"Is that your final answer?" It would be if you were a librarian . . . The year 2000 is an exciting time to be a librarian or to think about becoming one! Librarianship is challenging and frustrating and exhilarating and exhausting all at the same time. The common denominator for all librarians - in whatever position or type of library - is that we acquire, organize and provide access to information. The growth of "The Information Age" has made what we do more important than ever. Yet we find ourselves facing decreasing budgets and many users who believe that all of the information they will ever need can be found for free on the Internet. They seem to be convinced that the book is dead and that our profession is obsolete. So why would anyone want to be a librarian? For the authors of this web page, the bottom line is that we do it because we love it. We enjoy helping people identify and define their information needs and guiding them to the best resources available. We think it's fun working with information in all formats including the Internet - which we believe is a valuable information resource if used properly. We are interested in learning about new technologies and how they can be applied in a library setting. And yes, we love books! Until somebody produces a better alternative, we'd still rather curl up on a rainy day with a good book than a good computer. But having a satisfying career is about more than enjoying your job. It's also about effective career management. If you're thinking about becoming a librarian, you need to understand what you are getting into before taking the plunge. If you're already a librarian, you need the tools to help you get the most out of your current position or to find a better one. That's what we hope this site will do for you. So take a look around. If you like what you see, let us know. If there's something you think we could do better, tell us that too. Our idea is that by helping even a few users enhance their careers we are contributing to the profession of librarianship as a whole. Why? Because a rising tide lifts all boats. Recent Additions For those interested in professional news in international librarianship, check out these new links that will find a home on our site: BUBL Link Catalog of Internet Resources - Library and Information Science http://www.bubl.ac.uk/link/lis.html Created as a bulletin board for librarians (thus BUBL) in the United Kingdom through a 1990 program at Glasgow University, BUBL is a portal to the Internet with resources categorized by subject. The collection of links under "Library and Information Science" can be described as varied and rich. Although its career resources are minimal, we felt BUBL warranted inclusion for the broadened international perspective and professional enrichment one could gain from visits to the site. International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions http://www.ifla.org/ IFLA has a variety of interesting initiatives and programs that range from the ideal of Universal Bibliographic Control, to preservation of archives in conflict-torn areas. Additionally, they sponsor a very active e-mail list dedicated to announcing job openings in the U.S., Canada, and other countries. UNESCO Programme on Communication, Information, Informatics http://www.unesco.org/webworld/index.shtml The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has developed a fascinating web site as part of their program on information, both the cultural and technological aspects of it. Of particular interest is their coverage of events in library and archive settings around the world, from Latin America to Eastern Europe. © Copyright 2000 Montrese Hamilton & Joan O'Kane | Last Update: April 15, 2000 Please direct technical queries about this site to the710webmasters@email.com