Comments on: The Myth Moves to Montana

By: Kim

Kim — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:18:06 +0000

Wow, that’s really lousy dbolt. Other western states have also offered scholarships It’s been explained to me by the powers that be that the scholarships will “grow librarians” from paraprofessionals already employed in the state’s libraries because that is needed — yeah, right. But I’ve never heard of someone being required to stay. Doesn’t matter, I’ve found these students often want to stay where they are regardless of the job climate.

By: frank

frank — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:51:16 +0000

I never thought about moving to Montana to be a librarian; dental floss tycoon’s more like it.

By: dbolt

dbolt — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:59:53 +0000

Sorry I missed most of this conversation. I am an MLS student and I’m in Montana. There is absolutely no shortage here. In fact, the scholarships the state library handed out over the last few years – with the brilliant stipulation that the scholars must find professional jobs in the state, because there’s a shortage, right – have put some of the scholars I know in a tight spot. If they don’t get the professional job in state, they have to pay back the scholarship. Last I heard the State library was offering a grant to willing libraries that would pay half of the salary for a professional position for up to two years. I assume part of the reason for doing this was to create placements for their new scholars finishing up at UW.

By: IDriveaPrius

IDriveaPrius — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:38:19 +0000

all very amusing – but when someone values themselves as highly as Mr. Kat, I always assume they’re totally worthless.

By: Mr. Kat

Mr. Kat — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 18:18:40 +0000

If I was able to come up with a plan that regionalized the management of libraries and streamlined the funcitons and positions within a library to the tune of saving the taxpayer between 25% and 50%, and then put myself in the primary position of that organizational structure, I wouldn’t ever have to move to your fair city.

BCL, I only have to ask, if that position was so good, then why didn’t any of the librarians already in the library move into that position, and if they could not, then just what were the qulaifications for that supervisory position? The problem is not supervisory and upper level positions – its entry level and mid level positions that offer a salary high enough to make payments on student loans. The problem with these positions is simple: the library can fill the positions with volunteers and get just as much return with little to no investment. The librarians in these positions aren’t in any condition to move up, whereas I recognize local establishments here who firmly believe they can’t fill higher positions by hiring from within.

I have other good news – I don’t ship out for a couple more months, but my two previous bosses both called up this week. turns out both companies have been able to wrangle a bit of cash [you know, 1-3 million], enough to get projects rolling forward. two Qatz, if I worked for you, with you, or above you, believe me, you would know the difference. For starters, I get work done. I don’t know how to milk a job for time – if it can be done in six, it will not be done in eight just to help myself out!! I move mountains – which I guess scares mountain folk. And no, I won’t ever drive a ******* Prius.

By: TwoQatz

TwoQatz — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 14:54:00 +0000

Please don’t come to my fair city, Mr. Kat. I’d rather not work for or with you.

By: Big City Librarian

Big City Librarian — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 12:39:53 +0000

Normally I enjoy AL’s commentary, but I have to disagree. My library system has never been close to fully staffed in the 5 years I’ve worked there and I’ve never had a problem finding library work.

There aren’t teacher shortages in good school districts, but go to the rural areas or the inner city and they’re being staffed with volunteers. Same with libraries.

Of course, now it doesn’t matter, because the economy tanked and all the systems have put hiring freezes on. My branch is still 3 librarians down, one being a supervisory position with an excellent starting salary ($33/hour). It sat open for 2 years before the hiring freeze. But, it’s an inner city library, so no one wants to get their feet dirty. They’d rather sit back and complain how there are too many librarians and not enough jobs.

By: Mr. Kat

Mr. Kat — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 12:10:48 +0000

Simple: It’s Fun. And in 20 years or so, I just might come back and take over a library near you as director, or at very least fill up one of those coveted 40-50k jobs in a academic university near you, joining ranks with the next group that will be forcing yet another generation of MLS graduates to take 20-$25k jobs. Now I won’t NEED that $40-$50k, which is why I will be able to offer myself for something ridiculous like $30k or $25k, thus re-devaluating the rest of the positions below that position.

Why Else do I do this? AS FAIR WARNING TO ALL THOSE GOING INTO THE FIELD, DUH!!!!

Many people in Library school are there because they are not applying themselves to really examining their career outlooks, researching what they are getting themselves into, and if they are, they aren;t necessarily getting ht emost honest informaiton. If you were to listen to ALA, for instance, you’d think there were library jobs available on every corner just being handed out.

And then I meet fellow graduates a year after graduating from Library school, people I consider to be future star librarians [People who really do Think Like You, Kim], and they are traveling what amounts to thousands of miles to job interviews and still coming up with nothing but rejection letters.

Furthermore, many of these graduates are of an age where they may still qualify for Military service. Many of them have not ever even considered it due to the numbers of negative connotations, some well deserved, that follow the military. A good number of these people would make very competitive Military Officers if they chose to apply themseves, as they already have one BA/BS degree and perhaps a Masters.

So why do I do what I do? Because it's FUN! And at this point I am still the technical librarian for a local organization. It's nonprofit and very low key, quite humble due to their budget and facility constraints, but it is a noble aspiration by an honest man that deserves support. Beyond that, I have an MLS and my private collection, which is library all unto itself.

All the same, don’t fool yourself about this field – don’t be afraid to call the spades out or cal the bluffs – there are many in this field and those who drin kthe Kool-Aide will fall for them hand and foot time and time again.

By: Kim

Kim — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 23:21:36 +0000

So, Mr. Kat, your job is going to be in the military, while you haunt sites aimed at librarians and regularly cut us and the people we serve down. You seem to think that the world you describe is going to last forever, or at least until you die. Being a young librarian who’s worked professionally in the field for a mere three years and who has read some of your commentary, to me you obviously don’t know what you’re talking about. Well, okay, your commentary doesn’t offend me, but I don’t get it. You’re going into your new world with your great new job that will provide you with the good life. Why waste your time here?

By: Mr. Kat

Mr. Kat — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 22:30:45 +0000

If you don’t make rank, then yes, you will not be making a large sum of money. However, if you stay at E-2 your entire 20 to 30 year career [very highly unlikely], you will be taking home $9400 a year. To take home $30k per year, you would have to make a rank of E-9. You will also have 10-20 years before you turn 68 to further get a Social Security paycheck, if that so entertains you. When you consider that military personnel do not pay into ANY retirement programs while in service, and that their medical benefits are paid for both during and after their service, for both themselves and their entire family [how much are you paying per year for your helthcare plan?? And just what is that deductible?? does it cover your teeth, or is that a second plan??]. So you see, even if a person isn’t taking home $30k in cash after they retire, they are taking home a package worth nearly that equivalent – and that is if they chose to sit on their a$$ their entire time or they did not keep their heads down and their mouths closed. Do it for 20 to 30, and they give you financial freedom for 20 to life. Fair Trade!!!

Even with a retirement of $9,400 a year, this retiree still has unparalllel medical coverage, any money they put into real estate on the Force’s Dime [that's right, while you are in the service, the military gives you a healthy housing allowance!], unparralleled work experience, management expeirence, education while in service plus a GI bill, if they chose that route. Go ahead, compete!!!