Customer Reviews

Rethinking Information Work: A Career Guide for Librarians and Other Information Professionals

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Without doubt this is the clearest career guide ever written for librarians, library students, or others in interested in information-based careers. With libraries and access to information changing at a breath-taking pace, this guide will expand your world of possibilities and affirm your decision to serve in this field. Never has there been a work that so clearly delineates just what different kinds of librarians actually do, and what they could do with a bit of entrepreneurial ability. This book is an encapsulation of a class Kim has taught for many years at the University of Denver - a class in which she brought in traditional and non-traditional information professionals to explain what they do. Her experience in the business world comes across in the refreshing cross-pollination of up-to-date business and career literature integrated with library literature.

I highly recommend this book for the traditional librarian - it will affirm you chosen path; and for the student in search of a career future in changing times. You will be convinced that information professionals will always have a most important role in society.

This career guidebook is such a valuable resource for students and information professionals of all types. Ms. Dority is an author who actually practices what she writes about. She has a successful career as an information professional and has not only experienced but partipated in the creation process of a variety of exciting and interesting job descriptions. Practicing librarians as well as information professionals who seek an alternative career path will find information in her book that is both motivating and inspiring. This book provides substantial information including worksheets, thought-provoking exercises, and both print and online resources. I was privileged to take the alternative careers class that Ms. Dority teaches and believe that it is one of the most important and stimulating classes offered in the Library and Information Science graduate program. The class, like the book offers students and professionals the opportunity to learn about the many career options that are available along with ideas on how to pursue the possibilities. An added bonus to the book is the related website that includes updated resources and a monthly column on alternative career paths for LIS professionals. Every LIS professional and student should own this book!

Rethinking Information Work is more than a book. It is a manual and a reflexive companion that grows with you as you learn and reflect upon your career choices. I was fortunate enough to obtain a copy during my first quarter as an MLIS student. As I work through school, this book has become an invaluable resource. The format is logical, concise, easy to use, and endlessly helpful. The text is dynamic and the exercises are relevant. There are pointers and ideas regarding all aspects of librarianship that I would not have considered before reading this book. There are so many fresh ideas and creative approaches here that even in a rapidly changing information environment, this book will continue to be my #1 career resource and roadmap for a longtime to come. If you are an MLIS student or if you are remotely interested in a career in library and information sciences, do yourself a favor and buy this book.

The only criticism that I have for this wonderful resource is that it needs a website where resources are updated.
I have returned to this book many times since I purchased it because I find something that I missed the time before.
Thank you to G. Kim Dority for putting this relevant information into print.

This was required reading for our Library Science course. It's a good review of all the careers open to an Information professional/librarian.