WJ is growing. We have a new strategic plan and we need more smart, talented, feisty people who are also committed to libraries to help us implement it. Our new plan involves new content, services, programs, and tools for the library community. Every single one of those elements has come directly from our listening to visitors, members and partners about what libraries and library staff need. Our ambition is to (continue to) change libraries and to help library staff do their daily jobs. Like I’ve said before, it doesn’t get much better than this!!

There are a few job descriptions in the works that are going to help us get there. You won’t see them all come out at once. But the first in this next phase of growth is already posted on OCLC’s website, and it’s for our Learning Manager position (based in Seattle). Others will come down the line, and as they do, you’ll see us posting them here and there.

Now, if you think of yourself as one of those smart, talented, feisty types and you still need some convincing to apply for one of these positions, here’s my top ten reasons to work at the WJ. There are certainly, I assure you, more of them (at least for me), but these apply to anything you might do here (ok, if it’s based in Dublin, you’ll miss out on the mountain most days – but other than that, it’s all true!):

10. Mt. Rainier can be seen from a variety of Seattle-area locations, but because our office is located just north of downtown (in the South Lake Union neighborhood) most people catch a glimpse of her on their way to or from work. This particular view was captured by one of our colleagues via airplane on her way home from a Rural Library Sustainability workshop in Minnesota.

9. Everyone already working here is smart, talented, and feisty. We come from a variety of ages, backgrounds, experiences, and geographic locations. You’ll find no greater, nor more fun!, collection of colleagues in LibraryLand.

8. As I mentioned, we like to have fun. We work hard, but we’re not serious all the time. Last week we went put-put golfing, drank some beer on a patio, and then (some of us) out to dinner, but only after (at least for me) a half-day power-meeting about what the WJ member profile should look like and be able to do.

7. We believe that technology should be practical, reliable, and easy to use. We work hard to offer this to our members and partners, but also help them sort out what technologies to try out and make use of in libraries. We’re not the coolest site or service on the block, but we’re a lot of great things to a lot of the library world.

6. Speaking of technology, we know we’re not perfect, and we accept that. We experiment and if something isn’t working, we change it (if we can). We get a lot of feedback from our members, partners, visitors, and even critics. We listen, we respond, we’re realistic about what’s possible, and then we repeat in an ongoing fashion. In all, we’re confident we’re making a big difference for libraries (in spite of our imperfections) – and we’re confident because they tell us so!

5. Our leadership supports professional development and engagement. We’re encouraged to participate in the greater library discourse, including outside publishing, going to / leading conference programs, blogging, etc. We’re also congratulated (heartily!) when our contributions are recognized by others in LibraryLand.

4. We’re passionate about having an impact. We believe our work changes libraries, and makes it easier for library staff to do their jobs. We constantly check our work against what visitors and members say they were able to do or change as a result of being a part of our community. Also, we’re very focused on accountability. Everyone at WJ (even our members and partners) assumes some level of responsibility for the quality of our resources and the overall sustainability of our service.

3. We know that library staff are short on time and resources; we focus on trying to get the most valuable resources available through our community published, organized, and delivered as immediately as they’re needed by someone else in the community.

2. We work collaboratively, in teams, and those teams support each other as individuals. No matter what your role or position in the organization, everything we do at the WJ is touched by the lot of us. Individual contributions are recognized, but it’s the groups that make it work.

1. Our visitors, members, and partners ROCK. All the self-love and self-confidence aside, there is no greater inspiration than working directly with library staff – every one of them so committed to making libraries better, more relevant and useful to their patrons and the communities they serve. Their stories and contributions inspire us every day.

Like I said, best job in LibraryLand if you ask me! Please feel free to contact us if you just want to ask questions or would like more info on any of these positions as they come down the line.