Librarians tend to love their work and consider librarianship a great career. This book is by a talented librarian who wants to introduce people, especially people searching for the right career, to the profession. It answers such questions as: What do librarians do? What are the different types of libraries and professional jobs in libraries? What are librarians all about and what hot issues do they discuss in their professional lives? What do I do to become a librarian? What are some important things to know once I'm in a masters program in library science? This book is an essential introduction to the profession for someone who is at the point of choosing a career.
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Lauren Pressley is the Head of Instruction and an Associate Librarian at the Z. Smith Reynolds Library at Wake Forest University. Her professional interests include strategic thinking, advocacy, the library's role in the teaching and research missions of the university, and mentoring new and emerging professionals in the field. She particularly likes helping people think about the changing information landscape and what it means for them as consumers and producers of information.
Lauren earned her MLIS from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and BAs in Philosophy and Small Group and Interpersonal Communication from North Carolina State University. She serves in elected positions on the American Library Association Council and the Library and Information Technology Association Board of Directors, and is a member of the Horizon Project Advisory Board. She has been recognized as an ALA Emerging Leader, a Library Journal Mover & Shaker, and with a UNCG School of Education Distinguished Alumni Early Career award. She frequently writes and presents on education, instruction, technology, and the future of libraries. Her blog, Lauren's Library Blog, addresses these issues on a regular basis.
Overall, I think this is an excellent resource for anyone pursuing a career as a librarian. As a library school student, I think she does a very accurate and honest job of telling you what it is like and her tips for school survival are great. If she is this good at describing the school experience, I think it is safe to assume her advice and discussion for the actual work of being a librarian is accurate as well. I recommend it to anyone thinking about pursing their MLIS.
As someone who doesn't know much about Library and Information Science, except that it seems like an interesting field to go into, I was pleased to find that this book provides a not too overwhelming overview of aspects of the profession, issues facing the profession, how to get your degree, things to consider in grad school, and lists of helpful websites. This was just what I needed.
At one point I considered library work as opposed to working for a literacy non-profit in a library setting. The first few pages were so elementary that I could not keep my eyes on the pages. My mind wandered and I had to wonder if this book would offer me any guidance. I already have a B.A.Ed. and an M.A.J. Perhaps suited more for someone starting their search for life's calling rather than someone considering a switch to a more exciting, or purposeful career.
