BY SARAH HORTON SMITH

Organizing a Career in Federal Libraries Panel

Benefits of Panel Format

It’s relatively inexpensive Multiple panelists give the audience multiple

perspectives on what careers in Federal Libraries are like

Allows you to showcase the wide variety of jobs available in Federal Libraries

Having multiple panelists allows for the event to continue in the event of last minute cancelations and other disasters.

Drawbacks of Panel Format

Multiple panelists = multiple schedules = multiple headaches

Panels can be more expensive then having one person talk

Panels take longer than having just one person

Each participant has less time to talk

Expenses

Panelist transportation costsGifts for PanelistsFood at the event (If any)Advertising costs (paper for fliers etc.)Panelists Fee’s (If any…and there should be)

Preplan

How many panelists do should we have? I recommend 4 or 5

When should we hold the event? I recommend as early into the year/semester as

possibleWhere should we hold the event?

You might want to “rent out” a classroom or auditorium depending on the size of your school

Local Federal Libraries

Military AcademiesVeterans HospitalsPresidential LibrariesFederal CourtsContractorsLaw firms that handle Federal cases

Getting Everybody Together

Advertising the event

FlyersEmailing listservFacebook, Twitter, etc

List of Questions For the Panel

Always prepare a list of sample questions for your panel What is your typical day like? What do you wish you would have known if you were a

student? What classes do you recommend?

www.quintcareers.com Informational Interviews

Doing the Panel

Have all your panelists speak for 5-10 minutes

Ask your prepared questionsOpen up questions for the audiencePlan it to be about 1 and a half hours long