I’m wondering if you could give me some tips? I am planning to do a full moon ritual with a few friends (about 6 or 7 max). One of my friends is leaning toward Wicca and I would really like for this ritual to be very meaningful. She pretty much knows nothing about Wicca, but is very insterested in reading about it. I have a ritual that I could email to you, perhaps you could give me some feedback on it? Also, this is the first time I have led a public ritual (as I’m not a member of a coven, but a solitary witch who is most likely bitting off more than she should be chewing) and I’m feeling a bit nervous. I’d appreciate any help.

Thanks so much.

Aine.

First, the library job market is *very* tight right now: I finished my degree in August 07, and am still looking for a professional library job – this is totally in line with many other people I’ve seen (everyone says expect the search to take 12-18 months right now) My older sister is a professor of library science in a different metro area, and she’s seeing the same thing.

Things that help:
- Get library experience early and often, especially in the type of library you would eventually like to work in. Volunteer, intern, get a part-time job, whatever it takes: the experience is often a deciding factor between applicants to jobs right now (plus, not everyone turns out to like library work, and finding that out before you get a job doing it is good.)

- Get and constantly update your technical skills. There’s a lot of emphasis on ability to adapt to new technology and how it can be used in the library. A number of state library associations are running training (the Minnesota 23 Things on a Stick training was free to all librarians in the state: you can work through the lessons/activities yourself at http://23thingsonastick.blogspot.com for an idea of how libraries use different tools – you just can’t register or get prizes if you’re not in the state.)

- Having run a blog is fantastic, but one of the problems I’ve hit is that I can’t share some of my online skills easily without also revealing information about my religious beliefs, etc. because that’s part of the blog. I’ve taken steps to establish an under-my-legal-name professional blog and website, that includes information on presentations I’ve done professionally, resources, etc. I probably should have done it earlier in the process. Establishing a name/presence on various library lists in a positive way is also worth doing. (I’m a periodic poster on the New-Lib list, for new librarians and students, for example.)

- There’s lots of things you can do with a library degree: if you’re interested in jobs outside of traditional library jobs, there’s a lot more hireability/job prospects than working in a public/school/academic library. (For me, I love reference work, and other specific things in libraries, which is making it hard.)

- I’m always glad to chat in email about different topics. Feel free to ask stuff as it comes up.

I am hoping to begin a degree in Library Science in the fall, the fates and my pocketbook willing :-) At 50, it’s exciting to take another left turn.

Any suggestions for those of us about to dive in?

Sia