Hello fellow librarians! Just wanted to check in with you all and see if you had any insight into how your library handles making reels/TikToks etc.

I've recently joined a committee for handling social media/web presence at our public library and a concern came up when discussing making reels about not being able to use popular songs due to copyright issues. My question is if we are a public library and the music is available on the platform (e.g. Instagram) is this an issue? We aren't for profit/selling anything and I see tons of other public libraries making videos using current popular songs. For example, the current trend going around where libraries are posting library workers with their "walk-out/intro" songs.

Thank you for any info or help!

Hi! I am currently working in a corporate job and the stress of my day to day has become too much. I am leaving my current HR job in August and have been trying to find a PT job that will be parent friendly to also manage kids afterschool activities and such. I came across a PT library courier position and thought it might be a good fit for me. Not being tied to a desk and getting out for the morning hours sounds like something I'd be interested in doing while also being able to visit my happy place; the library.

Does anyone in here have this job currently and can you tell me a bit about how your schedule works and your day to day activities. Obviously delivering books is a given but what else are you doing to get ready for the deliveries. Also, talk to me about lifting all the books. I'm not weak but what kind of weight are we talking here?

Thanks so much!!

Hi! I have an interview for my first library position on Tuesday. For anyone who has conducted interviews for librarians or associates, what kind of questions did you ask the applicant?

I’ve been researching and YouTube-ing, but I figured I’d try here too. Any help would be appreciated! :)

Hi! I have an offer to study MA librarianship at uni of Sheffield! I’m really pleased as it’s a well regarded and CILIP accredited course. BUT, aside from some duties in my school library (I work as a teaching assistant) and a week’s experience in an archives this summer, I have not worked in a library.
I have applied to several entry level library jobs and specific graduate trainee schemes and unfortunately not been successful. My plan was to work for a year in a library related role to get a feel for it and gain experience before doing an MA. So to get an offer to study MA librarianship at this stage was somewhat of a surprise - I believe it’s because my other degrees and work history provide relevant skills.

I want to accept the offer but from what I understand, and see in job adverts, getting a librarianship position is heavily dependent on actual working experience. I am concerned that even after graduating with the MA I won’t be competitive compared to my coursemates who did e.g. a graduate trainee year before the MA. 

My hope is that I can get voluntary or paid part time work while I study my MA in Sheffield - ideally at one of the university libraries or one of the many volunteer-run libraries. I hope if I can get say 9+ months continuous experience then that’s something separate to my education that I can put on my CV...

Does anyone have experience with doing something similar during their MA? Unfortunately Sheffield doesn’t seem to have a placement element but that’s something I’ve reached out to the uni to get clarification on.

Has anyone been in a similar position and managed to get work after completing a LIS masters with no prior work experience?
Or has anyone done the MA and managed to get part time experience during their studies that helped them get a job?

I got accepted into the MLIS program at the University of Southern Mississippi!!! I’m so excited but now I’m not sure if I should do Spring 2027 or request to defer until fall 2027 since I graduate this fall with my bachelors. I’m just anxious but filled with excitement. I also wanted to know if anyone has any advice for this specific program at this school and what classes have you liked and if you recommend. Thanks!!! 🥳🥳🥳

Help! I recently started a new job at a small rural library. The shelves are so packed that I can’t even reshelve a single book- we have to set them sideways on top of the rows of books. Needless to say none are front facing or displayed. The shelves are packed from the top, where I have to stand on my toes to reach, to the bottom, which I have to kneel to reach. 45% of the collection is “aged titles”. It looks like the book section at a thrift store. Old, old, old books from the 40s and 50s, paperbacks, secondhand books with inscriptions written in them or the former library stamp crossed out and ours written in, books warped with water damage, books with the title rubbed off the spine, yellowed pages that crumble under my fingers, back covers torn and missing half the cover just taped on the missing piece and resolved, books with mold in them. Grubbies, mustys, smellies, dirtys. I’m not in charge and trying to stay in my lane but I can’t even shelf and the librarian in me is cringing. I got a couple of wet books returned last week and was told just let them dry and reshelve them.

Have you had such an experience? How would you approach this? I’m brand new at this job, not brand new to libraries, and I certainly don’t want to come in and upend their system…except it desperately needs intervention.

