Also, there’s nothing wrong with making films available at a library. I do think that some movies merit circulation in libraries more than others, but film as art (and sometimes even as pure entertainment) is an important aspect of culture.

We just had lay-offs and my bosses made it clear to me that I was too valuable to them to be laid off – congratulations to me!

Perhaps if I reveal my career-change plans I can finally get laid off. Otherwise I walk away with nothing and will be forced to work full-time. My degree will then take two years and I’ll be harried and overworked for all that time. Ugh.

I am currently an IT professional, but I’m going to night school to prepare for Nursing (basically the same story as TheAntiChick above. I was planning this when I took my current job, and at the time I felt like I should inform my employer in the interview! And they still hired me. My evening classes were early enough that they impacted my end of day, so I had little choice but to tell my boss. I could not BS that the classes were appropriate to my work either, they are totally unrelated.

Just because I have had such a positive experience doesn’t mean everyone will, but you have to use your judgment of your situation and your boss to really know what to do – every situation is different. If I were still at my previous job, I might be more taciturn.

Okay probably not, it’s not how I am, but there are certainly situations out there where you’d be putting yourself in jeopardy.

Uh – (raised hand) I’m passionate about artifact conservation/archaeology and take seminar courses in it. It has nothing to do with my work and I have no expectation of becoming an archaeologist (I’m 50, have a child under 10, and don’t like travel – much less look terrible in a fedora *wink*).

Also – several years ago, I was up for a promotion when I told my supervisor that I was applying elsewhere and would leave when I had that job. I gave a time frame (1 year) when I could be expected to leave. I still got the promotion.

However, I agree with the majority of people who say that you should keep your future plans low key, being generic about future plans, emphasizing how these course help your current work. My concerns are that you have a Facebook site. Now, I have no idea what Facebook is, but any information posted anywhere on the computer is sure to become public knowledge. Gushing over your future plans to leave your current employer are sure to get back to them — no matter how many filters you think you have.

I also agree with previous commentors that it might not be a good idea to inform your company that you want to change careers – instead, talk about how you want to improve these specific skills, and the MLS degree is the one that makes the best

If they somehow find out and directly ask you about it, then no, I would not lie. You should prepare a vague but truthful answer for that scenario.

If you tell them, you are absolutely putting yourself first in line to be laid off, and you are also jeopardizing any raises, interesting projects, etc. that you might get while you are still there. As much as they might like you, they are running a business and when it comes down to it they will most likely put business interests first.

My sister made the mistake of mentioning to her bosses, a husband and wife who owned the business, that she was interviewing for a job that would be a great career progression for her. She was so friendly with them (it was a very small office, less than 10 employees) and it was so obvious that she would eventually need to leave if she wanted to move up from her fairly low-level position, that she thought they would understand and would appreciate her letting them know ahead of time. Instead they panicked at the thought of being left without help in the interim after she left and started interviewing people for her job. And the other job she had been interviewing for fell through.

That said, since I had to go through my boss for approval on everything, I have had his and his boss’s full support. I return the support by letting them know what my class schedule is and where I may need some concessions well ahead of time, and also by being available when needed for any other late-night work (as happens in IT- installs, server crashes, etc.).

Like everyone else has said, it definitely depends on your boss. But if you have a good working relationship, I don’t see why you couldn’t tell him that you are either taking a few classes in the evening or tell him that you’re going after the full degree.

But there is a simple answer to Julie’s question: Follow the Golden Rule.

Ask yourself the question, if you were your employer, what would you NEED to know and when would you NEED to know it. If it will likely take a three month search and a year-long training program to replace you in the job you do, then your employer needs 15 months warning. There is a risk of earlier lay-off, but it is a NECESSARY risk to behaving ethically.

Giving more than that is taking an UNNECESSARY risk that emotional reactions (suspicion about her commitment, resentment about her escape, etc.) might affect her job, or that a perfect replacement candidate will come along two years before Julie’s ready to depart and she will be laid off early for reasons of employer expediency, not necessity.

Besides, starting a school program is not a 100% commitment to a job change. You may not like it. You may not do well. Family needs may force you to drop it. A promotion may come along that tempts you to stay. Things change. I’d wait on disclosing anything about it until it would become unfair to the employer to wait any longer.

Do you think that your employer would sit you down and discuss their idea to make your job redundant in 6 months? Heck no.

Keep your plans to yourself and a very few trusted friends and family who know about your conscious decision to keep your personal life separate from work.

I would also question a move to library science. Will libraries even exist in the same capacity in 10 years? I like Dewey and his decimal system as much as the next nerd and I would be hugely surprised if large parts of what we consider to be a library’s central functions don’t go the way of microfiche in a few years. Already, I see increasingly larger and larger chunks of their floorspace allocated to internet computers and renting movies (don’t even get me started about the latter). Do you want to be a video store clerk or a internet cafe attendant?

In short, you should go back to school to pursue your passion and be open about what the future holds. Good luck!

Be honest, though, if they ask you precisely what you’re studying. You could say “library science” or “information science” if you want to be more generic. In fact, saying “technology” might even have a grain of truth to it.

Re: original post: Honestly, I would just mention casually to my boss that I had decided to take a few classes in the evening, and thought that library science looked interesting. That’s all they need to know for now. 1) You may decide you don’t like it; 2) you may love it but have trouble finding a job at first; 3) you may be offered a job but life circumstances have convinced you to stay with your current employer…..

In other words, anything can happen between now and finishing the degree. There’s no guarantee you’re going to leave your current job. Making a big announcement about going back to school isn’t necessary, but at the same time there’s no need to conceal it.

I was fortunate; my boss was very supportive when I went to library school. Admittedly, they knew I’d be leaving in a few years anyway to move cross-country when my husband finished his Ph.D. But they still paid for half the degree, which I thought was darn generous! (I did work in an info-related field, kind of….)

Last but not least: I agree that once you start library school you should try to get a little part-time library experience as you can. Possibly your program will require an internship anyway. But don’t kill yourself with worry over the next few years. I got a good academic library job (albeit part-time, but that’s what I wanted then) straight out of library school, in a library school town that was flooded with new grads every semester. You’ll be making connections because many of your library school profs will be adjuncts who also work at libraries.

Best of luck! (And sorry I was so long-winded!)

However, I worked at place that was very supportive of my going to school even when it didn’t apply.

So make your decision based off your current work culture and gut.

This is not to say you have to keep it a state secret, if people ask just be low-key and calm about it. Try to deflect possible indications that you might be in a different long term path.

I basically do this now. I’m in a situation where I’m studying for an IT certification that, combined with my experience, essentially vaults me out of my current (low end) position. I’ve told my boss about it, but I stay fairly low key, and just act like it’s no big deal. I also try to play off the fact that ‘I can do my job better’ or ‘I can help the company better’ as a result. No big deal.

I have a number of friends in library school, and the job market there is as frightening as it is anywhere else atm. Like it or not, library budgets are one of the first places in which ash-strapped state governments trim money. While making this move makes a lot of sense for the long term, in the short term I think Trent’s OP should be as reserved as she can while still remaining honest, and one does not have to share everything to remain honest.

Good Luck!