Professional Profile: Zachary Osborne - CIGI

Zachary Osborne is a research librarian at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) located in Waterloo, Ontario. A few weeks ago, he was kind enough to answer some questions about his current role, his career path, and the advice he has for current students. Zach's incredibly helpful answers are below!

1. Describe your current position

I’m a Research Librarian in a special library at CIGI, a non-profit research organization (“think tank”) that focuses on international governance concerns: energy and environment, economics, development and security. I provide a wide range of library and research services to the organization’s researchers and experts. These users have strong academic credentials, extensive international research experience, and a wide range of policy expertise. 

As a solo-librarian, I’m responsible for nearly all aspects of maintaining the library: acquisitions, cataloguing, collection development, subscriptions and serials management, research requests and support, special projects, outreach and communicating with the wider organization. It’s a lot of fun! 

2. Describe your educational background 

I have an honours Bachelor of Arts from Acadia University in history and sociology, and a Master of Information Studies (MISt) from the University of Toronto, with a focus on Library & Information Science. 

Zachary Osborne 

3. Describe your first job as a librarian or information professional etc. and subsequent career path

This is my very first job as a librarian. After graduating from my MISt, I worked briefly at the Information Centre of De Beers Canada (the mining company), and then landed my current position. I also held a handful of library positions while at the iSchool: I worked part-time at the Robarts Reference & Research Services desk, and did some cataloguing and reference for the Data, Map & Government Information department. In addition to this, I worked at the Royal Ontario Museum Library & Archives. 

Regarding my current job, I was initially hired on a contract basis as the Collections Librarian, but after some restructuring, I was promoted and hired as a permanent full-time Research Librarian. 

4. How did your information training and background prepare you for the job you now have? 

I think that a combination of my experiences prepared me for the job I have now. Specifically, I owe a great deal to my work experiences while studying at U of T. I worked hard to get as much library experience as I could, because I felt that I would get more out of hands-on experience in libraries than I would in the classroom. I was very lucky, and landed some really terrific student jobs. In those roles I had the opportunity to assist with in-depth reference for a range of academic disciplines (humanities, social sciences, business, government documents, data and statistics), I performed original and copy-cataloguing, got involved with knowledge management and Web 2.0, and worked with archives. I was exposed to a diversity of information settings, user groups, and subject areas, and I think that a mixture of these experienced helped me to thrive in my current position where I handle most aspects of the Library. When I saw the job posting at CIGI, I thought to myself, “...this job description was written for your background and experience: apply.” 

5. What advice would you give someone who is currently doing his or her Master in Information? 

As a relatively new grad myself, I don’t think that I have a ton of wisdom to share, but here are some bits of advice that you might find helpful: 

· I know it’s easy to get into doing this, but don’t just take soft skill “bird” courses. Especially if you’re looking for a job in special libraries, it’s crucial to have those practical, “hard skills”. For example: aspects of cataloguing; abilities with open source; knowing something about HTML, MySQL, or web design, data, etc. I think that employers are looking for people who can walk into a job with as little training as possible and who can make a real impact. Impress them with your knowledge, skills and innovative ideas! 

· Speak to a few people in the field who have jobs that you want: inquire about how they got to where they are, ask them to critique your resume and/or CV, and in general, get your name and face out there. A similar suggestion is to request to speak to someone in Human Resources at a large library where you’d like to work. While I was job hunting, I met with the Head of Human Resources at UTL to have a mock interview and resume critique, and it was an invaluable experience. They see a lot of resumes, after all. 

· Create an online presence! You should want to be found in a Google search on sites like LinkedIn, through your personal website, and on Twitter. It will show that you’re web-savvy, relevant, and have something to say. (N.B. At the same time, be vigilant about Facebook privacy settings... you don’t need potential employers to know too much about you.) 

· Get experience. Realistically, everyone at the iSchool will graduate with the same degree. So what really counts (and what will make you stand out), is your experience. I think any experience is good for your resume and getting a job. If you can volunteer, great. If you can get part-time jobs, even better. 

· In the end, I think that getting a job relies on the following: who you know, your experience, luck, and timing. 

6. Any general advice for new information professionals? 

Network with colleagues, collaborate and be nice. Sometimes I feel like there’s an aura of competition that exists within special libraries (but maybe it’s other places too), and I think it can make people uptight and insular. Participate in socials, activities, listservs, and collaborate. It would make our community even more pleasant than it already is. 

7. What helpful lessons did you learn early in your career? Do any of them still apply today? 

Don’t be overwhelmed, stay organized, and take it one day at a time. When I was at De Beers, I worked with the Manager of Information Services (it was just the two of us), and I was always impressed with her ability to stay calm under duress. The library was never in shambles, but there were some problem areas that I would have lost sleep over. I asked how she dealt with that kind of stress or pressure, and she said, “No library is perfect. You just have to deal with things in stride, and prioritize your time.” 

I sometimes feel overwhelmed when I think of all of the things that need to be done at my library, e.g. backlog of cataloguing, responding to requests, maintaining print collections, broken links on the digital library, etc.; but I try to stay organized and prioritize competing long-term tasks, one day at a time.

A big thank you to Zach for his incredibly helpful advice!

-ZC

Library Tour!

We have an upcoming library tour to bring your attention to!

