ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries 3 8 6 / C&RL N ew s Promoting careers in library and information science By Sharon Vaughters A career c o u n s e lo r ’s perspective L ibrarians an d career professionals have some things in com m on w hen it comes to educating students about w ho w e are and w h w e do. Because our w ork is situated o n cam­ pus, w e probably share a similar frustration of having many students use our services (in the case o f libraries the service is an integral part o f the academic experience), and few students having more than a surface know ledge about w hat w e do as professionals. We also each have an opportunity to interact with students as they w ork in our units. And, because w e do not have a popular television show showcasing our work, w e can safely conclude that w e d o n ’t have the media coverage that doctors, lawyers, o r business executives enjoy. Building effective marketing strategies can help enhance the possibility of recruiting the “best and the brightest” to the profession. In order to educate students about career op p o r­ tunities in information and library science, hav­ ing a know ledge base of how students learn and m ake decisions about careers can be ex­ tremely helpful. The following perspective on how to attract students is g rounded in informa­ tion about the complexity o f that process. Although there are many schools o f thought about how people make career decisions, most perspectives include a process w hereby an in­ dividual integrates know ledge about oneself w ith inform ation ab o u t career o p tio n s and m akes some sort o f commitment to a choice by taking steps to im plem ent it. Therefore, a student making the decision to enter a library graduate program may progress through a num ­ ber of overlapping stages. First, he or she may start by considering his or her ow n skills, interests, and values by self reflection, talking w ith a counselor o r trusted friend or role model, working w ith counseling tools such as a career “test” or interactive com ­ aptu ter guidance system, or by attending a ca­ reer decision-m aking w orkshop. Second, the student may talk w ith a librar­ ian to gain the perspective o f som eone in the field, read occupational information on careers in the library or information fields, attend a program on career opportunities w ith a gradu­ ate degree, or sit in on a graduate class to find out about a field of interest. Third, after making some level of commit­ ment, the student may test out the option by working part-time or in a sum m er job or in­ ternship and, based o n that information, either confirm or cast doubt on the choice they have made. And finally, if the choice seem s reason­ able or “feels right,” the student may make the comm itment to go to graduate school and start the process of exploration all over again as they m ake a choice about appropriate programs. Career professionals facilitate this process by providing information about the many career opportunities, helping interpret information and offering the information in a format that suits the student’s individual style. Many different factors influence the process o f career decision-making. The perceptions or information a student has about a career can be based in myth or in reality. W hen attem pt­ ing to educate a student, one is therefore faced w ith the challenge of dispelling myths and pro­ viding a realistic view of the profession. W hen H ollywood depicts a librarian, the information Sharon Vaughters is assistant director o f undergraduate a n d g ra d u a te counseling a t the University o f M ichigan, A n n Arbor Cost-effective access to scientific literature in 35 fields H ow can you give y o u r y o u r full-text subscriptions, p atro n s c o m p re h e n ­ C am bridge jo u r n a ls give sive access to c u rre n t yo u a cost-effective m eans scientific lite ra tu re in a to cover th o u s a n d s o f w id e range o f fields? p u b lic a tio n s ... so y o u r C am bridge Scientific p a tro n s can k eep u p A bstracts jo u r n a ls w ith im p o rta n t global p ro v id