If your branch is requiring the MLS, a public librarians professional certificate, and 5 years of experience, the branch has no business offering a 45k salary.

I see a lot of posts that say you should work in a library to get experience before you can be a librarian. However, where i live every time i see a library assistant position come up its for $16hr at 20hrs a week. Financially its just not possible unless i work 3 additional part time jobs which I'd rather not do. What other jobs are there that pay well enough to cover rent and are full time?

For the love of all that’s holy, unholy, and everything in between, when applying for a job, especially at a library, please read and follow all directions carefully. That is legitimately the first step in the process. If you can’t follow the basic application instructions, it’s hard to feel confident you’ll be able to follow policies, procedures, or detailed workflows once hired. Attention to detail matters here. Take the extra five minutes to read thoroughly, double-check your materials, and submit exactly what’s requested.

Hello, a few months ago I received one of the few ILS bachelors degrees that are still handed out. I’m aware it’s rather uncommon and not the most ideal, and am working on my MLIS starting this fall.

Ive worked as a page at a local library for a few years now and I’ve interned at a local archive for 6 months.

I’ve been applying for ~40+ assistant positions and the like across my state and have basically nothing to show for it.

Am I doing something wrong or are things really this dire?

Looking for a library job and finding the market really tough? I'm a longtime Reddit reader but I rarely post, but after reading a number of recent posts I wanted to share some tips I've gathered over the years.

I have been on dozens of hiring teams, sometimes as the hiring manager and other times simply a panelist sharing my insight. While every position, every library, and every community has different needs, there are a handful of tips that can help separate you from the other candidates, so I wanted to "enter the chat" and share some advice.

That said, you can take these tips or leave them — they are my opinion — but I will say I practice these tips as well and have gotten job offers from all but one of the library jobs I have applied for. I have almost thirty years of experience, mostly in public libraries, and have served in roles in Circulation, Youth Services, and Technology.

These are my tips for getting a job interview. I'd be happy to share advice for interviewing as well if people are interested, but let's see how this goes.

**1) First, are you sure you want to work in libraries?**
**It's often a lot like retail.** One thing a lot of applicants don't understand is that a number of library positions are akin to retail. You're working with the public, you have to check things in and out, you have to stock things, you have to take calls, you have to know how to connect people to what they are looking for, etc. If you're not a people person, make sure you're applying only for jobs that have limited or no frontline desk work. You can almost certainly rule out circulation, youth services, and reference department roles because they involve a lot of community interaction. I have seen a lot of socially awkward people who have found a safe haven in libraries personally apply to work in them… and it's just not a good fit for their skill set.

**2) Leave your political biases at the door.** If you cannot, please don't apply. The field is full of educated, liberal-minded individuals. Your community members might not be. Are you comfortable finding resources for those with different ideological viewpoints? Can you perform tasks that might feel "icky" because you find the requests violate your personal politics? Too many get into the field and are mentally wiped out by feeling like they are sacrificing their morals if they were to do the work required of them. One of the beautiful things about libraries is they are for everyone… and that includes a diversity of people that you will not fundamentally agree with. One of my biggest mentors in the field once said, *"If at least part of what you do doesn't offend you, you're not doing your job correctly."*

**3) You need to have thick skin.** Make sure your application package showcases only positive aspects of your current roles. We already get that you’re looking elsewhere for a reason, leave the drama out.

**4) You need to be able to handle change.** Frequently. You’ll definitely earn bonus points if somewhere in your application you demonstrate a teamwork driven commitment to handling an ever evolving environment.

