Monday, May 07, 2007

Job titles, Sharing

A librarian should always spare non-librarians from hearing their actual job titles. No one cares that you are the "Coordinator for Interlibrary Loan, Resource Sharing, and Document Delivery Services." Saying "librarian" will be sufficiently boring.

Ask the readers: Share your unusually long (yet official) job title in the comments section below.

95 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm the super saturday, family movie night, home day care, chess for all ages, youth services library assistant II

Suzanne said...

CEO of the Circulation Desk?
Master Referencerian?
Grand Page of the Order of Shelving?

Anali said...

Assistant Collections and Scholarly Communications Librarian

Notice I didn't use an ampersand.

Anonymous said...

Non-library-folk at our institution thought the "Head of Technical Services" was in charge of setting up slide projectors and installing computer software, so the job was re-titled "Head of Collection Information Services". Us library folk can never remember the new title, so he's "The artist formerly known as Head of Tech Services".

Anonymous said...

Library technology project support specialist.

Anonymous said...

When I was promoted to Director of Technical and Collection Development Services a friend thought the collection part had something to do with collecting money!

Anonymous said...

Integrated Library Systems Administrator

Anonymous said...

lorem ipsum, you crack me up. Who would have thought a librarian could have such a well-developed sense of humor. Usually they're just full of themselves. Okay, maybe that's a gross generalization, but the two librarians I have the dubious distinction of being personally familiar with are condescending, whiny, negative know-it-alls who are in their 40's and still rely on their parents to help pay the rent. They also get together with other nerds to play D & D. Maybe that's colored my perception of librarians in general. I may have to revise my thinking after stumbling upon this quirky, but funny, blog.

Pip said...

I have been a Knowledge Based Practice Facilitator, or KBPF for short. Or, for even shorter - Librarian.

Library Mistress said...

"Referencerian" is great! I don't really have a job title except librarian, but I used to call myself a "cybrarian". A friend of mine is "library vice director" - I like that, because "vice" has two meanings.
There was a great "job title generator" for LIS professionals at http://lamar.colostate.edu/~mach/jobtitles/realjobs.html#Z, but it is no longer online. If you know where it moved to, please tell me.

Val said...

Service Development Manager, electronic services and design
But not for much longer,times are hard in the UK - it will soon be just E-services Librarian and at a more lowly grade :o(

Anonymous said...

Clinical Outreach Services Librarian. It won't fit on my business card.

Anonymous said...

I'm "Your Mom's Librarian"...boo-yah"

I'm also "Watch online tv-brarian"

CG said...

Team Librarian (Job share)
Very boring :(

Anonymous said...

I am the Electronic and Educational Resources Librarian. EER for short.... :)

Anonymous said...

I am an Information and Records Analyst, currently working in an Information and Records Centre.

Anonymous said...

Philippa said...
I have been a Knowledge Based Practice Facilitator, or KBPF for short.

You have GOT to be fucking kidding.

Anonymous said...

I prefer "Empress of Time and Space," but I can't get them to approve it for my business cards.

Anonymous said...

In my current job, my job title is merely librarian. However, I used to be Coordinator of Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery...although I used to drop the document delivery part.

Anonymous said...

Reference and Instructional Services Librarian

Anonymous said...

At one point in my life I was the Assistant Director: Reference and Information Services.

(That was at an institute on an academic campus, but not immediately related to the school. And you know how a dissertation has to have a colon in its title before it it's accepted? I think that's why I had the colon. I always wanted to replace that colon in the middle with an "of" or "for" or something. I look at it now as a kind of spastic colon.)

---Kurt

Anonymous said...

I was once Chief Librarian, Public Services. The joke was that I was the only librarian in public services.

Anonymous said...

All purpose reference librarian and email librarian will do quite well, thank you.

Anonymous said...

Electronic Resources and Serials Cataloging Librarian. Oh, and Team Leader of the unit.

I'm serious (anali, no ampersand here either). Can anyone suggest an appropriate acronym or some way to shorten it? Half the time I can't remember it myself.

Anonymous said...

Assistant Librarian, Document Delivery and Audio-Visual Services. Really, that's what it said on the library structure and my appraisal forms. My boss had the title "Sub-Librarian, Document Delivery and Audio-Visual Services, Staff Library". No ampersand, and no apology for having the prefix 'sub' in her job title. I don't work there anymore...

Anonymous said...

Job Title Generator for library and information science professionals

http://www.michellemach.com/jobtitles/

Anonymous said...

Ye olde officialness says I'm the

Systems & Electronic Resources / Web Librarian

One LibQual+ respondent referred to me as "the guy with the jingly keys"

/me says I'm the Making-it-up-as-I-go-along La-La-La Librarian

You be the judge

Kevin Musgrove said...

At one time I was Senior Information Development Worker, which sounded (and felt) like I was responsible for shuffling the bus timetable leaflets in a twilight home. Then I moved into my present job. Which is just like being responsible for shuffling the bus timetables in a twilight home... sigh.

ruth said...

Electronic Resources and Serials Cataloging Librarian
=
e-rascal

Robert said...

