Alumni

Read about our alumni to help consider career choices.

We have gathered a sample of jobs that our alumni have held. This snapshot shows the variety of opportunities available to SLIS graduates.

Alumni Job Samples: Sorted by Types of Institutions

Highlights
Academic Libraries
Archives
Art Libraries
Corporate/Business Information
Government Information
Law/Legal Information
Library Automation
Music Libraries
Public Libraries
Rare Books
School Library/Media
Science Information Centers
Specialized Library/Information and Others

Highlights

John Berry, 2001 President
(American Library Association (ALA) - Chicago, IL)

Rebecca Bingham
(National Commission on Libraries and Information Science - Washington, D.C)

She was the first recipient of the SLIS Distinguished Alumni Award (named the Louise Maxwell Award at the time) in 1977. see: SLIS News Story

James Gates, Director of Archives and Research
(National Baseball Hall of Fame - Cooperstown, NY)

Maureen Mostyn, Managing Editor
(World Book Encyclopedia - Chicago, IL)

Academic Libraries

Senior Systems Librarian
(Koc University - Istanbul, Turkey)

Coordinator of Cataloging
(Gallaudet University - Washington, DC)

Dean of University Libraries
(King Saud University - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

Director of Library
(University of Maine - Presque Isle, ME)

Information Services Librarian
(Cornell University Medical - Ithaca, NY)

Instruction/Reference Librarian
(IUPUI - Indianapolis, IN)
"Pursuing a Masters in Library Science in SLIS was one of the best decisions I have ever made. The program gave me a way to combine my interests, education, and experiences into a career that is rewarding, valuable to society, and lots of fun. I work with patrons in a large academic library to find information, conduct classes on locating and evaluating information, and work with academic departments to select and acquire materials to meet their information needs. I would encourage anyone who likes helping people and working with information, and who likes the idea of a strong job market, to consider the MLS and SLIS at IU!" - Mark Bay

Administrative Dean
(Harvard University - Cambridge, MA)

Librarian
(Northwestern University - Chicago, IL)

Associate Dean and University Librarian
(Miami University - Oxford, OH)
"Have an entrepreneurial spirit. Seek an institution where job sculpting is important. Be yourself!" - Jerome Conley

Supervisor of Reference Service
(University of St. Francis Library - Joliet, IL)

Reference Librarian
(Georgetown University - Washington, D.C.)

Deputy University Librarian
(Moi University - Eldoret, Kenya)

Librarian
(SOAS Library, University of London - London, England)

Head of Reference Services
(Lamont Library, Harvard University - Cambridge, MA)

Assistant Director of Administration
(MIT Libraries - Cambridge, MA)

Professor/Librarian
(University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez, PR)

Web Server Administrator
(Purdue University - West Lafayette, IN)

University Librarian
(University of California - San Diego - San Diego, CA)
As the University Librarian, administers the entire campus library system of 11 libraries, 2.7 million volumes, 21,000 serial subscriptions, 335 employees, and an annual budget in excess of $23 million. He credits his time at SLIS for teaching him that librarianship can be whatever an individual makes it. "Have no fear," he offers. Brian agrees that the library and information science profession is undergoing foundational shifts; however, he is encouraged that SLIS is a leader in these transitions. Furthermore, he believes these transitions make it the perfect time for creative, forward-looking individuals to enter the profession. - Brian Schottlaender

Librarian
(New York University - New York, NY)

Librarian
(Swarthmore College - Swarthmore, PA)

Information Services Fellow
(Connecticut College - New London, CT)

Librarian
(Harvard University - Cambridge, MA)

Art Libraries

Head Reader Services
(Ryerson Library, Art Institute of Chicago -Chicago, IL)

Head Librarian
(Corcoran Gallery Art Library)

Head, Technical Services
(Library of the National Institute of the Arts - Taipei, Taiwan)

Head Librarian
(Environmental Design Library, University of California-Berkeley - Oaklawn, CA)

Art Reference Librarian
(Chicago Public Library - Chicago, IL)

Head, Media/Slide Library
(Indianapolis Museum of Art - Indianapolis, IN)

Reference Librarian
(Parsons School of Design - NY)

Senior Librarian
(Art Institute of Chicago - Chicago, IL)

Arts Bibliographer
(Arizona State University - Tempe, AZ)

Arts Bibliographer
(University of Georgia Library - Athens, GA)

