Often the conclusion of a career switch is to load up the backpack and head back to school for new degrees and certifications.
For those who enjoy books and organizing information and who already have a Bachelor’s degree, a MLIS seems like an obvious choice for an easy path to a stable and secure career as a librarian. What does this educational path entail and what kind options are at the end of it? Read on for details.
MLIS vs MLS Degrees
The MLIS, or Master of Library and Information Sciences, is a somewhat new degree. The traditional educational course to librarianship is a Master of Library Science (MLS) or a Master of Science in Library Science (MSLS). However, as libraries make the transition from dust-laden, book-filled, cavernous warehouses of quiet reference to something more like the computer section of CompUSA, librarians are rushing to keep up. Information Systems, the IS part of MLIS, is increasingly important in maintaining the knowledge it takes to run a library.
MLIS Curriculum and Costs; Earning's A Master's Degree Education Online
Most schools offer courses to prepare students for work in public or private libraries as well as vendor work (cataloguing and shipping to libraries). Almost all programs will emphasize learning all forms of database creation and management, however the Information System part of the degree may vary by institution. Generally, a student can expect:
- To take 36 - 45 graduate credits
- Programs are usually completed in about 2 years at full-time enrollment
- Many universities offer a distance learning option, sometimes at a discounted rate which also allows to medical insurance waivers
- $18,000 to $24,000 cost for inc-school tuition, add $10,000 to $15,000 for out of state residency.
Avenues of Employment Post-Master's Degree
According to a 2007 survey by LibraryJournal.com regarding statistics of MLIS graduates:
- 90% landed full-time employment in a public or private library, or at a vendor
- 80% of graduates were women
- Average starting salary for a public library job (the most common entry level position) was $34,496
While only 10% of graduates surveyed got jobs outside the library circuit, alternate employment options are certainly viable. Common career paths are technical assistant, policy analyst, software engineer, training specialist among other various IT jobs.
Is Librarianship Right For Me?
The most common complaint among recent MLIS grads is that the entry level pay is relatively low, compared with other master’s degree level employment. In order to be successful in this field, one should certainly be passionate about books, learning, students, and of course, the Dewey Decimal System. While a career as a librarian may not be the path to riches, it may certainly be a fulfilling and personally enriching career choice.
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