Working Knowledge
By Mary Pergander
A monthly column on employment issues.

MARY PERGANDER is director of the Deerfield (Ill.) Public Library. Send comments or questions to working@ala.org.
2008
- “Working Through Grief: How To Deal With A Coworker's Loss,” August 2008
- “This and That: Holding Down Two Dream Careers at Once,” June/July 2008
- “Living the Dream: Take a Moment to Appreciate What You've Got,” May 2008
- “Failure to Perform: What To Do When a Director Isn’t Directing,” April 2008
- “Loose Lips Sink Ships: Preparation and a Calm Demeanor Counter Career Perils,” March 2008
- “Be It Resolved...Twelve Resolutions for the New Year at Your Library,” January/February 2008
2007
- “Oh Behave! Using Behavior Questions to Get Inside Your Head,” December 2007
- “Shifting Gears: Academic and Public and School and Special—Oh My!”, November 2007
- “Leaving Libraries: Why Do Some Librarians Switch Careers? (Part Two of Two),” October 2007
- “Positions of Transition: Why Do Some Librarians Switch Careers? (Part One of Two),” September 2007
- “Take It or Leave It: The Delicate Art of the Revolving Door,” August 2007
- “Where Ideas Come From: Inspiration Can Come from Almost Anywhere,” June/July 2007
- “Setting Your Own Standards: 19 Questions for You to Ask Yourself,” May 2007
- “To Share or Not to Share: When Good Comments Go Bad,” April 2007
- “Let’s Meet in the Middle: How to Make Meetings Matter,” March 2007
- “Working at Finding Word: Finding a Job Can Be a Full-time Job,” February 2007
- “In the Company of Friends,” January 2007
2006
- “What Are You Waiting For?” December 2006
- “Taking the Lead,” November 2006
- “Manage Your Boss—Please!” October 2006
- “Making the Ask,” September 2006
- “Still Happy After All These Years,” August 2006
- “Calling All Transplanted Librarians,” June/July 2006
- “Be Your Own Successor,” May 2006
- “A Tale of Two Librarians,” April 2006
- “Seeking the Land of Plenty (of Jobs),” March 2006
- “Mastering the Group Interview,” February 2006
- “The Road Taken—Eventually,” January 2006
2005
- “Watching Workers' Web Use,” December 2005
- “Brushing Up on Patron-Service Skills,” November 2005
- “Designing Dress Codes,” October 2005
- “Banishing Boredom on the Job,” September 2005
- “Safeguarding against Employee Fraud,” August 2005
- “Fine-Tuning Your Field of Focus,” May 2005
- “The Death of an Employee,” April 2005
- “Going Paraprofessional,” March 2005
- “¿Como Puedo Servirle?,” February 2005
- “The Great Director Search,” January 2005
2004
- “Picture Yourself in the Director's Chair,” December 2004
- “Fighting Age Discrimination,” November 2004
- “Making Meetings Work,” October 2004
- “It's Not What You Say, but How You Say It,” September 2004
- “Manners Matter for Employers and Applicants,” August 2004
- “Checking Out Background Checks,” June/July 2004
- “Rekindling Your Passion for Work,” May 2004
- “Saying Thank You—Part Two,” April 2004
- “Family Planning: Home, Career, or Both?” March 2004
- “Salary Negotiation 101,” February 2004
- “Knowing How to Say ‘Thank You,’”January 2004
2003
- “Putting Networks to Work,” December 2003
- “There’s Gold in That Thar MLS Degree!” November 2003
- “Test Careers with Informational Interviews,” October 2003
- “All Around the Career Ladder,” September 2003
- “Today’s Times: Surviving Job Loss,” August 2003
- “Helpful Hints for ALA Conferences,” June/July 2003
- “Judging Books by Their Covers,” May 2003
- “Timely Tips for Time Management,” April 2003
- “Real-Life Retirement,” March 2003
- “Dealing with Workplace Stress,” February 2003
- “Strategies for a Successful Job Search,” January 2003
A monthly column on employment issues.