Head Librarian
(Indianapolis Museum of Art Library - Indianapolis, IN)

Head Librarian
Fine Arts Library, Indiana University - Bloomington, IN)

Head
(Fogg Art Museum Library, Harvard - Cambridge, MA)

Head Librarian
(Fine Arts Library, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, MI)

Librarian
(Nelson Adkins Museum - Kansas City, MO)

Corporate/Business Information

Division of Information Services
(Golden Rule Insurance Co. - Indianapolis, IN)

Consultant
(Deloitte Consulting - Minneapolis, MN)

Librarian
(Japan Foundation - Santa Monica, CA)

Information Services Consultant
(Booz, Allen & Hamilton - Dallas, TX)

Director
(Business Research and Information Center, Indiana Chamber of Commerce - Indianapolis, IN)

PM & S Manager
(Arthur Anderson - Chicago, IL)

Head Librarian
(Northrop Grumman Corporation - Rolling Meadows, IL)

Library Manager
(Cummins Engine Co. - Columbus, IN)

Assistant Librarian
(Compaq Computer Corporation - Houston, TX)

Owner
(Koryu Books - Berkeley Heights, NJ)

Research Consultant
(Arthur Anderson - Chicago, IL)

Government Information

Chief of Reference Services
(Central Intelligence Agency - Langley, VA)

Senior Research Analyst
(Federal Research Department, Library of Congress - Washington, DC)

Director of Intelligence Libraries
(Defense Intelligence Agency - Alexandria, VA)

Senior Reference Librarian
(Office of the Comptroller of Currency - Washington, D.C.)

Reference Officer
(Central Intelligence Agency - Washington, D.C.)

Senior Automation Planning Officer
(Library of Congress - Washington, D.C.)

Librarian
(U.S. Department of Defense Dependants System - London, England, UK)
"Working for the Department of Defense Dependents System in London has been quite an experience. As it turns out, I replaced a librarian that had been here for a number of years and it is now my job to incorporate a number of changes. One of my greatest challenges so far involved creating automated check-out and catalog stations. I currently live close to a number of theaters, restaurants, markets and museums; and I've been able to travel to places like Paris, Germany and Iceland. I couldn't be enjoying myself more." - Sue Payne

Government Documents Librarian
(Sims Memorial Library - Hammond, LA)

Law/Legal Information

Senior Bibliographer
(Law School Library, Harvard University - Cambridge, MA)

Librarian
(Law School Library, University of Colorado - Boulder, CO)

Head of Technical Services
(Marshall-Wythe Law Library, College of William & Mary - Williamsburg, VA)
"Reinvent whatever job you end up getting. Take it to the next level. Flexibility is at the top of the list of skills needed." - Kevin Butterfield

Administrative Law Judge
(U.S. Department of Labor - Washington, D.C.)

Assoc. Dean
(Library and Info Law, Emory University - Atlanta, GA)

Head Librarian
(IU Law Library, Indiana University - Bloomington, IN)

Librarian
(State Law Library of Iowa - Iowa City, IA)

Assistant Professor
(John Marshall Law School - Chicago, IL)

Regional Information Manager
(Lexis-Nexis - Chicago, IL)

Retired Circuit Librarian
(U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit - Chicago, IL)

Library Automation

Manager
(Authority Control Services, OCLC - Dublin, OH)

Software Trainer
(Data Research Associates - St. Louis, MO)
"Take a well-rounded approach to coursework and take advantage of the many student positions in the IU library system. My experience as a cataloger and a reference librarian has come in handy, and the web development and programming courses I took at SLIS have also been invaluable." - Merlyne Howell

Senior Automation Librarian
(Sprint Corporation - Kansas City, KS)

Music Libraries

Curator
(Sound Recordings, Library of Congress, Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division - Washington, DC)

Music Librarian
(Vassar College - Poughkeepsie, NY)

Percussionist with The Black Book Band; Rare Books and Special Collections Librarian
(Irwin Library, Butler University - Indianapolis, IN)

Senior Editor
(Music Library Association - Brooklyn, NY)

Senior Music Cataloger
(Eda Kuhn Loeb Music Library, Harvard University - Cambridge, MA)

Department Chair
(Westminster Choir College Library, Princeton, NJ)

Music Cataloger
(Vanderbilt University - Nashville, TN)

Reference Librarian
(Deree College Library. American College of Greece.)

