- Jun 8, 2001
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Is anyone here a librarian or working towards their degree? I need to talk to some to help figure out my carreer plans.
Any Librarians around?
- Thread starter SarcasticDwarf
- Start date
todpod
Golden Member
- Nov 10, 2001
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I consider for a while getting my MLS, but decided against it. Make sure you look into schools that are accredited by the ALA, because you'll a hard time getting a job if its not.
The school I was considering had a couple of different tracks that you could take, and the were in need of students, so it wouldn't have been that hard to get into. If you had a 3.0 or better no GRE.
The school I was considering had a couple of different tracks that you could take, and the were in need of students, so it wouldn't have been that hard to get into. If you had a 3.0 or better no GRE.
- Jun 8, 2001
- 9,574
- 2
- 76
Right now I am finishing up my soph year of college. Almost all of my classes up until this point have been general ed. I would transfer to the University of Wisconsin - Madison, which does have an ALA accredited master's program. My biggest problem is paying for it. I can afford to get a bachelors, but don't know if I can afford a masters. I am wondering if there are a lot of jobs out there for librarians that would let you work on your masters (even if they don't provide tuition assistence) while working there full time.
Without an MLS you might become a library assistant or something, but you won't be able to actually run the library.
- Jun 8, 2001
- 9,574
- 2
- 76
todpod
Golden Member
- Nov 10, 2001
- 1,275
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Yes a Masters the starting point, a BS will get you no where.
The thing to look for is Graduate Assistantships and the like. I know here they have such things but only cover 1/2 of tution I think. Clarion U. A bigger school like U of W should be able to hook you up. Their web site also should have most of that info.
At Clarion you can complete your masters in a year if you want, going summers.
What you could do is volenteer(sp i can't spell tonight) at a library and if the have a position open they might pay for your masters. If you are good with computers this might be a good angle.
I also know clarion has many online courses, but I don't know if you can complete the degree online.
- Jun 8, 2001
- 9,574
- 2
- 76
Unfortunately, my only option is Wisconsin schools, and the only one that does a master's is Madison, which is TWICE as much as I am paying now. Argh
They also have a crappy website that is impossible to navigate....
They also have a crappy website that is impossible to navigate....
- Jun 8, 2001
- 9,574
- 2
- 76
You know that you couldn't pick a lower paying job that requires a masters degree, right?
Can't you get a business degree instead? I know several MLS's, some with 20+ years as library directors, and not a one of them makes over $60k...
Money's not everything, so I would be sure I was doing it for love, 'cause you sure won't be doing it for the money.
Can't you get a business degree instead? I know several MLS's, some with 20+ years as library directors, and not a one of them makes over $60k...
Money's not everything, so I would be sure I was doing it for love, 'cause you sure won't be doing it for the money.
- Jun 8, 2001
- 9,574
- 2
- 76
- Jun 8, 2001
- 9,574
- 2
- 76
Sure! But I don't hink you could afford my interest rate!
However, you can borrow up to $10,000/year on an unsubsidized Stafford loan if you are in a graduate or professional program at least half time. You aren't even required to demonstrate need, this type of student loan is available to anyone. And if you can demonstrate need, you can borrow up to $8,500/year on a subsidized Stafford loan. The combined total of subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans can't exceed your school's "official" cost of attendance. There are also Perkins loans available if you qualify and apply before funds run out for the year.
There are also grants and scholarships you might be eligible for.
If you want it, you can make it happen!
MLS degree holder right here. 
And my undergraduate is in history on top of that (us liberal arts majors have to stick together on this CS and engineering dominated board.) And I've got a good job and everything.
Originally I was going to double major (with another bachelors degree in telecommunications - I originally wanted to work in media research as my university has one of the best programs in the country in that area) but I decided just to minor in that program instead. I knew I was going to go on and get a post-grad degree anyway. I was considering law school, but my heart just wasn't in that. I also considered becoming a history professor, but I didn't have enough foreign language skills for my particular concentration areas. I knew I loved doing research, but I just didn't know how to translate that into a professional career.
Then I heard about our university's MLS program via my summer internships at a major utility company. In addition to their own corporate library (which was very plush and maintained by some well paid people with MLS degrees) they also used additional freelancers for competitive intelligence reports and other ad-hoc research duties. It might not interest other people, but that sounded like a pretty sweet gig to me personally. I figured if an MLS degree could help me angle my way into that profession I'd give it a shot. Most of the courses catered toward more traditional libararianship areas, but I tried to take anything related to research methodology, commercial research, databases, records management, or law. I also made sure I had internships in corporations, not traditional libraries.
The degree paid off immediately. I was offered a job as a librarian with a major law firm upon my graduation, but had to turn that down as I was also in the running for a high paying job for a more sales-oriented position at a major database supplier looking for MLS students with higher tech skills (which I brought to the table from my own personal interests/hobbies.) I had to walk away from the latter job as well as I was getting married and discovered that the job would require traveling all over the US and Europe about 9 months out of the year (much more than originally anticipated.)
