Librarians/anyone with MLS?

[castleview]

Hi There,

I've been contemplating a Masters in Library Science for some time and would like to get any thoughts from those who have done this and/or worked in any school, public or private libraries. My Bachelors degree is in English (way back in 1992) and I did some teaching after college...but I always had a love for libraries. It would be a while before I could put this (very loose) plan in action since I have three kids under six.

I'm looking for any info/advice regarding the application process, interning, work experience, whatever you got. I live in CT which has only one program (if I'm correct), so I know it is competetive. If you have any good ideas, etc. for me, please let me know. Thanks!

 

[jedi_librarian]

Hi There,

I've been contemplating a Masters in Library Science for some time and would like to get any thoughts from those who have done this and/or worked in any school, public or private libraries. My Bachelors degree is in English (way back in 1992) and I did some teaching after college...but I always had a love for libraries. It would be a while before I could put this (very loose) plan in action since I have three kids under six.

I'm looking for any info/advice regarding the application process, interning, work experience, whatever you got. I live in CT which has only one program (if I'm correct), so I know it is competetive. If you have any good ideas, etc. for me, please let me know. Thanks!

Hi, there!!

First of all, there's another thread that covered this awhile back which may have very useful info for you:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=997993

I'm a public librarian in the Chicago suburbs. My background is in Elementary Education. There really is no prerequisite for a Bachelor's background unless you want to go into corporate or special libraries (and sometimes Academic libraries require a double master's degree). But an English background, in my opinion, is a perfect background for librarianship

Regarding library school programs - yes, there are only a handful out there, but just because your state only has one program it doesn't mean you can't "branch out". In Illinois, there are 2 library school programs (one upstate, one downstate), yet a lot of my friends are getting their degrees online through University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee because it's the same cost or even less. Online MLS programs are growing and seem to be the trend now.

Regarding experience, the easiest way to get your "foot" in the door is to try to get a part time job at a library as an assistant (or para-professional). This way you gain experience, and you have resources available to you when you're in library school (it helps to be working in a library while you're in school, IMO).

The American Library Association offers scholarships and many state library associations offer them, too.
Here's a link to state scholarships for CT:
http://cla.uconn.edu/awards/awrdlist.html
and the ALA:
http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=scholarships

The American Library Association also has good info on education and careers in librarianship. But sometimes the best advice comes from those in the field. Check out that link I placed above of the other library thread discussion from Jan. and hopefully some more librarians will check in and offer more advice. (There's a librarian presence on the DIS boards!!)

Good luck and feel free to ask me any questions you may have. You can PM me too! I absolutely love what I do!

 

[disney junky]

Don't know where you are from, but there are a couple on-line programs in Pennsylvania. One is through Mansfield University. Fully accredited. Many librarians are retiring from schools and there aren't many to replace them here in PA.
Here is the link:
http://www.mansfield.edu/~graduate/SchoolLibrary.htm

 

[castleview]

Thanks so much ladies! I've been looking into this all day with your help. I was telling my sister about all the helpful links you two gave me and she said "that's so librarian of them".