INALJ: Finding a Library Position, the Net-Savy Way

As I was sitting in my pajamas watching my 4^th or 9^th hour of Law and Order SVU and mindlessly web-browsing for interesting reads, I came across a website that blew my mind. Here, as a recent grad finding myself in the library field, I was constantly searching for open positions in my city. Heck, I would take a nearby city. I had a running list of websites that I checked daily to see if they had updated that I had put together myself and was quite proud of. 

Browsing....browsing....browsing....suddenly, there is my list! Actually, it is my list and then some, complete with links and organized by location and employment/volunteer status. I am speaking of the INALJ (I need a library job) website at inalj.com. 

October 16, 2010, an amazing woman named Naomi House founded and published this blogging platform that now employs over 180 volunteers. The point: to provide those who are in the library field with all open positions in their area. And folks, this is nationwide.

For instance, I call the mountains of east Tennessee home, so I may find some lists on the internet of some local positions if I tried. However, given that a good amount of the surrounding counties are dirt poor, some don’t even have their own websites to check. I go to www.inalj.com, click on the INALJ Jobs link, then I have a list of states and Canada, some overseas too. 

The INALJ Tennessee section is run by Rebecca Tischler with several assistants listed. At this point, I can click on her bio, contact her, or just go through the list of Tennessee jobs, divided by region. As an east Tn girl, I don’t want to have to move 5 hrs away to work in Memphis, so I limit my search to the east Tn section. And………….the links work. Yes, I did not find one dead link on any that I applied to. Heck, there is even a list of Academic institutions in east Tn with links to their employment opportunities so you can search them yourself. My Alma Mater, Carson-Newman University is loud and proud on that list.

So, if you are a budding library professional like myself and looking for a position or volunteer opportunity, look no further than the INALJ website. There are several other resume-padding opportunities on there as well, such as blogging opportunities, presentations, and, of course, networking. Lots and lots of networking!