In the end, I was able to bring my original goal (media research) back into play when I landed a marketing position with a major ad agency just a couple months later. I was able to basically take my research skills and apply them in a marketing capacity. To be sure, it was an interesting interview process as I had strong credentials, but didn't have the usual MBA, Marketing degree background that most of the other candidates had. But the people at the agency were able to see that I had the exact skills they were looking for but brought a unique angle to the table. They even use it as a selling point during pitches as everybody and their brother has an MBA, but everybody thinks its so cool that I have a masters in something seemingly totally unreleated yet make it fit perfectly in a business environment.
Sorry for the long story, but I did have to chime in that there ARE opportunities to go beyond the traditional routes with an MLS degree and actually make money (I'm by no means wealthy, but live a comfortable life, love my job and DO have the opportunity to make quite a bit more through advancement.) I don't think I could ever personally go back and work in a regular library setting. And with the experience I've built up in this field now I don't think I'd need to (a few years of professional working experience far outweighs any degree program in most business fields.) But if it's what you love then by all means pursue it.
I WOULD say that if you want to keep your options open for some possibly higher paying MLS-related positions that you might want to make sure you take a diverse range of courses outside the traditional librarianship couses during your studies. And if you already have extensive working experience in traditional libaries maybe branch out and try an internship in a corporate or law library. In this field (and many others) it seemed like diversity was key - most employers don't want somebody only trained/skilled in one core area. I also know a few people with MLS degree who have gone on to careers in records management and all of those people make a very comfortable living for themselves.
And my undergraduate is in history on top of that (us liberal arts majors have to stick together on this CS and engineering dominated board.) And I've got a good job and everything. Originally I was going to double major (with another bachelors degree in telecommunications - I originally wanted to work in media research as my university has one of the best programs in the country in that area) but I decided just to minor in that program instead. I knew I was going to go on and get a post-grad degree anyway. I was considering law school, but my heart just wasn't in that. I also considered becoming a history professor, but I didn't have enough foreign language skills for my particular concentration areas. I knew I loved doing research, but I just didn't know how to translate that into a professional career.
Then I heard about our university's MLS program via my summer internships at a major utility company. In addition to their own corporate library (which was very plush and maintained by some well paid people with MLS degrees) they also used additional freelancers for competitive intelligence reports and other ad-hoc research duties. It might not interest other people, but that sounded like a pretty sweet gig to me personally. I figured if an MLS degree could help me angle my way into that profession I'd give it a shot. Most of the courses catered toward more traditional libararianship areas, but I tried to take anything related to research methodology, commercial research, databases, records management, or law. I also made sure I had internships in corporations, not traditional libraries.
The degree paid off immediately. I was offered a job as a librarian with a major law firm upon my graduation, but had to turn that down as I was also in the running for a high paying job for a more sales-oriented position at a major database supplier looking for MLS students with higher tech skills (which I brought to the table from my own personal interests/hobbies.) I had to walk away from the latter job as well as I was getting married and discovered that the job would require traveling all over the US and Europe about 9 months out of the year (much more than originally anticipated.)
In the end, I was able to bring my original goal (media research) back into play when I landed a marketing position with a major ad agency just a couple months later. I was able to basically take my research skills and apply them in a marketing capacity. To be sure, it was an interesting interview process as I had strong credentials, but didn't have the usual MBA, Marketing degree background that most of the other candidates had. But the people at the agency were able to see that I had the exact skills they were looking for but brought a unique angle to the table. They even use it as a selling point during pitches as everybody and their brother has an MBA, but everybody thinks its so cool that I have a masters in something seemingly totally unreleated yet make it fit perfectly in a business environment.
Sorry for the long story, but I did have to chime in that there ARE opportunities to go beyond the traditional routes with an MLS degree and actually make money (I'm by no means wealthy, but live a comfortable life, love my job and DO have the opportunity to make quite a bit more through advancement.) I don't think I could ever personally go back and work in a regular library setting. And with the experience I've built up in this field now I don't think I'd need to (a few years of professional working experience far outweighs any degree program in most business fields.) But if it's what you love then by all means pursue it.
I WOULD say that if you want to keep your options open for some possibly higher paying MLS-related positions that you might want to make sure you take a diverse range of courses outside the traditional librarianship couses during your studies. And if you already have extensive working experience in traditional libaries maybe branch out and try an internship in a corporate or law library. In this field (and many others) it seemed like diversity was key - most employers don't want somebody only trained/skilled in one core area. I also know a few people with MLS degree who have gone on to careers in records management and all of those people make a very comfortable living for themselves.
My mom is an elementary school librarian, which makes me almost completely useless to help guide you, but I thought I would chime in anyway.
R
R
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