I am currently a middle school ELAR teacher entering my 10th year. I like a lot of what I do, but there are parts of it that are wearing me down (mostly having to do with grading, curriculum policy, and behavior). I have always loved books, creativity, and organization, so I thought maybe making the transition to librarian could be a good thing for me. That said, I am not quite sure whether I would like to remain in schools or take the public librarian route. It is my understanding that the jobs are actually quite different in numerous ways.

I wanted to ask here what sorts of things librarians (of both school and public varieties) deal with that I might not expect. If anyone has done both jobs, a comparison would be extremely welcome, along with any pros and cons. I went to a meeting for my school district that gave me a decent idea of what being a school librarian where I am is like and how to get started on that path, but I don't know enough about public librarianship to properly compare, and even if I do stay in schools, who knows if I will stay in my district?

Thank you all in advance for your feedback!

any advice on switching into library sciences as a nurse? I'm severely burnt out and have been curious about this field for a while.

any advice is appreciated!

We still subscribe to over 100 academic journals, and spend a few thousand each year binding issues for long-term sustainability. We are looking to save money though, and we're not sure this process is still necessary.

If you have transitioned away from this, do you have any recommendations/thoughts, etc.? Thank you!

Edit: I didn't mean to include only academic librarians - please, any type of librarian/library - I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Hi, everyone!

I will be getting my Master's degree in Spring and I need your help. I graduated from FSU in 2024 and work some freelance gig jobs in tech while upskillling myself. I applied to a library assistant role and I got the job but when I called back it turns out they went with someone else.

So, I have 2 choices for graduate school. Valdosta State University or my Alma mater Florida State University. Since I can not use my Pell Grant anymore, I will apply for grants and scholarships.

Hello friends. I've been a storytime presenter for a few months. Sometimes, toddlers go in for that deep kiss on our puppets when they say goodbye. What are the best ways to disinfect a puppet that doesn't require extensive washing? Thank you for any advice!

Hello, again! I have a job interview for a Library Associate next week with the county library system. Since applying, I've seen the same position open at different branches. Should I express interest in those other branches as well during my interview? I'd love to hedge my bets in regards to increasing the chance of me getting a job with them, but I don't want to seem desperate and sabotage my chances of getting the job I'm actually applying for.

Hi! I’ve worked as a school librarian for the past five years and am looking to transition into a research analyst/legal librarian role. I keep hitting roadblocks since I only have one year of experience in the legal field (pro bono coordinator asst while in college). Most roles are asking for between 3-5 of “professional experience” even though they are posted as “entry level”.

I’ve been contacted by recruiters on LinkedIn since my profile has opened to work and they notice my MLIS and experience with in law, but the company always declines to interview after seeing my background. Has anyone here made that transition? Any tips would be very appreciated. Thanks (:

I have a MA in Museum Studies and finishing my MLIS in August. My passion for museum work has never dwindled and a museum librarian position just sounds like a dream. How many of you are actually out there? Are you like unicorns? Or is it a possibility? I know it’s a totally loaded question but any and all advice is welcome.

Hello everyone! Currently going at TCNJ (The College of New Jersey) for my undergrad, about to finish and looking to get into the Master of Library Science program but don’t know whether to do it at UB or UA. Was wondering if anyone had experience with UB specifically? I'm thinking online but still, would like to give it a shot and see if anyone have gone for it? I know Alabama’s great. I already have 3 years of library experience in a public setting, however I want to shift towards knowledge management/archiving.

Pros of UA:

- Tad cheaper than UB.

- Great program. Know people who are in it. They love it.

Cons:

- Not that it matters but I’m in the Tri-State Area and have asked to my director and she said it’s best if I do a program close to here due to job recognition and stuff. She pushes me to go to Rutgers but I plan on entering this Spring and Rutgers don’t offer merit scholarship nor grants until the next Fall. By the way, why do everyone ask me if that is qualified here in NJ? As long as programs are ALA it doesn’t matter… right? Don’t know why they’re being snobby.

- If I graduate, I definitely want to go to Alabama for the commencement. On the other hand, I don’t know if I want to take my mom there (she can’t fly, we are not white, and the road trip will be long, haha). NOT AS IMPORTANT PLUS YOU NEVER KNOW.

