in General, Libraries/Info Sci

New librarian tip #3: Visit your competition

As a new librarian, I thought it might be interesting to share things that are helping me to get acclimated to the working world. This is the third in an occasional series.

This option is more relevant if you’re starting a job in a new town that you’re not familiar with. If you work in an academic library, check out the public. If you work in public, check the local academic.

There are things each will provide better than the other. For example, we don’t maintain a stock of leisure movies. Someone asked if we did the other day, and I was able to answer “No, but the public library has a really good selection you can try.” Its just nice to know what’s out there, and I learned a bit about my new community in the process.

I have yet to visit the other local academic libraries, but they’re on my to-do list.

Previous tips:
#1: Do someone else’s homework
#2: Work a weekend