Category Archives: Career Advancement

Accepting Career Coaching Appointments

The ALA JobLIST Placement & Career Development Center will host complimentary career coaching sessions on Friday and Saturday, June 25th & 26th, 2023, during the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago, June 22 – 27, 2023. Each one-on-one session is open to any library worker or library school student, and completely confidential. Sign up now for an appointment.

Take advantage of this time to consider recharging your career. The professional career coach can guide you in strategizing for the next phase Read the rest

Refresh Your Toolbox

Although some of us are still getting snow, Spring will soon arrive. It’s the time when we typically clean, get rid of old stuff, and refresh our environments. It can also be a good time to reaffirm life plans, reawaken our energy, and recapture our motivation to move forward. Now is an excellent time to consider professional development options to enhance your knowledge and skills toolbox. The ALA Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment (HRDR) offers a number of Read the rest

Recruiting and Supporting Employees Who Are Neurodivergent Webinar

In recent issues of Library Worklife Newsletter (December 2022 and January 2023) we included a two-part article on library workers who are neurodivergent. Following the second article, a Library Worklife reader sent the following feedback:

I loved the two-part series on supporting and understanding Neurodivergent (ND) workers! I would like to see something further on those who are ND who have made it past the hurdle that the Q&A respondent seemed to be stuck at [in the second Read the rest

Time to Learn Something New

As a new year begins, millions of people around the world have made new year’s resolutions. However, many of those people will likely abandon those goals by the end of next month (if not sooner). Often, the problem with self-improvement goals is that they are too big, too complicated, too vague, too intimidating, and not necessarily achievable. The same often holds true for training/learning goals. Who has the time at work to embark on a college semester’s worth of training Read the rest

Advance Registration for LibLearnX Ends January 15

Advance registration for LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience (LLX), which will be held January 27-30 in New Orleans, will close January 15. Attendees of LibLearnX will have access to hands-on workshops, bite-size sessions, and other formats designed to match preferred learning styles with an emphasis on experiential learning. LLX includes the ALA Governance Institute, the LLX Marketplace, Youth Media Awards, and much more.

Here is a sampling of programs we think you might find of interest.

Growing Read the rest

Library Workers: Organize and Activate Join the Live Discussion at LibLearnX

Join ALA President Lessa Kanani’opua Pelayo-Lozada and ALA President-Elect Emily Drabinski when they host and moderate the ALA Presidential Program, Library Workers: Organize and Activate on the Main Stage, Sunday, January 29, 8:30 am – 9:45 am during LibLearnX in New Orleans. Learn more and register today! 

LibLearnX is a must-attend learning experience designed for library workers from all library types and career levels. Take advantage of this opportunity to attend a diverse selection of more than 120 education Read the rest

3 Things to Do Right Now to Keep Your Career Safe in the Economic Downturn

I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you about the current economic environment. If you’ve gone to the grocery store, purchased gas for a vehicle, bought clothes for children, etc. you know that prices of nearly everything have increased over the last several months. People are concerned that the steady increase in costs will spill over into the employment realm and begin to impact jobs. It can be a bit disconcerting. On the one hand, we hear that the Read the rest

How to Fix the Problem with Lack of Focus

How often have you found yourself reading something over and over but not absorbing it; zoning out in meetings; frequently switching between tasks; listening to people but having your mind wander; working on things that are other people’s priorities; not making considerable progress on your most important tasks; feeling tired and depleted? All of these can be signs that you may be struggling with your ability to focus. These days, we’re bombarded with all types of distractions —emails, pop-up ads, Read the rest

Learn… Network… Celebrate at LibLearnX

Join your peers and colleagues at the first-ever, in-person LibLearnX event, January 27-30, 2023 in New Orleans! Registration is now open.

The 2023 LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience (LLX) is a four-day learning conference that invites ALA members and non-members to participate in collaborative and engaging education, networking, and celebrations. Designed as an active learning experience, LibLearnX will offer a diverse selection of more than 120 education sessions. Participate in solution-based collaborative education where you will discuss topics that are Read the rest

Pay Transparency in Job Postings

Has this ever happened to you? While browsing through online job postings, you find a fantastic job opportunity that perfectly aligns with your passion, skills, and expertise. You read through the job description with growing excitement until you get to the section on compensation, where you read: salary offered is commensurate with experience. There is no salary given —not even a range. How frustrating is this? You wonder if you should waste your time. You don’t want to apply for Read the rest