ALA Toolkit provides answers for finding a job in a tough economy

From the ALA website:
The “Getting a Job in a Tough Economy” toolkit is an interactive website with tips, narrative and suggested links and readings, comments, podcasts, and activities/checklists for new librarians and support staff, those looking to change position, people who have been laid off, and others who are having difficulty finding the right position. The site is a one-stop resource including and/or linking to information prepared for members from units within ALA, as well as linking to information about best practices in job searching from any field. The toolkit will shine a spotlight on the resources that ALA already offers, highlighting why they are especially valuable in the current economy.

ALA Job search resources on the site:

Especially In A Tough Job Market
How do I network?
How do I plan a job search strategy?
How do I uncover my strengths, talents, and work values?
What do I do if I’m laid off?
Where are the jobs?

In Any Job Market
How do I craft a resume?
How do I get ready for interviews?
How do I write cover letters?
Once I get the job, how do I negotiate for my salary and benefits?
What do I need to know about the job?

ALA 2009

I attended the annual ALA conference in Chicago. A full report on sessions I attended will follow. Here are some interesting facts I can share with you:

1. Tired of standing in line at your library circulation desk to borrow your favorite book. The Espresso Book Machine (EBM) is a new innovation for you. EBM is a print on demand (POD) machine that prints, collates, covers, and binds a single book in a few minutes, and can potentially allow readers to obtain any book title, even books that are out of print. A single machine can cost approximately $175,000 and seems like a great investment for libraries with high volume traffic.

2. For catalogers and others with an interest in information organization and access RDA (Resource Description and Access) is the new set of cataloging rules and will replace AACR. RDA is based on the FRBR conceptual model, and was created to fullfil the patron's task of finding, identifying, selecting and obtaining the resources they need. Testing of the new rules by select libraries is scheduled for October and publication date for this totally online product is early 2011.

3. Library of Congress has successfully embraced Web 2.0 technologies and has a prescence in high volume social networking sites like Flickr, Twitter, FaceBook, You Tube, The Library of Congress on iTunes U

4. OCLC has announced its intention to develop a web-scale library management system which will rival competing ILS vendors such as "Innovative, Sirsi Dynix, Aleph, and VTLS.

5. Libraries are continuing to provide innovative services despite a reduction in budget allocations.