Transitioning from Library Technician to Librarian

1. Transitioning from Library Technician to Librarian OCULA One-Day Mini-Conference The Holistic Librarian: Thriving in Your Work and Life November 9, 2006 Presented by: Jennifer Peters-Lise Metadata & Digital Services Librarian Seneca College jennifer.peters-lise@senecac.on.ca

2. Audience poll • How many Librarians? • How many Technicians? • How many Technicians who are thinking of becoming Librarians?

3. Today… • My background • My degree experience • Reactions to my decision to become a librarian • How my job has changed

4. Education background • Journalism – Durham College • didn’t fit my personality – long hours, aggressive • far too laid back • English Literature – Trent University • liked to read • what to do after graduation? • didn’t want to teach – so no M.A. • spoke to librarian about her job • she mentioned MLS, I said • too long – already in school 6 years • want a job quickly so I can get married and buy a house • LIT – accelerated was perfect

5. Education background • Library Technician – Seneca College • hired as a student, reference at night • after graduation - worked for 3 years at King campus • manager convinced me to go back to school • more money, vacation, autonomy • Masters of Information Studies – U of Toronto • graduated this past April • hired as a librarian 4 months after grad.

6. Completing the degree • Part-time @ night, worked during the day • 3 years • 2 courses per semester, including summers • wanted to GET IT DONE! • potential position waiting for me (metadata) • Negative – took courses I didn’t want but they filled the requirements

7. My degree experience and Kubler-Ross’5 stages of grief

8. The degree • Before I started school • Denial • First year • Anger & depression – • no free time, no fun, all work • pity party • Bargaining • Second and 3rd year • Acceptance • Downtown shopping and restaurants

9. The degree • After graduating • too much free time, didn’t know where to start • forced myself back into my old lifestyle - hobbies – cooking, gardening, yoga • got really sick and depressed • take it easy over the summer – allow myself to get bored. • Now • enjoying every minute • school has made me appreciate my free time

10. Suggestions for Techs considering pursuing their MISt part-time… • Do it…it’s more than worth it. • e.g. $15,000 raise, 6 weeks more vacation • If you are able, take courses during the day. Easier on mental health. • afternoon course and a night course in the same day • Less commuting • 1-4, 6:30-9:30 - Time to do homework, shop, eat • make up the hours at work. • Take the full amount of courses in the summer.

11. Suggestions for Techs considering pursuing their MISt part-time… • Wait for the courses you really want to take. • Try to connect with other part-time students to create a support network. • Full-time students – unreal expectations • Ask your employer if they reimburse tuition, offer incentives and/or time off for courses.

12. Reactions to a technician who becomes a librarian

13. Mixed reactions • Librarians • “it’s great”, “wonderful”, “good for you” • Technicians • some said “great”, “wonderful”, “good for you” • some asked “why” • some said “well…don’t become one of those librarians” • almost like I was being a traitor

14. Toxic reaction • One colleague • intense animosity towards me • jealousy? distaste? dislike? • we were close before I started school, maybe I just became really cranky • changed campuses halfway through degree, solved that problem

15. The great or (not-so-great) divide • Techs learn about librarians, but librarians don’t learn about techs • Diploma and degree cover some of the same information

16. What to learn from this… • Librarians - don’t underestimate Technicians • Technicians - don’t vilify librarians • Our skills are complementary.

17. How my job has changed…

18. More research Most of my daily work More report writing Based on my research, have to put it all together More meetings More strategic planning More involved in the planning process for the library More conferences Attending Expected to present a lot more now More politics Most troubling Biggest learning curve for me Less repetitive work No more book trucks full of paperbacks Less public service Nature of my job…not because I’m a librarian Less time to do work Direct correlation to… As a librarian I experience:

19. In conclusion… • What would I change about my experience? • Found a job as a technician with Seneca • They funded half of my MISt • Now they’ve hired me as a librarian • Scenic route

20. Questions?