I am graduating in May with a Master's in library science, and I want to work in a public library. Preferably a public library not in the southeast; I like the immediate area, but the competition is very fierce, and I'm not so fond of most of the rest of the region. Most public libraries in the rest of the country can't afford to fly me out for an interview.

Now one wants me to fly out for an interview; it'll put me back $500, and I could swing it, barely. It seems like a lot to gamble--but it also seems like my one chance of finding a job in an area I really like. (Yeah, I do know that I can't be super picky when it comes to my first job). What to do?

The some feedback from Ask Metafilter.