Editor's Note

May 1, 2008 - vol. 9, no. 3 - ISSN 1532-0839

This issue focuses on a topic near and dear to many librarians' hearts: Finding the money to do what we need to do. Rather than the usual focus on funding our libraries, though, here find advice and tips on funding your personal professional priorities, from securing individual grants, to finding scholarship opportunities for conferences and other continuing education, to the advantages of post-graduate residencies and assistantships. One theme runs through these articles: The money is out there, and it's up to you to find and take advantage of it. As always, being proactive in finding ways to develop yourself professionally helps you move forward in your career and grow as a library professional.

Check out the awards, grants, fellowships, and scholarships sections of Beyond the Job for more specific opportunities.

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On the forums
While you're waiting for that funding to attend in-person events to come through, build your network and knowledge by participating in the LISjobs.com online community. Current hot topics on the online forums include:

• Thank you letters
• Will you consider a person who was rejected for another position?
• Out-of-state interviews
• Academic to public library stigma?

Come join the community and voice your thoughts on these and other job-hunting and career-related topics. I'm also seeking volunteer moderators for a couple of forums:

* Money! (for LIS education)
* LIS Schools

If interested, email rachel@lisjobs.com with the topic you're interested in and why you'd make a good moderator. Hint: the best way to qualify? Become active on the boards! Moderators are responsible for helping keep discussion in their forum going, on track, and professional.

In the newsletter
If moderating isn't up your alley, how about contributing in other ways, by sharing your experiences and insights in an upcoming issue of Info Career Trends. Contributors are currently needed for the following thematic issues:

September 2008: Nontraditional Career Paths
What else can you do with a library degree, library experience, skills as an information professional? The facile answer: anything you darn well please. Submit your more thoughtful answers, stories, and advice for the September 2008 issue, which focuses on alternative career paths for librarians and info pros.

November 2008: Finding Professional Success
Share strategies for becoming a successful information professional, from the first job hunt through an entire library career. What’s worked for you may help others find similar success in their own careers.

Email a brief query outlining what issue you would like to write for, your proposed topic, and your qualifications to editor@lisjobs.com. Please do not email finished articles; query first. See the online guidelines for more information.

For review

I'm also seeking reviewers for the following titles:

1) Changing the Way We Work, by Michelle Boule
2) Fundamentals of Technical Services Management, by Sheila S. Intner with Peggy Johnson
3) Managing Library Employees: A How-To-Do-It Manual, by Mary J. Stanley
4) Leadership: The Challenge for the Information Profession, by Sue Roberts and Jennifer Rowley

Interested? Email editor@lisjobs.com with the title you'd like and why you'd be a good person to review it.

On the site
Stay tuned for an upcoming redesign, which will provide better organization, visual interest, and new content to LISjobs.com. Speaking of money, sponsorship opportunities are available -- so if your organization would like to receive tremendous exposure by being associated with the largest library job and career-related site around, just let me know! Ad space is also available in the email version of the newsletter; email editor@lisjobs.com for details.

A little light reading
My new book, What's the Alternative? Career Options for Librarians and Info Pros debuted at the Computers in Libraries conference last month. Be one of the first to check it out as you contemplate options for your own career path.

- Rachel
editor@lisjobs.com