Can anybody advise me on becominging a children's librarian?

[GettinTrimmer]

I know this is a very difficult time with government cuts .

I have helped in the library at the dc's school also in the classroom and attended an interview last term to work in a school library, but unfortunately was unsuccessful.

I would be happy to work as a library assistant to get some experience, but I understand there's a recruitment freeze.

Can anybody advise me? Thanks!

You could look at the job section of your county council website and see if anything is being advertised.

All librarians I know have a postgrad qualification in librarianship and information management.

Many councils have a list of supply library assistants to cover holidays and sick leave etc. Could you get on a list?

Thanks for replies.

Nothing on the county council website, I was told in my local branch there is no recruitment atm.

I can ask if they have a supply list of library assistants, although when I asked the branch manager at my local library she suggested voluntary work as a way in.

It's a very bad time at the moment
tbh I'd look at doing something else
even if you are suvccessful in getting a job you'll probably lose it

I suspected as much chris. Do you work for local government?

The two library assistants in my local library are being made redundant as we speak. I was last year as well, although I was based in academic libraries. Its a bad industry in that the requirement for library assistants is perceived to be less as computers and the internet have apparently cut down on the requirement for librarians. Add to this the current atmosphere of cuts and it becomes increasingly difficult. To be honest, most library assistants I know have got librarianship qualifications, as libraries can really afford to pick and choose. I wouldn't even consider it as a career choice now, and it was all I ever wanted to do since I was a wee thing!

I'm an academic librarian. I have a postgrad library and information management degree, as well as another MA in the subject area I worked in.

It's a tough, tough area to get into atm.

And you find now that they aren't interested in librarians and prefer 'information managers' or 'knowledge specialists'. They are cheaper and take care of the business side of things, not the books.

I am a SAHM now but am really worrying about how to get back into libarianship. And I have job experience and the qualifications to back it up.

lisjobnet

Esme, I'm sorry to hear that. Thank you for the reply though, it's best to know. Are there any school library jobs around in your area?

Raised, thanks for the link. I am a SAHM too and I wish I hadn't left it so long to get back into the job market (dd is 5). The best of luck to you, after all your achievements I'm sorry to hear it's so tough.

I hope things get better as I'm sure working with children/books is the job for me.

I feel for everyone working in local government atm. My last full time role was as a Student Support Officer for local government and it doesn't even exist anymore!

Most library assistant jobs are probably being advertised internally as they don't then have to spend money training someone up.

Sure specialist library jobs are being cut, and outreach services like the community librarian are under threat, but while there are local libraries they will always need two library assistants to physically man the place, so it's not all doom and gloom.

In fact my local library has 2 vacancies right now, due to retirement.

GT, you have said in your last post that working with children/books is the job for you. Devil's advocate question - what appeals to you about this? Judging by the other posters it seems as if this area of librarianship will be very difficult to get into for the next few years. So, could you think laterally? I had to rethink my whole career when my DS started school last year. I love books (ever since I started reading aged 2) and so set up my own business selling childrens books through party plan company. It is an advisory service for parents and children and can be very satisfying. Contrary to some posts on other threads it is probably not very well paid but is very flexible. The business is growing and does not seem to be hit by the cuts (even in schools).