***Please excuse cross-posting***

Time: Saturday, January 26th, 2019, 4:00 pm- 5:00 pm.

Location: Washington State Convention Center, TCC-Tahoma 1

Are you a recent library school graduate eager to learn what lies ahead as an academic librarian? Maybe you are a new graduate looking for a job, wondering whether you should take an available assistant position or wait to see if you can get a professional librarian position. Perhaps you have been working in your current position for a few years and are interested in becoming a supervisor. Or are you a new cataloger and have heard about NACO but have no idea how to participate? If you fit into any of the above scenarios, please join us for our four exciting presentations at the ALCTS New Members Interest Group (ANMIG) meeting in Seattle, abstracts as follows. After the presentations, the group will have an opportunity for questions and discussion.

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: The Perspectives of Two New Academic Librarians

Jessica Martinez, Science Librarian, University of Idaho Library; Meredith Forrey, MLIS.

As two recent graduates, Jessica and Meredith had experience working in academic libraries but, never as capital “L” Librarians. In our presentation, we will chronicle the first year out of graduate school as academic librarians, highlighting the struggles of shifting from student to teacher, the excitement of discovering our style of librarianship, and overcoming imposter syndrome.

We will specifically touch on issues faced by new academic librarians, discussing the challenges and successes of our first year of professional librarianship. We will examine learning from our failures and not getting bogged down when things turn out differently than we planned. Our presentation will tell the story of our careers, comparing and contrasting our experiences at two different institutions.

From Library Assistant to Assistant Librarian: leveraging a staff position into a librarian appointment in an academic library

Elizabeth Miraglia, Assistant Program Director, Metadata Services, Head, Books & Serials Metadata, UC San Diego Library

Library school students and early-career librarians are often discouraged from taking non-librarian positions after completing their degrees. They are told that it makes applying for and transitioning into professional positions difficult and that contributes to the “de-professionalization” of our field. However, the reality is that bills need to be paid and graduates are often faced with a choice between assistant-level work in their field or doing something unrelated while applying and waiting for professional work. This presentation outlines the personal experiences of one early-career librarian who took advantage of the opportunities that library assistant work presented and successfully recruited into a managing-librarian position. It also provides practical advice on how to make the most of non-librarian positions and how to stay engaged with librarianship along the way.

From Boss Baby to Seasoned Supervisor-- Lessons Learned the Easy Way and the Hard Way

Mary S. Konkel, Head of Technical Services, OCLC Global Council Delegate for the Americas Regional Council (ARC), College of DuPage Library

This presentation will cover the road to supervision and management from the perspective of a technical services librarian, who has worked in large and medium research libraries and in a community college. From co-worker to coordinator, from being the boss of myself to being the boss of others, supervision has been challenging but rewarding. I’ll share the excitement of getting things done with others, the joys of mentoring, and how to graciously recover and move on when ah-oh moments happen—and they will!

Jump Starting Your Career: How NACO Funnels Can Provide Training and Support for New Librarians

Roman S. Panchyshyn, Kent State University Libraries, Associate Professor, Coordinator Ohio NACO Project

Entry-level positions in cataloging and metadata management require library professionals to gain expertise with various standards, technologies and products. An excellent way for new professionals to jump-start their careers is by acquiring knowledge about the identity management process. This involves learning about the Library of Congress Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC), specifically its Name Authority Cooperative Program (NACO). If your library is not an active NACO participant, the easiest way to begin participation is by joining a NACO funnel project. With institutional support, a NACO funnel will train you to contribute authority records for agents, places, works, and expressions to the LC/NACO Authority File. Funnel coordinators will provide you with the direct training and review that you will need to acquire this expertise. This presentation will cover how NACO funnels work, how you can participate, and review the benefits that funnel membership provides for your institution and your career.

We look forward to seeing you in the session!