/view/webinar

Provides a selection of webinars for serving all ages and working in libraries in general. Past webinars include “Using Social Media as a Tool to Advocate Diversity and Inclusion” and “Free Tools for Working with Graphics and the Web”. Certain topics repeat yearly keeping librarians up to date.

Learning Center – http://learn.volunteermatch.org/training-topics

These free webinars take place at 1 PM Central Time. Their webinars fall into categories such as Introductory Approaches, Core Components and Advanced Practices. 

Public Library Association – http://www.ala.org/pla/education/onlinelearning/webinars

Webinars geared towards working in a public library.

School Library Journal – https://www.slj.com/?subpage=Events

Geared towards serving children as well as teens SLJ offers various continuing education opportunities. While they don’t have them often you can click on Virtual Events or Webcasts tabs to see what they are offering. 

WebJunction – https://www.webjunction.org/events/webjunction.html

These free webinars are geared towards serving patrons at all ages. While they take place on different days they all appear to take place at 2 PM Central Time. Registration is required.

Most of these sources will also provide links to previous webinars so you can learn about topics you may have missed. Watching archived webinars however will not result in contact hours/continuing education credits. 

Remember these are only a selection of sources for webinars. Feel free to share your favorites in the comments below.

Starting over in a new Library

Getting your first job as a librarian is exciting!

When it’s only part time though, one often is aware there is a chance of leaving that library in order to become full time somewhere else. When you are a full-time librarian though, deciding whether or not to make a  change to a new library, is well, a hard decision.

A little bit about me: I was working full-time at a library I started out as a page (sometime called shelver) back in high school. The staff and patrons were wonderful and I was happy to be a part of the family. Problem was, a small part of me still felt like a teen working there. Also, since this was a library on the small side, my opportunities were limited and room for growth wasn’t really there. I ended up applying for and getting offered the job at a larger library. Leaving was bittersweet but I knew it was what I had to do.

For me making the switch was filled with some ups and downs. I also had to take into account some dos and don’ts of making the switch. This post is posted 5 months and a day after I have started in my new library and here is what I can share with you for those who feel they may need to make a change.

DO remember there is no good time to leave a library job. Often programs are planned and schedules have been made but if the opportunity comes, you have to do what is best for you. 

DON’T let things slip just because you are leaving. Yes, there are certain things you can and should stop doing once you’ve given notice, such as ordering material and planning programs. Just remember until you clock out for the last time, you are still an employee there.

DO take note of successful programs, displays, etc. that worked at your previous position to try again at your new library. They may not be (as) successful but it’s worth the try.

DON’T be afraid to try a program that didn’t go over so well at your previous post. If you’re working with a new population they may be into a program your previous just wasn’t.

DO be aware that why you have library experience, every library does things differently so you will have to be trained in how your new library operates.

DON’T constantly reference your previous job. Your new co-workers don’t want to hear “At my last library…” numerous times. Remember you are coming into their environment and they are used to doing things a certain way that work. 

DO remember that even though you may be in charge of somebody because you are a full time librarian and they are part-time or support, they have been there longer and can be a good resource. I am not ashamed to admit I have looked to the support staff in my new library’s department to verify how things work.

DON’T stress that you made the wrong decision. At first things may seem overwhelming but the chances you made the wrong decision are very slim. 

DO remember if you did make the wrong decision, there is nothing wrong with making a change again. If somebody is worried you are just hopping from one library to the next, they won’t hire you. Some may be excited that you have experience at multiple libraries and working with different populations.

I have found that making the change was truly the best decision for me. Already I have seen how I have benefited and grown in the five short months since I began.

If you’re still worried, please trust me when I say…

 

Library Interview Tips and Tricks

You’ve searched for the perfect job, and now you’ve got an interview scheduled! Congratulations! Here are some things to do in order to make yourself stand out at the interview.

Months Before the Interview

There are some things you can make a habit of doing that will make you stand out at any interview, but some of them will take time to develop. While you are on your job search journey, you can use the time to add some of these things and make  yourself stand out as a candidate.