Librarian/Music Cataloger
(New York Public Library - New York, NY)

Public Services Librarian
(Music Library, Harvard University - Cambridge, MA)

Archivist
(Chicago Symphony - Chicago, IL)

Music Librarian
(Northwestern University - Evanston, IL)

Music Librarian
(Maxwell Music Media Center and Library, Furman University Libraries - Greenville, SC)

Public Libraries

Branch Manager
(La Porte County Public Library - Michigan City, IN)

Reference Librarian
(Denver Public Library - Denver, CO)

Associate Director
(East Chicago Public Library - East Chicago, IN)

Webmaster
(Queens Borough Public - Jamaica, NY)

Director
(San Jose Public Library - San Jose, CA)

Librarian
(Brooklyn Public Library - Brooklyn, NY)

Children's Library
(Dayton Montgomery County Public Library - Brookville, OH)

Manager
(Business and Technology Department, Allen County Public Library - Fort Wayne, IN)

Director
(Monroe County Public Library - Bloomington, IN)

Librarian
(Hannan City Library - Hannan, Japan)

Head of Public Service
(Public Library of Cincinnati - Cincinnati, OH)
"Be creative. This is a profession which has seen a lot of change recently and now offers tremendous opportunities to express creativity in a number of different ways." - Keith Kuhn

Electronic Book Project Director
(Rochester Public Library - Rochester, NY)

Manager of Branch Services
(Louisville Free Public Library - Louisville, KY)

Assistant Branch Manager
(Centre Township Branch, St. Joseph County Public Library - South Bend, IN)
"As the Assistant Branch Manager a newly built library, I have exciting opportunities to promote the very best services that Public Libraries have to offer for the 21st Century. SLIS provided me with unique learning experiences that sculpted me into the kind of Librarian that every organization seeks--computer-savy, highly educated, experienced, and dynamic!" - Valerie Simmons

Data Base Librarian
(Washington County Coop Library - Beaverton, OR)

Rare Books

Head
(Special Collections, Waldo Library - Kalamazoo, MI)

Owner
(49er Books - Palmdale, CA)

Reference Librarian
(John Carter Brown Library, Brown University - Providence, RI)

Librarian Curator
(University of Southern California - Los Angeles, CA)

Director
(Fales Library of English and American Literature, New York University - New York, NY)
"Jacques Guedon refers to librarians as 'epistemological engineers,' borrowing from Foucault and riffing on postmodern theory. I believe librarians hold immense cultural power that we have not ourselves fully realized. What we select and preserve dictates how our culture will be remembered. We play an important role that we can parley into greater recognition of our cultural importance, nay centrality." - Marvin Taylor

School Library/Media

School Library Media Specialist
(Shenango High School - New Castle, PA)
"Making students and teachers information literate is my goal as a school library media specialist. At a 7-12 grade high school, I serve four roles: teacher; instructional partner; information specialist; and program administrator. The quality instruction in school library science available at SLIS not only prepared me to prioritize and ask the right questions when job searching, but also (more importantly) daily enables me to be proactive to build the program our students need. SLIS's school library program gave me an understanding of current issues and technology while encouraging my adaptability to change and commitment to leadership in the profession." - Melissa Altman

School Library Media Specialist
(Washington Township Schools - Indianapolis, IN)

School Library Media Specialist
(Pleasant Run Elementary - Indianapolis, IN)
"Having previously been a secondary English teacher, I am finding the job of a K-5 media specialist both challenging and rewarding. My days are filled with a variety of interesting tasks, and I am always doing something different. My decision to attend a cutting edge master's program such as SLIS was crucial to my success in this position." - Amie E. Charlson

Media Specialist
(International School of Prague - Czech Republic)

Media Specialist
(Eastridge Elementary School - Indianapolis, IN)
"I am starting my third year as the media specialist at Eastridge Elementary School in Warren township in Indianapolis, IN. I love my job because of the variety and challenge it presents each day! My days are spent working with students in the computer lab, video production studio, and media center. I also plan and teach cooperatively with teachers, help teachers integrate technology into the curriculum, and teach information literacy skills. The SLIS program provided a wonderful training program for me because the cutting edge technology they offered helps me everyday in my job!" - Diana K. Zentz

Science Information Centers

Head Librarian
(Engineering Library, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, NE)

