Librarians...What course of study does one follow to become a Librarian

[masmdu]

at the Elementary, Middle, or High School level?

Do you get the MLS?

Or, do you get Licensed as a Teacher?....or some combination of both?

Thanks in advance.

M

[Dark Star]

1. Varies state to state;

in CA used to have to teach first; then MLS for Librarian; private schools have changed everything.

Please google your particular state's requirements.

Good luck!

:hi:

[southpaw72]

2. my advice

Hi, I'm not an official "librarian" (don't have a degree) but I work in a library as a cataloger, so I'll tell you what I know.

My advice would be to do some library work -- paid or unpaid, depending on your situation -- first. Library work requires a certain type of brain; some people find it fulfilling, others boring. So make sure it's something you enjoy before you plop down the cash for a degree. Plus you'll get some OTJ experience that will look good on your apps.

To become a professional librarian, you need a bachelor's degree and a Master's in Library and Information Science (MLIS). Depending on what kind of work you want to do (reference, cataloging, etc.), you might also want to think about specializing in history or a foreign language.

For a list of schools offering library degrees, go to: http://www.ala.org/ala/education/educationcareers.htm

[Ruby Romaine]

3. expect low pay / no jobs when economy is bad

[Bertha Venation]

7. or, if you hook up with a non-profit school

as my sister did, expect low pay, long hours, little thanks -- and an extremely rewarding job.

My sister sort of fell into the job of librarian/resource center director at the Mardan Center in Irvine, CA, when her son was a student there. She has taught herself, never formally having studied the first thing about library sciences. She clearly loves her work.

I'm sure one truly has to love what one does to be a librarian, for the rewards can't be monetary. Best of luck to you, masmdu.

[Bertha Venation]

9. Ruby -- is your handle a nod to the goddess, Tracy Ullman? n/t

[zbdent]

4. If you want to be a librarian in Akron Ohio,

forget it. A levy was shot down, because the foes of the "operation funding" levy were saying "we just passed one not long ago, and you're asking for another one?" - wrong when you consider that the levy passed before was (during better economic times and) for building a new main branch.

I can just imagine the scene.

Kid: "Daddy, what's that building over there?"

Dad: "That's the main branch of the Akron Summit County public Library."

Kid: "Why is it boarded up?"

Dad: "Because we decided that, once the building went up, we didn't want to actually want to pay anybody to run the library."

Kid: "I'm confused. What's a library?"

Dad: "Let me take you to the distant bookstore. We'll sneak a peek at a dictionary before they throw us out for loitering, since we lost all those jobs in Akron because nobody wants to move to a community with no amenities."

[Bertha Venation]

5. Your scene is a helluvan indictment.

What a freaking drag for Akron.

[zbdent]

10. I would think that having a library enriches a community

You tend to want to be somewhere where there are good community things to get to.

Like a nice park, or a library, or museum, or music venue.

I think that we placed too much emphasis on kissing the NFL and bringing back the Browns.

Yes, they bring in a lot of money, what, for 8 weekends a year, plus the few preseason games? Imagine what could have been done with the money it took to build the stadium?

[YellowRubberDuckie]

6. Library Science.

It's actually a major. I guess you're sorta majoring in the Dewey Decimal system. I used to work in the library here on campus. Those people take that shit WAY TOO SERIOUSLY.
Duckie

[Bertha Venation]

8. Someone has to, Duckie...

if they didn't, you wouldn't be able to find the books you need. ;)

[MiddleRiverRefugee]

11. I got a library degree (M.L.S.) in 1990 because...

...I wanted to enhance what few technological skills I had, and:

1. Taking a business track was not the answer because business people are boring.

2. Taking a computer science track was not the way to go because computer science people are sociopaths.

3. A library degree looked like a logical step from liberal-arts slacker and itinerant musician to something slightly steadier and better paying.

It worked, more or less...Along the way I became now only a Librarian, but a Manager..but that's another story.

PS: Library technicians are a pain in the a$$.

[rosepogonia]

12. Becoming a librarian

Academic, public, and many "special" libraries (e.g. corporate, pharmaceutical, medical, law, etc.) generally require that you have a Masters in Library Science (or equivalent content--titles vary) from a graduate program that has been accredited by the American Library Association. There are somewhat less than 60 of these in the US and Canada. States set requirements for school librarians and these requirements may be met with the appropriate combination of courses in education (and certification as a teacher) and courses in library & information science-- resulting in certification as a school library media specialist. The formal degree may not be required though most students do it because it allows a greater degree of flexibility. My impression is that private and parochial K-12 schools do not have to meet state certification requirements for school librarians in PA but states differ in requirements.

The undergrad degree can vary widely and I have had students with degrees in law, medicine, pharmacology, nursing, and a range of PhD programs.

The "I" in this case is a faculty member/Associate Dean in the College of Information Science & Technology at Drexel University in Philadelphia -- we house the second oldest library science program in NA, continuously accredited since the 1920s and available as a totally online program as well as on-campus. For a full range of accredited programs and other information about becoming a librarian, you might look at:

(1) the website of the Association for Library and Information Science Education-- the page that lists all of the ALA accredited program websites
http://www.alise.org/membership/instmembers.shtml

(2) the website of the American Library Association page on library careers
http://www.ala.org/ala/education/educationcareers.htm

If I can give you any other information about the range of opportunities for information professionals with the skills and knowledge imparted by the MLS, I'll be happy to do so.

Kate McCain