What's the Alternative? Career Options for Librarians and Info Pros

Citation

Jones, E. (2009), "What's the Alternative? Career Options for Librarians and Info Pros", Library Management, Vol. 30 No. 3, pp. 204-205. https://doi.org/10.1108/01435120910937366

Rachel Singer Gordon is no stranger to writing about libraries for librarians and non‐librarians. She has published several books on a wide variety of subjects, from systems libraries to publishing for librarians. Gordon is also the webmaster of LISJobs.com, which places her in an ideal position to showcase the different types of careers available in and out of the field. She brings her fresh, easy style to this not‐quite manual on alternative careers for individuals with an MLIS and without.

Gordon states early on that the word alternative is a bit misleading: “Now, technological advances, changes in library school education, and changes in the way our society views information work all serve to make alternative careers both more attractive and less ‘alternative‘ than they once were” (p. xiii). She often uses the word “nontraditional” rather than “alternative” as a way to encompass the shifting fields that librarians and info pros occupy and as a way to point to the fact that a career in a library is no longer standard route taken by those with an MLIS. Underlying her book is the idea that librarians and information professionals are best suited to take advantage of these trends and changes in the information economy.

Each chapter discusses various areas in which a librarian or an info pro might find a new career. She covers organizations similar to libraries, technology‐based careers, publishing, and new businesses. Each chapter is similar in layout. She lists some skills that might be best suited for that particular organization or field. Gordon then writes in a narrative non‐fiction style how one might go about finding and applying for a job in that arena. She often includes stories, either quotes or complete sidebars, from other librarians and info pros who have moved from traditional to nontraditional areas. The pros and cons of each field are carefully laid out in their respective chapters. Peppered throughout her text are references to helpful appendices and websites.

Gordon's appendices are a real treasure within this book. There are four that cover the range she laid out in the book, from reworking a resumé to valuable websites and resources. She also includes an alternative career survey, reprinted from the Liminal Librarian blog, through which she gathered many of the personal stories that help breathe life and personality into this work. Included in the front of the book is the address for the online companion to the book (www.lisjobs.com/altcareers), which contains all the websites mentioned throughout its pages.

Gordon is careful not to advocate one career or professional association over another. She emphasizes determining one's transferable skills and passion in order to focus in which fields one might apply for a nontraditional job. She also stresses that changing careers should not only fulfill professional goals but personal ones.

What's the Alternative? is an excellent manual for LIS students as it lays out how to break into the various information fields. LIS schools should consider having this book available as a resource for their students. Additionally, libraries would do well to have it in their careers sections. It makes clear that there is more to working in and with information than is normally perceived.