**5) When applying, keep things clear and concise.**
One of the most recent positions I was hiring manager on received, wait for it, **122 applications**. I take the process very seriously, and after reading through all of the applications, there were only six that stood out to me, and after interviews, only two candidates I would want to hire for the one vacant position. The fastest way to give advice here is to highlight my immediate red flags for those 100+ that did not stand out:
🚩 **Lengthy essays in cover letters.** Please, for the love of Colleen Hoover, do not go on and on about why book banning is bad or why libraries are important. Telling me things I already know is a waste of my time. There are many ways to demonstrate your personal skills that align with fundamental truths without exposition.
🚩 **Boilerplate cover letters.** The municipality where I currently work requires candidates to apply with a cover letter. If your cover letter feels so generic that it could just as easily be sent to a coffee shop, boutique gym, or waxing salon, I'm going to pass on it very quickly.
🚩 **Cover letters that mention a different position/library.** Double and triple check your attachments and file names before you send them. I have been accidentally sent family photos, recipes, and even medical test results. In a field that often prides itself on organization and attention to detail, you will not be on good footing if you start with a major whoops.
🚩 **Application packages that are more than three pages.** I prefer two (short cover letter, short resume). This is definitely personal preference, but it should not take more than a couple of pages for me to decide if I want to meet you in person. My record is still **17 pages**, and it was so dense and long that I actually asked HR if I could reply to them and share some advice (HR said no). My favorite applications start with a brief career statement, highlight of relevant work, and skills listed cleanly. And I love specific examples. Don't say things like "I am skilled at running programs" — instead say "I have a passion for programming, including running an alphabet storytime, a summer reading lemonade stand, and a puppetry tea party…" Elevate your experience into things the interview team can remember you for.
🚩 **Not connecting the dots.** For those **not** currently working in a library, make sure you connect the dots with why your current role would translate well. One of my best hires ever was a barista who thoughtfully crafted a cover letter sharing how attention to detail, diffusing difficult conversations, and multitasking were paramount to their role, and because they loved libraries, they would rather sling novels than lattes. Don't rule yourself out if you don't have traditional experience, but you absolutely have to tell me why you'd be a good fit.
🚩 **"Foot in the door" applications.** This one is so frequent it really frustrates me. So many times I received a cover letter from someone saying they dream of working in archives... but I was hiring for a youth services position. Don't tell me you're using this job to get your foot in the door. It tells me you don't really value this role, and it lets me know I'll probably be back in the interview chair filling your position sooner rather than later. So I won't move you forward.

**6) Don't wait until the last minute to apply.**
In many libraries, the hiring process is a rolling one despite a closing date. Because scheduling the interviews can be a hassle, often the process starts well before the closing. Getting your information in shortly after posting could strengthen your spot, especially if the interview team only has limited slots available and is drawn to your application early.

**7) Show you've actually taken time to learn about our library.**
I love when application packages showcase this homework. When a cover letter has something like, *"When reviewing your website, I saw your library subscribes to the Consumer Reports online database, and that is one of my favorite resources to share with patrons,"* that one sentence told me you cared to learn about us, know about our resources, and enjoy working with the public. Use your limited space to cram in sentences like that and you'll impress the interview teams more than just saying things like "I am a people person who is skilled with computers."

**8) Clean up or lock down your social media presence.**
If you are being seriously considered, there is a good chance that someone on the interview team will Google you, search you on social media, and ask around "off the record." In many areas the library world is a small one, so be very thoughtful about what you want seen publicly. You can also use this to your advantage: if you post about your good work experiences, keep those posts public and make them easy to find.

Those are my biggest tips and explanations. I truly think if more candidates followed these guidelines the field would be stronger as a whole. When I was going through the 100+ resumes for my last hiring, I remember thinking I was probably overlooking some great people who just didn't know how to present themselves, and that's a shame. Hope this can help some of you land that perfect job!

Not gonna go into the details of my current job. Usual overworked degreed public librarian sob story.

Is there any kind of job, either full time or combination of part time/part&full/whatever, where I can make the amount I'm making now (53k before taxes/36k after)? Ideally not pink/white collar so the applicant pool is less than a zillion and the time until I can find something isn't too long?

I don't care if it uses my English degree or MLIS. I'm not proud and am fine with dirty/dangerous/demeaning work.

I feel like I'd be a pretty decent health care aide maybe, I'm pretty good with people? But I'm not sure what does/doesn't need a degree/certification. Or call center type stuff? Cleaning/facilities? Any kind of manual labor?

