Finding Yourself: A Career in the Information Profession

By Aaisha Haykal (Manager of Archival Services, College of Charleston, Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture) <haykalan@cofc.edu>

Locating My Space

Being an information professional is a career that I had my sights set on from an early age. I can imagine that, like other librarians, archivists, and information professionals, I had a listing of my books, a mini catalog if you will, as well as an appreciation for organization and helping people locate resources. Archives and libraries were a space where I could incorporate my interest in history, literature, and order/ organization. Due to where I grew up in a small rural town in New York, which lacked racial diversity, and where the history of non-white people was limited in the curriculum, I knew that I wanted to work in a space where Black life and history had high value and importance.

I began volunteering in my local public and school libraries as a high school student; then in college, I obtained a work-study job as an undergraduate at the main library and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, which was the African American Studies branch library. In these spaces, I observed my supervisors and learned how to shelve, how to help people use the library catalog, and how to conduct reference interviews. I obtained summer internships in federal and academic libraries and archives, where I learned how to preserve records, catalog, and inventory information sources. The variety of spaces that I worked in gave me a comprehensive overview of the profession and allowed me to understand where my skills and knowledge were best used. During this process and opportunities, it was vital for me to engage with both direct supervisors and colleagues about their careers and what jobs they did and how what I was doing helped them. In doing so, I was able to put into context my work and why what I was doing was important. Furthermore, these spaces have allowed me to explore my interests and to be confident in my decision to preserve and promote the lived experiences of African Americans. As the Manager of Archival Services, College of Charleston, Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture, I ensure that archival facilities meet best practices and standards, that we provide outstanding reference services to researchers, and that we accession materials that fit our collection development goals of promoting Black Lowcountry community history. These collections document and center the Black experience to illustrate not only the challenges of Black communities but also the beauty and the joy.

I am deeply appreciative and indebted to the organizations (i.e., American Library Association, Association of Research Libraries, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities), institutions (i.e., Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration-Great Lakes, University of California San Diego), and numerous individuals who poured into me their knowledge, experience, and expertise because they have allowed me to be where I am today. In my current position, I work to give back to the new and emerging professionals by hiring undergraduate and graduate students using best practice guidelines developed by ACRL’s Residency Interest Group.1 This opportunity gives them hands-on archival and library work experience and professional and educational advice.2 Learning in the classroom provides individuals with the foundational information, but it is in the field where individuals learn how to implement what they learned.

Rationale

For the past few years as a part of the annual Charleston Conference held in November in Charleston, South Carolina (or virtually), I have organized a successful career center which has aimed to help new/emerging professionals as well as those who are looking for career change or shift to ask for help or feedback. Dedicated volunteer advisors and I would hold open hours for people to solicit feedback on their cover letters, curriculum vitaes/resume, and job descriptions, as well as talk about the state of the profession and some trends and issues that have arisen over the years. The career advisors assented to give their time in order to cultivate talent and talk to the new generation of information professionals.

The career center provided a rare opportunity for conversation and discussion about what employers and job seekers are looking for and to see if there are any overlapping issues or congruence. The possibility for open dialogue was very freeing for both sides. Additionally, it demonstrated ways employers could market and advertise their openings and for job seekers to know what is available. Furthermore, there were cross-institutional conversations between academic (tenure versus non-tenure), public, and special libraries, so it was beneficial to see how these spaces have similarities and differences.

About Issue

This special issue provides a sneak peek into some of the issues and concerns of academic archivists, collection development librarians, and publishers. Additionally, it contains tips about the dos and don’ts on the job search.

The authors in this issue were chosen based on their variety of research areas and focus and to provide a wide variety of perspectives from the field.

Kipps explores how to build a library collection that focuses on various stakeholders and its associated challenges, especially amid a pandemic. Samuel discusses the need for cultural competency in librarianship and archival sciences, borrowing a theory from the health field. Mays provides a checklist for career strategies. The issue concludes with individual profiles which provide a little peek into folks thoughts and backgrounds; and a corporate profile of Sage.

Audience

This issue is for anyone who is interested in engaging with some of the current topics and concerns in the library, archive, and publishing fields and will help people who are currently applying for jobs or considering a career shift.

For those who are discouraged, just remember what educator and civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune said, “Believe in yourself, learn, and never stop wanting to build a better world.”

Endnotes

1. “Diversity Residency Toolkit,” Residency Interest Group, Association for College and Research Libraries, accessed June 12, 2023, https://acrl.ala.org/residency/diversityresidency-toolkit/?fbclid=IwAR2xj8gdhGBoZYvT4iM0d4mon1QXULGVwHMHUS8h2yrqmQmjFesonui0o.

2. Miller, Kelly. “Hidden Learning: Undergraduates at Work in the Archives.” Notes (blog). Archive Journal, September 2012. https://www. archivejournal.net/notes/hidden-learning/.