Every few months, I get an email from someone in library school or a new librarian basically asking me how I’ve accomplished all that I have in this profession in three years and how they can do the same. It’s an awkward question to answer, because there are always so many factors that come into play to create success, and a lot of them (the luck, the right place/right time, and the knowing the right people elements) are difficult to replicate. Also, I know they don’t mean what I do in my 9 to 5 job, which is weird, because it’s such a big part of my life. They usually mean the writing, speaking, teaching, etc. that I do outside of my day job. Frankly, I can’t explain how it all happened myself. The past three and a half years have been so surprising to me. Five years ago, I felt trapped in a profession I was miserable in. Now, things couldn’t be more opposite. But I really struggle to offer advice when I get emails like this, because I don’t think there’s any answer I could give that would really be useful.
But I’ll give it a try anyways.
I may be wrong, but I think that most of the people who end up “movers and shakers” in the profession (and I mean that not in the Library Journal sense, but it certainly also includes many of the LJ Movers and Shakers) didn’t explicitly try to become movers and shakers. I started blogging because I had strong opinions and a lot of ideas about the profession, and I wasn’t having the sort of discussions I’d hoped for in library school. Blogging helped me process my own ideas and, eventually, got discussions started between me and other people interested in the same things. I think when you do something out of a passion for it, it shows. When you do something because you want to get noticed or you want accolades, there’s a very strong possibility it won’t happen. I don’t think Helene Blowers created Learning 2.0 to get named a Mover and Shaker or get countless speaking invitations around the world. She did it out of a real passion for lifelong learning. Similarly, Casey Bisson didn’t create Scriblio to get famous. He was frustrated with the OPAC as it was and had an idea for doing it better. I could be totally wrong and perhaps every mover and shaker is an Eve Harrington in disguise, but my experiences with these people tells me that most of them are extremely genuine and committed to contributing to the profession.
Casey and Helene’s cases also point to something else: seeing an unfilled need and filling it. Learning 2.0 was so huge because it filled a need for lightweight staff training on Web 2.0 stuff. I created the ALA Chicago Wiki in 2005 because I was frustrated by the lack of information about the conference other than what ALA was putting out (which didn’t tell me much). ALA 2004 in Orlando had been really overwhelming and confusing for me, and I just wanted to figure out a way to collect knowledge about the conference and the city in which it would be taking place. I would have been tickled if just a few librarians had added their two cents (better than me just putting in what I know), but the wiki received thousands and thousands of edits by hundreds of librarians. It ended up becoming this incredibly rich guide to the conference because of the efforts of so many people. It exceeded my wildest dreams. That wiki (and the Library Success Wiki) led to my being noticed by a number of influential bloggers and folks at WebJunction. Creating a similar wiki for Computers in Libraries 2006 led to my invitation to give a Cybertour at the conference as Jane Dysart was so grateful for my creating it. I certainly hadn’t expected it; I just wanted to know what restaurants people thought were good near the DC Hilton. But that speaking gig led to several others and it just snowballed. There are still so many unfilled needs in the profession. It just takes someone who notices a need and is willing to put in the time.
And time is what all this takes. Read the profiles of Movers and Shakers in Library Journal and read about a lot of the big name librarian bloggers and you will see a lot of people who are really passionate about what they do. Many of us spend lots of time outside of work on these projects. We spend our free time writing, speaking, and networking online with folks who have similar professional interests. We often spend our own money to go to conferences in our areas of interest. The woman who wrote me last week mentioned that she doesn’t get many opportunities to publish or contribute to the profession. I don’t know about anyone else, but I’ve mostly made my own opportunities and I’ve done all of it on my own time. Sometimes you just need to do something and hope for the best; you can’t sit around waiting for someone to drop opportunities into your lap.
