title: Midlife career choices: how are they different from other career choices?
abstract: It was 1963 when Candy Start began working in libraries. Libraries seemed to be a refuge from change, a dependable environment devoted primarily to preservation. She was mistaken. Technological changes in every decade of her experience have affected how and where she used her MLS. Far from a static refuge, libraries have proven to be spaceships loaded with precious cargo hurtling into the unknown. The historian in the author says that perhaps libraries have always been like this. This paper looks at a midlife decision point and the choice that this librarian made to move from a point of lessening productivity and interest to one of increasing challenge and contribution. It is a personal narrative of midlife experience from one librarian's point of view. Since writing this article, Candy's career has followed more changes. After selling the WINGS TM system, she has taken her experiences and vision to another library vendor, Gaylord Information Systems, where she serves as a senior product strategist
keyphrases: midlife career choices libraries technological changes productivity