Networking for Success: Networking Tips to Help You in Your Library Career Rebecca L. Mugridge University of Pittsburgh LIS Professional Development Day March 28, 2009

Why address networking? It’s not what you know, it’s who you know

What networking is NOT Using people to get what you want Superficial Counting how many business cards you give away or collect

What networking IS Building relationships Maintaining those relationships over time and distance Identifying commonalities (and differences) Helping others Quality over quantity

What can networking help you do? Get a job Find a better job Acquire funding for your library Identify programs and speakers Recruit librarians and other library staff Identify research partners Become active in professional organizations

Networks that we already have Family Friends Alumni groups Co-workers Religious Social organizations Community groups

Public librarians interact with: Patrons Community groups Potential donors Government organizations Grant-funding organizations Board of trustees Friends group Professional committees Other?

Academic librarians interact with: Colleagues Administrators Library committees University or college-level committees State or national professional organization committees Consortial groups Potential donors Student groups Faculty groups Grant-funding organizations

Graduate School Build relationships with your professors and instructors Build relationships with your fellow students Apply for internships in your area(s) of interest Volunteer for your graduate student organization

Graduate School, cont’d Contribute to your school newsletter Attend school events when possible Join and become involved with student chapters of library associations Keep in touch!

On the job Build relationships with your colleagues Build relationships with administration Don’t exclude non-librarians! Attend library-wide events Volunteer outside your area of expertise

On the job, cont’d Seek committee appointments (but not too many) Seek public speaking opportunities Volunteer to draft documents

Networking within your parent organization Seek organization-wide volunteer opportunities Seek committee appointments (but, again, not too many) Attend organization-wide events

Mentoring relationships Find a mentor Meet regularly Use your conversations to learn as much as possible about your organization Keep in touch even if you move to another institution Become a mentor yourself

Community Volunteer in the community Seek ways to help community groups use the library to enhance their success Encourage library use by community groups Identify community groups whose mission might overlap with the library’s

Professional organizations Think broadly when deciding which to join Join regional or state library associations Join local chapters of national library associations Attend meetings of any or all groups that interest you Speak to the chair if you’re interested in getting involved

Professional organizations, cont’d Volunteer to serve at the division booths at conferences Volunteer for leadership positions Offer to present papers or moderate discussions Attend membership meetings Form a local chapter if one doesn’t yet exist

Research and Publication Contact editors and publishers directly The more you write, the more you will be asked to write Everyone who reads your work becomes a part of your extended network

Social networking online Facebook MySpace Twitter Flickr

“Like any new behavior, the more you practice the skills of networking, the easier it gets.” Harvey Mackay Dig your well before you’re thirsty: the only networking book you’ll ever need.

For more information, please contact: Rebecca L. Mugridge Head, Cataloging and Metadata Services Penn State University Libraries 126 Paterno Library University Park PA 16802 phone: 814-865-1850 fax: 814-863-7293 email: rlm31@psu.edu