By Megan Sherry
It is no secret that the best supplement to a library science graduate program is hands -on experience. While some might be unsure about finding a job in the field without first attaining an MLS degree, IU and Bloomington have a variety of opportunities for learning on your feet while learning in the classroom .
With 7 unique libraries and 3 distinct archives on campus, there are plenty of places that are occupationally relevant to ILS students, cover various specializations, and usually hire student workers. Several ILS students work as library assistants, helping with day-to-day tasks, such as reshelving books, helping patrons find what they need, and checking items in and out. One student worker, Arin Stonecipher, encourages patrons to use library assistants as a resource. “Library assistants are there to help you, so stop apologizing for asking questions!” she says. “If we don’t know how to help you, we know who can.”
ILS students can also be found helping at the libraries’ reference desks, where patrons go with specific questions, such as how to find a certain item or how to use the library’s online resources. Rachael Ritter, Reference Lead in the Education Library, says that one of her favorite parts of the job is working on special projects , from creating lib guides—electronic resources that help patrons find specific groups of materials, such as books about a unique topic—to making displays that bring attention to events, topics, or cultural celebrations.
Some students work a little more behind the scenes, processing, cataloguing, or analyzing data. Even if the tasks are similar across most of these positions, each comes with a unique set of experiences due to the variety of settings and materials associated with it. One student employee, Katherine Surur, describes her time working with the Nasreen Munni Kabir Collection in the South and Southeast Asian Collection:
“It is filled with many books and magazines about South Asian cinema, films and film stills, and even comics in English and Hindu about South Asian history and mythology. I have been working on a poster for the comics, and after, I will begin adding close to 1,000 film stills to IUCAT.”
She encourages students to check out the South Asian cinema research guide as well.
Other jobs involve the daily function of a library at an organizational level. For example, Arin also drives the mail truck to and from the libraries on campus and assists in other mailroom duties. Positions like this are sometimes overlooked, but they are vital to a library’s operation and help students build a valuable understanding of how libraries function beyond their public-facing aspects.
Though they are more common, campus jobs are not the only employment options available to students. The surrounding community also offers many opportunities, from public libraries to local businesses. Ali Fletcher works at the Monroe County Public Library as a Teen Space Library Assistant where she assists teen patrons find and check out books, video games, and craft supplies, as well as helping run programs tailored to teens. Ali finds her job rewarding, saying, “I like getting to work with the kids as they learn new skills, try new projects, and have fun de-stressing in the library.”
Of course, there are also plenty of ILS students that do not work in libraries at all. Sophia Congdon is a graduate assistant in the ILS office, where she helps promote ILS and prepare for the upcoming iConference that Luddy will host this spring. Sophia says that she enjoys the creative freedom in the graphic design part of her job, as well as the satisfaction of completing projects, and she encourages students to reach out to her with ideas for programs or other activities for the department.
Finally, there are a number of remote, research, or project-based jobs available, which can typically be found through individual departments or professors. For example, Lily Natter works as Transcriber and Encoder for the Chymistry of Isaac Newton Project, which is run by her advisor for her dual degree in the History and Philosophy of Science. She describes the project as follows:
“The Chymistry of Isaac Newton Project is an online resource for Isaac Newton’s papers that relate to chymistry, or alchemy. It includes both high-quality scans of the original documents and text transcriptions of their content. My job is to edit these text transcriptions and make sure they’re as close to the primary source as possible.”
This type of job builds both technological and analytical skills, and is, in Lily’s words, “an innovative example of what a digital humanities project can look like.”
Though this is not an exhaustive sample of student employment, there is a common thread through the responses of ILS students when asked about their jobs. Many commented that they are always learning something new, whether hard technical skills, niche information, or practical and situational training. Not only does this make the job more enjoyable, but it also genuinely prepares students for success in the field.
Looking to start your own journey? Rachael advises students to use the professionals around them, particularly the librarians, as a resource: “They are excited to have you around and want to share their knowledge—ask them questions!” You can also check out the employment pages for IU Libraries and Jobs at IU to get started. Emails sent from Career Services and the ILS office describe individual opportunities that arise as well. No matter what your future goals are, there are plenty of options to help you gain valuable experience, supplement your coursework, or simply learn something new.