My Path To an Alternative Career by Paul Duckworth How does a librarian move from a traditional job to something outside the box of library walls? If this sounds like a Zen koan to you, perhaps you're thinking about it too hard - just let the energy flow into your solar plexus. When you're centered, you can follow the path of the stepping stones that are submerged below the surface of the water. How? Step-by-step, feeling your way, remembering to breathe and center yourself - and not being afraid to get your feet wet. First Steps First My path began with the recognition that it was time to move on from my public library job in Missouri. I'd been there for over twenty-five years, moving upwards in responsibility. The job was great, my salary was excellent, and I had every reason to stay, except three: I was restless, felt stagnated, and found myself experiencing boredom. "What to do?" I thought. "How do I uproot myself? Where do I begin?" For me, a recent marriage had brought a fresh perspective and someone else's needs to consider. For many reasons, we decided to relocate to within a few hours of Toronto. So, the first decision had been made: the geographic focus was defined. Time to get out the career and resume guides. I raided my library's shelves, looked at more than a few, studied every style and strategy, then set the books down and never picked them up again. What I did reach for, though, was the ear of anyone who would listen to me as I told my story. Never underestimate the power of these words: "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you." I found talking with many people, especially those not in the library field, of immense assistance in clarifying muddy waters. I began bookmarking library job sites and searching them again and again - sometimes to the point where I felt desperate. There were jobs, but few interesting ones in the geographical area where I needed to land. I also reached out to colleagues through the networking approach, including joining an e-mail list from a state adjoining Ontario. It was fascinating to learn about the issues going on there, which affected services, employment, selection, and the financial health of libraries. Alternatives Can Find You Time was getting short. We needed to move before autumn, but nothing seemed to pan out. What to do...? Be persistent, I reminded myself. Success is 10% inspiration, 90% perspiration. So, I did everything I could not to let discouragement slow me down: meditation, yoga, talking to friends, and strategizing through good note taking. And then, there it was - a job posting on an e-mail list for a library vendor in New York State. Good fortune - the vendor was a major supplier for my library. My application led to a response with a questionnaire to fill out; this led to more e-mail, and then... a call out of the blue from the company's sales manager, followed by a second one. Could I come to the ALA conference in Orlando, expenses paid, to meet with the company president and him? Yes, I could, and I did! I flew to Orlando and visited with them. And, while I was there with some free time to visit the exhibits hall, I stopped by the booth of another vendor I worked with on materials acquisition, to meet some of the friendly staff I had visited with on the phone over the years. So, I had a good chat with several staff, and casually mentioned that I was interviewing for a job that would take me to New York State. "We just happen to have an opening for an account rep for that area," one of their vice presidents mentioned. Would I be interested in talking about this position? Yes, I was, and I did. We talked, and the job sounded as intriguing and challenging as the first one. Always keep as many options open as possible, I reminded myself. Don't start closing doors until you know for sure which door you're going to walk through. When One Door Opens... At the end of the weekend I expected a job offer from the first vendor, who had flown me to the conference. It didn't come. So I waited, weighed my options, and decided that the better choice for me was the new possibility. Then, amazingly, a friend told me about yet a third prospect with the university library in the town to which we were considering moving. While in Toronto on vacation, I faxed my application, and within a few days had a telephone interview with the search committee. Within days, an offer was made by the second vendor and I accepted. A few days later, the initial vendor indicated they wanted to hire me. And, as I withdrew my application for the academic position, they indicated that I had been their top candidate. How is it, you ask, being outside those traditional walls? Well, I travel inside those walls throughout my sales territory, meet great people (we librarians ARE interesting), and sometimes have the exciting opportunity to show up for work in my home office in my pajamas. I still speak "library," am appreciated by my employer, and network every day with colleagues and customers across the country. My employer is tops, the job brings me the challenge I was looking for, and I'm traveling to lots of places I had never seen before. The path ahead isn't clear, but, truly, it never is. For right now, I'm enjoying getting my feet wet, taking one step at a time, and remembering to breathe.