PLACEMENT SERVICE JOB LIST

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The MLA Personnel Subcommittee is pleased to announce a career mentoring program for music librarians! If you are just entering music librarianship or are changing roles within music librarianship, this year-long mentoring program is intended to help you! Each participant will be paired with an experienced music librarian, who will act as a role model, discussion partner and all-around career advisor. The program will run from February 2005 to February 2006; deadline for application is January 21, 2005. Further details and an online application form are available at http://library.furman.edu/music/mla/mentoring.htm. Please contact Laurel Whisler (laurel.whisler@furman.edu) or Jeanette Casey ( jlcasey@northwestern.edu), if you have questions regarding this new program.

Are you job hunting? Is it time to dust off that résumé? The Personnel Subcommittee has a service for you! Music librarians selected for their hiring experience and editorial skills will review your résumé and cover letter. Bring résumé, cover letter, and position announcement to MLA-Vancouver, drop them off at the Résumé Review Service Table, and sign for up your private consultation session. Your reviewer will go over suggested changes and additions, and answer your questions. For further information, contact Sheridan Stormes at sstormes@butler.edu.

POSITIONS RECENTLY FILLED

POSITIONS PREVIOUSLY POSTED

The NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY, New York, New York, is looking for a Librarian II (or Librarian I on a training basis), Performing Arts/Music Research Division.

CAREER RESOURCES

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SWARTHMORE COLLEGE, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, is looking for a Performing Arts Librarian.

Responsibilities: Swarthmore College seeks a creative and energetic individual as Head of its Daniel Underhill Library. The Performing Arts Librarian is responsible for the planning and management of the Underhill Music Library operations and facilities. The librarian also serves as liaison to the faculty, students and staff of the College's Department of Music and Dance, and the Department of Theater. Specific responsibilities include providing reference/research consultation for students and faculty in these disciplines (as well as other assigned areas); working closely with faculty to develop an integrated information literacy curriculum for music and dance; teaching research methods for music, dance, and theater; developing research and collection Web-based guides and maintaining the Underhill Library's web presence; selecting print and non-print materials and evaluating the collection in order to make decisions related to retention, preservation and physical access; hiring, training and supervision of (3.5 FTE) student assistants who are responsible for staffing the library during evenings and weekends. The librarian will provide leadership for exploring the viability of integration of theater resources (currently housed in the main library) into the collection, as well as for planning for renovations to the space and equipment resources.

Reporting to the College Librarian, the Performing Arts Librarian is a member of the library's reference and instruction staff and works with his/her colleagues to further the goals of that unit. The successful candidate will work closely with the Haverford Music Librarian on collaborative collection development, digital projects, and other library services in support of the faculty and students at both institutions. The Performing Arts Librarian collaborates with Technical Services staff to establish best practices in the acquisitions and cataloging of music materials and assists with those activities when subject expertise is required. It is expected that all librarians will engage in scholarly activities, as well as participate in professional development through attendance at conferences and workshops.

General Information: The Underhill Music Library is housed in the Lang Music Building and contains nearly 50,000 items. The curricular, research and performance needs of Swarthmore's academic and instrumental, ensemble and dance programs are directly supported by Underhill Library's holdings which contains scores, books and periodicals in music and dance, 16,000 sound recordings in various formats, videos, as well listening rooms, multimedia workstations, and general computing and audio equipment. The primary focus of the collection is music from the western classical tradition; other subject areas include jazz and non-western music. The dance collection includes a mirror archive to the field recordings housed at the University of Ghana's International Center for African Music and Dance.

Qualifications: An MLS or equivalent from an ALA-accredited library school. Substantial knowledge of music repertory, history, and music bibliography and an understanding of current and emerging trends and issues related to music librarianship including audio technology. Undergraduate or master's degree in Music highly desirable as is working knowledge in at least two modern European languages (preferably German and a Romance language). Interest in the application of information technology to music and dance librarianship, including digitization, and a familiarity with relevant standards and technology. Demonstrated ability to effectively plan, organize and implement services and operations. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Effective teaching and presentation skills. Desire and ability to work collegially, collaboratively and effectively in both team-based and self-directed environments.

Institution Description: Swarthmore College is a highly selective, liberal arts college situated on a beautiful suburban Philadelphia campus. Swarthmore, Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges comprise the TriCollege Library Consortium. In addition to shared library systems, the Consortium provides opportunities for librarians to participate in a range of innovative activities and to work closely with colleagues on other campuses on such projects as collaborative collection development, a shared web presence, and digitization initiatives.

Salary & Benefits: Dependent upon qualifications. The starting salary for librarians at Swarthmore is $47,089. The College offers excellent health benefits, a retirement plan, generous vacation, tuition benefits.

Deadline: We hope that the new Performing Arts Librarian could join us by July 1, 2005. Application review will begin February 7 and continue until the position is filled. Interested applicants will have the opportunity to meet with a member of the search committee at MLA 2005. In your application materials, please indicate whether you will be attending the meeting.

