{"id":755,"date":"2012-10-03T01:22:53","date_gmt":"2012-10-03T08:22:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/slisgroups.sjsu.edu\/alasc\/wp-descriptor\/?p=755"},"modified":"2012-10-03T01:22:53","modified_gmt":"2012-10-03T08:22:53","slug":"book-review-what-they-dont-teach-you-in-library-school","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ischoolgroups.sjsu.edu\/alasc\/wp-students\/book-review-what-they-dont-teach-you-in-library-school\/","title":{"rendered":"Book Review: What They Don’t Teach You In Library School"},"content":{"rendered":"

by<\/em> Katy DiVittorio <\/em><\/p>\n

Earning a MLIS is a major achievement that prepares graduates for successful careers as information professionals.\u00a0 However, going from theory to reality challenges new graduates to navigate situations that their education may not have covered.\u00a0 Elizabeth Doucett\u2019s book \u201cWhat They Don\u2019t Teach You in Library School\u201d hopes to fill some of these gaps. \u00a0Doucett is a long-time library administrator and uses her years of experience in the field to offer practical advice that will help new information professionals succeed.<\/p>\n

This book is divided into three sections: (1) Advice for graduates looking for their first job (2) Advice for graduates who are new on the job and (3) Advice for graduates that have a little more experience, but still would like some guidance. \u00a0This book is an easy to follow guide with clear chapter headings.\u00a0 Each chapter is brief and can be read independently of one another, making it a valuable resource for the busy graduate or librarian.\u00a0 Each chapter includes \u201cWhat this chapter is about\u201d, \u201cWhy you should care\u201d and step-by-step instructions under the section \u201cThe heart of the matter\u201d.\u00a0 Additional resources, such as books, articles, or websites that may be of value are included in each chapter.<\/p>\n

In the first section of the book Doucett provides advice to new graduates on getting the \u201cright\u201d job; planning their career; networking; and branding. \u00a0Many new graduates\u2019 goal is to find a job, not necessarily the \u201cright\u201d job.\u00a0 Doucett\u2019s advice is valuable to make sure the job graduates end up is a good fit.\u00a0 She writes about her own experience ignoring her gut instinct and ending up in the \u201cwrong\u201d job.\u00a0 Her advice is not all about gut instinct, but also takes into account that new graduates have bills and loans to pay.\u00a0 She discusses how to factor these considerations into the job search.<\/p>\n

Networking is vital in the field of librarianship because it provides a way to share knowledge. \u00a0Doucett acknowledges that the term \u201cnetworking\u201d can put some people off, so instead she describes it as partnering, whereby people develop relationships.\u00a0 She suggests volunteering or joining a committee\/board as ways to partner and get involved. \u00a0Doucett advocates for new graduates to actively seek out and pursue opportunities for training and to find a mentor to help guide them in their career. \u00a0In addition she offers the suggestion of partnering with another library in a type of shadowing experience. \u00a0By going to another library and shadowing their staff graduates can see how others do certain activities more efficiently.\u00a0 This can be a good opportunity to gather new ideas and find solutions to problems.<\/p>\n

In section two Doucett provides advice for graduates who have a new job.\u00a0 She provides guidance on understanding the new work environment and community; how to manage problem patrons; managing confrontation; public speaking; and teamwork.<\/p>\n

Many new graduates will not stay and work in the same library or community that they did before they graduated.\u00a0 The library field is flooded, which means that many graduates will have to widen their job search to find their first job.\u00a0 This may land many in a community that they are very unfamiliar with.\u00a0 \u00a0Doucett suggests that some of the ways to get to know your new community is to subscribe to the town\u2019s newspaper, get a tour from someone on the staff that lives in the community, or attend community meetings.<\/p>\n

One piece of Doucett\u2019s advice that hit home with me was, when starting a new job, to make sure you listen, stay neutral, and take notes.\u00a0 After reading this I realized that within the first few weeks of my new job I was often comparing it to my previous position. As new graduates with new ideas and concepts it can be challenging to sit back and just watch and listen in a new job.\u00a0 Some may consider this stifling innovation and preventing needed changes and improvements, while others may look at this as allowing new graduates time to learn about their new library and determine if the new ideas are a good fit.<\/p>\n

The final section is for those who have a little more experience.\u00a0 It discusses promotional marketing; thinking like a retailer; strategic planning; trend tracking; facilities management; and figures and finances.\u00a0 Robert E. Dugan is a contributing author and writes a chapter on the importance of facilities management.\u00a0 One of the downsides for this chapter is that it does not provide additional resources like the other chapters do.<\/p>\n

If you are looking to fill some gaps in your education then check out \u201cWhat They Don\u2019t Teach You in Library School\u201d. \u00a0While it does not cover everything that library school may have missed, it does provide insight and advice for anyone looking to grow professionally.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0References:<\/strong><\/p>\n

What They Don\u2019t Teach You in Library School.\u00a0 By Elisabeth Doucett.\u00a0 Chicago, Illinois: American Library Association, 2011. 149p. ISBN: 9780838935927.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Katy DiVittorio is a May 2012 SJSU SLIS graduate and currently works as the Serials Acquisitions Specialist at the Auraria Library in Denver, Colorado.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Katy DiVittorio Earning a MLIS is a major achievement that prepares graduates for successful careers as information professionals.\u00a0 However, going from theory to reality challenges new graduates to navigate […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":52,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[268,253],"tags":[289,188],"class_list":["post-755","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fall-2012","category-descriptor-news","tag-book-review","tag-mlis","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ischoolgroups.sjsu.edu\/alasc\/wp-students\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/755","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ischoolgroups.sjsu.edu\/alasc\/wp-students\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ischoolgroups.sjsu.edu\/alasc\/wp-students\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ischoolgroups.sjsu.edu\/alasc\/wp-students\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/52"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ischoolgroups.sjsu.edu\/alasc\/wp-students\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=755"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ischoolgroups.sjsu.edu\/alasc\/wp-students\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/755\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ischoolgroups.sjsu.edu\/alasc\/wp-students\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=755"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ischoolgroups.sjsu.edu\/alasc\/wp-students\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=755"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ischoolgroups.sjsu.edu\/alasc\/wp-students\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=755"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}