After reading the July 2012 Will’s World column “Your Mileage May Vary” in American Libraries, I found myself pondering about library fatigue, retirement, and the value of what I do for a living. In 2013, I will be 55 with 33 years of experience in libraries. Was I that librarian that needed to retire? I sincerely hope not but I saw a large part of myself in those statements. But part of me was still that person who could embrace technology changes and find fun in the everyday tasks. Was library fatigue taking over? Could I reverse “the odometer” and become that librarian who wants come to work each day? Could I rekindle the passion and joy for library work? But how do long-term librarians stay relevant, refreshed, and motivated? And if it was indeed time to make a career change what can I do with my experience? Where do I begin?

For librarians with lengthy careers, this roundtable discussion will start the conversation about keeping one’s passion for library work alive and investigate the alternative careers that would benefit from our experiences. This session will be part counseling, part positive reinforcement, and part networking.

Some questions to be addressed include:

1. How can librarians reinvent themselves, stay out of the rut, and reset the odometer? 2. What other jobs can librarians do during the10-15 years before retirement if they need to leave the profession? 3. How do you market/sell your experience and skill sets for jobs outside of the library venue?