Application: Please send applications with a cover letter, resume, and the names of three references to:

Anne Garrison (Chair, Performing Arts Librarian Search Committee)
McCabe Library
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA 19081

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The UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS, Fayetteville, Arkansas, is looking for a Performing Arts Librarian.

The University of Arkansas Libraries seek a Performing Arts Librarian who will be responsible for services and collections associated with performing arts (film, theater, dance, and other performing arts) and media. The Performing Arts Librarian will work collaboratively with other subject specialists, including the music librarian, to develop multimedia and non-print collections that support all academic programs. Reports to the Director for Public Services.

General Duties: The Librarian will oversee daily operations of the Performing Arts and Media Services unit; serve as liaison to the academic programs involved in the performing arts; establish programs, policies, and procedures for services; and manage the collections housed in the unit. Responsibilities will include: providing reference service and library instruction; supervising 2 FTE staff and 15 student staff; maintaining departmental equipment for listening, viewing, and manipulating multimedia formats; integrating assistive technology used in providing services to patrons with disabilities, and developing the collection in non-print media formats in consultation with subject selectors.

Qualifications: Required: MLS (or equivalent) from an ALA-accredited program; bachelor's degree in a performing arts discipline; reference services experience in a research setting; strong public service orientation; knowledge of electronic resources; effective interpersonal and communication skills; supervisory experience; and knowledge of multi-media equipment and resources. Preferred: Master’s degree in a performing arts discipline; collection development experience; understanding of cataloging practices related to media and non-print materials; experience with online circulation systems; familiarity with assistive technology used in providing services to patrons with disabilities.

Salary & Benefits: Salary and rank dependent on qualifications. Appointment anticipated at the beginning faculty rank of Assistant Librarian. Minimum salary $35,000. Tenure-track, twelve-month appointment. Benefits include TIAA/CREF and/or Fidelity, 22 days’ annual leave, tuition reduction, health and dental insurance.

Background: Supported by major gifts received through the Campaign for the 21st Century, University goals include increasing enrollment by several thousand students; establishing new academic programs, especially in the Honors College and Graduate School; and increasing research across the curriculum. In concert with these goals, the Libraries have identified strategic initiatives to meet increasing expectations of students and faculty in this growth environment, including innovations within the Libraries, a higher level of operational excellence, enabling activity to support the University’s land-grant teaching and research mission, and dedication, innovation, cooperation, and flexibility among personnel.

The University Libraries hold over 1.7 million volumes. Library personnel (FTE) include 32 library faculty, 80 professional and support staff, 3 library graduate assistants, and 29 student assistants. Under enthusiastic, forward-thinking, visionary management, the Libraries are a dynamic organization, balancing tradition with innovation. The Libraries participate in the Greater Western Library Alliance. In 2004, the University was named one of the best values (45th) among public colleges by "Kiplinger’s Personal Finance." For more information, visit the UA home page (http://www.uark.edu), the Libraries’ home page (http://libinfo.uark.edu), and the Fayetteville web site (http://www.accessfayetteville.org/).

Located in northwest Arkansas, Fayetteville has been ranked by the Milken Institute as the nation’s number one "Best Performing City" in categories of local economy, job market, and reliable growth industries. With a population of over 300,000, the region is one of the fastest-growing in the U.S., has one of the nation’s lowest unemployment rates, and hosts the headquarters of two Fortune 500 companies. Situated in the Ozark Mountains, Fayetteville and the surrounding area offer numerous cultural activities and outdoor recreational opportunities.

Deadline: Review of applications begins January 18, 2005, and continues until position is filled.

Application: Send letter of application, résumé, and names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three current references to:

Ms. Janet Parsch, Director for Organizational Development
University of Arkansas Libraries
365 N. Ozark Avenue
Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701-4002

or by email: libhrofc@uark.edu.

The University of Arkansas is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity institution committed to achieving a culturally diverse faculty. Applicants must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States.

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POSITIONS RECENTLY FILLED

Lee Barrett Bryars, Catalog Librarian, Berklee College of Music

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CAREER RESOURCES

RÉSUMÉS, CURRICULA VITAE, AND INTERVIEWING

• Amdursky, Saul. "Confessions of an Interview Junkie." American Libraries 32, no. 9 (October 2001): 66-8.
  
  Advice for librarians on doing job interviews are presented. The advice is to enjoy the interview process; use the Internet for job searches; welcome the presence of headhunters; view the interview process as theater; look forward to a very well-prepared interview that allows for interaction with staff members, peers, and the community; be a free agent; consider contract negotiations to be vital to decision making; avoid accepting an interview for a job that is not suitable; learn something new from the interview about library programs and services; and do not let age get in the way of applying for challenging jobs. (Library Literature)
  
  
• Berry, John, III. "Advertisements for All of Us." Library Journal 129, no. 7 (April 15, 2004): 8.
  
  The "Prospectus" web site (http://www.mgmt.dal.ca/slis/prospectus presents the resume of each member of the 2004 graduating class of the School of Library and Information Studies at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada, along with a sample of their work. The site, which was created by the students themselves, demonstrates the progress that library and information studies education has made, both in terms of the diversity of students and the experience and education they bring to the field. (Library Literature)
  
  
• Davis, Francie. "Strategies for Successful Hiring: Common Sense Interviewing Techniques." Available at http://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlevents/fdavis.PDF.
  
