#LISprochat lead-in - topic & questions for Mon Sep 24 2018 - 8:30pm ET

via matamoros on Pixabay

TOPIC

The catch-22 of "experience required" for entry-level library jobs

We're taking it back to job advice again this week, figured since it's the start of another academic year now was a good time to discuss getting experience in libraries in order to get an entry-level library job. As the Annoyed Librarian once pointed out, most MLIS programs don't actually give their students any library experience, or at least they didn't in 2011. I have seen a few programs since then offering optional practicums for their students. Interestingly this is in contrast to Canadian Library Technician college programs which all have a mandatory 105 hours of library practicum placements as graduation requirements.

My inspiration for today's chat is the article "When an entry-level job requires experience" from TheMuse.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT WE'VE CHANGED THE TIME TO 8:30PM ET!

QUESTIONS

We post the questions here in advance of the chat so you can decide whether or not this topic is of interest to you and/or prepare your answers in advance.

Q1 Did your library program require you to do any work experience in a library in order to graduate? Was there an option? If not, did you make your own options by working or volunteering?

Q2 How did you find volunteer and employment opportunities as a library school student?

Q3 Did the experience you got during school help you get into your first post-grad library role?

Q4 What more do you think library schools can do to support their students in getting library experience to improve their eligibility in hiring once they're post-grad?

PLEASE CONSIDER JOINING IN ON TWITTER AT 8:30 PM ET NEXT MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 USING THE #LISPROCHAT HASHTAG.