1. Start a blog. I was hired for one of my library jobs specifically because my manager saw my blog and took note of the fact that I was keeping current on library issues and recently published books. You may be thinking that every topic under the sun is already being blogged somewhere, and in a way you are right; however, not every topic is being blogged by YOU, and that’s where you can stand out. Find a topic within librarianship that you would like to talk about and start posting! There are plenty of websites and articles dedicated to starting a blog, so I’ll leave that information to you to google on your own time.
2. Keep your skills up. Make sure you have a local library card, then research what types of resources are offered by your library. Are there classes online you can take to keep your skills fresh? Is there some type of library-related skill that you think you need more practice in, like coding or internet searching? Find a free online class and take it. Not only will this give you a skill you didn’t have before, it will also give you a talking point for your next interview.
3. Keep up to date on hot topics in librarianship. This is the time to make a habit of reading through library posts on social media, even if you can only devote a few minutes a day or a week to doing so. You will be able to talk about the library that had a drag queen storytime or the most recent article saying that Amazon should replace libraries, etc. etc. Knowing what’s going on is a good way to signal to interviewers that you have a passion for library services.
4. Keep up to date on books. It is not possible to read every single book that is published, even if you narrow your focus to, say, young adult fantasy. But it is a good idea to keep current about trends in publishing. What is the “it” topic this year in young adult fiction? Is there a new book or author that is exceptionally popular with teens? Which books have recently won awards or sparked controversy? These are the books you should know about, even if you don’t have time to read all of them.

Weeks/Days Before the Interview

You may only have a week or even a matter of days once an interview is scheduled, but this is the time to learn more about the specific library or institution where you may soon be working. Do these things to be ready to shine for the interviewers!

1. Read their website. I cannot emphasize this enough. I have attended far too many interviews where the committee intentionally references something on their website or asks questions about current programs to see if the interviewee has done their homework. Check their website. Check to see if they use social media: do they have a Facebook page or a Twitter account? Make sure you skim through the most recent postings, particularly noting if they’ve done anything new or different recently. Look at what types of comments are left by patrons as well.
2. Visit in person before your interview. If the place you are interviewing at is not familiar to you, make a point to visit as a patron beforehand if possible. Look at the displays, look at the way the library is set up, take note of how many patrons are there and what programs they are promoting, etc. etc. You may get a tour as part of your interview, but it is even better to take a peak beforehand.
3. Practice your responses. Lots of people will look up common interview questions before an interview, but make sure you think through and practice your responses. They may ask the dreaded “what are your weaknesses” question, and you should have an answer ready to go. Library jobs often also ask about a book you’ve read recently or your favorite book in a particular category; make sure you have answers for those questions as well. Pick a recent program they’ve done and learn about it. Think of some programs you don’t see listed on their site and be ready to describe how you’d implement them.
4. Prep your thank you notes. You may or may not know beforehand how many people you’ll be interviewing with. If you know their names beforehand, you can prep envelopes or emails for your thank-you notes. If not, make sure you have some blank notes or standard emails ready to go; then, when the interview is through, you can double check the library website for correct spellings and have those thank-yous one their way before you even arrive home. When I interview, I keep the thank-you notes (with pre-addressed and stamped envelopes) in the car and fill them out at the nearest post office before heading home. For emailed notes, I try to have the drafts sitting in my draft folder before attending the interview, then I can adjust them as needed and send them from my phone. My general rule of thumb for paper vs. emailed notes is this: will the paper note reach them before they make their decision? If not, then send an email. If they tell you, though, that it will take them another week to finish interviews, by all means mail a handwritten note, but do so on the day you interview. The important thing is to make sure they see the note before they make a decision about the job.

These things will help you stand out in the crowd and make you the best candidate at your next interview! Is there a tip or trick you’d like to share that we missed? Let us know in the comments!

How to Get the Most Out of Your Student Status

When most of us were in grad school all we could think about was finishing and getting our MLIS and getting into a full time job, but there are so many benefits to being in school that tend to be overlooked! Make sure if you’re in grad school that you take full advantage of them!

First and foremost, student memberships! You can get deeply discounted membership rates for various library organizations from ALA, to YALSA, to ALSC, to your state’s group. This way you can save money and start to establish yourself as a member. Also being in these groups you can attend all of their conferences at a discounted student rate, which will save you (and if you’re already in a library, your library) money. You can also apply for student scholarships to attend these conferences, which you will be able to get more out of if you register at the student rate! I received YALSA’s student stipend for their annual Symposium and it was such a great experience!

Second, look out for opportunities to be a student member or student intern in various organizations, committees, journals, etc. I was lucky enough to be chosen by Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) to be one of two student members for the duration of 2018. During my time there I was able to participate in board meetings, was able to attend ALA Annual in NOLA, and was able to extend this opportunity to new student members for 2019.

