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What did you say?Quotes from Retirement,
Retention, RecruitmentThe Future of
Librarianship in Colorado
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What did you say?

• I see a dismaying trend in public libraries of
  minimizing the significance of an MLS If we
  don't value the degree from within our own ranks,
  why should anyone else? We can't demand higher
  salaries if we don't preserve our
  professionalism.
• Public Librarian

Quotes from Retirement, Retention, Recruitment
The Future of Librarianship in Colorado
3
What did you say?

• If it weren't for the high quality of leadership
  in the Colorado library community, I would be
  pessimistic about the future of librarianship in
  this state I feel strongly that the future
  outlook for librarians here will be bright.
  Perhaps we will emerge a more powerful force than
  before.
• Librarian, Special Library

Quotes from Retirement, Retention, Recruitment
The Future of Librarianship in Colorado
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What did you say?

• I am thrilled to be a Library Media Specialist
  and I love every day that I work. I encourage
  other people to become librarians hoping that
  they too will love it
• School Librarian

Quotes from Retirement, Retention, Recruitment
The Future of Librarianship in Colorado
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What did you say?

• students are reluctant to pursue library
  degrees due to the length of the educational
  process compared to the salary for their first
  job. Our jobs are not as attractive as those in
  other fields of study which pay more for an
  advanced degree.
• Public Librarian

Quotes from Retirement, Retention, Recruitment
The Future of Librarianship in Colorado
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What did you say?

• Not all school districts require endorsed
  librarians or even certified teachers in their
  libraries, especially at the elementary level.
  With budget cuts, these jobs are not at all
  secure. But the educational requirements are
  huge. How can we ask people to pursue the
  education and not guarantee them positions?
• School Librarian

Quotes from Retirement, Retention, Recruitment
The Future of Librarianship in Colorado
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What did you say?

• Professionals and paraprofessionals need to work
  together, realizing that many of us without MLS
  degrees have a lot to offer.
• Paraprofessional
• Academic Library

Quotes from Retirement, Retention, Recruitment
The Future of Librarianship in Colorado
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What did you say?

• I think being a librarian in the state of
  Colorado is an exciting position to be in. From
  an academic standpoint the future is all about
  technology and online education.
• Academic Librarian

Quotes from Retirement, Retention, Recruitment
The Future of Librarianship in Colorado
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What did you say?

• Our district does not currently pay high enough
  salaries to attract people just coming out of
  library school...
• Public Librarian

Quotes from Retirement, Retention, Recruitment
The Future of Librarianship in Colorado
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What did you say?

• We need to continue to work on the public's
  perception of the importance of libraries in
  their towns.
• Paraprofessional
• Public Library

Quotes from Retirement, Retention, Recruitment
The Future of Librarianship in Colorado
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What did you say?

• I have worked in the public library for 25 years
  and still enjoy my work and helping customers. I
  have many duties, which keep me abreast of new
  technologies...
• Paraprofessional
• Public Library

Quotes from Retirement, Retention, Recruitment
The Future of Librarianship in Colorado
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What did you say?

• I am concerned with schools not replacing
  retiring media specialists ... They should be
  looking for the same qualifications and
  knowledge/training instead of accepting less. I
  fear that students and teachers are being short
  changed.
• School Librarian

Quotes from Retirement, Retention, Recruitment
The Future of Librarianship in Colorado
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What did you say?

• Our economy is shifting from product-based
  industry towards service-based and
  knowledge-based industries Business success will
  depend on gathering, synthesizing, analyzing, and
  responding to information... the future outlook
  for information professionals in the state is
  very positive.
• LIS Student

Quotes from Retirement, Retention, Recruitment
The Future of Librarianship in Colorado
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What did you say?

• In order to advance in our current library
  system, one would need an MLS degree. I don't
  know how to acquire one except by doing it
  on-line. This is not an option that I would
  pursue.
• Paraprofessional
• Public Library

Quotes from Retirement, Retention, Recruitment
The Future of Librarianship in Colorado
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What did you say?

• Decreasing pay and increasing workloads will
  continue to make this profession undesirable to
  students looking for a promising career.
• Public Librarian

Quotes from Retirement, Retention, Recruitment
The Future of Librarianship in Colorado
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What did you say?

• after all is said and done, I still love my job
  and feel extremely fortunate to have chosen such
  a fascinating field. That does not mean that
  there is not room for improvement, but I know
  that most people when I tell them what I do get a
  glint in their eye and say really!
• LIS Student and
• Paraprofessional, School Library

Quotes from Retirement, Retention, Recruitment
The Future of Librarianship in Colorado
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What did you say?

