I’m just shouting it from the rooftops basically. This morning I officially registered for four sections toward my first phase toward my ultimate goal of being a legal librarian! I’m currently in the Michigan reconnect program and also in a separate program that will reset my debt if I get an associates. I will point out that I have done every ounce of research into library programs before going into this so I’m not looking for cynical view points. I’ve done hours and hours of looking into this path and know what it does and doesn’t require and where I go from my associates.

As a co-editor of this peer-reviewed, open access journal for librarians and MLIS students, I invite you all to read the first issue of Humanities Methods in Librarianship (https://cuny.manifoldapp.org/journals/hml/).

I am looking to go to unc Greensboro for spring 2028 with a concentration in school media. Their website says 95% of graduates find jobs prior to graduation-is this stat the reality?

I don’t want to spend time and money on a degree that I may or may not get a job for. Please tell me your experience…I just don’t want to make the mistake. I am considering this or school counseling as both interest me.

Hi everyone!

I’m a relatively new Library Assistant II (working on getting my masters in library science soon) working in the Research & Instruction department at an academic library, and I wanted to get some perspective from people who have worked in similar positions.

I’ve been in this role for about two months now, and one thing that’s been really surprising to me is just how much downtime I have. Some days, I genuinely struggle to find enough work to keep myself occupied throughout an eight-hour shift.
My responsibilities include staffing the research desk, helping with reference questions and chat services, assisting librarians with projects, working on LibGuides and instructional materials, and various other departmental tasks. I really enjoy the work when I have something to do, especially the research and instructional side of things, but there are stretches when there just isn’t much happening.
I’ve tried to be proactive about asking for additional projects and finding ways to contribute, but I also don’t want to constantly bother my colleagues asking for something to do. I understand that reference services are largely dependent on patron demand, and that academic libraries probably have slower periods throughout the semester.

I guess I’m just struggling with the adjustment. I recently graduated from college, and this is my first full-time position in an academic library. I’m used to having a fairly constant workload, so sitting at a desk with very little to do makes me feel like I’m somehow not doing my job, even when I’ve completed everything assigned to me.
For those of you who work or have worked in academic libraries, especially in Research & Instruction:
\-Is this amount of downtime fairly typical for library assistants?
\-Does the workload fluctuate significantly throughout the academic year?
\-How much independent work are library assistants generally expected to find for themselves?
What do you usually do during particularly slow periods?

I’m genuinely interested in hearing other people’s experiences! I really like working in an academic library, and I’m hoping to better understand what a normal workload looks like in this environment.

It's been asked a gajillion times but I've read every thread and want to source some more experiences about these particular schools. I'm applying for my masters of information and interested in primarily libraries and archives. I'm torn between the three for different reasons. McGill would be my top choice due to cost of living and my love of the city but my lack of French and the no co-op scares me. Please share any advice or opinions! Thank u!

I've worked as a public librarian in the Chicago suburbs for 3.5 years. I may transition to another career field. I am looking into program coordinator positions for nonprofits. Did you ever switch careers from libraries to something else? If so, what was it?

What are some good entry level roles to look out for/apply for for someone potentially pursuing a career as a law librarian? I'm looking for job titles/descriptions or just certain skills I should look to gain before actually going to grad school and pursuing it seriously. Not sure if working in a regular library when wanting to pursue law librarianship would be the most beneficial.

Side note: please dont mention getting a JD. That is simply not an option for me financially and I know of many law librarians who don't have one so I'm looking for alternative paths to pursue this route!

Hello, can you easily access the public library in South caloocan? like. is there a need to contact them. first before going there?. or they give library cards? and how many hours can we stay?. thankyou!

Worth it ba mag-take ng Master in Library and Information Science (MLIS)?

Hello! I’m a Licensed Professional Teacher, pero hindi ako currently practicing as a teacher. I’m currently working in a school as a Records Officer, and I also have around 3 years of experience in secretariat work.

Lately, I’m considering taking MLIS because I enjoy reading, organizing, and working with records and documents. I also enjoy interacting with clients, and I can see myself building a long-term career in the academe.

I’d like to ask those who are currently taking MLIS or are already working in the field:

📌 Worth it ba ang MLIS in terms of career opportunities and salary potential?

📌 With my background and work experience, do you think MLIS would be a good investment for my career?

📌 Aside from becoming a librarian, what other career opportunities can I pursue with this degree?

