Back in the market

Well, it was fun while it lasted…

I was informed a few days ago that my services are no longer required as Editorial Director of the Library Leadership Network. As of April 1, 2010, I’m either fully retired or unemployed, depending on your perspective and what happens in the future. (No, this wasn’t my decision.)

I’m not entirely sure what I’ll do next, but some things are clear:

  • I could really use a sponsor for Cites & Insights (or, I suppose, a whole lot more donations than I’ve gotten so far!). That’s no longer “extra money.”
  • If someone knows of something (possibly very part time, definitely not more than half time, definitely not involving relocating, possibly project-oriented) that suits my peculiar set of skills as a library writer, editor, speaker and systems analyst, I’d be delighted to hear about it. (Anybody setting up a center for serious evidence-based librarianship? I’d love to do some qualitative as well as quantitative research on how library blogs are working and what’s working best, for example, but that can’t happen without explicit advance sponsorship: Selling the results is clearly not working.)
  • There’s mild urgency on one point: I’m supposed to be speaking in a program at ALA Annual this year, and with a nearly complete loss of earned income, it’s a little hard to justify the costs of the conference. I need to make some decisions within the next month or so…
  • Yes, I’m delighted to be semi-retired. No, we’re not going to starve, be put out of house and home, or go begging. On the other hand, “semi-” suits me; I’d like to keep actively involved in the library field and believe I still have much to offer. It would be nice to have some portion of that involvement recognized as valuable in the form of compensation.

Feel free to get in touch (waltcrawford at gmail dot com). Of course, a solid sponsorship for C&I, including conference funding, would make this all a lot easier…

7 Responses to “Back in the market”

  1. GeekChic says:

    Well that’s terrible. I’d offer to look around but being as I’m in Canada I don’t know how much help I’d be. Good luck to you and your wife.

  2. Bob Watson says:

    I’m sorry to read this, Will. I’m afraid that the library-related work that *needs* to be done simply won’t be done while the profession dodders into a future.

    There’s not a lot of money available for speakers anywhere, I think, but it would be useful to have access to an online “resume” of what you could address … to convince others, not your faithful readers.

  3. Angel says:

    I am sorry to hear the news as well. I will certainly keep an eye out, and I do have faith you will find something. Best, and keep on blogging.

    (P.S. I redid the comment to get the correct link. If you could remove the other one, thanks).

  4. walt says:

    Bob: Well, it’s Walt–Will is also in Livermore, but he’s happily retired (and writing two, count them, two columns plus a snappy new blog). But hey…

    While I do have a website with various info, I don’t have a list of things I could address because it’s so broad–and, frankly, because I appear to have dropped off the speaking roster (and know full well that there isn’t that much money around). I certainly reach more people in written form, and that may be a primary focus.

    Angel: Thanks.

    Geek: Thanks also. Much as I love BC and Toronto (the only places in Canada I’ve actually visited–that is, Vancouver, Victoria, Whistler/Blackcomb and Toronto), I don’t see us moving north.

  5. Bob Watson says:

    My fault, Walt. I’m reading both of you at close to the same time.

  6. les says:

    Walt, sorry about the job. Hope you find something, and as Geek Chic said i’d look, but is London (uk) too far? 😉

  7. walt says:

    Les: Too far for an onsite continuing job? Absolutely, but then so is Nevada. Too far for part-time telecommuting, the right kind of speech, or some mostly-telecommuting projects? Not necessarily.