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Ignite the MLISAnn Walker Smalley

St. Catherine University MLIS SummitMay 2, 2011

+In the Beginning

BFA, Art History, The Ohio State University Research Exhibit preparation from selection to catalog

MLS, Kent State University Kent Public Library Practicum State Library of Ohio, State Agency Reference

+State Library of Ohio: Library Development Division Administrative Assistant to Head of Consultants

Research on library issues, library district boundaries, library policies, and more

Consultation with local public libraries LSCA grant oversight Reference sub Statewide Programming for Bicentennial Long range planning

+Battelle Memorial Institute Senior Research Consultant

Research on library service, library structure, library networking

Creating recommendations for change & how to enact change

“Earn your salary” with proposal writing Clients

Library of Congress, National Library Service for the Blind & Physically Handicapped

State Library of Virginia State Library of Pennsylvania Association of Research Libraries

+Aspen Systems: Department Housing & Urban Development Library, Head of Public Service & Law Library First completely privatized federal library Required a lot of team development Management under stress Relationship building Proposal writing to maintain the contract

+National Restaurant Association: Head of Information Services & Library Members only service Small business questions with restaurateurs Library-to-library questions from the big companies

(General Mills, Dominos, Miller, Coke, McDonalds…) Manage writers for the research series Wrote for RestaurantsUSA magazine Worked in press room at the convention Moved the library

+Commonalities of All These Jobs

MLS Responsible to contribute dollars directly to the

organization’s bottom line Proposal responses/grant writing Writing—reports, policies, plans Public speaking Public contact with clients & stakeholders Consulting

+Commonalities

Relationship building Independent work & teamwork Travel Long range planning Advocacy for personal advancement Information as a commodity Variety of responsibilities and projects

+13-year Sabbatical from Libraries Grant writing Writing Products for sale—non-profit earned income Curriculum writing PBS Series Content Director Freelance writing and editing for authors and publishers Freelance writer for local publications Contract research

+More Odd Jobs

Summer Enrichment programming for K-10 Started afterschool program for Grades 6-8 Hmong National Organization language help Desktop publishing Newsletter production Microbusiness in art fair world

+All involved library skills

Information collection & research Information analysis Information organization Information delivery Information application Content creation

+Or skills learned as a librarian

Long range planning Strategic thinking Grant writing Expository writing Public speaking Ability to learn independently—and quickly Dealing with difficult people

+What did I learn on this sabbatical I really can apply my previous skills & experience in new

settings Pay to play—volunteer, professional associations, relationships,

availability More grant writing—Common application, non-library federal

grants, private foundations Non-profit management Value of earned income to organizations Importance of personal & professional advocacy How to work with Minnesotans

+Re-entry into librarianship

State Library of Minnesota as multitype system consultant & media program

An introduction to Minnesota libraries How the library world changed An instructive not-quite-a-year

Government shutdown 9/11 Strike Layoff

+WomenVenture

Time to re-examine Self-analysis Where to go next Result

I do like bring a librarian and like library people I want to stay connected to libraries

What next?

+Freelance Librarian

Metronet Check It Out studies of school library media programs MILI development

SELCO/SELS ELM database lesson plans Senior Techies Online help using screencasting

MELSA Customer service workshop series

MLA/MEMO Committees & presentations Minnesota Library Council

+Metronet Director

Ability to visualize projects Find the funding Develop partnerships Reach out to all types of libraries Present in multiple venues

+Free Advice to Ignite the MLIS

Choose your supervisors and mentors wisely Find lots of opportunities to determine your particular

skills Hone your skills Stretch—write, present, share Don’t be afraid to sell your skills (literally) Advocate for yourself & libraries Be involved in library and other associations

+Get Out of the Library-centric Way Of Thinking Look outside libraries for inspiration, procedures, services, training.

Work or volunteer somewhere else—experience how they do

things. Define and re-define yourself. Use libraries other than your own. Do not spend your entire career in one job or in one place. Expect and accept change—seek it out.

+Once a Librarian,Always a LibrarianAnn Walker Smalley, MLS ann@metronet.lib.mn.us @annws 651.646.0475