It's always our budget that gets cut first. It seems to follow that our departments can be outsourced easily or positions can be eliminated. One of my habits is to read classifieds. This is probably left over from seeking a library position in a flooded market when I was fresh out of school. I often read job descriptions that are not geared toward librarians and see that a librarian is a perfect candidate.
Librarians are managers, supervisors, project leaders and consultants.
Today they have skills in Web publishing, intranet development and information architecture. The key to adding value is having that value recognized. Not promoting yourself makes it easier to target you for downsizing. You will have opportunities for new and interesting projects and you and your department will grow in bottom-line value. If downsizing haunts you, remember to read classifieds in the Information Technology section, remember your big picture skills and think outside the box to scare those who might lose you to a newer, better opportunity.