• A forward-thinking library system might consider
  hiring career-minded MLIS students who can become
  part of their system and work their way up
• LIS Student

Quotes from Retirement, Retention, Recruitment
The Future of Librarianship in Colorado
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What did you say?

• Librarians and library workers need to allow
  for change and innovation to bring the younger
  generations into the library.
• LIS Student
• Paraprofessional, Public Library

Quotes from Retirement, Retention, Recruitment
The Future of Librarianship in Colorado
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What did you say?

• The opportunity for any kind of professional
  development whether it be workshops or college
  level classes is very limited on the Western
  Slope of Colorado...
• School Librarian

Quotes from Retirement, Retention, Recruitment
The Future of Librarianship in Colorado
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What did you say?

• My experience has been that it is very difficult
  to advance in libraries without being willing to
  relocate I have long felt frustrated not being
  able to grow into a professional cataloging
  position locally.
• Librarian, Special Library

Quotes from Retirement, Retention, Recruitment
The Future of Librarianship in Colorado
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What did you say?

• I think it will be harder to recruit librarians
  from out of state given the long term effects of
  Tabor and Gallagher. Librarians looking for
  advancement will look outside the state for
  opportunities.
• Public Librarian

Quotes from Retirement, Retention, Recruitment
The Future of Librarianship in Colorado
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What did you say?

• I believe librarianship is alive and well,
  despite the economy and the hit libraries have
  taken but all things are cyclical. We've
  survived other bad times we'll survive these...
• Public Librarian

Quotes from Retirement, Retention, Recruitment
The Future of Librarianship in Colorado
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What did you say?

• our profession is always going to have a place
  in a world where folks are drowning in
  information and need a life preserver.
• Librarian, Special Library

Quotes from Retirement, Retention, Recruitment
The Future of Librarianship in Colorado
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What did you say?

• With the understanding that the funds for
  libraries are being cut, I am pursuing other
  careers.
• Paraprofessional
• Public Library

Quotes from Retirement, Retention, Recruitment
The Future of Librarianship in Colorado
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What did you say?

• Since I am at the top of my range in salary, it
  would not benefit me to get an MLS, as I would
  spend a lot of time and money and not be
  compensated
• - Paraprofessional
• Public Library

Quotes from Retirement, Retention, Recruitment
The Future of Librarianship in Colorado
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What did you say?

• I do think there is a future for librarianship
  in Colorado and I'm encouraging everyone capable
  in our libraries to pursue a library science
  degree Increasing online educational
  opportunities have finally made library science
  degrees more attainable for Colorado's rural
  communities
• Paraprofessional, Public Library

Quotes from Retirement, Retention, Recruitment
The Future of Librarianship in Colorado
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What did you say?

• I believe many more people would get an MLS if
  it were more convenient. Also, people don't
  believe that distance education is a good idea
  and it is generally quite expensive.
• Public Librarian

Quotes from Retirement, Retention, Recruitment
The Future of Librarianship in Colorado
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What did you say?

• We need more education opportunities for Western
  Slope residents interested in obtaining an MLS
  degree.
• Paraprofessional
• Public Library

Quotes from Retirement, Retention, Recruitment
The Future of Librarianship in Colorado
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What did you say?

• My biggest obstacle in pursuing a master's
  degree in library science is the lack of an
  adequate pay scale to compensate for the time and
  cost
• Paraprofessional
• Public Library

Quotes from Retirement, Retention, Recruitment
The Future of Librarianship in Colorado
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What did you say?

• I love libraries and enjoy my opportunities to
  work with the public in information, circulation,
  and children's programming.
• Paraprofessional
• Public Library

Quotes from Retirement, Retention, Recruitment
The Future of Librarianship in Colorado
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What did you say?

• I'm optimistic! I see a continued role for
  libraries in some form or other. The profession
  is keeping me because it's ever-changing and
  challenging. People still love their libraries!
  Even though most folks get into the profession
  because of love of books or other misguided
  preconceptions (we do NOT get to read books all
  day), we all end up staying because it's just
  good work to get to do.
• Public Librarian

Quotes from Retirement, Retention, Recruitment
The Future of Librarianship in Colorado
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Retirement, Retention, RecruitmentThe Future
of Librarianship in Colorado

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• go to
• LRS.org