Presentation Title: Strategic Volunteering for LIS Students
Presenter(s): Jade Dean
Abstract: Does the current job market make you nervous? Are you entering the LIS field with limited experience? Don’t meet the qualifications or have time for an internship? Enter: volunteering!
Volunteers are an integral part of the LIS field and help organizations carry out their mission while providing support to staff. With flexible schedules and unique roles, volunteering can help LIS students gain real-world experience in the LIS field.
In this presentation, we will cover the why, how, and what of identifying volunteer opportunities that compliment your personal and professional interests.
Why? Understand the benefits of volunteering, such as gaining professional experience for your resume, building your LIS network, and learning about LIS organizations first-hand.
How? Identify in-person and virtual opportunities at libraries, conferences, and beyond.
What? Learn skills relevant to the current LIS job market, create evidence for your e-portfolio, and create a skills inventory tailored to your job search.”
Link to Recorded Presentation: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WWcBqawJG83Zo5QO9T2q6IyLrjC4nMbW/view?usp=sharing
Hi Jade, thank you for your presentation on strategic volunteering! As someone who is in the middle of a career pivot and exploring volunteering opportunities, I am delighted to see this topic here. Thanks for sharing your strategies and insights!
Thanks for watching, Allison. The more we can share tips and strategies in this competitive job market, the better!
Thank you for sharing your personal approach to gaining professional experience. It is so important for new professionals to gain a sense of the culture, skills needed and impact that a specific workplace can have. On the other hand, the cultural heritage industry relies on volunteers to provide services and programs – they are vital to archives and museums (and libraries).
Dr. Bushey
Thank you, Dr. Bushey. I have learned so much about workplace culture and professional standards/expectations as a volunteer and hope this inspires others to pursue volunteer opportunities.