Thinking about the five-year plan

A recent post by Meredith Farkas, one of our profession’s “celebrity librarians,” got me thinking about that oft-heard question, “Where do you want to be in five years?” She begins the post:

Four and a half years ago, I was a Library Assistant I at the Boca Raton Public Library, working in circulation. Ten days ago, I stood at a podium in Ft. Lauderdale as the keynote speaker of the Southeast Florida Library Information Network’s (SELFIN) annual conference. I started my talk by commenting on this and stating that I think my story is indicative of the growing openness of our profession — how anyone with good ideas and a little chutzpah can achieve a lot in this profession regardless of their age or years of experience.

Given my current position — fresh out of school, looking for jobs, a little uncertain (aren’t we all?) about what the future holds — I find some solace in Meredith’s path. To go from circulation desktender to having a column in American Libraries, all in the space of five years, gives me reason to believe that great successes lay on the horizon for those with the initiative to seize opportunities when they present themselves.

Meredith goes on to talk about how much of what has transpired in her life would not have been possible without the existence of the Web. She earned her Master’s degree online, gained exposure in the profession through her blog, and even met her husband through the internet.

It’s true. The way I’m going about things right now — communicating with people, looking for jobs, staying up-to-date with what’s going on in the world — is a far cry from what it would be without the Web. As frustrating as it can be to send off a resume to the black hole of an institution’s job Web site, finding that job in the first place has been made worlds easier by innovations like RSS. I will bear a little frustration to gain a lot of convenience and time saved searching.

I am excited to find out what the next five years have in store for me. Now is a tumultuous time, with moments of doubt and uncertainty, but also of hope and joy and celebration. Getting through this period will take patience and support from those who love me. But on the other end, who knows? There is almost limitless possibility.

Tags: Meredith Farkas