I don't know the way to San Jose

November 22, 2015 5:06 PM

Which library school would be the smartest choice for me, an employed Portlander in my thirties?

After years of trying to convince myself not to go to library school, I've decided to apply to a few distance programs. I'm having trouble deciding which, though -- most of them seem interchangeable from the outside, apart from cost and accreditation.

Emproria State's SLIM program is an obvious frontrunner, because there's a Portland outpost with live classes, and it sounds like it's really hooked into the local library scene. San Jose State's online program is much cheaper, though, and Tuscaloosa's is much cheaper even than that. Is there going to be a particular difference between the all-online programs? I was told the first time I rejected this idea that nobody cares about your school, only your experience, but that was five years ago and things may have changed.

I am not sure what I'd want to specialize in. I have a master's in English and a professional background working for court reporters and attorneys; several people close to me are programmers, so my path to learning to program might be shorter than some. I worked in a library as a teenager, but have only volunteer experience as an adult. Obviously I would step up the networking and volunteering if I decided to commit to this.

I really need advice here, but I'm not looking to be told not to go to library school. I've listened to every argument against it, and as a result I've spent all this time doing work for which I have limited aptitude or interest, losing self-confidence as I go. I'm already 32 and I want to try to pursue this before it's too late.

posted by thesmallmachine to Education (16 answers total)

You know the SLIM program requires weekend classes once a month, right? Kind of a pain, but also you get a lot of of the in person component.

I'm soon to be a SLIM graduate (not at Portland) and I know some people in the portland program if you want more info I'm sure they would talk to you.

When I went through I got a free trip to Serbia paid by ESU so there is that....
posted by aetg at 5:09 PM on November 22, 2015

I can't tell you the difference between the programs, but I attended SJSU's program for a semester and enjoyed the time I spent and felt like I got a lot out of it. Based on my single semester, I'd recommend the program.

I left the program after talking to some local librarians about the job market, but that's neither here nor there for you.
posted by cnc at 5:17 PM on November 22, 2015

I am an employed librarian and getting a job is really really really fucking hard, I am not gonna lie. I graduated in 2006, a time of relative abundance, and applied to 100 entry-level academic librarian jobs in any discipline in any state in the US (I know because my boss was gone for 50 work days and I did 2 apps/day with his blessing) and got 5 interviews. Nowadays there are not even 100 jobs of this type available in the US. You are also at 2 other disadvantages over just the general "let's not replace anyone who retires" concept because you're in Portland, a place People Want To Move that is relatively small, and there is a library school there: small market and oversupply. Cost should be a major factor in your decisions unless you are independently wealthy.

So my advice is to decide if you want a specific library job or whether you need to stay in Portland. If it's the former, pick the job and pursue it doggedly. Pick the school that will let you: Network in school with students and faculty who want to do the same stuff you do or who have done it or currently do it, join associations, put in paper abstracts for conferences, do internships in that field, and have an alumni network doing what you want so that after graduation, you can find a job. You must be willing to move anywhere for your job to do this route. If it's the latter, you should find a school that lets you network the hell out of Portland and areas that are within your radius, and be willing to do any job related to libraries afterward.
posted by holyrood at 5:44 PM on November 22, 2015

One of my Library Assistants is currently enrolled in San Jose's program and he really likes it. We works full time at a retail job, part time at my library, and still has enough time to complete his coursework, so I think there's a lot of flexibility built in there.

Biggest thing, though, is work experience and distance programs are not a huge help there. If you're volunteering in libraries, that's great, but do what you can to step things up. It will make a huge difference when you start looking for work after graduation. If your local program can hook you up with work, then go for them in a heartbeat.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 5:46 PM on November 22, 2015

A friend of mine got her MLIS online through SJSU while working part or full-time throughout. She enjoyed the program and found employment in California, although it took a few years to find a full-time position after completing her degree.

As mentioned above, it's a difficult field to find a job right now. However, if you can get your degree while working so you don't accrue any debt and it's your dream, I don't see any downsides at all! She did a few internships and volunteered at brick-and-mortar libraries so she got in-person experience and contacts, too, which are key.
posted by smorgasbord at 5:58 PM on November 22, 2015

I'm a student in the library program at University of Washington right now, and about half of my cohort is doing the program online (I'm not). I know much less about the online side of the program, but it seems like they make a lot of effort to engage online students in professional development opportunities from a distance. Info sessions, panel discussions, etc. are often broadcast live online or recorded and posted later. I think it would be worth looking into the extent to which the other schools you're considering do similar things. Hopefully they are providing not just online courses, but also mentorship and professional development.

