A Library Job Isn’t Always In a Library:
Vibrant and Vital Alternative Career Paths

Today – Share My Story
• How it all began
• The evolution
• Where I am today
• What can you do?

How It All Began…
Solo Librarian

The Evolution
Special Librarian www.sla.org

Where I Am Today…
Independent Information Professional www.aiip.org

What Can You Do?

Contact me for more information
Susan Berkman
Email: info@research-ability.com
Phone: 954-234-5663
Web: www.Research-Ability.com
Twitter: @Researchability
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/susanwaldberkman
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ResearchAbility

No two career paths are alike from children’s librarian to quality standards to taxonomy to social networking …
2007-09 Content Standards Specialist, responsible for:
 Created and implemented content management and quality standards for the firm’s information portal.
 Launched the Controlled Vocabularies program
Bethany Sehon
Manager,
Taxonomy
Management
2009-11 Global Taxonomy Manager, responsible for:
 Coordinated the transition of the controlled vocabularies (comprises taxonomy consultative services and taxonomy management technology)
 Built a team of library professionals who help customers determine comprehensive, tailored plans to improve information management through the use of vocabularies
PwC
2011-12 in addition to previous responsibilities:
• SMS for Forensic Technology (includes consulting on proposals, business development efforts and participating on client engagements)
• Usability & Projects
• SMS and design team member for internal Social Networking platform (Spark)
April 2012
10

Library and Information Resource Management for Florida Law Libraries
(Love child born of necessity)

The light bulb
 But I like lawyers
 Bad economy
 Rationale
 A few of key people
 You’d rather not irritate her
 Support & Encouragement
 Mentors
 Really… too naïve to fail

We don’t do windows
 Soup to nuts but part-time
 The Daily Grind
 Research and Document Retrieval
 Library Management
 Acquisitions & Cancelations
 Budgets
 Kinda cataloging
 In-house databases
 Contract Negotiations
 Website and Intranet Design

What’s my day like?
 Communications
 Staffing issues
 Client issues
 Payroll & Billing
 Bill, bill and bill

Why do I like it?
 I have no choice anymore changes less stress – rarely late reinvent my job as necessary as desired can focus on becoming expert can refocus on being a generalist

Frequently Asked
 Who do we hire?
 Where do we work?
 What’s the hardest part?
 Do you always have work?

http://www.everlove.net
727-345-8180 office
727-644-7407 cell phone

Allen Neuharth Journalism and
Mass Communication Library

Lisa Chinn
Assistant University Librarian
Head, Allen H. Neuharth Library
University of Florida

But that made me

and then I graduated, so I had to find a job.

• Listed Every Job I Ever Held BEFORE Library
School
- Including (in no particular order) tour guide, waitress, park ranger, actress, camp counselor administrative assistant

My talents and my skills +
My knowledge base =
The things that make me unique

And then I applied to EVERY JOB where I believed I could excel
- Special libraries
- Sales
- Database Education
- Traditional Libraries
- Government work
- News Organizations

An information professional
A Great Searcher
A Great Evaluator of Information
An organizer
Management material

• Don’t undervalue ANY of your work and life experiences
• Open your mind to those fields which will honor and value your unique experiences and gifts
• Keep interviewing and applying until you find the right fit








Susan Wald Berkman
CEO
Research-Ability
11719 SW 1st St.
Coral Springs, Florida 33071
954-234-5663 susan@research-ability.com







Bethany Sehon
Taxonomy Manager
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
3109 West Dr ML King, Jr Blvd
Tampa, Florida 33607
813 348 8812 bethany.h.sehon@us.pwc.com






Nora Everlove
CEO
Everlove & Associates
412 65th St. N, St. Petersburg,
Florida 33710
727-644-7407 nora@everlove.net







Lisa Chinn
Assistant University Librarian
Allen Neuharth Journalism and
Mass Communications Library,
University of Florida
P.O. Box 118400/1060 Weimer
Hall
Gainesville, Florida 32611
(352) 273-2769 lchinn@ufl.edu