#Humans of the Library: Carl Joseph Burlat of Simply Hired Librarian

If you are a librarian in the Philippines and are looking for work, you've surely heard of the popular Facebook group Simply Hired Librarian. It has over 3,000 members as of this writing, and that includes me. Even if I had a regular library job, I always browsed the group for interesting job postings. It's not just for me, but also in case I know someone looking for work. When I am looking for jobs, it is also the first place I check.

I like that the group is managed by librarians just like you and me, and who'd like to help others get a job. It is not only useful for job seekers, but organizations that need librarians can also find candidates here. There was also one time that I helped a school look for a librarian, and this group connected me to potential applicants.

While it is for job postings, the group has also grown into a community of librarians. Have you ever wondered who's behind it?

Simply Hired Librarian was an idea by Mr. Carl Joseph Burlat, RL. It started in 2016 as his way of helping his friends get jobs. From just 14 members when it began, it grew to over 3,000 members and it is helping a lot more librarians get jobs.

He is the Director of the Learning Resource Center of the Zamboanga City State Polytechnic College. He finished his Bachelor's degree from La Salle University, Ozamis City, last April 2014. He has also accomplished his MLIS degree last October 2017 from Saint Columban College, Pagadian City.

Let's get to know more about him:




Why and how did you become a librarian? 
As far as I could remember, I was still in high school when I decided I wanted to become a librarian since my mom is working in a library. But getting to the BLIS program wasn’t an easy one. It took me three schools before I settled with BLIS. Gladly, I finished it on time.

Can you share your present work in the library field? 
I’m in Zamboanga City right now, working as the Director of the Learning Resource Center of the Zamboanga City State Polytechnic College. I’ll soon be celebrating my 4th year in government service.

What makes librarianship special, unique, or different from other professions?
I guess we know a little knowledge of everything. I can’t think of any other thing aside from this.

Tell us about Simply Hired Librarian. 
When I got hired in the government service, I promised to help my friends lend a job so that all my friends will be in the government, too. So I think that was 2016 when I started the group. I started with barely 14 members, and now, I have 3,000+ organic people checking the group from time to time. Them getting their coveted jobs makes me genuinely happy.

Aside from librarianship, what else are your interests and hobbies?
I started traveling out of the country last 2018, and it has become a target to go to one new country/territory every year. I love interacting with strangers. I’m not into their cuisine but more into their prized attractions. I’m not into Instagrammable photography, so every time I travel, taking a bunch of pictures doesn’t give me any pressure.

And also, I love to read books, name all Adam Silvera books, and I’ll have a story about it.

Is there anything else you would like to share about librarianship?
We are in a fast-changing society. The only thing I can share about Philippine librarianship is that we need to keep ourselves abreast of the latest technologies so that we will not be left behind. Keep on innovating and keep on growing, both personally and professionally.




Thanks to Mr. Burlat for his time in answering these questions. I'm still looking for other librarians or people who work in the library field who can be featured in this blog. I'd like to interview librarians but this is also open to library work students, LIS teachers, library personnel, and para-professionals. Anyone, really, with an interest in books, literature, and libraries.

If you would like to be featured in this series or know someone, don't hesitate to drop a comment or message me on the Malditang Librarian Facebook page.