The online students in my program came to campus during orientation, and it seemed like there were a fair number from Portland. So if you want the flexibility of an online program as well a chance to connect with other local students, you might look into UW's program.
posted by thrungva at 6:00 PM on November 22, 2015

I don't know how it compares to SJSU, but have you looked at UW-Milwaukee? I went to Illinois but ended up taking some classes through UWM's online program. I liked the classes, and at least back then, their online tuition was the same for in- and out-of-state so it was a good deal.
posted by goodbyewaffles at 6:01 PM on November 22, 2015

I know you didn't ask about it ... BUT a couple people I know went to (and liked) Buffalo, and it has an online option for its MS.
posted by trillian at 7:03 PM on November 22, 2015

Oh hello, I am currently enrolled in a professional information science program (digital archives) at SJSU online and I love it. The courses are relevant and timely and reasonably priced and, as someone who already has an MLS degree and has worked in an allied field for 17 years, I will say that the program is value for money. This is a competitive field and the degree is just your foot in the door; making connections and getting practical experience in the field are every bit as important, if not more important, than where you take your classes.
posted by Otter_Handler at 7:12 PM on November 22, 2015

Apparently UA's program has a reputation in the South for being light on increasingly-important matters of digital librarianship, but that may not matter in Portland. The online degree itself seems to make no difference around here.

You will have to make at least one physical trip to Tuscaloosa for orientation, which you might consider in your financial calculations.
posted by hollyholly at 7:30 PM on November 22, 2015

Thanks, everybody! This is all very helpful.
posted by thesmallmachine at 7:36 PM on November 22, 2015

Have you considered becoming a law librarian? You seem to have the background.

If that interests you then figure out which library schools offer classes in that.
posted by mareli at 6:52 AM on November 23, 2015

I want to emphatically second holyrood's advice. If you want a library job, you must be prepared to move to get one. Sure, maybe you'll get lucky, but with a library school in your city, there are hundreds of other students and recent grads employing that "I hope I'll be the one to land the local job" strategy. If you already work at a library, that's a good thing. Otherwise, spend your time in library school acquiring skills and experiences that will differentiate your resume from the hundreds of library school students who have a liberal arts undergrad and limited library-relevant work experience.

I have an MLS from Syracuse and moved to North Carolina to get a job after school (and there are two library schools in NC, one of them is top ranked). Start the job search, at the latest, mid way through your second year. Network your ass off. There are never enough librarians with real technology skills so if you have web development skills that's a good thing.

Good luck!
posted by rachelpapers at 7:12 AM on November 23, 2015

I'm currently attending the Buffalo program online only and am pretty happy with it from a perspective of "I want this degree and I need to take these classes." However, I don't necessarily feel like I'm learning as much as I've hoped. I'm on my sixth class currently - some have been very heavy workload, some not so much - two I've really loved and learned a lot, and the rest are just sort of there. But I really just want to get the degree, so for my purposes it's good.

Feel free to PM me with specific questions if you are considering Buffalo!
posted by firei at 8:13 AM on November 23, 2015

I was told the first time I rejected this idea that nobody cares about your school, only your experience, but that was five years ago and things may have changed.

Nope, that is mostly true unless you are looking for high status jobs like really good publics or academics. The big deals remain the same, imo

- go into as little debt as possible, jobs tend not to pay well
- get as much work experience as you can now and while being in school to find ways to differentiate yourself from all the other job applicants
- unless you have unique talents, you will probably have to move for your first library job

THAT said, systems librarians are in heavier demand than librarians without programing experience so that might be a path for you. Join your local library association NOW and go to some meetups and.or attend some local professional stuff they're doing (conferences, talks) and get a feel for what people are doing, what they care about. I have a friend in Portland who is a YA Coordinator at Multnomah County system and would be happy to connect the two of you if you want someone local to talk to about realistic options (email is in profile).

I went to UW in Seattle and thought it was an amazing program and at the time in-state tuition was pretty low-cost, Don't know if this is a longer range options for you (moving). I liked the Tuscaloosa program when I visited it, they have a lot of book arts specialties but it seems like you might want somewhere with a more IT focus.
posted by jessamyn at 12:14 PM on November 23, 2015

I went to UW in Seattle and thought it was an amazing program and at the time in-state tuition was pretty low-cost

The MLIS program at UW is now a fee-based program (no direct support from the state of Washington), so it's not as cheap for in-state residents and there's no difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition.
posted by thrungva at 4:53 PM on November 23, 2015