e a so lu tio n to research. T hese j o u r ­ th is d ilem m a w ith nals p ro v id e in fo rm a­ 35 jo u r n a ls th a t tiv e abstracts d ra w n cover m ajo r disci­ fro m u p to 5,500 p lin e s in th e life w o rld w id e p u b lic a ­ sciences, e n v iro n ­ tions, as w ell as com ­ m en tal sciences, p re h e n siv e in d ex in g technology, an d to h e lp y o u fin d spe­ m anagem ent. cific in fo rm a tio n fast. By s u p p le m e n tin g Medical and Biological Sciences Fisheries, Aquatic Sciences, Pollution and the Environment and Zoology □ Biochemistry Abstracts, Part 1: □ A nim al Behavior Abstracts □ RP ASFA Part 3: Aquatic Pollu­ Biological Membranes M onthly Quarterly tion Environmental Quality □ Biochemistry Abstracts, Part 2: □ Aquatic Sciences Fisheries Bim onthly Nucleic Acids Monthly Abstracts (ASFA), Part 1: □ Digests o f Environmental □ Biochemistry Abstracts, Part 3: Biological Sciences & Living Impact Statements Bimonthly A m ino Acids, Peptides & Pro­ Resources M onthly □ Ecology Abstracts M onthly teins M onthly □ Aquatic Sciences Fisheries □ Pollution Abstracts Bimonthly □ Biotechnology Research Abstracts (ASFA), Part 2: Ocean E Engineering, Com puter Science, Abstracts Bimonthly Technology, Policy & Non- □ Calcified Tissue Abstracts Living Resources M onthly and Market Research Quarterly □ RP Aquatic Sciences & □ C om puter & Information □ Chemoreception Abstracts Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), Part Systems Abstracts M onthly Quarterly 3: Aquatic Pollution & Environ­ □ Conference Papers Index □ Genetics Abstracts M onthly mental Quality Bimonthly Bim onthly □ RP Human Genome Abstracts □ NE ASFA Aquaculture □ Electronics & Communications Bimonthly Abstracts Bimonthly Abstracts Bimonthly □ Im m unology Abstracts □ RP ASFA Marine □ RP FINDEX: The W orldwide M onthly Biotechnology Abstracts Directory o f Market Research □ Microbiology Abstracts, Section Quarterly Reports, Studies & Surveys A: Industrial & A pplied □ Entomology Abstracts M onthly Semiannual Microbiology M onthly □ Oceanic Abstracts Bimonthly □ Health & Safety Science □ Microbiology Abstracts, Section Abstracts Quarterly B: Bacteriology M onthly For m ore information o r a □ ISMEC: Mechanical Engineering □ Microbiology Abstracts, Section Abstracts Bimonthly C: Algology, Mycology Proto­ sample copy, w rite o r fax today: □ RP Risk Abstracts Quarterly zoology M onthly □ Solid State Superconductivity □ Neurosciences Abstracts (301) 961-6720 Abstracts Quarterly M onthly Attention: Marketing Department □ RP Oncogenes Growth Fac­ Magnetic Tape Databasestors Abstracts Quarterly □ Toxicology Abstracts M onthly Most o f th e jo u rn als listed here □ Virology & AIDS Abstracts M onthly CAMBRIDGE SCIENTIFIC ABSTRACTS are available on magnetic tape for your Local Area Network. For RP: Recently Published A Division o f C ambridge Information Group m ore inform ation o r to obtain a 7200 Wisconsin Avenue sample tape, please fax o r w rite HE: Newly Expanded Bethesda, Maryland 20814-4Ö23 USA on your official letterhead. 3 8 8 / C&RL N e w s Reflections on my recruitment I w as a social change a n d dev elo p m en t m ajor w ith a business adm inistration minor. Aspiring to b eco m e an attorney, I becam e dis­ illusioned w ith law as an occupation. I found m ost o f w h at I w as studying interesting; I w as o n e o f those students w h o thirsted for infor­ m ation. W henever I researched in the library I w as sed u ced by the potential o f so m uch k n ow ledge a n d inform ation. I often lost all track o f time. As I b eg an to think ab o u t gradu­ ate program s I could n o t com m it to o n e dis­ cipline. I tu rn ed to career counseling. I took the Strong C am pbell Interest Inventory and the MMPI. Librarian w as o n e o f th e results. I laughed. The facilitator en co u rag ed m e to talk to a few o f m y professors a b o u t librarianship in o rd er to b ro a d e n m y experiential base. Most p e o p le only consider careers they are famil­ iar w ith or k n o w p e o p le w h o are in those careers. W hen I sp o k e w ith th e form er ch an ­ conveyed m ay b e