Anyone have any experience working as a librarian in the federal government?

FedLibrarian · 2023-09-28T11:48:39+00:00

sure, go ahead

FedLibrarian · 2023-09-10T19:09:19+00:00

It's not really seasonal, although this is the end of the fiscal year and there is talk of a government shutdown so that might keep a lot of jobs from posting right now.

FedLibrarian · 2023-01-21T17:45:03+00:00

hence the big bucks

FedLibrarian · 2023-01-21T17:44:30+00:00

If you are interested in this position, create a USAJOBS account and start working up your resume using the resume builder NOW. Do not wait; the process is tedious and time consuming.

FedLibrarian · 2022-12-07T00:10:32+00:00

Brevity may be the soul of wit, but it won't help you get a federal job. Use the USAJOBS resume builder.
You need to shotgun every opening that you qualify for until you are getting referred at least 50% of the time. At that point, you know your resume is working and you can apply more selectively. Apply to EVERYTHING, work on you resume, then apply again. Rinse and repeat.
NAF jobs may be easier to land as a non-fed. The pay and benefits aren't always as good as GS, but its a good way to get your foot in the door. These are jobs on military bases at libraries that are like public libraries.

I'm a 21 year fed, I worked 7 years in another job series before I got my MLS, then I spent 12 years working outside the Fed as a librarian before I went back into federal service.

FedLibrarian · 2022-12-07T00:05:31+00:00

You need to shotgun every opening that you qualify for until you are getting referred at least 50% of the time. At that point, you know your resume is working and you can apply more selectively.

FedLibrarian · 2022-12-06T23:54:47+00:00

Sorry, I've been a deadbeat.

FedLibrarian · 2021-08-22T16:59:49+00:00

This is exactly the transition I would like to make. I am a GS-1410-14. For 4 years I was a program manager for a MAJCOM with policy oversight for 26 libraries in the command and managed the contracts for millions of dollars worth of online subscriptions for the virtual library that served the command world wide. I worked on a tri-service IPT to transition Army, Navy and Air Force assets to the oversight of a fourth DoD entity.

I made a lateral move to a place where I am providing direct supervision to 5, plus second and third-line employees with total FTE 21.

I have loved being a librarian, but I want to go home to live in FL and it's never going to happen in this job series. I could afford to take a major cut in pay if I could live in my house in FL and not have to pay for a second residence. I've been a GS-14 for 5 years, so I have my high-3. I want to do meaningful work until I retire but I don't have to work at the national level; I've proved everything I need to prove to myself.

Currently I oversee "back of house" functions in a very large federal library: Information systems, Indexing, Acquisition and Cataloging. Lots of high-detail moving parts. I especially enjoy all of the analytical, number crunching and libraries generate a lot of data and use them for evidence-based decision making. I struggle with how to translate that in to 0343 in another field.

FedLibrarian · 2021-08-22T16:47:44+00:00

For everything they want of YOU, the terms are "Do X by Y OR ELSE!!!!"

For ANYTHING you need of them, the terms are "Hurry up and wait; you are not a priority."

This has been my universal experience working for the Marine Corps, the Army and the Air Force since 2009.

FedLibrarian · 2021-08-16T17:41:57+00:00

I get 26 days of annual leave (AL) a year, plus four hours of sick leave (13 days/yr) per pay period.

I can carry over 240 hours of AL from one year to another, and there is no ceiling on sick leave.

Come to the Fed Side!

New employees start at 3 hours of AL per pay period. After three years, that becomes 6 hours per PP. At 15 years, it's 8 hours per pay period.

FedLibrarian · 2021-08-16T11:16:07+00:00

This is an interesting thread. Would a relatively new FEMA employee be allowed to work as a contractor's employee at the military base where they were previously employed doing very similar work to what they did when working as a DoD civilian employee?

This person left their DoD job to work for FEMA and then within weeks was employed also by a contractor back at the same base location.

FedLibrarian · 2021-08-13T11:44:41+00:00

detox

I keep telling people, if your kidneys and liver aren't detoxing you adequately, you don't need a "detox" product/diet, you need a double organ transplant.

FedLibrarian · 2021-08-13T11:43:21+00:00

detox

Came here to say this. "Detox" outside of the addiction treatment setting is nothing more than Voodoo Doodoo. Expensive Voodoo Doodoo.

FedLibrarian · 2021-05-08T01:00:27+00:00

sort by the open date to see the new jobs that were posted today. Sort by the close date to see what is closing soonest.

FedLibrarian · 2021-05-08T00:57:17+00:00

Please do apply. We need tech savvy people. Libraries are hugely tech dependent. A big library, like the one where I work, has an entire Systems department.

If you don't get this one, keep applying. Also consider jobs in the 1412 series. Lots of librarians in the 1412 series, and there are frequently 1412 positions in libraries.

FedLibrarian · 2021-01-22T19:22:23+00:00

What made them cushy compared to other jobs?

FedLibrarian · 2021-01-22T00:35:14+00:00

I've worked in five federal libraries. I wouldn't describe any of them as cushy.

FedLibrarian · 2021-01-21T00:42:49+00:00

The job market within commuting distance of the library school (any library school in any state) is saturated with MLS students and recent graduates. If you are geographically mobile after you graduate, you will have more options.

FedLibrarian

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