The Career Development Compass: Roadmap to Building a Diversified Portfolio of Professional Capabilities for Information Professionals

Initially, future Information Professionals (IPs), sometimes referred to as nontraditional librarians, may feel lost or confused about career direction primarily due to the transitional nature of the library and information science world. Dority (2006) states “that familiar MLIS designation signifies that we possess a stunning diverse skill set, that can be deployed in an equally stunning number of places, positions, and opportunities”(p. 1). Many IPs graduate disillusioned and ill prepared to manage their careers effectively because, while in graduate school, they neglected career development planning. Some were too busy to plan; some waited too late to plan; some did not know where to begin; and some were unsure of the path to follow. As a result, possible career opportunities may have vanished. Just as navigational devices, such as the compass, the map, and the GPS were created to help travelers find their destinations, the objective of this chapter is to provide future IPs with a navigation tool and a roadmap for developing career plans by developing a portfolio of professional capabilities to ensure aBstract