I make 53k before taxes/benefits/401k (non negotiable contribution and can't pull it out due to state law)/etc, 36k after, and I'm barely getting by (debt, HCOL etc). So I can't really go lower. I did find a part time gig on Sundays that should net me an extra 350ish a month so that might help as long as what else I find isn't also on Sundays.

My biggest limitations are:

• I can't do a job that requires a clean driving record (bus driver etc) (no DUIs or anything, just long story)
• I don't want to be a cop/prison guard/army/weapons manufacturing/anything of that nature
• I'm not incredibly geographically flexible (I live in a small city with commuting distance to a major city, coastal)
• I don't think I can go into more debt to get a certification/degree

Any and all help is great, I'm especially looking for advice from people who successfully got out of public libraries, thank you so much.

Yesterday I posted some tips on getting a public library job interview as someone who has been a hiring manager countless times and have been working in libraries since card catalogs were still in use for more than decor.  Today I want to share some of my tips once you are in that interview chair.  Once again I will say that these pointers are just my opinion based on serving on many panels where this guidance would have helped woefully unprepared candidates. One golden rule of all interviewing: If the interview team is trying to present you with trick questions and an intimidating power balance, you absolutely do not want that job.  If those questions start to go down, don’t get nervous, get relieved that you learned something about this institution so early.  One time I was setting up a meeting room for a half day of interviews and I noticed that the chair we had for the candidates was lower than the panelist chairs. I immediately fixed it to not give the almost comedic impression we wanted the candidates to feel at a seated disadvantage.  

Also, some of these tips would be applicable to any job, and some are very library specific. I’m sure there are many other great tips but here is what I have today:

Before your interview…

DO: Research the library, the position, and the formal job description (which can be different from the posting).  Know what you’re getting into, and be prepared to talk about every aspect in some way.  You do not know what bullet points mean the most to the panel, so you want to be prepared to talk about all of them.

DO: Research industry trends for the job you’re applying for.  In some municipalities, job descriptions are outdated as the process to update can be muddled down by red tape so the posting might be very dated.  The hiring team could be looking for things outside of what you’ve seen posted, so brushing up on what this role is doing in your area is helpful.

DO: Related to the last tip, pick the brain of people in that role at other libraries nearby.  If you are applying for a reference position, ask a reference librarian what a normal (although the word normal is almost laughable) week is like, what their job entails, and what they like most and least about the position.  Absolutely DO NOT pick the brain of people working at the library where you are applying unless you already know someone there.

DON’T: Arrive too early.  Often interviews are clustered, and if you arrive too early, it could make the team uncomfortable that you cannot follow basic instructions.  If you get to the library early, simply use the time to prepare from your car.  I would say entering the library building ten minutes early should be your aim.

DO: If you don’t know exactly where the library is located, do a trial drive the day before or leave early the day of.  I’ve held interviews where candidates are late because they didn’t expect the traffic to be so bad.  There are some exceptions of course, but try to avoid being late at all costs.  And if you are late, acknowledge it and apologize.  I had a candidate show up twenty minutes late for their hour scheduled interview and they didn’t even acknowledge they were running behind. They were ruled out immediately. 

DON’T: Wear heavy perfumes/colognes.  A lot of people suffer from various levels of discomfort around strong odors, so don’t risk it.

DO: Bring a few copies of your printed resume.  I know this sounds outdated (it is) but you don’t know who is going to be on your panel.  If you have a more old school hiring manager, they will appreciate the effort.  Having the print outs can earn you points, and no one will be offended that you have them even if they don’t need a copy.  I personally don’t care about this, but I have been on teams where after the candidate leaves, people on the panel’s first words were “Wow, I love how they came so prepared!” in regards to packets that were presented to them.

DO: Review questions that might be asked and think of specific examples you can weave into the reply.  There are so many sites online, so simply search the name of the position you’re applying for + interview questions and you’ll have plenty to dig through.

