Legal Experts Stress That Social Media Background Checks Create Risks from Workforce Management

Legal Experts Stress That Social Media Background Checks Create Risks from Workforce Management argues that conducting a Google search on a candidate, not to mention looking at their Facebook profile, is akin to interviewing a candidate. I don't know if I would go that far for public results available from Google, though I do contend, stay out of Facebook for screening.

This argument may be enough to curb the practice:

Employers also should review their liability insurance programs, including employment practices coverage, to make sure they are covered if they are sued by employees or job prospects in connection with the use of social media"

This is also another article that attempts to hammer home the point about mistaken identity when conducting online background checks on candidates.

Career Opportunities in Library and Information Science by Allan Taylor and James Robert Parish

Career Opportunities in Library and Information Science is part of a series of Career Opportunities in...books from Checkmark Books. Like all of the books in the series, the main portion of the book is devoted to occupational profiles which includes a list of duties, salary expectations, a position description and education requirements. The relevant associations and unions are also listed for each of the profiles, and the websites for these organizations are a good source for job postings as well as professional development opportunities. The book is divided into four sections: Librarians and information professionals, then the technicians and assistants found in each field.

Each of the profiles also include a "career ladder" which shows the entry-level positions associated with the career profile and then the career progression, such as the Public Services librarian, who may enter the profession as a library technician or a library assistant, then progress to Public Service Librarian and possibly achieve a senior level position in this area as a Chief Information Officer, a Library Department Head or Library Director.


This book would, of course, be useful to a person who is research library science as a career and who is thinking about applying to a library science program, but it would also be useful to a graduate who is deciding what types of positions to apply for, how to prepare for an interview, or for a mid-career professional who is thinking about a transition from their current sector to another position, though they may wish to stay in libraries or information management.

Web Applications Developer, NYPL Labs

Full-time, in Manhattan (original posting)

Position Description:

External Overview:

The New York Public Library seeks a talented web applications developer to join the Library's new research and development unit, NYPL Labs. We are looking for someone who is willing to experiment, able to build, test and debug in rapid iterations, and excited to join the intellectual life of NYPL and the wider digital humanities and creative tech community.

Work will be situated in midtown Manhattan within NYPL's larger web group, but will be focused on projects that break new ground in digital humanities research and/or facilitate new forms of networked participation in library activity. Projects may range from building crowdsourcing tools for enhancing library collections, rethinking established genres such as archival finding aids, or developing multi-modal (potentially cross-institutional) digital archives of special collections material.Some projects will be proof-of-concept prototypes aimed at hatching ideas that might eventually be applied more broadly across the Library. Others will be fully realized applications that become staple resources in the NYPL web environment. All will place you at the intersection of scholarly, library and technological innovation taking place at one of the worlds great public research institutions. Tapped into one of the worlds largest and most creatively dynamic urban populations.
External Responsibilities:

We are seeking a developer who can:

• Design and implement scalable, optimized, database-driven web applications using server and client-side techniques.
• Work with our User Experience Designers to adapt existing and create new software-based solutions to support the needs of our patrons.
• Specify and build APIs, data feeds and other ways of interacting with NYPL content beyond web-based interfaces.
• Explore new platforms and architectures for NYPL services and content.
• Keep up to date with the latest trends in both web technology and digital libraries/digital humanities, and participate in a community of fellow practitioners.
• Perform other related duties as required

External Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Excellent knowledge of databased-driven web development using PHP and Javascript.
• Demonstrated experience working with web-based content management systems, including familiarity with database programming (MySQL preferred), user accounts and session management.
• Preferred or desired experience in Ruby on Rails or other MVC framework.
• Preferred or desired experience with Drupal or equivalent CMS.
• Experience with front-end development (CSS, XHTML, JQuery, etc.) preferred.
• Knowledge of source code/version control software, test-driven development, and Agile processes are a major plus.
• Strong interpersonal, oral and written communication skills, including demonstrated ability to work collaboratively or independently.
• Ability to take initiative and meet deadlines.
• Position will report to web development team of the NYPL Strategy Office, under the Senior Manager for Web Initiatives, and will work closely day to day with Manager of NYPL Labs.

Women Bear the Brunt of Public Sector Job Cuts from Business Week

This article from BusinessWeek, Women Bear the Brunt of Public Sector Job Cuts, is another facet on the cuts facing libraries and library staffing, since so many librarians are women.

Reporting on the Wall Street Meltdown wins Pulitzer

Jesse Eisinger and Jake Bernstein writing for ProPublica on the Wall Street Money Machine won the 2011 Pulitzer for National Reporting. Their reportage is also distinguished in that this is not an print publication, but appeared online on the ProPublica website.

