Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with MLIS

How can a mother with tiny kids make a living?

Anonymous — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 17:00:31 -0800

Brainstorm with me. I've got two babies, a failed life plan, no resume, and I need to build a future. What would you do? I'm a 31 year old woman with a degree in Writing. I have no work experience save my writing clips. I have a toddler and another baby on the way.

I anticipated raising my babies myself, and being a freelancer. I am those things, but my freelance work only totals about $300 a month. My husband is a good man. But he only earns about 1900 a month. I can't force him to earn more.

I have recently decided that my feminist friend was right all along. That despite how I was raised, 'it isn't a man's job to take care of me'. If I'm the one who wants more money, I'm going to have to be the one to find it. Though it is technically possible, it feels like defeat to sentence my family of four to live on 2200 a month. Our mortgage is near half that (one of the cheapest houses in town, I swear).

Please understand that this wasn't the plan. We were cautious people with a plan that didn't work. We wouldn't have started a family if we knew we'd hit the wall at $2000 annual over the poverty line.

I thought about getting an online MLIS (librarian's degree). Its up my ally. I have connections to three of the 10 libraries within commuting distance. The time to get the degree would allow me to see my kids to preschool before I started work. Median income is twice what my my husband makes. Maybe he could even stay home with the kids. But my husband, who works in the field, says it's a bad investment, that he knows people with that degree who have been looking for years for work.

Any low end job will be all but negated by the price of child-care. (No family lives nearby to watch the children).

I do not know what to do. I have two babies that I desperately wanted to raise myself. I feel hobbled.

What would you do if you were me? With these details? How would you take responsibility for your life?

Thank you for your time.

Applying to archival science programs: need advisement!!

etoyasu — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 13:18:05 -0800

I'm applying to several programs in library science and archives/public history in order to become an archivist, but with little experience in libraries or archives, what kind of preparation do I need? I was a teacher (uncertified) for a year at a small private school. In the end, I realized that teaching was not the best profession for me; moreover, I got laid off. Now I am unemployed, with no other experience besides my teaching job and the year or so of temp work and various clerical jobs. As a result, I've been competing with hundreds of similarly overeducated and under-qualified people for the same clerical and retail jobs.

One night, I was browsing through videos of different professions. When the video on "Archivists" showed up, my eyes lit up. Ever since I was young I've been fascinated with old documents and the like, so the archival profession seemed to be a good fit.

Since then, I've talked to several people in the profession, such as the archivist for my university and the director of the NYU program in Archives/Public History. Both assured me that people with a variety of backgrounds enter archival science programs, but I want to know from actual archivists on Ask MeFi what it's really like in the real world. Employment prospects, necessary preparation, etc. I don't want to graduate from library school with a load of debt and no job prospects because I don't have my master's in history.

Also, if you know anything about programs in the Northeast (Currently I'm applying to NYU, Simmons, and Pratt) I'd like to know your opinions of them.

MSIM program at the iSchool

outclassed — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 16:16:06 -0800

Hello, I am new to mefi but I thought this would be a great place to get some answers about the MSIM graduate program at the UW iSchool. Mainly what type of careers would be open and available to me if I graduated with this type of degree and is it really worth it or would I just be another IT guy lost in the crowd? I recently discovered that I have a particular knack for researching and obtaining as well as absorbing all sorts of information, my current job requires it sometimes - (real estate assets all over the country) but I want to learn more. I am also very interested in how people interact with information and the tools and technology that they use find it.
This had led me down the path of going back to graduate school for a MLIS, although I really do not have a desire to become a librarian. I now am extremely interested in the MSIM program but I am really not sure what direction to move from here. I do not live in Seattle and I would need to take the GRE. Is this just a trendy pseudo-degree or is there some substantial learning and development potential?
I was hoping the community could provide some insight as to what careers this program could lead to. I know there have been some posts on Information Brokers and the like but those jobs don't seem to exist. Any tips on what to do and where to go from here? Any jobs in the interim that might satisfy my thirst for this type of work?

Thanks

new MLIS student looking for some good reading!

ginagina — Fri, 29 May 2009 09:30:10 -0800

What are good blogs and resources for MLIS students? I just found out I was accepted to Drexel University for my MLIS with a nice fellowship. My background is mostly in law and psychology (looking to be a law librarian possibly), so I want to update my RSS reader with some new relevant blogs and resources.

Who should I be paying attention to? What websites should I live by? Anything else you can recommend to better prepare me?

Thanks I look forward to your responses!

Academic Librarian market

pahool — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 07:59:49 -0800

I am interested in academic librarianship. I am currently finishing my first year in an MLIS program. I already have my Master's Degree in computer science and am currently working as a computer programmer in an academic library in Southern California. I'm curious as to what the job market is like out there for academic librarians now. I know that many universities have experienced dramatic budget cuts recently and several (including ours) have instituted hiring freezes. I won't be graduating for another year or more but I'm curious as to what the climate is like out there now. Are there many openings? Also, given my programming background, what areas do you think it's best for me to focus on in my studies? What is going to make me hireable and look good on a resume?

call numbers or regulations

mustcatchmooseandsquirrel — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 05:12:30 -0800

Looking into graduate school. With my skill set and interests, would I be better off in urban planning or librarianship? I speak English and Russian fluently, and French on an intermediate level. I am really into details and planning/organizing things. I like to research one aspect of something extensively, resolve it, and then move on. On good days, I even enjoy explaining things to people. I like interacting with people and public speaking. I also like cooking, yoga, and biking but I don't think those are relevant.

If I went into urban planning, I would want to focus on environmental/sustainable issues or on (public/bicycle/pedestrian) transportation. (This school sounds appealing.)