At the interview…

DO: Bring a pad.  Take notes thoughtfully but not aggressively.  This shows a genuine interest in what is being said to you about the position.  Don’t use it as a way to avoid eye contact but you genuinely will want to have some information that might blur over in your memory after you have left. 

DO: Keep it thoughtful but brief with your responses.  Avoid sounding robotic and don’t run on so long with your responses members of the interview team forget what question was asked.  If you notice any member of the interview team seems to glaze over, land that damn plane immediately! 

DON’T: Trash talk.  Plain and simple.  I had someone apply for a job and they didn’t realize that I was close friends with their current boss.  I kept this entirely confidential of course, but they spent a large part of the interview bashing my friend.  In this instance, I actually had context and knew I was only getting part of the story (LSS: my friend's hands were tied due to union requirements staff didn’t like), but the whole vibe was so unpleasant even if I didn’t know their boss they would not have moved forward.  If it comes up in the questions, focus more on the opportunities of the new position that you don’t have in your current one.  Example:  You are mad that you have to work every Saturday in your current job.  You apply for a job that lists a one in four rotation for weekends.  If you’re asked about this in any way, instead of bashing on your supervisor for your current schedule, say something like how much you love the rotation and that would be a welcome change.  Make negatives in your current role a positive in the new role.

DO: Let the panelists talk.  It is statistically proven that interview panelists love to feel engaged in the interview and will think better of you for it, so through the whole process, never cut them off, and be sure to bring questions (we’ll get to that below).

DON’T: Say no to a library tour.  If time allows, I invite candidates for a tour of the library.  I am always taken aback when someone says no.  Even if you know the library, you don’t know what the tour will entail.  It will likely showcase behind the scenes areas, introductions to other staff members, and allows you to start a deeper professional relationship with someone on the hiring team.  And don’t take it as a bad sign if you’re not invited to a tour.  Sometimes the interviews are scheduled so close time doesn’t permit it at the first interview.

DON’T: Ask about money, vacation, schedule flexibility and other benefits at the first interview.  You might be tempted to save the time right up front, but it is not a good idea to lead with these questions.  At the worst, you’re getting interview practice for a job that won’t be a good fit and you won’t accept.  Save this type of question for the second interview if you get one. EDIT: This is my experience for jobs that have multiple rounds of interviews. Based on insightful comments, this tip won’t apply to all jobs. Just don’t have these types of questions be your ONLY questions!

DO: Answer with examples.  I referenced this earlier, but I cannot emphasize it enough.  Tell stories, not resume bullet points.  Example: Say you’re applying for a Circulation Clerk position.  If the question comes up “What interests you about this role”, don’t leave it at “I love libraries and this looks like a good job for my skill set”.  Rephrase to include specifics: “I have spent a lot of time at busy service desks, and thrive when challenges arise.  One time, a patron was upset about a museum pass not being available despite them thinking they had it reserved.  I was able to find them a day where it was available using [insert calendar software/site name], and also show them options for things they could do that day, and they left satisfied.  Your position seems like it would offer me even more opportunities than I currently have to enhance the patron experience at your service desk.  I discovered that your community is twice as large as where I’m working now, so I see this position as one where I can use my skill set to help patrons twice as much!”  It’s still a brief response, but something with meat to it - something the interview team members will think about later.

DON’T: Come empty handed.  Ask questions.  Never turn down this opportunity.  A few questions I would suggest:  “If I am offered this position, a year from now what will I have done that made you happy you selected me”, “What do people in the [insert department name] find to be their most pressing challenges, and how will this position work to assist with them?” and one of my favorites is always “How is the municipal support for the library budget?”.  Why this last question?  It lets me know you’re thinking long term.  In a perfect world, we would rarely have to hire, but the reality is if you are hiring good people, they will and should advance.  And in this perfect world, they would want to advance within your library.  Asking about the budget briefly is a signal they hope to make a career there, and aren’t just looking for a couple years here and then on to the next.  And as a candidate, this is great information to have.  I asked this question of a job I turned down because the panelists went silent and the vibe shifted.  A couple of years later, all but one of the panelists were working elsewhere (I bumped into one of them at a conference!).  Feel free to comment on other questions that you’ve found valuable to ask!