Technical Services Librarian and Acquisitions Coordinator

Anonymous said...

"Electronic Resources and Serials Cataloging Librarian. Oh, and Team Leader of the unit."

How about (sound this out with me)
"The Ers-cal Team Leader" (Like erstwhile, only more mysterious and current...)

Cassie said...

Young Adult Assistant Librarian... I could never remember it myself, so I had to ask my co-worker what the job title was everytime I had to fill out a job application.

Catechresis said...

Well, I'm ALMOST a librarian... and in the meantime, I'm the "Director of First Impressions." I used to be the "Systems and Communications Coordinator" for one person in our office, but then they decided they all needed me, so now I'm at the front desk. It all means "secretary."

I have high hopes of soon becoming an actual librarian, with a title and all...

Anonymous said...

I'm a Knowledge Navigator. I have a sign on my desk saying: 'The Doctor is in' (or 'out' when I'm away). Often feel misunderstood when clients treat me as if I was their therapist, just because I lead them to answers to their questions.
Does the work of librarians overlap with that of therapists, I ask you?
As for your blog: "O" for Awesome.

Anonymous said...

Our reference department upgraded their titles to:
The Exhalted Queen of Reference
The Most High Vizier to the Exhalted Queen of Reference
and
Princess in Waiting

Danette said...

I usually just use Librarian. But officially it's Adult Services Librarian. But, I also catalog, do PR, update the website, and make our graphics. At one point I made business cards that said Reference, Cataloger, Pr, & Grapics Librarian. However, in the next couple years I'm supposed to do Marketing full-time so I made up new business cards that just say Marketing Librarian on them, hoping to make the transition faster.

Sarah Mae said...

Children's/Young Adult Librarian

Anonymous said...

Officially I'm a Curriculum Learning Resource Specialist.
My secret identity is 'Librarian'

Anonymous said...

Reference and Government Documents Librarian

unstricken said...

how about Associate Director for Faculty, Research and Instructional Services--is that verbose enough for ya?

Anonymous said...

Public Services Librarian

Anonymous said...

All these titles are quite short. Until recently I was:

Romance Languages Cataloguer/Bibliographic Database Specialist
and
Acting Coordinator, Original Cataloguing, Authorities and Database Enhancement Services.
The unit is known as OCADES for short.

I am not joking at all.

Anonymous said...

Librarian II

@pcon said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mach10 said...

Reference Librarian and Liaison to the Schools of Psychology and Human Services

Do I win? There's two more words that should be there, but it would say where I work.

Anonymous said...

Assistant Professor of Library Services and Reference Librarian

Unknown said...

Early Literacy Outreach Coordinator

Angie Donoghue said...

I'm Senior Information Adviser, Virtual Learning Centre team ... I mean - what's that all about?

Anonymous said...

Library Media Specialist and Technology Teacher

Brian said...

Information Resources Assistant Intermediate...this title covers dozens of other employees at the library I work for across diverse job responsibilities

Anonymous said...

I supervise someone whose title is "Special Collections Librarian/Assistant Manager, Reference Services"

We call her the genealogy librarian.

Anonymous said...

I worked for a woman in college who was promoted to Library Director, or, as she declared, Queen of the Library. QotL for short.

Anonymous said...

I've just become the Technical Services Librarian for the Lamont Unit of Cataloging Support Services.

I need a postcard-sized business card...

Anonymous said...

Youth Services Lead Librarian

Anonymous said...

Learning Resources Tutor. The joke was were you full time employed & therefore "fully a LRT" or part time and therefore only "half a LRT"

Anonymous said...

anonymous:
Librarian/Office helper/ secretary/guide/nurse/cataloger/book filer/ mother/ listener/ host/ fixer/ book buyer/and many other. Who doesn't wear many different hats. Especial librarian. Some more then other,but we all have patron to look after.

michael said...

I'm the e-Resources Librarian. It was going to be Virtual Librarian, but the appointments panel thought it sounded too much like the postholder would do "virtually" no work, or some such nonsense.

Anonymous said...

Assistant Bitch?

Anonymous said...

Adult Services Librarian--which isn't long, but has vaguely dirty connotations that amuse me...

Anonymous said...

I try to correct those who call me a librarian to let them know just because you work in a library, doesn't mean you're a librarian. I'm actually flattered when I get called a librarian. :D But my official title is "Circulation Services Assistant" which normally gets shortened to "circ asst."

bookdiva said...

I am called the "Senior Informationist." I am a solo librarian so there are no Junior Informationists...maybe the Senior part of the title refers to my age.

Anonymous said...

Media Specialist/Media Services Department Head

Anonymous said...

Digital Content Specialist. It sounds like p0rn. *sigh*

Mister Mustache said...

Librarian III

Thad Guy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Thad Guy said...

I think that you guys might enjoy this comic. It is about making up your own job titles. :)

Now "dinosaur herder" can really mean the person who coordinates interlibrary loan.

http://www.thadguy.com/comic/titles/118/

librarybeth said...

Brand new job title: Reference and Information Literacy Librarian and Access Services Coordinator. Seriously.

