I have about five years of library experience, quit to be a SAHM when my first baby was born, and now am very slowly chipping away at my MLIS online. What this will look like for me is being out of the workforce for anywhere from 10-20 years (depending on if I would start working when my youngest child starts school or when all my kids are a bit older) and finishing my degree at at slow pace (6-10 years).

I would likely never relocate for a job. Since my husband makes a lot more than I ever could as a librarian, where we live will be a lot more dependent on his job. I know this limits me a lot. I know this may require part-time work to build up more recent experience.

With how this field is, is it worth continuing with this plan? Or do I need to just accept that I will never be competitive with a work history like this and accept paraprofessional jobs forever? It’s discouraging to have a college degree and feel I could never earn more than 40K working full-time. I wanted this MLIS to expand my opportunities, but has anyone ever successfully transitioned into this field after many years of staying home to raise children? Thank you!

Hello, all!

Last year, I asked this group for library cards from libraries all over the United States to help us with our town's annual holiday event -- we used them as ornaments to decorate a Christmas tree, and it was really well received by patrons and townspeople. We are doing it again!! We hope to get cards from more libraries, if you'd like to help us out. We also set up a lovely display for Library Card Sign-up Month. The town event is December 13, so we'd love to have them by Friday, December 4 at the latest.

If you'd like to participate, our address is:

Library Card Project

c/o Hamlin Public Library

1680 Lake Rd

Hamlin, NY 14464

Please let us know if you'd like a library card in return -- make sure to include a name and address so we'll know where to send it!

If you're not sure whether we have a card from your library/system, I'm including the list below the body of this message.

Thank you so much! We had such fun with this last year.

Olivia Durant

Director, Hamlin Public Library

I found this at my local library today! It's perfect!

When I was in grad school, my family made me a "Library Passport" to collect stamps from various libraries I have visited. Since then, I have collected stamps (and other paraphernalia) from over 40 different libraries both in the United States and abroad. In doing this, I've also created a list of my "Top Libraries to visit"

To start I have:
Library of Congress, Washington DC

New York Public Library - Stephen A. Schwarzman Building

Brooklyn Public Library - Central Branch

Parkway Central Library - Philadelphia

Wilmington Public Library - Wilmington DE

Boston Athenaeum - Boston

Iowa State Law Library - Des Moines, IA

Geisel Library - La Jolla CA

What libraries would you put on this list?