Manager Technical Support
(Cambridge Scientific Abstracts - Bethesda, MD)

Supervisor
(Engineering Library, Allied-Signal Aerospace - Phoenix, AZ)

Medical Librarian
(University of Chicago - Chicago, IL)

Life Science Librarian
(University of Notre Dame - South Bend, IN)

Head
(Pharmacy Library, Purdue University - West Lafayette, IN)

Chief of Bibliographic Services
(Medline, National Library of Medicine - Bethesda, MD)
Sheldon Kotzin oversees the production of Medline and Index Medicus and is the executive editor of both publications. Kotzin supervises a staff of about 70 employees and more than 100 contractors who are responsible for the 450,000 references to literature in the health and life sciences added each year. He also oversees the licensing of Medline and related databases, database testing and technical user support, and helps to improve search interfaces for the database. He began his career at the National Library of Medicine immediately following graduation from his SLIS MLS degree in 1968 (notes from SLIS Network - the SLIS alumni magazine, Spring 2000 issue).

Information Specialist
(Central Washington Hospital - Wenatchee, WA)

Director
(Research Information, Sanofi Research - Malvern, PA)

Assistant Senior Information Specialist
(Lilly Research Laboratories - Indianapolis, IN)

Team Leader
(Library Services, Eli Lilly and Company - Indianapolis, IN)
"Look for the kind of job where you do what you want to do. Choose where you want to live. Then be aggressive about getting it." - Paul Schmidt

Information Scientist
(Nalco Chemical Co. - Naperville, IL)

Head Technical Services
(Meharry Medical College - Nashville, TN)

Reference Librarian
(Scripps Research Institute - La Jolla, CA)

List of SLIS MIS or MLS alumni with the Chemical Information Specialization.
Compiled by Gary Wiggins, Director of the SLIS Chemical Information Specialization.

Specialized Library/Information and Others

Information Specialist
(Illinois Waste Management and Research Center - Champaign, IL)

IT Support Manager
(Harrah's - Las Vegas, NV)

Chief of the Reference Unit
(CIA Office of Advanced Information Technology, Central Intelligence Agency - Washington, DC)
Kimberly Condas has worked at the CIA since 1984. Until, January 2001, she was based with the CIA's Main Library at CIA headquarters. Most recently she was the chief of the reference unit. Her current job responsibilities include understanding analytical tools and technologies, knowing her office's information technology projects and services, and making connections between those projects and internal customers who need them. (notes from the SLIS Network - SLIS alumni magazine, Spring 2001)

Member Liaison
(INCOLSA (Indiana Cooperative Library Services Authority) - Indianapolis, IN)
"In today's world, it is important to be flexible. It is often necessary to look at a situation within your work environment with "new eyes" or with "out of the box thinking;" therefore one must be able to adapt to new situations without fear and embrace risk. Always maintain a sense of humor!" - Jan Gillespie

Executive Director
(Michigan Library Association - Lansing, MI)

Senior Indexer
(New Riders Publishing - Indianapolis, IN)

Senior Automation Planning Specialist
(Automation Planning Office, Library of Congress - Washington, D.C.)

Associate Director
(State Library Planning and Development, Indiana State Library - Indianapolis, IN)

Researcher and Librarian
(National Geographic Society - Washington, D.C.)

Public Access Trainer
(Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation - Seattle, WA)
"The forward-thinking, pro-technology and innovative approach at IU most definitely became a part of my view of public libraries. I'm proud of my IU degree. I see it as a career passport." - Michael Porter

Online Editor
(Bigchalk.com - Ann Arbor, MI)
"My main responsibilities include planning, editing, researching and implementing supplemental online multi-media lessons for the K-12 education community. The coursework and opportunities offered by SLIS not only enhanced my research skills and interest in technology, but also prepared me for today's 'information age' careers." - Jennifer Sheffield Hulick

Senior Dance Librarian
(New York Public Library - New York, NY)

Manager of the Information Resource Center
(Newspaper Association of America - Vienna, VA)
"The Washington D.C. area is a very good job market for librarians because of the number of libraries. The D.C. area offers libraries in government, in media organizations, in high-tech firms, and private libraries." - Paul Yachnes (notes from the SLIS Network - SLIS alumni magazine, Spring 2001)

Senior Librarian
(African Studies Section, Library of Congress - Washington, D.C.)