Little Did We Know … Librarian Transitions Between Public and Technical Services

ABSTRACT As the library profession changes and more emphasis is placed on technology, electronic resources, linked data, and systems integrations, understanding the experiences of librarians who have transitioned from public to technical services will benefit librarians who are seeking to (or are required to) make a similar career change. Several academic librarians were interviewed about the transitions they made from one functional type of library work to another. While the reasons and experiences varied as to why they transitioned from public services to technical services, several common themes emerged for the participants in our study. This article seeks to highlight the benefits, challenges, and strategic processes involved in a transition between public services librarianship and technical services librarianship. By sharing the participants’ experiences, realizations, and advice, it is hoped that current librarians thinking of or needing to make a transition will have a better understanding of what they can expect.