Hello LIS Linkers,

A couple of months ago, I asked for information about working as a
librarian in Britain.  I'd like to thank all those who replied.  There was
lots of really useful information and I appreciate your taking the time.  A
few people suggested I summarize the replies for the list with a comparison
with the situation in Canada.
Two people asked that I forward some of the replies.  I would do this
anonymously, of course, but if you wrote and have any objection, please
email me directly.

This is really long -- people were very helpful.

The sources for job information suggested are:

http://www.la-hq.org.uk/
http://jobnet.la-hq.org.uk/ 
The Guardian on Wednesdays
Information World Review (IWR)
http://info.learned.co.uk/publications/iwr/
http://www.jobs.ac.uk  ( lists lots of academic jobs, you can browse the 
library/information ones)
The electronic version of the Library Association
Vacancies supplement at  http://www.la-rvs.org.uk/
[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]
Subscribe to BUBLhttp://bubl.ac.uk/news/jobs
Other advice:
Book:   "Living and Working in the UK" by
David Hampshire
 Investigate an exchange position - LIBEX is 
based at the library school in Aberystwyth
 Make contact with a library 
school - Tom Wilson 
maintains a list of them at:
http://www.shef.ac.uk/~is/publications/worldlist/wlist1.html

     http://www.niss.ac.uk/noticeboard/jobs/libvac.html
     
    Agencies: :
     
     Aslib Professional Recruitment
     Contact: Vivienne Lam
     Staple House
     Stone House Court
     London
     EC3A 7PB
     
     Tel: 0171-903 0000
     Nearest Tube: Liverpool Street
     
     TFPL (Task Force Pro Libra)
     Contact:  Luisa Jefford or Lucy Winger
     17-18 Britton Street
     London
     EC1M 5NQ
     
     Tel: 0171-251 5522
     Nearest Tube: Farringdon
     
     Access Information Recruitment
     Contact: Geraldine Austin-Burke
     13-14 Upper Street
     London
     N1 0PQ
     
     Tel: 0171-704 1333
     Nearest Tube: Angel
     
     INFOMATCH
     The Library Association
     Contact: Emily Parker
     7 Ridgmount Street
     London
     WC1E 7AE
     
     Tel: 0171-636 7543 or 0171-436 5843
     
     

     TFPL deals a fair bit in the public and academic environments, though 
     both they and Aslib normally have quite a lot of business/corporate 
     environment jobs going too.
       www.tfpl.com
     www.suehill.com
     www.aslib.co.uk
     http://www.instant-library.co.uk/
     http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/unique/
     http://bubl.ac.uk/link/updates/current.html
   http://www.niss.ac.uk/noticeboard/jobs/libvac.html
		http://www.la-hq.org.uk/la.htm
		http://tigger.cc.uic.edu/~aerobin/libjob.html

Perspectives on librarians' situation (very briefly):

Most people think librarians are poorly to moderately well paid.  Many
people said that public libraries pay less than academic or corporate
libraries.  Standard of living depends on location -- London being of
course very expensive.  
The general opinion was that work was fairly easy to come by, permanent,
well paid work was more difficult to find.

Comparision with Canada:
Again, non-permanent work is easier to find than secure, permanent jobs.  A
beginning librarian would make 30,000 to 35,000 Canadian dollars, the
average salary for reference libns at U of Alberta is 50,000 dollars, but
many have worked for quite some years.  Public libraries pay about the same
as academic libraries and are not suffering severe cuts as in the UK.
Corporate libraries vary immensely from very good to appalling.  A
librarian can live reasonably well on the salary -- buy a house, have
vacations, but will not get rich!
The cost of living is generally slightly lower here than in the U.K.  In
Alberta, housing and eating in  restaurants are cheaper, beer in a bar more
expensive!  The dollar is currently very low 2.6 to the pound, whereas it's
usually 2.1 to 2.2 approx.  Average house prices in Edmonton are 140,000,
higher in Calgary, much much higher in Vancouver and Toronto.
However, the weather is pretty chilly!   

This message is much longer than it should be.  If anyone would like more
detailed information, please contact me directly.  I shall be losing this
email account shortly and have not yet got another Internet provider, but
will resubscribe to the list in September.

Thanks again.

Anne






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Anne Carr-Wiggin
[log in to unmask]




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