I just attended “How to Get the Library DIrector Job You Want” presented by Dan Bradbury of Gossage Sager Associates, not assoicated with the Goose. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goose_Gossage Dan was joined at the podium by June Garcia, and another member from Gossage Sager Associates. If you are thinking of shifting jobs, even if it isn’t to a Director’s position, this would be a great workshop to attend in the future.

In short, they broke down the type of openings and opportunities that will likely be available in the next ten years, ran down some resume and cover letter information, and finished off by talking about the interview process itself. While much of it was geared towards getting a director’s job, I think non-potential directors could learn a lot as well. The speakers gave the sense of the type to skills and experience that would be best to highlight, but they also talked about the type of work that you would be asked to do as a director. This may have discouraged some in the audience while at the same time engendering sympathy for current directors and the work that they do. Definitely, another skills set.

Last night, over wine and four types of crepes, I was discussing being a manager with friend from middle and high school, who also holds a management position in libraries. We discussed some of the pressures like being cool under fire with patrons and how so many of the people we work with have great customer service skills. From the homeless man wanting information about Olympic Sprinters from the 1960′s to stay-at-home mom’s that demand fantasy books for their children that don’t have magic, we felt like our staffs were great at handling it all. We felt fortunate to work with staff and be in a profession that was so good at adopting a public persona that rarely gets flustered. This is to say, they are great at faking it. Faking it when we are tired. Faking it when we have to deal with personal issues. Faking it when we don’t bring our A-game.

You may be asking yourselves, what does this have to do with becoming a director? It was the second part of the “faking it” discussion that will bring it home. We discussed how faking it with patrons/customers/members was faking it down. As a group, we are great at that, but sometimes lack the ability to fake it up or to the side. This is what seems to separate those that take on more managerial positions and those that struggle to either get those postions or hold them. I guess this is a way of saying, you have to be professional with everyone in your organization. It doesn’t mean not being yourself. It just means being your professional self with patrons, other staff, and everyone in your administration. While you can pick up how to do a budget or develop a strategic plan, being professional is what people really want. If you are bright,skills come easy, attitude doesn’t always so much.

Now, I’ll get off my highhorse, and say it again, great presentation.