Third, just because you’re in school doesn’t mean that you can’t present at a conference. I presented at two Illinois Library Association conferences as a student and got my name out there early. Often times conferences are looking for not only presentations, but posters for sessions and other student materials. This is a great way to get to know more people in the library field and represent your school. I met many people from my grad school program, as I did mine all online through U of I, at these conferences. My network has grown exponentially!

Fourth, just get involved! Many different places are looking for your experience not only in a library, but in library school. For example when I joined TSU I was in grad school, and could use my classes and experience for my posts. It’s always nice to know there are other students out there going through the same process and reading about all that they are able to do for the library world before they even finish school.

All of these various things will help amplify your resume. When you start applying for jobs it will look great to say all the things that you have already done and contributed to in library world! My time as a student was wonderful, I had a great program, great professors, and was able to participate in so many awesome opportunities!

What are some of the best things you discovered about being a grad school student?

Searching for a Library Job

So, you’ve finally obtained your Master of Library Science degree and you’re ready to find a job. Congratulations! Working in a library can be very rewarding, but finding a library job is a challenge in itself. I didn’t find a library job that requires an MLS until I had been out of school for 16 months; my spouse didn’t get his first “real” library job until two years after graduation.

Whether you have just graduated and are looking for your first library job, or you’re already in a job (library or otherwise) and are looking for a change, here are some tips to use in your job search:

Places to check:

1. Indeed.com and other job search sites. Be sure to use multiple terms: library, librarian, library services, etc.
2. Local city websites. Many libraries are considered city departments, and they may not use job search sites to find potential applicants, but they will post on their city’s site. When I was searching for a library job, I figured out which towns were within a reasonable commute and searched each of their sites every week.
3. Local community college or technical college. Again, they may only post on their own website, but this is another good place to look.
4. Local university, if you have one. College towns are a great place to find steady jobs, because it takes a lot of people to make a university run smoothly.
5. LinkedIn. There are job postings on this site, and LinkedIn can help you search for jobs near you.
6. State library association listservs. Most state library associations have listservs or web pages dedicated to available jobs. See if you can get on the listserv for your state (or any states within your commute).
7. State websites. Your state may hire librarians for the state library, and they may also have other jobs available that you would be qualified for, even if they aren’t in a library. State jobs generally pay fairly well and are solid, steady employment.
8. School district sites. Depending on your location, school district jobs may be posted locally, by district, or statewide. Some schools need librarians and don’t require a school media specialist (SMS) certificate, so this is a great place to check as well!

If you can’t find a library job right away, don’t lose heart! Library jobs, particularly that elusive “dream job” where you are working with the population you want to work with and in the type of library you want to work at, are few and far between. But there are plenty of other jobs you can do while you’re looking for that job. It may be necessary, particularly if you are paying bills, to take a “good enough” position for a while until you can find what you want. Librarians are generally very detail oriented people, so these jobs are good fits as well:

1. Test Scoring. This is a good job to get in the winter and spring. There are companies that score standardized tests and they need humans to help get that done. The best part about this job is that it is generally a temporary position, so it would be easy to leave it and go to a library position afterwards.
2. Data Entry / Clerk. Lots of city departments need clerks who can do data entry or verify accuracy of information, etc. etc. Being a librarian means you are used to looking at data and making sure it’s correct and also means you have the office skills (or the googling skills, as needed) to get the job done. One of the positions I looked into involved transcribing audio reports for the police department.
3. Records or archives. Most big companies have some sort of records department or archive department. Sometimes this means taking care of digital files and sometimes it will mean taking care of physical materials, but in either case, your library skills will come in handy. My spouse was able to obtain a job digitizing notes for a company, and while it isn’t the most thrilling and exciting thing to do, it was a steady paycheck and used the skills he has as a librarian.
4. Secretary or receptionist. These jobs require a mix of computer skills, people skills, and multitasking, all things that librarians excel at. These types of jobs will also give you the experience needed so you can have an answer when a potential employer asks how you handle multitasking or prioritizing tasks.
5. Para-educator. If you are planning to work with children or teens, working as a para educator until you can find a library job is another possibility. You would work in a school assisting teachers and students, both those with disabilities and those without. You would have regular hours, the pay is not too bad, and if you get a full-time position doing this, it counts toward the Public Service Loan Forgiveness since you’re working in a school.
6. The United States Post Office. It sounds strange, but a large part of post office work involves sorting mail and verifying correct information on forms, both things that librarians excel at. The application process for the post office requires some testing and multiple interviews, so you’ll want to get started on this process as soon as possible.

These are great places to begin your search. Remember not to lose heart; the job market is not overflowing with library positions, but it is possible for you to find a job you can do!