📌 If you were in my position, would you pursue MLIS or consider another master’s degree that’s more aligned with records management and academic administration?

I’d appreciate your honest opinions and advice, especially from those who have experience in the field. I want to make an informed decision before investing my time and money in graduate school.

Thank you so much! ❤️

Hi All!

I recently graduated with an MLIS and am applying for jobs.

I have no formal library experience, but I do currently work in a used and antique bookstore that has an academic focus to it. I work on shelving, acquisitions/collection management, and the customer service side of things.

If you are/were on a library hiring committee, do you consider this close enough to library work to say that I have library experience. I know bookshops are not quite libraries, but I think this job is more library-adjacent than working at a big book retailer.

Any thoughts welcome! Thank you!

Hello! 👋
I will be starting my MLIS at Western University next Fall (2027) and I was curious to see what people have to say about this program. I have researched it a lot and talked to advisors from the faculty, and I really like the classes and the co-op program! I wonder what would be the best course load for each term and whether people advise to finish it as soon as possible or get the most out of it and get engaged in as many activities as possible. I am very excited about this and would like to make connections and participate in things that are going on in the faculty and get to know people. I would like to pursue co-op program and also work part time while studying, hopefully at the campus libraries or archives. As a career goal, I would like to try and work at the archives, special collections, academic libraries, or historic associations and preservations. What courses would you advise to take for that direction?

Additionally, for those who attended this program, did you apply to any scholarships or awards and have you had any success? It seems as though there’s limited amount of awards offered, so I wonder if there’s more external scholarships available for it!

Thank you so much! Really appreciate it ☺️🌷

I work in a curatorial department in an art museum, and I've been seriously thinking about getting an MLIS after I leave this position and moving into academic or special libraries. I love my department and subject area but I'm not sold on a PhD, and I know it's one of those things you have to love for it to be worth it. Though I work in art now, my focus in school was always material culture and illuminated manuscripts. I think I would really like to work in special collections with the manuscripts of ephemera of my subject area, instead of art.

I know these curator/librarian jobs do exist, so I'm wondering if an MA and MLIS are really enough to eventually land a position. I really want to be in New York for an MLIS since that's where the best collections of my subject area are, so if anyone has specific recommendations or advice for programs there please share those! I'm just worried about going into this blind and not setting myself up for success.

I would also love to know about how best to keep costs down for a program beyond just going to the cheapest one. I'm aware of the ALA scholarships, but it's hard to tell if assistantships and things cover a significant amount of tuition.

Hi all,

I'm thinking of adding Pratt to my small list of schools I'm applying to in December. It's my wildcard because of how expensive it is. I had a few questions if anyone has gone or been accepted!

1. What was your GPA when you applied?

2. I'm interested in the dual program which is MLIS/MA (Information Science and Art History) Has anyone done this, if so, what was the program like?

Thanks!

I find myself saying this over and over when responding to posts in this forum, mostly to those of you who are having a hard time getting a job in a library, which I think represents a plurality of posts in this forum.

The odds are stacked against any recent MLIS grad, anyone looking to re-enter the field after a period of time off, and anyone looking for a library assistant/clerk job. That's the simple math of our field: For whatever reason - vocational awe; the perception of libraries being higher-status employers; candidates' misperceptions of what library work is really like; and (IMO) above all the ALA's criminally lax approach to accreditation which has resulted in too many programs, too many admitted students, and too many graduates - there are many more people who want a job in a library than there are available jobs.

Most of you who are struggling to find work either didn't do your homework on the labor market beforehand, or if you did, you convinced yourself that you were going to somehow beat the odds, and now the bill is coming due.

There's at least one thing every prospective and current MLIS student, and every graduate who is trying to land a library job, needs to be doing that most of you haven't done is to have a backup plan: A rough idea of what else besides library work that you could do professionally with your skills in case you don't win the lottery and get the job you're looking for. This needs to be something that is realistic given your life constraints - in particular, your geographical constraints (i.e. a job that's available in your commuting area, if you can't relocate). You need a second version of your cover letter and resume that communicates to non-library employers skills that they recognize and understand - NOT reference, cataloging, reader's advisory, youth services, or anything else library-specific. Non-library employers don't know what any of that means and they don't care. It's your job to demonstrate to them that you meet their requirements using their language, not library-speak.