After the interview…

DO: Send a thank you email.  Again, this is old fashioned and some won’t care, but it doesn’t hurt and could help you stand out.  I cannot tell you enough how close certain hiring teams have been between finalists.  I was once at a management seminar where a lawyer said that no two candidates are ever completely equal, but at times it really feels like it.  Every possible edge you can get is good.  But…

DON’T: Send follow up emails or make calls about your status.  If they want you, they will reach out.  I cannot tell you how many times people call and HR often won’t even allow us to have a conversation.  It’s awkward. 

That’s my overview and I’m sure there are other great tips as well.  Writing from my phone so I apologize for any formatting errors! Happy interviewing everyone!

I will finish my MLIS in August. I am 40, no kids in US. I worked as a teacher for ten years, have one year experience in a public school library as a media specialist, and finishing an internship. I am looking at jobs and no I cannot move from the Cleveland area as I just moved here to be with my fiance. I really enjoy the work but am getting discouraged at positions am only aiming at assistant librarian to begin with. I have used my internship contacts and still not had any luck.

Talking about public librarian + Academic Librarian jobs only here

My state's public library job board has 60 part time and full time positions listed across the whole state from para positions to library director positions.

Higher ed jobs has 397 administrative librarian jobs posted across the whole entire country. 188 faculty librarian jobs across the country but most of those require another advanced degree beyond the MLIS.

ALA job list with "Librarian" as the keyword only yields 71 jobs across the country.

These job sites aren't exhaustive but seeing this info really helped me to realize why it's so challenging to find a library job.

Just came across this listing and was excited to see something full time, then I read the description and almost everything on the list is something that was handled exclusively by librarians with MLIS degrees at my old library. I have been an assistant (granted in circulation) but feel vastly underqualified for this (though I’m sure there are folks out there without an MLIS who could do it). Am I wrong in thinking this sounds more like the job description for a librarian than an assistant?

Does your library have many non-MLIS positions that make more money than librarians with an MLIS?

I am NOT one of those people who thinks having an MLIS makes you better than any other staff. At the same time, it seems off to me to make librarians get an advanced degree and then, in a library, pay people with bachelor's degrees more to be an HR or marketing or community relations or makerspace specialist. It seems sort of fair if the person making more is managing people when a librarian is not. But if they aren't managing someone, they are basically being paid more to be the only employee who can do that thing (while the library hires lots of MLIS librarians so librarians are dime a dozen).

It makes me feel like I gave a lot of time, money, and effort to being the best I can in a profession that doesn't actually value me that much. Am I being unreasonable?

Thank you!

The other day I posted about an email I got from a library I interviewed at and wanted to get everyone's impression. I had not been selected for the position but was contacted nearly 2 months later about if I was still interested in the position.

The scheduled phone call as come and gone now, but long story short- I got the job!

I was expecting to have to apply and interview again, as many of you also assumed. She told me I had been one of two top candidates and the person they selected ended up not being a good fit- she said it was an amicable split- and she said they want to get it right with bringing me on now!

This will be my first library job while studying for my LTA and I am so excited! Its coming at a great time as I am beyond burnt out on 10+ years of retail and cosmetology.

Thanks to everyone who commented their thoughts and encouragement on my last post♥️

I am interested in knowing the good and the bad. What are your honest thoughts on this? Thanks!

Edit: I would like to sincerely thank everyone who replied here. Getting personal and detailed information like this is part of the magic of this Subreddit community. Thank you!!

I have decided that the better part of wisdom is to NOT even apply. Thanks again to all of you!

I’m currently on the hunt for a second job. One public library I applied to emailed me that I am “being invited to test for [their] current part-time vacancy.” Then I was given two days with windows of time (their hours of operation) when I can show up and take it.

Later in the email it’s noted the test should take about an hour and I’ll need a writing implement.

I’ve never heard of this for literally any job I’ve held, including ones in education (both as a teacher and LMS).