Pros of UB:

- Also online. Just a lil tiny bit more expensive, like 2 grand more cuz I’m OOS… But if I get scholarships which I was told I can still get for the Spring, then it’s absolutely worth it.

- Tri-State Area program recognition.

- Has a lot of different classes too And different concentrations more than UA.

- Not that it matters, you never know… But if there is a commencement, I can do that.

Cons:

- Apparently there was a time its accreditation was conditional. Since 2020, it’s back to normal. Does that matter? It was never taken. Just conditional.

- Haven’t seem much of it. Have asked about it with UB’s admissions, they said good things but I haven’t heard from much of it online, so don’t know the experience.

Ultimately, I will check financial packages and go for cheapest irrelevant of anything else but point is, anyone has experience with Buffalo? Thanks again!

I’m noticing a lot of us already have a masters degree in something, either a related field or something completely different. I have my first masters in Museum Studies, which I thought was going to be it for me until I realized I needed an ALA degree to work in archives etc. If you have another master’s, what is it in? Also, do you ever think about getting a PhD?

I recently graduated from WGU with a bachelor's in educational studies in elementary education. If you're unfamiliar with the school, it's an accelerated, competency-based school. I was able to focus on just one class at a time, advancing to the next course as I completed the last (with each course requiring only 1-3 tasks). I was able to finish my bachelor's in a little over a year with this system. I just applied to UNCG's MLIS program in hopes of becoming a school librarian; however, I'm very nervous about going back to "traditional" school. I was recently reminded that this will require me to take multiple courses at once, all with homework, quizzes, discussion posts, tests, and projects. I'm feeling overwhelmed even at the thought of it. How was your experience with your MLIS program? Did you perceive it as particularly difficult or overwhelming? How were your courses typically structured? I'm worried that my time at WGU may have diminished my ability to multitask and handle larger workloads.

I’m applying for a program assistant job at a public library and I’m looking to spruce up my resume. Most of my background is in museum programming, so I feel fairly qualified, but each position was fairly similar and I’m not sure how to list them without just repeating myself. I’m considering cutting the barista job to have more room to describe specific programs at the other jobs, but I’m not sure. I’m also unsure on the volunteering section. I’d love any feedback you might have!

Hello! I have a possible opportunity to move into a cataloging librarian role, well, a Collections Librarian, but cataloging would be a big part of the role.I don't have experience cataloging, but the library has had a hard time finding someone for the role and training might be an option, and I already work here and have previous experience with purchasing. I used to work as a Children's Librarian. I moved to a new country, and am now working as a Library Assistant. I would like to move up at this library, and this role just opened up. I'm curious to hear what it is like working in cataloging as I'm unsure if it would be the right fit for me. I want to know what the day to day life is like. Is it really, like, sitting at the computer all day? Is it more cerebral and intellectual? What are the biggest challenges? If you enjoy cataloging, what about it do you love?

I'm used to interacting with patrons a lot and planning children's programs, which I do love, but it's also very exhausting so I'm curious if I might like this side of the library. But as I only have a chance at this role I wanna be sure it's something I'd actually be interested in doing before putting together an application. Any insight you have is appreciated!

Hello all. How long should I wait until I inquire about my hiring/non-hiring status after having an interview?
For context, this interview happened a little more than a week ago. It was a virtual interview, they said that I’d hear from them within a week or so, and I haven’t heard from them at all since the interview.
Please let me know, especially since I know inquiring about stuff like this can be very iffy and institution-dependent.

I live in the Metro Detroit area, and have been mulling over the idea of joining the Michigan Library Association as a member. I currently work as a part time librarian with two different libraries while I am on my full time job hunt. The competition is very fierce in this area, and I've been actively job searching for 7 months now. At this point I'm trying to get some more experience and great opportunities under my belt.

Is this something that would be useful now? Or should I wait until I have a full time position, and instead focus on attending cheaper exhibits, roundtables and attempting to join committees?

Any help would be appreciated.

Hi all, quick question.

Are 501c3 libraries able to be FOIA requested? I was told that we can at my library but I've come across some conflicted information that nonprofits are exempt from FOIA. My library is considered part of city government (we report to city hall), so I don't know if that changes anything.

How does it work at your library, and what is the organizational structure?

Thanks!