This study identifies developments relevant to new academic librarians' perceptions of librarianship. Through use of the long interview and document analysis, the researchers developed a grounded theory consisting of six categories that weigh upon novice librarians' perceptions of the profession: (1) deciding upon a career, (2) experiencing graduate school, (3) continuing education, (4) defining the work, (5) evaluating the work, and (6) (re)imagining the future. The categories are analyzed to theorize how perceptions shift from the decision to pursue a new career through the first few years of professional work, and these processes' educational implications are considered. (Contains 36 notes, 1 table and 1 figure.)