totally different th an w h en a career co u n selo r describes a librarian, o r w h en a librarian describes a librarian. T he inform a­ tion could com e from a place closer to hom e w h en a stu d en t asks a parent, “W hat d o you think ab o u t m y applying to graduate school in Inform ation an d Library Studies?” a n d th e reply is, “H ow much is it going to cost and will you be guaranteed a high-paying job w hen you finish?” As inform ation professionals know , access to inform ation is a key elem ent in developing “H ow m u c h is it going to cost a n d will y o u be guaranteed a high- p a y in g jo b w hen y o u finish?” a know ledge base. Providing effective m eans for a student to access inform ation a b o u t li­ brary careers can b e b ased on know ledge about students in general. In designing program s an d services to h elp students an d recruiters com ­ m unicate, career counselors p ay attention to cognitive differences, learning style preferences, an d differences in level o f career maturity, in addition to o th er characteristics. For exam ple, a first year student will m ost p ro b ab ly n e e d a cellor, h e sp o k e highly o f o n e of th e librar­ ians at th e university, so I sp o k e w ith her. I also sp o k e w ith m y m ajor professor w h o told m e that his w ife h a d an interest in th e profes­ sion. T he m ore p eo p le I talked w ith, th e m ore excited I becam e. O n e o f the m ost im portant things I learned from the ex perience is the value o f creating positive im ages, interactions, an d experiences w ith faculty a n d students in th e academ ic e n ­ vironm ent. W e have the p o w e r to change p e r­ ceptions through ou r interactions in reference, faculty liaison, university-sponsored events, an d com m ittees. O ur colleagues in universi­ ties an d colleges are th e o n es w h o have o n ­ going direct contact w ith potential library and inform ation science students. I never w ould have considered librarianship had it not been for the encouragement of those important people in my life.— Kay Tavill, instructional materials librar­ ian, Loyola University ■ different type o f inform ation than a graduate student. Some students learn b e st from experi­ ence, others from research, others through con­ versation. A stu d en t w h o has h a d an intern­ ship ex p erien ce will have a different sense of career reality th an so m eo n e w h o has no t had that experience. So, in tackling the question ab o u t h o w students perceive a n d consequently choose an y given career, w e also look at indi­ vidual differences. Strategies for effective program s, resources, an d services designed to show case y o u r p ro ­ fession can b e e n h an ced by incorporating b o th a know ledge of the career decision-m aking p ro ­ cess a n d insight into individual differences. B ased o n this type o f insight, I w o u ld like to offer the follow ing strategies for exposing stu­ dents to the library profession: • C onsider a ll o f the existing m echanism s w ith in y o u r workplace th a t c a n in tro d u ce stu ­ dents to a realistic view o f y o u r profession. Look for o p portunities w h ere students (in­ dividually o r in groups) can gain a realistic pic­ ture o f w h at y o u do. You can provide inform a­ tio n to stu d en t w orkers as you serve as a role m odel. C onsider opportunities in bibliographic instruction courses w h e re y o u can give insight o n th e role o f the librarian in th e process. J u n e 1 9 9 2 / 3 8 9 • P rovide in fo rm a tio n a b o u t y o u r p rofes­ sion in a variety o f fo r m a ts a n d styles. As students look for inform ation som e m ay b e m ore com fortable w ith materials in print, others m ay prefer interactions w ith individu­ als, an d still others m ay like inform ation p ro ­ vided thro u g h different types o f technology— e.g., com puter conferences— oryou may consider utilizing combinations of formats; displays as well as information sessions, for example. • Develop experiential learning opportuni­ ties w h ich w ill allow stu d en ts han d s-o n access to y o u r profession. O pportunities