Public versus academic libraries - will this hurt my chances down the line?

[Zazango]

Hi, I recently accepted a management role in public libraries. I have worked in this role before, but took time out to do a masters degree. Now I’ve been lucky enough to get my old role back (with a raise!).

However, down the line I would like to work in academic libraries. I have been offered an interview for a university library assistant role, but I have gone ahead and accepted the public management role. The reason is purely practical - the management role pays a lot more, which is pretty important what with the cost of living increases. It’s a 8k pay difference. The idea of being an assistant again also seems a little pointless if I can actually make more of a difference in my workplace as a manager.

I’d therefore like to decline the assistant interview. However, would taking a senior public library role over an academic library assistant role hurt my chances of working in academic settings in the future? I do plan on getting a library qualification down the line.

I think you should focus on getting your library qualification, and then you can then plan to segue into being an Academic Librarian. If possible, use the managerial role to fund that training either by employee sponsorship or through the increase in salary, and take up any other training opportunities that will help you be a strong candidate for an academic post. In my opinion working in a public library counts as relevant experience, and if you need the salary now, then you've taken the right position.

Thank you @deliwoman1 , that’s very helpful. Having seen the job descriptions for the academic library assistant roles I was offered interviews for, I honestly don’t see the value of the experience they’d bring beyond having a university attached to them. They were practically identical to the assistant work I did in public libraries.