As much as I love my job here in Berkeley -- (great work, great cohorts!) my number one goal for this year was to acquire a fulltime Archivist or Adult Services Librarian job in either an academic or public library capacity. While attending SJSU, I focused on archives and preservation and digital curation -- something that goes very nicely with public history -- as well as museum work, galleries, history centers, historical societies, and library work!
I started applying back in December within a week or two before graduating, thinking that it was best to get started immediately. Finding meaningful full-time work as a library professional has been difficult in these times -- so many library staff are losing their position due to staff cuts and/or funding cuts -- one often has much to do with the latter, honestly. There have been hiring freezes here and there as well.
So applying in many places, not just in the Bay Area -- but in other parts of California, then expanding my search out toward Oregon, or places I (or my family) used to call home: New Orleans,(where I lived off and on through the 1990s), parts of the Midwest (including Indianapolis and Chicago), as well as places on the East Coast where much of our extended friends and family live. Many of my applicaitons disappeared into the ether, (I never heard back from several), in some cases, positions were eliminated! In some lucky cases I was put on a few eligibility lists (you need to be on a list to be considered for an interview), and in some rare cases, I was asked to interview. While none of these listings panned out, I kept an eye out for opportunity.
In the end, I was VERY fortunate that one of these top places was not only hiring, but eventually interviewed me, then offered me a fulltime position! Located in one my most favorite cities I have been fortunate to visit many times over my lifetime -- I will be starting the next step of my career (and my first librarian position) in a couple weeks in... Philadelphia! I'm very excited for the opportunity and for the work I'll be doing! Philly is one of the most amazing ciites in the US -- home of my Honorary Uncle & Aunt -- home to some friends as well -- It's not far from some of my family (on my Dad's side), a plane ride away from my Dad and other family, and not far at all from many of our Disney Ohana! Philadelphia (like Savanna and Boston) has quite a long (colonized) history and deep indiginous roots that I'm looking forward to diving into!
So we've found a place to live, (slightly less than our current mortgage) and almost twice as big! We'll be living in a place that's mostly flat I gather -- and so, very good on my poor athritic knees! Berkeley isn't as bad as SF when it comes to walking up and down hills -- but Philly will be a kind improvemwnt on all those hills I've walked in the city and here in Berkeley!
It's a very big adventure -- as it's not just me making a giant leap into the unknown, but I'll be dragging my spouse from his Bay Area roots, and the four cats! While our new place isn't a poolside retreat in Sarasota, it will be a LOT sunnier locale than our FOG-ust-y Berkeley... No more cool mist and cool nights. -- When I went out last month to secure housing and to fill out paperwork, I found it to be incredibly hot -- and humid -- and I came home with a Disney (golfer's) rash from my socks on up. It also rained -- which I'm not used to. Berkeley has the most ideal climate -- with a mild Summer, warm Fall and (not necessarily ideal) a rainy, cold Winter.. I grew up in the Midwest, so I'll have to get used to having four seasons again! I'm really excited, though -- and this is what I got that MLIS for! -- but there's still lots to do! I'll get some sleep eventually, but I need to get back to packing and prepping for the move! (and just in case people don't know.. I will miss Berkeley and our California fam' & friends very much!)
