Freshly Minted: Alysha Try

January 18, 2024

Information Management Specialist, Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada

Who are you and what do you do?

I am an Information Management Specialist with Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada.

What was it that initially drove you to librarianship?

I have loved reading and libraries since I was a kid, but I have had a long journey towards librarianship! Initially, I was accepted into Western’s MLIS program straight out of my undergrad, in January 2014. But, I was burnt out from school and eventually decided to pursue graduate education at the college level instead. I never forgot about the MLIS degree, however, and after working in corporate administration for five years, I decided to go back to school full-time. It was ultimately the simple love of organizing things (and particularly, working with SharePoint during my admin career) that led me back to librarianship.

Where did you complete your MLIS?

I completed my Master of Information (MI) last June at Dalhousie University in Halifax.

When did you start your first professional librarian position? How long did the job search take and how did you prepare yourself for it?

After working in an academic library during grad school, I decided to pivot back to what led me to information management in the first place: SharePoint and records management. The job search took about 5 months.

In preparation, I took advantage of Dalhousie’s career services resources such as career counseling sessions and a LinkedIn review. I also put my CV in front of as many professional contacts as I could, in order to craft the best possible presentation of my experience and education; everyone (from colleagues to managers to classmates) gave incredibly helpful advice!

How did you do your job search? What were some of the things that worked and didn’t? What was the greatest challenge?

I mainly found job postings via LinkedIn. Reaching out to professionals for informational interviews was incredibly helpful during this time, and I’m grateful to all of the librarians and records managers who spoke with me about their experience.

My greatest challenge was demonstrating to hiring managers that I already had records management experience, because the transferable skills between librarianship and records management are not always apparent to those outside of the profession. It is important to consider that often, the first person from an organization who is looking at your application may not be an information management professional.

Is your work as a professional what you expected and prepared yourself for while you were in the MLIS program? Otherwise, what would you have done differently if you knew?

My current role is unique in that I am designing a records management program, versus working within an established RM framework. If I had to do the M.I. program over again, I would have been more proactive in seeking out academic counseling. That way I could have identified that I was interested in records management earlier, and perhaps catered my practicum towards getting hands-on records management experience. At the same time, I am grateful for the learning experiences I had during my education as well as the awesome professionals I worked with; ultimately, it led me to where I am now!

How do you stay current in your field?

I mainly attend webinars through ARMA and AIIM, and I’m still initiating informational interviews with professionals in the industry.

What do you think is the most important aspect of being an information professional today?

Simply put, it’s most important to maintain a learning mindset and to know how to find information. Technology changes rapidly, so being a quick learner as well as being adaptive to change are huge assets.

Any advice for the many MLIS students who will be soon graduating and looking for their first professional position?

Get as much practical experience in your desired field as you can, whether that involves using specific software programs, volunteering at a desired institution, or doing paid work. Don’t discount the transferable skills you have gained from work outside the program. Networking is also important; I have found that many folks working in LIS are happy to share their knowledge and experiences!