(Closed) Library science majors

• applesandspice
• 4 years ago

• Wedding: July 2017

I have an MLIS.  I enjoyed my master’s course work; I knew I wanted to work in academic libraries so I took a wide range of cataloging, reference, and collection development courses.

Edited to add: What I do now.  I’ve had my degree for five years now.  I don’t call myself a librarian, because it’s not in my title. Currently I’m in charge of access services in an academic law library for a large university.  To be a librarian in my library you do need a JD, which I do not have or plan to get.  I really enjoy my job, it’s probably the most public facing of the positions in my library.  If you have a problem, or need something, you’re coming to see me. I really like working with the law students and our faculty.  I also like being a jack of all trades, and being in a smaller library that’s apart of a huge system lets me do this. There is stress that comes with my position, but the good out weighs the bad. 

I’m not sure what area you are looking to work, but my advice is to gain as much experience as you can before finishing your degree.  Volunteer, intern, if you’re able – work in a library.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 6 months ago by  applesandspice.

• thelibrarylady
• 4 years ago

• Wedding: September 2016

I finished my MLIS two years ago. I’m the Director at a small public library now. I really like the work. I do mostly collection development, copyright, and policy stuff in addition to management duties. I hate cataloguing and am terrible at it, although I find that most cataloguers tend to be library techs, and they’re very skilled at it. I also find the skills incredibly helpful in everyday life. Librarians are like the gunslingers of the Wild West, we can Google faster and better than anybody. The only major downside to the position is that working in a public library often requires you to be almost a social worker sometimes, and I don’t feel at all equipped to do it, nor do I really want to. Also, if you work at the circulation or reference desk, you’re going to get sick – a lot. Now that  I’m in a back office, I never get sick, but my front line staff is always sick.

• applesandspice
• 4 years ago

• Wedding: July 2017

p2010:  That’s great!  Having the experience beyond a practicum and course work will make your resume a lot stronger.  

I’m not 100% on this, but private schools k-12 may require a teaching certificate on top of the library degree.  Something to look into if that’s what you would like to do.  The academic world can get a little competitive, or you might need to be willing to move (I moved for a job), but I’ve found the work rewarding and is a good fit for me personally. 

Not sure how close you are to finishing, but hang in there when applying to jobs.  I can only speak to my experience applying to university and college librarian positions, know that search commitees get hundreds of applications to librarian positions, so don’t let it get you down. Apply, apply, apply.

• applesandspice
• 4 years ago

• Wedding: July 2017

p2010:  By political libraries to do you mean government libraries?

• turtle9748
• 4 years ago

• Wedding: July 2014

Not a library science person… but my mom and brother both are. My mother just retired from our public library where she was head of acquisitions. My brother does donor/prospect research for a large university foundation. 

• lovechocolate
• 4 years ago

• Wedding: June 2014

I have master in library and information science with school library certification. I’ve worked in a public library (as a teen – I was an aide), in an academic archives/library (in college), and now I’m a school librarian.

I love it. Most days I teach 5 out of 7 periods. I like to make sure I’m addressing the needs of teachers by supplimenting them with various lessons and activities in the library. I also touch on topics such as formal/informal skills related to reading, research, production, use of information, and instructional technologies we have available. 

I love the politcal archive I worked at during college and I do hope to go back and obtain a certificate in archives in the future. I just like very different aspects – presidental library would be amazing! Good luck!

• thelibrarylady
• 4 years ago

• Wedding: September 2016

I think you need to research this a lot more…

• thelibrarylady
• 3 years ago

• Wedding: September 2016

No idea, but there’s a such thing as grammar.