Anonymous said...

Assistant Director/Regional Campus Librarian and Assistant Librarian

Anonymous said...

Research and Electronic Content Librarian

Anonymous said...

At my former post my unofficial title was:
Interlibrary Loan Work-study Extraordinaire in Charge of Menial Tasks As Well As Pulling and Mailing Materials

Anonymous said...

am i too late?
book pimp and cyber whore

Anonymous said...

My title used to be Director for Scientific Affairs.
Of course, I had nothing to do with scientific affairs

Anonymous said...

I'm particularly fond of what members of the general public *hear* when I *say* that I'm an archivist. A listing provided below. True story!

Activist
Alchemist
Anarchist
Architect
Organist


I've considered telling people that I'm a phrenologist.

czeltic girl said...

Ha! Laura, that cracks me up. I get the archivist/architect thing all the time.

Haven't been called an alchemist yet, but I think I'm just going to start telling people that's what I do. :)

My full title is Archivist, Digital Asset Manager and Quality Specialist. (I do QA/proofing in addition to my archiving duties.) One of my coworkers joked I should just put "I know where stuff is" on my cards.

Anonymous said...

Someone at MPOW has the title: ACTING ASSOCIATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIAN FOR RESEARCH AND INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES and ASSOCIATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIAN FOR FACILITIES PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT.

That's one person. Honest, you cannot make this shit up.

It's fun to reorder the words into even more meaningless combinations.

Anonymous said...

I was Advisor, Information Management Systems.

My actual work? Sole charge librarian in a small govt agency with around 60 staff. I did exactly what any other OPL would do.

Heather Thams said...

Reference, Instruction, and Curatorial Assistant. It won't fit into the "Job Title" space on most forms.

The ironic thing is that "Curatorial Assistant" does not actually mean that I flounce around dusting rare items. It means that I order books that my boss selects, and keep track of our funds. I should really try to get a new title approved before the next person who has that job tries to fit it on her business card.

Unknown said...

Client Services Officer / Agent du service à la clientèle

Vague enough for you?

exlibriscat said...

Electronic Services Librarian

I've watched the eyes of many non-librarians glaze over when I give them my full title. I almost feel the need to apologize for sounding pretentious, like what I do is so much more complicated than what they do for a living. I usually stick to "librarian" and if they ask what I do, then I figure it's their own fault for asking.

Anonymous said...

Library Information Systems Coordinator.

Do I work in Reference or IT? The answer is yes, but more time in meetings than either of those.

Anonymous said...

The corporate librarian crowd always wants to disguise their "librarian" affiliation to the head honchos in order to avoid discovery and elimination from the overhead costs. In this spirit or misdirection our "Corporate & Technical Information Center" basic job titles were "Information Analyst", with Senior or Principal as a prefix for "promotion" purposes.

Anonymous said...

Reference Support Assistant

A fancy way of saying "person who gets things for people and does things for people".

Anonymous said...

When we were re-writing job titles, one manager suggested that we rename the library assistants to be "associates". You know, like Starbucks. They remain assistants.

Plus, how many library head honchos had their CEO titles bumped back down to Director or Chief Librarian??

A. Rivera said...

I wanted to put Library Evangelist at one point on my library cards (my actual title is Outreach Librarian). These days though I am favoring "Disinformation Agent" hehe.

Anonymous said...

My actual title is Assistant Professor of Bibliography and Librarian of Humanities. Or possibly Librarian for Humanities, I can't remember.

Sarah said...

My official title is "Engineering Librarian for Outreach, Instruction, and Electronic Resources." It barely fits on my business card.

CB said...

librarybeth, I used to be Head of Reference Services/Coordinator of Evening and Weekend Public Services.
I am super serial.

Linell said...

Jack of all trades librarian, master of none...

Anonymous said...

It's not a long job title, but it's an often confusing job title:
Adult Services Librarian

Yeah. It's great when I have "Adult Movie Day!"

Anonymous said...

Well as they won't let me put Super Genius on my business cards, I just go with Library Director. However, I did tell my Page to put Assistant IT Director on his resume, and another assistant to put Summer Reading Coordinator,Talent Scout and Handler on hers. 'Cause that's what they did/do!

Anonymous said...

I'm a Librarian in Training but my current title (longest ever) is Arts and Sciences Academic Resource Center Student Support Services Coordinator of Academic Assessment and Data...yeah. I just go by Data Manager.

Anonymous said...

Technical Services/Systems Librarian, or as I pronounce it, Technical Services Slash Systems Librarian. Whether you interpret Slash as a verb or an adjective, it does add a certain je ne sais quoi.

Anonymous said...

Youth Services/Literacy Librarian

I particularly like the "/"

Kira said...

@Laura, Anarchist? I love that!

Technically, my title is "Acquisitions and Processing Archivist." I usually just go with Archivist, since that inevitably needs explanation and by then, no one is interested in the nuances of my job description. *sigh*

Anonymous said...

These are hilarious-I am trying to come up with a new title for my Reference Head who now has to handle all of the Security issues. My husband suggested Darth Vadar. jb