The woman who wrote me last week mentioned that she felt like she was spinning her wheels toiling in obscurity in rural America. So I asked her what she was doing to connect with others. There are so many online communities one could be involved in that bridge the distance, no matter how rural a location you’re in. Look at Laura Crossett. She lives in rural Wyoming and doesn’t have the funding to attend national conferences, but still, she is part of a vibrant community of librarians as a result of her involvement with the Library Society of the World, Twitter, and her own blog. Many of those friends she’s made online she hasn’t even met in person, yet any of us would probably love to give a talk at a conference or co-author an article with her (I know I would — she’s awesome!). So when I hear the “but I’m rural” excuse, I don’t buy it, because the only limits these days on being part of a professional network is the time we want to dedicate to it. And I love that!
That woman also mentioned feeling like she couldn’t start a blog because most of the niches have been taken. I don’t think one necessarily needs to write a blog on a topic that is totally unique. Obviously, you have to have some interest in the topics they’re writing about, but I certainly wouldn’t mind reading yet another blog about library technologies if what they’re writing (and how they write) captures my interest. Some of my favorite blogs aren’t actually “about” anything, but are just a person’s musings on the topics they’re passionate about. When someone writes in a really honest and interesting way, it makes all the difference. So focus more on writing about something you’re passionate about.
So I guess my advice is to focus on what you are passionate about and have the guts to put yourself out there. I wouldn’t have a column in American Libraries today if I didn’t tell several people in ALA Publishing (including the head of ALA Publishing) that they should hire me to write a column. When the worst thing that can happen is rejection, it’s totally worth giving it a try. I submitted a couple of writing proposals early on that were rejected, and I didn’t let that discourage me from trying other things. Rejection isn’t fun, but it’s not that bad.
Most of all, be great at your job. While I’m happy with all the things I’ve done outside of work, I’m most proud of the things I’ve accomplished at my 9 to 5 job. I feel very good when I look at what I’ve done for our patrons over the past 3 years. This is why I became a librarian. Being great at what you do and balancing that with other contributions to the profession is what will make you advance. It’s wrong to think that my having written book and done a lot of speaking and whatnot really has an impact on my day job.
But I’m just one person speaking from my own admittedly unique experience. What advice would you offer a new librarian looking to start speaking, writing and networking on a national level?
Merdith- You hit the nail on head. Find your inner passion and have confidence in yourself that you (yes, you) can make a singular difference.
That’s how it was for me. From my own frustration to the realization that no one else was going to offer me the golden key that I needed as solution (in my case for a large staff training solution). I had to dig deep myself, experiment and try something new.
I’m with you on ‘just do it’. The first presentation I did was for our national conference. I don’t think you need to take a stepping stone approach of local-state-regional-national unless you really want to. Editors and conference organisers are always looking for good content and new blood, it never hurts to aim high.
A good network of people who can help you and support you is essential. I’ve been writing an article about what motivates people to write and present, which is often at their own cost and outside of work time. For many, it is the support and encouragement of peers and coworkers that drives them. If you have people who support you it makes all the difference. You can find this at work, through a formal mentoring program, or through online social networks.
Opportunities definitely are what you make of them – I was in the same place as the woman who wrote to you not so long ago. The first step is the hardest, but once you get involved even in one thing or present for the first time, it snowballs from there.
Meredith, as you already know (as evidenced by your kind comment), I had too much to say and so posted my thoughts here: http://openstacks.net/os/2008/04/20/the-wrong-goal/
Yup, that whole “just do it” thing is mighty sound advice. As a rural school librarian, the whole “I’m in the middle of nowhere” bit doesn’t fly well with me, either. Get a blog going, I say, and no, it doesn’t have to be “niche”. Check out and contribute to wikis, especially ones like your best practices library wiki. Bug the snot out of people. But do it because you love to do it, not to get well-known. Ya wanna be famous? Become a stripper or an actress or a rock star. Ya wanna serve people and be a better librarian who maybe gets invites to sweet speaking gigs and totally rocks a conference? Then get out there and do something. Besides whine about how you-can’t-you-cant’-you-can’t. Sorry, Meredith, didn’t mean to turn this into a rant, but reading about stuff like this, and then reading about how Mesa, AZ, is planning on cutting all their school librarians to replace them with classroom aides–man, it’s this kidn of stuff that just lights a fire under me–and makes me wanna go blog! Thanks, Meredith! You are the bomb, and you inspire my lazy butt all the time! 😉
Not to just echo “just do it” but … “just do it”! And … a few other thoughts. Be clear what your goals are (e.g., just to be famous? to make a difference?) and what you are willing to invest in your own career (e.g., how much of your own money, extra time, etc.). Volunteer for tasks that most people don’t want to do and not only do them but do them well. No whining. Say “thank you” to others who make opportunities for you – do your best to make opportunities for others. Be lucky (though also watch for opportunities to make your own luck). The biggest thing – be ready to work really hard.