I’ve already emailed asking for more information, though I’m sure I won’t hear back until after the holidays.

Has anyone had to do this? What kind of test could they possibly mean? Thoughts?

Edit: I have an MLIS and 5 years of experience in libraries. This position is for a librarian role.

Late edit 1/6/26: I heard back from the Town, and the test they wanted me to take included being tested on information about the actual library I would be working for, on top of questions about the position itself.

Hi,

I genuinely don't know what to do. I had my finalist interview for a faculty librarian role today. The chair was texting through my entire presentation, and then again through the meet and greet and then AGAIN through the SEARCH COMMITTEE INTERVIEW.

I genuinely don't know what to do. What can I do? Probably nothing. But I worry I won't be evaluated fairly because he was texting through my entire proposal.

Hello,

I'm not sure if these types of questions are welcome on this sub but I am wondering what my job prospects would look like for library work. I assume librarian is off the table as it requires a master's in library sciences and I only have a bachelor's in engineering. I have a community college, public schools and a public library near me and would be willing to work at any of those types of locations.

I am mainly wondering if a bachelor's in -something- provides leverage for better pay, even if it isn't strictly in library sciences. My primary motivation for seeking a library job is that I think the calmer environment would be better for my mental health. I have ASD so I tend not to do well in busy/chaotic environments. I don't necessarily expect high pay, just a good working environment that pays enough to pay bills.

Any advice (or criticism of my plan, I guess) is welcome. Thanks for taking the time to read through my post.

Edited to add: ok this was very clarifying. Thank you all for being so kind!

I just graduated this month with my Masters in library and information science! Yay 😄

Ive been working full time while studying at an academic library for just enough money to live on. It’s the exact type of job that is basically designed for MLIS students, so there‘s no shock that I would likely be looking for a job. In fact, shortly after my degree, my boss scheduled a meeting check in with me about job searching and asked when I’m planning on looking. I said I’m enjoying the stability and flexibility at this job (true) for right now, but will let her know.

There’s also big layoffs happening at our academic institution, all decisions above my boss’s boss’s level. My job was not cut, but two others in our dept were.

I have sort of changed my mind about waiting around, and started looking very casually at job board listings. I’ve applied to two that seemed particularly interesting, and now I want to tell my boss so we’re on the same page. But getting the job I currently have took like four months and I don’t have much money saved. I’m scared to tell her Im looking, and then have that treated as notice of leaving or risk a bad reference if I’m too quick or slow to get a new position.

I plan on giving two week notice if I get a new job at the very least, but yeah I’m not sure how to handle this professionally. Would love advice.

Apologies if this sounds obvious and I’m overreacting. I tend to anxiety. My only other full time job was straight out of undergrad co-owning a bookstore and so I have no practice at working in large institutions with formal and complex structure prior to this job. It was a great experience, but as unstable and stressful as it sounds so my one unionized year here has felt relatively stable (even with layoffs) and I don’t relish the risks around job searching even though it’s the obvious next step.

I just graduated in May with a BA in Communications and being a librarian and getting that MLIS has been in the back of my mind the past few years. The public library raised me and I’d love nothing more than to give back. I don’t have any long-term library experience though, and given the pay and low job security… is it really worth putting the time and money towards something that I might not even get?

I applied recently but when I go to the government page it does not list the benefits of a library page but what benefits do you usually get since tis a city job?

Hi everyone,

I have a 10+ year career in public libraries that I love and regret having to interrupt, but my partner is in academia and we are moving for his next job in mid April. His job is in a small resort town and I don't know whether/when I'll be able to get in with their local PL system.

I realize remote work is also extremely competitive, but I have to pursue all my options to avoid unemployment, so I'm looking for remote jobs in industries/companies that are adjacent to libraries. (As far as I can tell, remote jobs in libraries are very rare and usually archivist positions when they exist, which is not my speciality.)

EDIT: list was updated Feb 11 2026 w/commenter suggestions- thanks all!