  Dowling College faculty librarians, working in a team-based department, have developed an almost foolproof interview protocol to use with job applicants. After analyzing the requirements and necessary skills for the open position, they create open-ended questions that are then asked of each candidate. The stream-lined procedure facilitates the interview, ensures fairness to the candidates, and improves the process. This paper was presented at the 11th national ACRL conference in 2003. (author)
  
  
• LaGuardia, Cheryl, and Ed Tallent. "Interviewing: Beware Blogging Blunders." Library Journal 127, no. 15 (September 15, 2002): 42, 44.
  
  The writers, who have recently been interviewing many job candidates, offer advice to job applicants on their use of the Internet. They urge applicants not to include excessive personal information in their online resumes and to use Web communication responsibly. They also suggest using the Web to prepare for job interviews. (Library Literature)
  
  
• Manley, Will. "Interviews in a Phone Culture." American Libraries 34, no. 7 (August 2003): 120.
  
  The writer discusses the benefits of conducting job interviews over the telephone. Candidates participating in phone interviews are more relaxed as a result of not having to meet some of the requirements of a face-to-face interview, such as wearing uncomfortable business attire, performing on cue in a formal and unfamiliar setting, and forcing smiles while under stress. Another advantage of phone interviews is that the "appearance factor" is eliminated as a selection criterion. (Library Literature)
  
  
• Newlen, Robert. Writing Resumes That Work: A How-to-Do-It Manual for Librarians. New York, NY: Neal-Schuman Publishers, 1998.
  
  Newlen, ALA Executive Board and management specialist at the Library of Congress Congressional Research Service, offers a practical approach to preparing resumes, guiding readers through the difficult process of answering key questions that must be addressed in any resume. Twenty-eight sample resumes are all explained and specifically tailored to diverse library settings, including academic, public, law school, and special libraries, as well as to different interests of library school students, recent library school graduates, experienced librarians, and librarians moving into nontraditional jobs. The advice here is solid, including the present view on not putting personal information in a resume, keeping a resume up-to-date, using software to build and update the file, as well as a short section on cover letters. In addition, computer template file versions of the book samples are available from the publisher. (Library Journal)
  
  
• Rosenthal, Marilyn. "Looking for Jobs in All the Right Places." Library Journal 127, no. 16 (October 1, 2002): 67-70.
  
  An annotated directory of print and Web resources that may be of use to job seekers is provided. It is divided into resources focusing on reference, general job search, resumes, cover letters, interviewing, online job-hunting, and specialized fields and Web sites. (Library Literature)
  
  
• Topper, Elisa. "It's Not What You Say, but How You Say It." American Libraries 35, no. 8 (September 2004): 76.
  
  The author, a career consultant for the American Library Association and Director of the Dundee Township (Ill.) Public Library District, suggests that body language may be why someone isn't offered the job, despite what they think is a good interview. Topper recommends evaluating your nonverbal communication skills in preparation for an interview, even seeking out media training or similar instruction, if necessary.
  
  
• ____________. "Manners Matter for Employers and Applicants." American Libraries 35, no. 7 (August 2004): 76 .
  
  Topper provides basic guidelines on job-interview etiquette for both job applicants and employers. This article is particularly useful to job seekers, because it provides a list of questions that an applicant should ask themselves as they proceed through the interview process.
  
  
• Whisler, Laurel. "Résumés, Curricula Vitae, and Cover Letters for Music Librarians: Suggestions for Librarians in Job Searches or Compiling Annual Review Documents." Music Reference Services Quarterly 8, no. 4 (February 2005) : [forthcoming].
  
  A résumé or curriculum vitae and cover letter provide the first impression search committees have of each candidate; thus, it is important to create such documents that are polished and clearly inform potential employers of a candidate's strengths. A number of formats is possible for each document, but a résumé is usually a brief description of relevant positions and the duties and accomplishments of the candidate, while a curriculum vitae generally lists positions chronologically with no description. Each document also contains other information rounding out the candidate's background. This article discusses format, contents, and guidelines for writing résumés, curricula vitae, and cover letters geared specifically toward music librarians. Samples are included, and an annotated bibliography suggests other useful resources for the job seeker. (author)
  
  
• White, Gary, ed. Help Wanted: Job and Career Information Resources. Chicago, IL: Reference and User Services Section of the American Library Association, 2003.
  
  Whether you work in the private sector, an academic or a public library, all librarians need current information on the job market, career exploration, employment opportunities, how to write cover letters and resumes, salary data and internship opportunities. From the introduction on developing job and career collections in the new millennium to maintaining up-to-date information on available internships, this publication highlights techniques that can be implemented to successfully build collections on jobs and careers. The scope of the topic includes demographic and economic changes that influence the job market, the future of the workforce, and experiences in the corporate world that affect the job search. The inclusion of electronic resources also examines how resources have shifted from books to collections incorporating Web pages, CD-ROMS, and audio-visual materials. (ALA web site)

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