On Wednesday, March 30th, the SLA-TSG will be touring the City of Toronto Legal Services Library with host Yasmin Khan. This promises to be an informative tour for anyone interested in a career in special librarianship in general, and more specifically, legal librarianship. Our host has been working in the field for many years, and has a wealth of knowledge and advice for those interested in such careers!

The library is located at 55 John St. (Metro Hall), on the 26th floor. The group will meet in the lobby of the building at 5:20.

Please email slatsg@yahoo.ca to reserve your spot! We have room for up to 15 students.

We look forward to seeing you on March 30th!

Stipend Alert - Extended Deadline!

SLA's Environment & Resource Management Division Student Award Deadline is extended to May 1, 2011 

The ERMD Student Award recognizes a student who is especially interested in pursuing a career as an information professional dealing with environment and resource management issues. The award is $500.00, plus a $750 reimbursement award if the student comes to the SLA annual meeting in Philadelphia. The student must be enrolled in an ALA accredited master's degree program. This award is meant to promote both current and future involvement in and commitment to the library and information science profession prior to, during, and after the master's program. 

To be considered for the award, a student must be an SLA member and write a 300-500 word essay describing his or her interest in the issues facing information professionals in the environment and natural resources fields. Essays should be labeled with the student's name, contact information, and educational institution. Deadline for receiving submissions is May 1, 2011. Please send submissions via email to Liz Wallach at lwallach@bna.com. 

The award will be presented at the SLA Annual Conference in June. The winner is encouraged, but not required, to attend the annual conference. 

Questions? 

Contact Liz Wallach, Chair, Environment & Resource Management Division at lwallach@bna.com 

email for essay submission: lwallach@bna.com

Professional Profile: Elysia Guzik - Egon Zehnder International Inc.

Elysia Guzik

Elysia is a recent Master of Information Studies graduate (U of T, Faculty of Information, June 2010), who specialized in the library and information science stream. Prior to attending the iSchool, Elysia received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology and Religion & Culture from Wilfrid Laurier University. She has always enjoyed organizing information – even before applying to the iSchool and entering the workforce – whether that passion was manifest in categorizing collections of books and photos or colour coding calendars. When she enrolled at the Faculty of Information in 2008, Elysia had every intention of obtaining a graduate degree and developing the professional skills required to become a dedicated academic librarian. But after learning more about specialized collections and attending a panel discussion featuring professionals in “alternative information careers”, she became increasingly intrigued by the world of libraries and information centres that provide specialized resources and services to users. 

During her time at the iSchool, she completed two practicum placements – one at Our Ontario, drafting a marketing plan for the “Collections” service, the other at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, where she designed a “Library Catalogue and Resources” eLearning course to assist articling students and legal secretarial assistants in using the library catalogue and resources to conduct legal research. Before starting at Egon Zehnder, Elysia worked as a Co-op Student in the Records & Information Management Office at OMERS Administration Corporation. Prior to that, Elysia held roles at Research In Motion and the Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery, and volunteered extensively with The Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation. 

Currently, Elysia is Research Analyst at Egon Zehnder International Inc., one of the largest privately-held executive search firms globally, with 63 offices in 37 countries. She conducts business research and analysis for business development projects and executive search assignments, in liaison with consultants, research associates and administrative staff in the Toronto office and with colleagues across North America. This year, Elysia is also thrilled to be part of SLA Toronto Chapter’s Executive Board as Programming Director, planning events that cater to the diverse professional interests of the chapter’s members. 

Elysia started at Egon Zehnder in April 2010, as Records Management Analyst, after meeting one of the firm’s Senior Researchers at the iSchool’s Annual Job Fair & Networking Event. Although she had never considered executive search as a career option, the industry sounded intriguing, and Elysia welcomed the opportunity to work at Egon Zehnder as a new professional challenge. The role allowed her to expand her skill set while encouraging her to contribute her knowledge about information management to the organization. Between April and January, she addressed a three-year candidate file backlog to improve accessibility of records, created a records retention schedule and started to develop a records management policy, setting out guidelines for imaging paper records and the process for authorized records destruction. 

In January 2011, Elysia transitioned to her current Research Analyst role. This role involves investigating candidates’ career backgrounds, updating and coding records in the firm’s global relational database, and collecting company information about revenue and executive compensation. She enjoys the firm’s fast-paced environment, the dynamic nature of the search industry, the diverse perspectives of staff with expertise in various areas, and the range of practice groups in which the firm specializes, from financial services, human resources and industrial, to information technology, communications and sustainability. Working for a globally-distributed organization is also an exciting opportunity to learn about what offices around the world are doing, and to interact with colleagues in various locations. Elysia appreciates working in a smaller office setting where everyone knows each other. This environment also offers a greater variety of responsibilities, including media monitoring, database administration, research, records management, digitization, and circulation. 

For students interested in special libraries, and professional development in general, Elysia can’t say enough about networking. It’s something we all hear about constantly, but the benefits are endless. Join associations, go to events, speak at conferences, attend conferences, write publications, take part in “information interviews”, share ideas, challenges, and goals – you never know who can help you make those ideas happen. Joining SLA is an excellent way to facilitate connections between students and information professionals who can provide insight about what it’s like to work in the field, and share their knowledge. LinkedIn is becoming an increasingly helpful online networking tool, which can add to a professional, polished online presence. Continuous learning is another passion of Elysia’s, and something that is invaluable in establishing a rewarding career.