Which Workplace is Right for Me?

Posted October 9, 2026 by Ashten Vassar-Cain

With so many workplace options available, it can be challenging for library and information science students to find the right fit. During my time at Simmons, I gained firsthand experience working in different libraries, archives, and museums (LAMs). I’ve put together some key insights and practical advice for students who are considering careers in different types of LAMs.

Academic Library:

Working in acquisitions and discovery for an academic library set a strong foundation for my career in LAMs. For a large institution, accurate metadata was essential to make our collections accessible to students and faculty. I learned from experienced librarians, identified items to weed from circulation, reshelved books, and updated holdings with more modern and complete information.

My favorite part of working in an academic library was learning how large institutions prioritize decision-making in their collections. This has been extremely helpful to take into my work in smaller institutions. The most challenging part of working in an academic library was the large volume of items that needed processing. I would say that this is a great fit for people who can work independently and have strong attention to detail!

Historical Medical Library:

For my field placement in 438 “Archival Theory and Practice,” I was placed with the College of Physicians of Philadelphia Historical Medical Library. For the Spring 2026 semester, I processed archival collections related to medical history and created finding aids. The collections at CPP were non-circulating, and researchers needed an appointment with the library staff to request materials. This job helped me get more familiar with mixed-materials collections and sharpened my research skills. A big upside of working in an institution like this was seeing materials used by researchers and utilized in exhibits. A difficult part of working with medical archives was encountering outdated or harmful language in the collections. Historic Medical Libraries would be a great fit for someone who likes problem-solving!

Community Archives:

I currently work with a community archive, and my duties include digitizing collections, responding to research requests, and integrating community feedback into the archival workflow. The job has shown me that despite the reputation, archives can be anything but boring! The position also demonstrated the importance of strong communication skills and a willingness to think creatively.

One challenge with community archiving is that establishing provenance can feel like a puzzle. However, community archives have definitely felt the most like home for me! I would recommend this path to anyone who works well in team settings and has a passion for underrepresented histories.

What type of institution could you see yourself working in?