su ch as internships, inform a­ tional interview s o r shadow ing program s will allow students to test ou t their interests an d gain a b ro ad er picture o f w h at the profession encom passes. • Provide in fo rm a tio n a b o u t the ed u ca tio n required in y o u r profession. As m en tio n ed previously, this inform ation sh o u ld b e delivered in a variety o f form ats an d styles. O ften, g ra d u a te p ro g ram s w ill w o rk h a n d in h a n d w ith p eo p le w ithin th e p rofes­ sion to d e v elo p inform ation provided in grad u ­ ate school literature, special career inform ation days, o r cam pus visits. Additionally, m an y ca­ reer p lan n in g a n d p lacem ent offices provide programs on graduate school w here students can collect information about a variety of options. • Target students both w here they stu d y a n d w here they live. Students sp e n d a great deal o f their time in academ ic buildings, student unions, a n d resi­ d en ce halls. Consider all of these locations and other high-traffic areas on your campus w hen mak­ ing decisions about information dissemination. • Utilize career p la n n in g a n d p la c e m e n t professionals in p ro v id in g in fo rm a tio n a n d de­ sig n in g strategies. C areer plan n in g a n d p lace m en t offices of­ te n provide a variety o f resources that en ab le a stu d en t to explore careers an d m ake decisions a b o u t graduate education. By providing your career office u p-to-date a n d realistic inform a­ tio n ab o u t th e library profession, in addition to taking advantage o f established services an d utilizing th e staff to build n e w strategies, you can design a plan th at will reach a great n u m ­ b e r of students. Attracting students to th e library profession can b e a rew arding process. It challenges th e profession to provide a realistic view o f itself w hich can b e easily translated to students. In th e p ro cess o f com m unicating timely, accurate, a n d enlightening inform ation, b o th those w h o se n d th e m essage ab o u t careers in th e library profession a n d those w h o receive it will enrich their kn o w led g e o f th e w o rld o f w o rk an d of th e im portant roles that are played. ■ Antonetti wins Nijhoff aw ard Martin A ntonetti is th e recipient o f the 1992 M artinus Nijhoff W est E u ro p ean Spe­ cialist Study Grant. The grant covers air travel to a n d from E urope, transportation in Eu- . rope, a n d lodging an d b o ard for 14 c o n ­ secutive days. Antonetti will receive his award at the ALA Annual Conference in San Francisco during the WESS annual program and member­ ship meeting o n June 29,1992 at 2:00 p.m. “Mr. A n to n etti’s p ro ject involves o p e n ­ ing ch a n n e ls o f co m m u n icatio n a n d e sta b ­ lish in g co m m ercial a n d cu ltu ral ties b e ­ tw e e n A m erican fine p ress a n d avant-garde p u b lish e rs w ith th e ir co u n terp arts in Italy, w ith th e goal o f brin g in g th e p ro d u c ts of th e s e to U n ited States libraries,” said Eva Sartori, ch air o f th e aw ard jury. “T h e texts p u b lish e d b y Italian fine p ress a n d avant- garde p u b lish ers p resently exist co m p letely o u ts id e th e m ain distrib u tio n n e tw o rk s an d are n o t e v e n w ell k n o w n in Italy itself. Mr. A ntonetti w ill visit Italian p rin te rs a n d p u b ­ lishers, discuss th e c reatio n o f th e ir lists, e x ­ am in e th e ir w o rk s, a n d discuss w ith th em th e w a y s in w h ic h th e i r w o r k s c a n b e b ro u g h t to th e U nited S tates.” A ntonetti received his MLS from Colum bia University a n d his B.A. in ancient a n d m edi­ eval history from W estern K entucky U niver­ sity. H e is a specialist in the history o f print­ in g a n d is assista n t d ire c to r o f C olum bia U niversity’s Rare B ook School. A ntonetti is currently librarian o f th e G rolier Club, one of the most comprehensive collections o f books about books in the United States. T he g rant is aw ard ed to an ALA m em ber to study som e a sp ect o f W est E uropean stud­ ies, librarianship, or the b o o k trade.