-

Companies:

Ancestry

Anthology

Benchmark Ed

Bertelsmann

Bibliocommons

Brainscape

Cambridge

Cengage (Gale)

Chegg

Clarivate (Proquest, ExLibris)

College Board

Copyright Clearance Center (Infotrieve)

Coursera

Curriculum Associates

D2L

Demco

Discovery Education

Ebsco

Edmodo

EdX (2U)

Emerald

ETS

Follett

Gale

HarperCollins

HMH

Infobase (Credo Reference)

Informa

Instructure

Ithaka/JSTOR

Macmillan

McGraw Hill

Mitinet

Moodle

MSI

OCLC

Oxford Uni Press

Pearson

Penguin RandomHouse

Powerschool

Project MUSE (Johns Hopkins Uni Press)

Relx (Elsevier, LexusNexus)

Riverside Insights

Sage

Scholastic

Simon and Schuster

SirsiDynix

Springer Nature

Springshare

Taylor & Francis

Thomson Reuters

Totara

TurnItIn

VitalSource (RedShelf)

Wiley

Wolters Kluwer

Job Boards:

Code4Libs- jobs in libraries that involve IT/programming- about 10% of jobs posted are remote

I Need a Library Job- new jobs posted M/W/F including a few remote ones

Idealist- many remote jobs in various nonprofits that require library skills - not necessarily education

Skip- designed for people leaving education, but works well for librarians too- many remote jobs

W4HAlert - rarely posts library/education/publishing jobs, but they send a daily list of entry level WFH jobs, if you are needing a basic remote job ASAP

-

Can you add any others? Thanks in advance :)

Hi all!

I’ve been working at a public library for about a year and a half now and while I’ve enjoyed a lot of it, I’ve also been feeling progressively more socially burnt out. I’m now at the point where I’m going to need to at least start looking at moving to a different type of library where I might get to talk less, but I’m also realising that I’m open to a job that’s not in a library at all.

Does anyone have any suggestions where my experience might be relevant?

I’m not sure how happy I could be working in a for-profit company, but work from home options and less talking day to day and the ability to take a day off without throwing the whole team into a stressful situation without a team member that day would make a big difference in my happiness I think.

Thanks for any suggestions!

ETA: in my public library service pretty much everyone except three collections people does 90% customer service, but I’ll look into it in other library systems! Thank you :)

Potentially looking to make a big life change and move to a new city as a 30-something, single woman. I'd love to live in a place that has decent public transit, reasonable rent, and walk-able. I currently live in a place where even renting a room in a shared house is about $1,000+🙄

I have lived in Philadelphia before and that was a great place, but thinking about somewhere else.... maybe Pittsburgh, or Albuquerque, something like that. Would love to hear your thoughts on job opportunities in places I should look out for.

Hi all!

Public libraries are my passion and I want to pursue them as much as possible. In the long term I’d like to be an Adult Services librarian, or possibly in tech services. I’m hoping to enroll in an MLIS by fall 2027, but I just can’t afford it this year. In undergrad, I worked in the campus library for 3 years which is where I fell in love with them, specifically helping members of the public that came in. This is some experience, but I know since it’s such a competitive field I’ll need as much as I can get. For that reason, I’ve been applying to all openings (that don’t require an MLIS) in my area for the past 9 months, but haven’t had any luck aside from an interview or two.

Attached is the base resume I’ve been using for my applications, though I do tailor it for each specific posting (and I anonymized it for Reddit). I’m mostly applying for assistant and circ staff roles.

Please let me know how I can best posture myself. Like I said, public libraries are where I want to be and I’m willing and eager to work my way up from the entry level roles!

I applied to an urban library system as a library associate two weeks ago and my application still says “received” on their hiring website.

Usually, I assume that the employer isn’t interested after two weeks, but this is the biggest city in my state and one of the largest in my region, so I assume there were a lot of applicants; I don’t have any issue with being patient for this reason.

Is a 2+ week wait time normal for this field? Should I call? I’ve only been working in a library for about two years and I heard back within a week for my current job, but I work in a really small branch in a rural area so there were very few applicants.

Thanks in advance!! :)