If I went into librarianship, I do not know what I would want to focus on but I would want to ideally have a job that had some sort of international component so that all of my language knowledge won't just be for naught. (I know that the government sometimes hires....)

Either way, I do not want a job that forces me to be alone at a computer for 9 hours a day with no human interaction. Also, ideally, I want a job sometime after graduation. (Er, and I want to go to a grad school that offers some sort of funding and that will help me get internships during school?)

I have a degree in Slavic Language&Literature and have work experience in IT (help desk) and in teaching English (in France). I am going to take the GRE in early November, my undergrad GPA was around 3.15 (though, 3.85 in Junior/Senior hours).

First Shot at Full-Time Librarianship

Anonymous — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:08:51 -0800

Attention Librarians (preferably of the public variety): PLEASE help me not blow my best shot at my first full-time Adult Services gig! Long explanation inside, sorry... I love my current job as a reference librarian at a small public library (my first job out of library skool, been there two years now). Trouble is, it's only half time, and the job market in this town is super-tight. After searching for supplementary work elsewhere in vain, I reluctantly began to apply for full-time positions that would require me to relocate.

So I recently got a phone interview for a great opportunity in a much less-saturated job market few states over. The phone interview went swell, from my perspective, and I got a call back the next day for a second interview. They're paying my way to have me out, putting me up in a room, etc. The position sounds great-- it's right up my alley, I'm experienced in the right ways, pay is good and benefits are great, and the system, its director, and my prospective boss seem awesome. It's also much closer to my family. In short, I'd love to take the job.

I really want to shine in this face-to-face interview. I know the second interview tends to be more about demonstrating how you'd fit in with your prospective colleagues (right?), but as a half-timer I'm a little intimidated. While I'm confident in my abilities and my experience as far as they go right now, I want to show that I'm ready and able to hit the ground running full-time.

Also-- in addition to launching a full-time career, I'd also be moving into a differently-structured system. Current library system: about 25 small branches, with one big main library and a separate administrative entity. My branch is funded almost completely by our small town, is autonomously run by our branch's director, and our focus is on just the community our branch serves. Prospective library system: much smaller-- only three branches of roughly equal size, county funded, all three branch managers under the direct control of the system director, and the focus is on MLS librarians from each branch forming inter-library committees to get most of the system stuff done.

While I like the prospect of the different setup, I want to make sure I'm up to par on best practices, preparatory readings, etc. I do all the typical stuff now: read the literature, go to professional development workshops, go to conferences, etc.; I guess I just want to stand the best chance against the other two candidates, about whom I know nothing.

Finally, I'm not worried about the collegiality piece during the interview; I consistently get praise from employers that I'm engaging, respectful, and diplomatic in my relations at work. I'm really looking for the rest of the puzzle, some "read this!" or "here's what helped me!" tidbits.

So career public librarians: what can you tell me? I have about a week to put my best foot forward, so thanks for any advice in advance!

What's so bad about being a librarian?

Rock Steady — Mon, 07 May 2007 09:06:09 -0800

Librarians -- rain on my parade! What didn't they tell you in school? What are the worst parts of your job? What do you regret about your schooling/early career? So I have decided to go back to school to get an MLIS degree (at Simmons), and while I am completely excited about it and I am committed to going, I suspect that the large group of librarians here on AskMe can open my eyes to some of the pitfalls of the profession, with an eye towards avoiding them, if possible. I have seen the obvious questions here about careers in Library Science, but if you know of any that elude the site's search function, I'd be happy for pointers to them.

Tell me about MLIS programs in the US!

GilloD — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 08:08:48 -0800

MLIS Filter!: I'm thinking about heading back to school to snag an MLIS. However, reviews of programs seem to be far and few between. Tell me about your MLIS. Outside of a few standouts (Chapel Hill and Rutgers come to mind), it seems to be awfully hard to find any comprehensive review of MLIS programs. I was hoping some Mefi-ites with MLIS experience could suggest some programs, warn me about the pitfalls and help me on my way.

I'm trying to avoid Rutgers (Too much time in NJ already) or someplace way out the in the middle of nowhere (I did my undergrad in a wasteland. And it was a fine time, but I don't think I could do it again). I'm in NYC now and I see that Queens and Pratt both have programs, but I was recently warned off the Pratt program and told it was "disorganized, at best".

For reference: I graduated with a degree in English and Philosophy and I have substantial experience in programming (However rusty I might be) and research. I've worked in libraries before as well in archives. I applied very last minute to the University of Hawaii last year and got shot down.

Thanks for any help!

MLIS vs MIS

TheIrreverend — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 11:13:12 -0800

I am on my way to getting a MLIS degree, but since I am more interested in the tech side of things, I was thinking of switching to my school's MIS graduate program. Advantages, disadvantages? Are MIS degrees worth anything anymore, or is the tech job market still so bad that I would be better off sticking to a MLIS?

What scripting languages and/or CMSes are most important to learn in a library environment?

stonerose — Thu, 22 Jan 2004 14:48:37 -0800

Library/information science question(s): My code-fearful friend succeeded in getting through library school without exposure to more than basic HTML. I now have him on a diet of Dreamweaver and XHTML, with a sprinkling of GoLive. He's wondering about next steps: for someone who wants to be well-equipped to work in an academic, medical, legal, or similar library or archive (with web development as part of his job, rather than the focus of it), what scripting language(s) and/or content-management systems are most important to learn? Is the library world fragmented in this regard, or is there a dominant technology? What would be a logical entry vector into this world for someone without a comp-sci bone in his body (in terms of languages/systems, and specific learning resources)?[no more inside]