This is going to look different for each of you based on your educational background, skills, work experience, and location. If you're looking to be spoon-fed a list of options for your plan B, I'm not going to be able to provide that for you. I always recommend O*NET as a great source of data for outlook and pay for different professions: https://www.onetonline.org/. What i can tell you is that there are many MLIS holders across the US who have decently-paid, more-or-less fulfilling careers outside libraries. You can too.

Lastly, i see a lot of AI nihilism on reddit, by which i mean "AI is going to take everyone's jobs anyway so all careers are equally f***ed and it doesn't matter what i go to school for." This attitude may make you feel better about justifying your misguided life choices but it is not going to be a recipe for a good career outcome for you.

I'm a high-schooler who's not quite of the age yet to start applying to colleges, but is looking for options. For a very long time I thought that I'd be doing some kind of art or animation major, but the way things are going for and for the industry, that doesn't seem very feasible for stability. I'm also a writer, and go to a specialized high school for literary arts. I love all media and would love to just be around it. I've realized that I think I'd like to have a job that that doesn't appear, at least from what I can see, to be mostly freelance work and threatened by AI. I know that the Library Science degree covers plenty of work in data and archiving, but I do just want, if possible, to be a classic ol' librarian, either in a public library or in a school. I don't care about pay that much, just because, (at least where I am right now as an older teenager), I am aro/ace and don't want a family, content with living alone in an apartment for the rest of my life with room in the budget for a couple little treats now and then. What kind of skills are good to have if you want this degree? Is there much time for personal projects/endeavors outside of work for library and archiving jobs? What colleges are good for this or are just good in general that offer good programs for Library science. Also share any thoughts you have about the career or degree you have, positive or negative. Still trying to figure this whole 'future' thing out lol.

I'm considering Clayton State University's Master of Archival Studies program, but I'm unsure whether it's worth pursuing since it isn't ALA-accredited. For those working in archives, libraries, or museums, how much does ALA accreditation matter when applying for jobs, and could graduating from a non-accredited program limit my career opportunities?

So I’ve been wanting to get my masters for a long time now and now that I’m not working, I figured that would be the best time. I’m not sure which way to go.

I have a lot of experience working in public libraries. I’ve shadowed academic and medical librarians, but I’m having a hard time getting someone to let me shadow a law librarian.

So can you tell me about what you do?

As the first person in my family to go to college, I did not know what I was doing at all, thought going to college ASAP right out of high school was the "right thing to do", and did not do any research as to what to do or where to go that would be the most financially responsible or even smart career-wise. I pursued a B.S. degree in Psychology, obtained art class credits to pursue a M.S. in Art Therapy, but every attempt to finish a Masters fell through for various reasons (mainly due to the pandemic). Ended up starting work in the Psych field as a case manager, cared about what I was doing but also hated it, very stressful, realized this kind of work isn't for me long term health-wise. Re-assessed my interests/joys and realized I enjoy jobs that are more active, solitary, curiosity centered, etc. My favorite job was working at a library as a Page when I as younger, love natural history, books, museums, libraries, nature, fossils, etc. Thinking, okay, I should work at a library or museum of some kind. Tried getting jobs at libraries and museums and none will hire me, so I start pursuing a M.S. in Library Science & Info Tech with an emphasis in Archives thinking this will help me look more acceptable. Started the program and some of it was very interesting, but a lot of it was about programming/code and computer work. Spoke with an archivist, peers, professors, and advisor about their careers and education and realized this is way more computer and tech centered than I realized and not at all what I was wanting. This is fine otherwise and I don't hate having to use tech or computers, but I don't want it to be a huge part of my life like it has been. I've spoken with more people about this and this seems to be across the board and that I'm pursuing the wrong field. Anyone who works at museums or in natural science, with nature, fossils, etc, let me know what education you received. To I have to go back to school, where do I start job-wise? What kind of career do I need to pursue now? What am I actually looking for? I am lost and need some direction.

Hi everyone!

I’m a student at the University of Maryland majoring in Information Science and looking for a professional working in an information related field to interview for a class assignment.

I’m hoping to speak with someone working in a field such as:

• Cybersecurity or information security

• Digital forensics

• IT or systems administration

• Data analysis or information management

• UX design or another information-related field

The interview is for one of my classes and would involve me asking questions about your career, daily responsibilities, important skills, educational background, and advice for students entering the field.

The Interview can be conducted via phone call or zoom. I’m happy to work around your schedule, and it shouldn’t take very long.

If you’re a professional with at least 1–2 years of experience in your field, or know someone who might be willing to participate, please send me a message! I’d really appreciate the help.