Passion is important but you also need a good idea and the ability to communicate it to others in a “sticky” way – so it’s memorable. Coming up with good ideas isn’t easy. Listen to librarians when they complain. What do they need? What don’t they have that they want? What do they want to do better? Also pay more attention to what’s happening in fields peripheral to librarianship for ideas that could transfer. Once you have an idea that might be of interest start to communicate about it and see how colleagues react. If your idea resonates with others you’ll know it. Then the rest is up to you.
Meredith, I couldn’t agree with you more! I work in a small academic library where I wear two hats (archivist and reference librarian), neither position offers much in the way of professional development or speaking engagements, so I’ve found my own way to stay engaged. I’ve created two blogs – each relating to the two hats that I wear and I try to maintain some sort of professional connection through social networks. I’m not seeking fame and fortune through library work, but I am hoping to be better at what I do, thereby, ensuring that my students become the best at what they do.
I am sure that new librarians will really appreciate this sort of practical advice. A lot probably would like to contribute for the better, but are unsure about where to begin. Blogs like this serve a meaningful purpose in helping them on that first important step. However, it is unfair to assume that they are merely looking for hollow recognition. It should not be a crime to ask for help; asking for help doesn’t equate wanting opportunties to just fall in one’s lap.
“That woman also mentioned feeling like she couldn’t start a blog because most of the niches have been taken.”
I remember feeling this way, but that is the beauty of the library world. There is always room for new and fresh voices. I can’t imagine that in other industries new bloggers, writers, speakers would be made to feel so welcome as they are in the biblioblogosphere.
Thanks for the great post.
Karen, I definitely didn’t assume that the person writing was looking for “hollow recognition” but wanted to emphasize that the focus should be more on doing what you love, because people notice when you write/speak/contribute with passion. I don’t think anyone castigated her for asking for help, but I do think that people need to know that the best thing they can do is just put themselves out there. Waiting for things to happen will only lead to disappointment — I’ve been there at other points in my own life and I wish someone had said the same thing to me at the time.
Wise words, Meredith. Hopefully with this thread will motivate more librarians to set aside qualms, insecurities, fear of rejection, etc. and not be afraid to put themselves out there, network, and show passion for what they do on a daily basis. As my grandfather used to say, “There are two ways to climb an oak tree. One way is to climb the tree….the other is to sit on an acorn and wait.”
Meredith,
I really appreciated reading this blog post. As a new librarian (11 months into my first professional position), I have found myself reading your blog or your AL column and asking myself, “How can I continue to feel the passion and motivation I feel now, and make something of it?” I think that you’re correct, just doing it will serve you right. One thing I see a lot of on the listservs is complaining- and I really feel that being positive and motivated will get you further than any laundry list of degrees. I’m glad to hear that in your case, your natural passion for the profession is what led you to your early successes.
One of the secrets of my success: ask “stupid” questions. We don’t do so much because we are afraid of looking stupid, but it’s better to go and do it. I try and ask, “What do you mean? Why did you say that? Give me more detail.” when everyone around me is nodding their heads. It gets past the jargon and the bs, and gets to the heart of the issue. I started it in grad school, when I realized, “I’m paying for this, I need to understand, so I’m going ask!” I’ve had more people thank me for doing that than for nearly anything else I’ve done, and it gives me the courage to go and do other things, like start a blog, comment on “famous” people’s blogs, and even, occasionally at least, introduce myself to people at conferences!
We’re also very happy that Laura participates in Radical Reference, an online (and off) community of librarians.