1. Professional Development and Leadership
Strategies for Building a career in libraries
Marshall Breeding
Independent Consultant, Author, and
Founder and Publisher, Library Technology Guides
Computers in Libraries D101
March 26, 2019

2. Overview
Many different paths can lead to a career in libraries. In addition to librarians who have graduate degrees in library science, other academic disciplines and practical experience can lead to other professional positions in library organizations. It also takes courage to use library skills in other types or organizations. Breeding has been fortunate to serve the library profession nationally and internationally in a career focused on exploring technology and innovation. His path has been nontraditional, launched through many fortunate opportunities. Hear his professional story, along with some reflections on personal branding, career development strategies, building technical skills, making the move to your business, mentoring, and library advocacy.

3. Career Strategies
Shaping your long-term career goals

4. Parallel Career Strategies
Within your current Institution
Helping your library to become more successful
Meet and exceed position expectations
Advance through the ranks
Beyond the Institution
Substantive promotions often come externally
A career may span multiple institutions
Work in the profession at large

5. Success as a Technologist
Grounded in solid expertise
Strategic understanding of mission of the institution
Ability to design and develop technology in ways that support the institution
Broad knowledge covering a wide range of technical areas
Detailed expertise of selected areas of interest
Continuous renewal of expertise

6. Diverse Background Possibilities
Can enter the profession from multiple paths
Computing and Technology
Library Science
Industry
Subject specialty
Practical experience

7. Leadership / Supervision
Help Department, Unit, Library to meet organizational goals
Manage resources responsibly
Engage in positive ways with those who report to you
Be a positive example
Be an advocate in their current position
Facilitate advancement
Within the current organization
In their next position outside your organization

8. Strengthen Organizational Capacity for Tech
Acquire and manage technical resources in ways that will continually strengthen capacity
Personnel: build and strengthen teams with the appropriate mix of technical and organizational skills
Help the organization make effective use of technology
Training, support
Infrastructure: acquire the technology products and services able to best support the organization
Locally implemented hardware and software
Cloud-based services

9. Research and Publications
Required for Tenure, Recommended for others
Types of writing
Formal, scholarly, peer-reviewed
Professional: topical essays
Blogs and other informal channels
Research strategy
Long-term approach
Each individual project contributes toward a body of work advancing a given broad issue or topic
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10. Developing your Personal Brand
Promote your accomplishments (gently)
Shape your public professional profile
Object: Cultivate opportunities
Personal Identity + Professional Qualities
Nikita Duggal. “Market Yourself! Building a Personal Brand for the Information Age.” Jan 7, 2017

11. Social Media Strategies
Approach social media strategically
Consider personal and professional aspects
Each social media platform has its own unique qualities
Post same content to Twitter and Facebook?
Separate content streams for each platform?
Image: esellermedia.com

12. Find your Niche
The single issue, topic, or discipline that drives your professional passion
Become “the” expert in this area
Share your expertise
Expand and shift over time as needed
Topics can become outdated
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13. Questions?

14. Thank you Marshall Breeding
Independent Consultant, Author, and Founder and Publisher, Library Technology Guides