MARY PERGANDER is director of the Deerfield (Ill.) Public Library. Send comments or questions to working@ala.org.
2008
- “Working Through Grief: How To Deal With A Coworker's Loss,” August 2008
- “This and That: Holding Down Two Dream Careers at Once,” June/July 2008
- “Living the Dream: Take a Moment to Appreciate What You've Got,” May 2008
- “Failure to Perform: What To Do When a Director Isn’t Directing,” April 2008
- “Loose Lips Sink Ships: Preparation and a Calm Demeanor Counter Career Perils,” March 2008
- “Be It Resolved...Twelve Resolutions for the New Year at Your Library,” January/February 2008
2007
- “Oh Behave! Using Behavior Questions to Get Inside Your Head,” December 2007
- “Shifting Gears: Academic and Public and School and Special—Oh My!”, November 2007
- “Leaving Libraries: Why Do Some Librarians Switch Careers? (Part Two of Two),” October 2007
- “Positions of Transition: Why Do Some Librarians Switch Careers? (Part One of Two),” September 2007
- “Take It or Leave It: The Delicate Art of the Revolving Door,” August 2007
- “Where Ideas Come From: Inspiration Can Come from Almost Anywhere,” June/July 2007
- “Setting Your Own Standards: 19 Questions for You to Ask Yourself,” May 2007
- “To Share or Not to Share: When Good Comments Go Bad,” April 2007
- “Let’s Meet in the Middle: How to Make Meetings Matter,” March 2007
- “Working at Finding Word: Finding a Job Can Be a Full-time Job,” February 2007
- “In the Company of Friends,” January 2007
2006
- “What Are You Waiting For?” December 2006
- “Taking the Lead,” November 2006
- “Manage Your Boss—Please!” October 2006
- “Making the Ask,” September 2006
- “Still Happy After All These Years,” August 2006
- “Calling All Transplanted Librarians,” June/July 2006
- “Be Your Own Successor,” May 2006
- “A Tale of Two Librarians,” April 2006
- “Seeking the Land of Plenty (of Jobs),” March 2006
- “Mastering the Group Interview,” February 2006
- “The Road Taken—Eventually,” January 2006
2005
- “Watching Workers' Web Use,” December 2005
- “Brushing Up on Patron-Service Skills,” November 2005
- “Designing Dress Codes,” October 2005
- “Banishing Boredom on the Job,” September 2005
- “Safeguarding against Employee Fraud,” August 2005
- “Fine-Tuning Your Field of Focus,” May 2005
- “The Death of an Employee,” April 2005
- “Going Paraprofessional,” March 2005
- “¿Como Puedo Servirle?,” February 2005
- “The Great Director Search,” January 2005
2004
- “Picture Yourself in the Director's Chair,” December 2004
- “Fighting Age Discrimination,” November 2004
- “Making Meetings Work,” October 2004
- “It's Not What You Say, but How You Say It,” September 2004
- “Manners Matter for Employers and Applicants,” August 2004
- “Checking Out Background Checks,” June/July 2004
- “Rekindling Your Passion for Work,” May 2004
- “Saying Thank You—Part Two,” April 2004
- “Family Planning: Home, Career, or Both?” March 2004
- “Salary Negotiation 101,” February 2004
- “Knowing How to Say ‘Thank You,’”January 2004
2003
- “Putting Networks to Work,” December 2003
- “There’s Gold in That Thar MLS Degree!” November 2003
- “Test Careers with Informational Interviews,” October 2003
- “All Around the Career Ladder,” September 2003
- “Today’s Times: Surviving Job Loss,” August 2003
- “Helpful Hints for ALA Conferences,” June/July 2003
- “Judging Books by Their Covers,” May 2003
- “Timely Tips for Time Management,” April 2003
- “Real-Life Retirement,” March 2003
- “Dealing with Workplace Stress,” February 2003
- “Strategies for a Successful Job Search,” January 2003