At the time of this writing, the Money Machine's RSS feed was not working; however, the ProPublica feeds are accessible.

Penguin Business Beat for April 2011

Toughest Job, Interview

The Google Job Experiment

To get a job at a cool ad agency, Alec Brownstein, a copywriter, bought the Google ads that were associated with the names of the creative directors at the firms he was targeting in New York. Process: when they googled their names, an ad from Alec popped up suggesting that they hire him. Result: he got interviews and two job offers from the campaign.



Though I think this worked, first of all, because it was fresh and cheeky (imitators will probably not reap the same rewards), and because he was applying to an industry where the creative directors would google themselves or at least hear about the buzz, it was successful. I don't know if the experiment could be repeated successfully.

Librarian/Archivist at the Fight Network

This one was on the LinkedIn Job Board. Sign in to LinkedIn to get the contact information for where to apply.

Hello! The FIGHT NETWORK *grin*. Library technicians are also eligible for the absolute in cool job bragging rights.

Company Description


Fight Network is Canada’s only TV channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, including fights, fighters, fight news and the fight lifestyle. It is carried nationally on all major cable, satellite and telco systems in Canada. Fight Network operates on multiple platforms including TV, Web, Mobile and Events. www.thefightnetwork.com

Job Description

• Establishes and maintains a cataloguing system to manage library material and the circulation of materials.
• Prepares detailed summaries of the content of programs and/or library holdings.
• Provides program material and/or research information on demand and assists Producers, Researchers, on-air personnel and others in the selection of material and the use of the library.
• Selects and purchases material for retention in the library; prepares appropriate documentation to ensure payment.
• Advises program production personnel on the availability of broadcast materials and assists them in obtaining items not available in the library.
• Researches information using local resources.
• Ensures the safety, security, preservation, maintenance and availability of broadcast materials and related documents or photographs; recommends replacement and/or new purchases.
• Manages the disposition and removal of broadcast materials when authorized to do so.
• Operates equipment required to perform library tasks.

Desired Skills & Experience

• Must be able to do shift work or weekends.
• Experience and/or post secondary education in the field of journalism would be an asset.
• Strong understanding of computer/information technology, including databases as they relate to libraries.
• Experience with Google Docs and Excel
• Experience in with NLE Systems
• Knowledge of television production including the medium of storage would be an asset.
• Knowledge of MMA and general sports
• Experience with a broad range of information resources for consultation and verification.
• Visual acuity and an understanding of the vocabulary of images.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to plan, prioritize and organize workflow.
• Demonstrated excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to train clients using library tools.

To apply please send your resume and cover letter to the contact information is available on the job posting in LinkedIn.

Monster Interviews and Work for Us

Online Recruiting News has reported on two new apps this week, one from Monster and one within Facebook.

Monster has launched a new app for interviews--Monster currently offers mobile versions for iPhone, iPad and Android--which is available on the iPhone and iPad. According to the reviews, the app would be most helpful for entry level job seekers. PCMag suggests that one of the weaknesses of the interview app is that it doesn't integrate with Monster.com, though that might have been the purpose of the original Monster mobile apps. It might have been better to add the interview version to an upgrade of the current Monster mobile app users, though it is likely that the interview app would have been an enormous patch for the original mobile version.

Work4us has launched an app within Facebook to help friends find jobs. The Work for Us apps lets you look at friends that would match with a job, post jobs on your wall and receive applications. This appears to be geared more for employers that are using Facebook to post job opportunities. The service is only free for the 30-day trial period.

Live Webcast: Telework 101: How to Start a Remote Work Program from BNET

This presentation is aimed at employers that want to start a telework program and I hope that some libraries, vendors and information consultants will attend this presentation.

This topic came up at one of the panels that I attended at Midwinter: how do I stay employed as a librarian (and keep the house I bought) if my region is experiencing an economic depression/or my local library has laid me off or reduced my hours? Telework may be the answer. For libraries that are having a hard time finding staff, or who only need additional staff during peak periods or for special topics, telework may allow them to hire professional librarians to provide services. The librarians in question can stay in their region (and keep their homes) while remaining librarians working for a library.

Creating List-Based Android Apps in App Inventor

If you have been given the task of making a simple android app, like a quiz or a simple inventory, this video will show you how to complete the task using Android App Inventor. The examples are practical and each one builds on the other. The instructional style feels like a tutoring session or a group learning event. This session is really meant for someone with some basic programming skills, such as using if...then.

Some of it might go a little fast (sort of like a cooking show with some mystery ingredients and fast mixing chef) but the advantage to having the video is that you can watch it again. However, with three strong active learning examples that teach practical skills for working in the Android App Inventor sandbox, this is a worthwhile purchase if you are learning how to make your own simple apps.