Hi Patrick,

I would suggest:
 -1- Yes, stay in libraries! We always need more technically skilled people.
 -2- Find some librarians who are in positions that appeal to you with whom you can do informational interviews. Ask them what their work is like and how they ended up there.
 -3- Collect position descriptions and job ads for jobs that sound interesting to you. Electronic Resources Librarian jobs have been plentiful lately, and this work might align with what you'd like to do (i.e. providing access to electronic resources, with lots of trouble-shooting and potentially some information architecture).
 -4- Take some library school courses. Start with whatever library school is closest to you and/ or cheapest. You might get hooked! OR you might realize that you'd prefer computer science, information technology, or an adjacent field.
 -5- Offer to do unpaid volunteer work. Maybe shadow a librarian in IT or Technical Services for a couple of hours per week. For a lot of technical jobs, there are things that you can only learn on-the-job, that you just can't learn from tutorials and classes.

Luke



________________________________
From: Code for Libraries <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Patrick Pletcher <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2022 17:09
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: [CODE4LIB] Circulation clerk learning to code.

Hi, this is my first time posting to a list like this. I am a circulation clerk who is learning to code at freecodecamp.org. Right now I am studying html and css, but I plan on going through all the lessons on the website. I enjoy working in libraries, and I also enjoy writing code. I am not sure where I am going with this. Do I stay in the library field, or do I go off in a completely different direction? I would appreciate your input. I think I would like best to work for a company that provides access to eBooks or audio books. I like print, but I don't see people using ink printed on dead trees 50 years from now, with all of the environmental issues the planet is facing.