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The Library & Information Science Professional's Career Development Center |
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Weary Helper: From Private Investigator to Librarian |
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In today’s workplace, libraries are constantly evolving and introducing new technologies. But librarians themselves are changing dramatically as well. There are an increasing number of next generation employees referred to as “Generation X librarians.” There is much written about Gen X-ers. I will discuss yet another group of librarians. While obtaining my library science degree, a good portion of my classmates were changing careers, like I was. My classmates included Gen-X-ers but also, to my surprise, a few doctors, nurses and lawyers. Most of the librarians I met changed careers as a result of burnout in their previous fields, which were mainly service professions. Nevertheless, these professionals still had an overwhelming desire to help people. I have labeled these people “Weary Helpers” since that was how I described myself in that situation. Librarians need to be equipped to meet the new demands of librarianship. Library science programs are trying to prepare the next generation of librarians for the changing nature of the profession. In the new millennium, employment security is quickly evolving into "employability security" -- the knowledge that employees possess the competencies required in a changing market and the flexibility to adjust appropriately. I transitioned into the library profession seamlessly from the criminal investigation field because I had transferable skills. Beginnings I was previously employed as a Certified Criminal Defense Private Investigator. Now I am a professional librarian. Whenever librarians discover my previous job title, they immediately ask why I would leave such an intriguing field to become a librarian. I must begin by explaining that the two jobs are not quite as contrary as one might think. Basically, both jobs require effective searching skills. Both jobs require accuracy and a great deal of thought. Both require attention to detail. Both are customer-focused. Clearly one is more dangerous than the other; I have not decided which! Both demand that you equip yourself with the appropriate tools and knowledge to succeed. I was required to wear a bulletproof vest and carry a firearm at all times while working as a private investigator. As a librarian, I am required to have knowledge of databases and print resources at all times. As an investigator, I’d file and locate court documents; as a librarian, I’ve filed claims for missing serials and located requested information. These two seemingly disparate activities demonstrate a common transferable skill: information retrieval. Similarly, as an investigator, I’d call for backup when I met resistance while serving subpoenas. As a librarian working in public libraries, I’ve called security when I had stalkers. The transferable skill: clearly identifying when I need help from my teammates. As an investigator, I’ve sat silently for hours, intensely focused on a target, during stakeouts. As a librarian, I’ve sat quietly for hours, awaiting questions at reference desks. Both require self discipline. As an investigator, I’ve been told that I “do not look like an investigator”; in my new career, I am still told that I “do not look like a librarian.” In both fields, I add a measure of “diversity” to a field with preconceived notions of what those professionals should look like. As an investigator, I’ve ensured the safety of my Principal during bodyguard assignments. As a librarian, I’ve ensured the confidentiality of patrons while working in a hospital library. My remarkable transferable skill is my reliability. Transition After a year of working as a private investigator, my father finally convinced me that being an investigator was too dangerous, especially since our firm exclusively handled murder and drug investigations for criminal defense cases. So I transitioned into the field of librarianship as a way to utilize my research ability and to retain the satisfaction of helping people. I knew I wanted to work in an academic library, but was not sure in what capacity. I began my library career in a hospital library. After completing my graduate studies in library science, I was fortunate enough to become a Librarian-in-Residence at the University of Notre Dame. As a resident, I will rotate through different library departments, garnering valuable experience in various positions so that I will be able to make an educated choice about my career path. I am beginning in the law library. This residency is helpful, since I as an adult still ponder: “What do I want to be when I grow up?” Introspection I have heard motivational speakers suggest people should pursue careers that are similar to things they do for enjoyment. It seems logical that the way you spend your leisure time reflects your desires. OK … what do I do for fun? I read, naturally. All right then … what specific books have I read recently? I just read Assata: an Autobiography. Before that I read:
Looking at the list of items I read for enjoyment, they clearly deal with legal and minority historical themes. My preferred reading also deals with topics which are not well known. I learned that sometimes, concerted efforts were made to ensure these topics were not documented. In Riot and Remembrance: the Tulsa Race War and Its Legacy, the author exposes an elaborate cover-up by governing officials. I am not a conspiracy theorist, but sometimes people are actually out to get you! I believe as a minority working in a law library, my commitment to finding such obscure historical events will allow for greater diversity in information available for patrons. One book I read is truly rare and less well known. In fact, there are a measly 30 libraries that own this book, according to WorldCat, a global catalog. The title is Trial of Ruby McCollum: the True-Crime Story That Shook the Foundations of the Segregationist South. This was a fascinating legal case. Ruby was the wife of a wealthy African-American gambler known as “Bolita Sam.” She was pregnant a second time by her white physician and senator-elect lover. Sam threatened to shoot her if she had another white baby. Her lover threatened to shoot her if she aborted his child. Stuck between the proverbial rock and hard place, Ruby decided that her only way out of this quagmire was to murder her lover. This story has it all: lies, adultery, murder, and a bizarre legal proceeding. Conclusion It became clear to me that my interests revolve around injustices suffered by minorities, especially those that have fallen by the wayside of history’s highway. So the answer to what do I do for fun would be: I dig for legal facts mainly concerning obscure minority topics. This pastime is not just a passion of mine, but also an inspiration for me. These stories remind me of the way life used to be and force me to view current events more critically. They reinforce my personal commitment to contribute positively to our community. A staggering amount of minority stories have been omitted from history books. It is up to those of us who are fortunate enough to learn about our predecessors to preserve those accounts for future generations. This contemplation has helped me to see the need to be vigilant in including minority stories in library collections as well as my personal collection. I share these stories with my younger relatives and youth with whom I volunteer. After soul searching in the stacks, I have been reinvigorated and I have a renewed professional purpose. From this observation, I deduced that I am interested in working in collection development, with an emphasis on material concerning minorities. I am interested in being able to provide access to these stories as a reference librarian. I am conveniently working in the Kresge Law Library, which is a perfect fit. This residency has allowed me to conduct my soul searching in the stacks. I recommend people interested in librarianship embark upon a similar introspection and follow their passions as they decide on a career path. In the words of Sir Francis Bacon, “The mind is the man, and knowledge is the mind; a man is but what he knoweth.”
“Changing Face of Future Librarians” Felicia A. Smith is a Librarian-in-Residence at the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana. She was formerly a Certified Criminal Defense Private Investigator, and then became the Technical Services Librarian at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. Article published Feb 2006 Disclaimer: The ideas expressed in LIScareer articles are those of their respective authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the LIScareer editors.
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Page last updated
02/09/2006
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