This 2011 ALA Editions Special Report is a timely, uplifting resource chock-full of helpful tips for librarians nervous about current employment prospects. Aimed at an audience ranging from LIS students and newly minted librarians to seasoned information professionals, author Jeannette Woodward provides confident encouragement and practical guidance on every aspect of job hunting and career building—all with a subtle wit that keeps the reader engaged.

While pointedly not a comprehensive guide to resume-building or interviewing (libraries already hold many such titles), A Librarian's Guide to an Uncertain Job Market delivers strategic advice tailored to library job-seekers. Acknowledging librarians’ experience and superior research skills, the author stresses the need to read between the lines of job listings and to research the organizations seeking employees to better understand how to approach each opportunity. Although not all of the information provided is new (for example, applying for jobs via fax seems particularly dated), the book is freshly presented and well structured.

Woodward provides an objective view of current library employment prospects, followed by advice on protecting one's current job and planning ahead for potential layoffs by developing relevant technology skills and maintaining an open, flexible attitude to change. An encouraging chapter on surviving sudden job loss is reminiscent of Emily Koltnow's Congratulations, You've Been Fired (Ballantine, 1990). The remainder of the book offers step-by-step guidance on seeking out job prospects, crafting winning application packages, and interviewing effectively. Woodward's sage advice, encouraging tone, and eloquent wit make this book both a valuable addition to a library's professional development collection and an enjoyable read.