Home
Welcome to the library returners blog!
The career breakers companion to returning to library work.
Here we discuss the ups and downs of taking career breaks. We explore if it’s possible to return to a career in libraries after:
- relocation
- spending time looking after children
- being made redundant
- caring for a relative
- recovering from an illness
- travelling
- making a decision to step off the career path to do something else
- a break following, or as a result of, the Covid-19 crisis
The blog is intended for library returners, that is, people who have been out of the library and information workplace for some time. It’s primarily aimed at those who are looking to return to professional librarianship after their career break or employment gap. However those supporting career breakers and career returners in other fields may find something of interest here too!
Those of you thinking of returning to library work now may face a tough job market. But there are success stories too. In the next few months at libraryreturners we will continue to share these stories, suggestions, and advice to offer support during challenging times. Many of you have been accessing the site and articles as readers, perhaps you would like to contribute to a guest post? Contact me at libraryreturners@gmail.com
Brand new study into returners and it needs your input!
A new study by three University of Utah librarians has just been launched into breaks and returning to librarianship. You can keep up with the developments and also fill in the survey here until May 6th 2024.
Image by Susan Mends
Interview with Simon Gregory of GPS Return
It’s wonderful to find out about job-hunting, CVs and flexible roles from a recruiter who specialises in the needs of returners. Simon Gregory, one of the Founders and Managing Partners of GPS Return and the Returners’ Tribe patiently answers our questions here. You can access the guest interview and Simon is also happy to be contacted if you have any further questions.
Our 15 minutes of fame: the CILIP RPG Member profile
If you are a CILIP member and receive the Info Pro magazine, turn to pages 44-45 now! The latest CILIP RPG member profile features libraryreturners.com
Rebuilding confidence
This new post considers how thinking about past achievements can help rebuild confidence, remind you of your strengths and skills and restore your professional work identity.
Guest interview with Emily Weak, founder, Hiring Librarians
In this blog post: Interview with Emily Weak, librarian, consultant and the founder of the excellent career blog, Hiring Librarians.
Take 5: positive actions to help you return to library work
A blog post listing some of the key actions that you can consider if you are looking to return to the library workforce after an extended break. Please let me know of any suggestions you have to get #libraryreturners back to work after a career break in the comments or by sending an email to libraryreturners@gmail.com
Guest post by Rhodah – My journey
Guest blogger Rhodah sharing her return to library work and part of the Your Voices: LIS Career Break Stories series.
How a plan B can help your career
Guest post by LIS researcher, web editor, yoga and meditation teacher, Dr Alyson Tyler, discussing why she believes having a plan B is important and can help us remain flexible in the career market.
Job interview prep and mistakes to avoid
Guest post by Career Adviser and Instructor, Writer, Blogger and Librarian, Ellen Mehling.
Mindfulness and how it can help with stress and resilience.
Guest post by Dr. Alyson Tyler, yoga and meditation teacher and a LIS researcher.
Lick your wounds and move on? Returners deal with interview rejection
This blog post looks at job search disappointment with the help of resources presenting the library and returner points of view.
Book Up! A Blog About Developing Your Library & Information Career – Library returners
Tips for negotiating flexible working options with your employer from the book up! blog.
Top 5 Most Popular Articles for Library Returners
Three years ago the library returners blog was launched. We are celebrating by reviewing the top 5 most popular articles on the library returners website since it launched on April 22, 2018. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everybody who has supported the setting up of the site in the past three years, whether you have written a post, taken time to be interviewed, written a response to something you have read, or shared something you have seen on the site. I look forward to the next three years.
Photo by E. Mehling
Networking in the New Normal by Ellen Mehling
Immensely popular in the library and returner community, our guest blog post.
Due to the pandemic we’re unable to network in the same way we used to (and perhaps some of those methods have changed a bit too) but there are some things library returners can still do to build and nurture professional connections. Read this well received blog post by Ellen Mehling now!
Guest post: Sherry Bevan on career coaching
Speaker, author and career and leadership consultant, Sherry Bevan, has written Everything you need to know about career coaching. Another fabulous guest blog post accessible now!
Good things to learn before you return
During lockdown public library staff have been encouraged to develop and deliver regular face to face events online. For library returners to keep up, it’s wise to become familiar with certain technology packages in readiness for applying for job positions. Good things to learn before you return: Public libraries, looks at three digital skills library returners can learn today.
Staying upbeat: how library returners can job search in the age of Covid-19
A popular blog post is Staying upbeat: how library returners can job search in the age of Covid-19. The coronavirus has changed job searching for everyone. Despite this, library returners need to continue to work on the things that they have always been doing – sorting out their skills, refreshing their CV / LinkedIn profile, networking, connecting with people, signing up for training, and looking after themselves.
Guest post: Jessie – Letting go
A valuable guest blog from Jessie, an information professional from the west coast of Scotland. Letting Go: realising the limitations of a linear library career path and finding opportunities in the new world of work is an overview of the author’s recent personal experience of job-hunting. It centres on Jessie’s growing awareness that she has to let go of the idea of linear career progression in order to find work that fits in with her situation following her career break.
Job shadowing
You can still view the very popular December 2019 blog post, Job shadowing and the career break candidate.
Guest interview: Simon Burton
Learn about job-seeking from the recruiter’s perspective. Simon Burton, Director of knowledge and information management recruitment business CB Resourcing answers a selection of questions. You can access the guest interview here.
