Keeping your library skills fresh: advice all library professionals should be taking

After many months of job searching you might be in the great position of having found a new job, with immense benefits, at a grand institution.  Having secured such a position you would hope to be content in the role for some time, so it’s time to put your feet up and relax? Well not exactly. Unfortunately landing yourself a new job is no longer the end of the process.

Photo by Pietro De Grandi on Unsplash

How can trained library professionals keep their skills fresh?

After all that hard work it’s essential to keep your skills fresh. The following are suggestions that I’ve found in the professional literature, particularly Cutshaw, p.125.

• Keep your CV up to date.
• Browse library job vacancies from time to time e.g. http://www.lisjobnet.com/ and read the job descriptions (What are the new skills required?).
• Ask yourself if your current post meets your needs. (Are there areas of concern?)
• Take CPD and training opportunities where you can. (Are you learning new skills?)
• Attend conferences. (Are you aware of the current professional issues?)
• Have a career goal in mind. When starting out in my career I wish I’d been more mindful of this advice from Gordon:

“the long-term health of your career depends on your commitment to a career path – not just a focus on landing one job.” (Gordon, 232)

It would be great to hear how you keep your career from stagnating.

Do you have any ideas?

Bibliography

Cutshaw, Oliver, Recovery, Reframing and Renewal: Surviving an Information Science Career Crisis in a Time of Change (Oxford: Chandos Publishing, 2011)

Gordon, Rachel Singer, What’s the Alternative? : Career Options for Librarians and Info Pros, (Medford, N.J.: Information Today, 2008)