I got my MLIS in 03 from UA and just quit my job at Alabama State. I have to say that the seminars are very related to professional issues one might face in an academic environment. A lot of the "skills" are rather rudimentary, but if one enters the workforce with another masters, they are a cakewalk. I think being a "user" of libraries makes one a better librarian. I think a subject masters referred to in the above post would make one a better public or academic librarian. Masters degrees, are after all, in theory, teaching degrees. And public libraries, are to a large degree, an extention of the academy.

That's interesting. I went into library school with a bachelor's of music and thought I could go into academic music librarianship -- little did I know that most academic libraries require a master's degree in the subject area you want to be a librarian for! So I changed focus and now I'm a children's librarian in a public library setting. There was no requirement for an internship, but I did one on my own because I had only worked in academic libraries, and boy was that a lifesaver. I found that once I got a job I pretty much learned what the rules were and then made most of everything else up! I WILL say, though, that the heavy focus on theory I had in my program (at UW) has helped me to understand what I'm doing every day much, much better. At the time I was pissed and disillusioned and felt like I wouldn't know what I was doing when I got a job in a public library, but I actually recognize now (having spoken to co-workers who got their degrees elsewhere) that I had a really, really good education.

Too bad the pay is so shitty!!!

UCLA seems to be shifting away from publuc librarianship despite the cries from most of us students. We are trying to get our voices heard.

I was quite miserable in library school. The quality of education was fine at UBC but the huge amount of nitpicky assignments and super boring reading almost killed me. My wonderful classmates got me through. Some of the best and most interesting people are librarians!

I have worked in public libraries for 9 years, 5 of them as a children's librarian and I still love the field. I wanted to work in career which would enable me to contribute to community empowerment and I feel I have achieved that. It is also personally very rewarding. The variety of reference questions and the evolution of our programming and services is inspiring.

But you're right, we aren't paid enough!

I would love any information you have about what professors to take or avoid. I just took a class with Pro. Liu, and it was deadly.

I'm from the East Coast, so I can't speak to your program. I went to University of Rhode Island. I got my degreee in '91, so I guess it makes me old school. I found that it helped me professionally to be prepared for the workplace. I tracked academic, technical services, cataloging.

Some of the reading was really interesting -- I especially like Sanford Berman, Carol Tenofir (sp) work. But yes, some of it was deadly boring. I read fiction like a maniac to keep my mind agile.

The group projects did drive me insane.

My favorite things were doing a internship at Brown University in cataloging. Cataloged in 8 languages and got 3 credits. I also lead my comps study group. That's when it all came together for me. I also loved my research paper -- I wrote 2 on expert systems one for cataloging, one for reference.

The students rock. I had the best people in my program. In comparison, when I went for my subject -- English MA -- I could not believe the fucking backbiting and sabotage that occurred. I was very appreciative of my MLIS program then.

And professors -- what can I tell you -- some of them don't get that it's a performance as well as a presentation. And that's gone across every degree program and subject. Some people are really great lecturers, some are as dry as toast...

Academia out here is starting to get really kick ass pay 50k +. I've also done business consulting. Just having the degree made a real difference. I've also taught English, lit, and film on the college level -- my deparment head respected my Masters. I'm out of the field right now full-time, but consulting is paying well.

This is the way I look at it. For most of my life I've been able to be a public servant and do what I love. Most people aren't that lucky. And as for the pay, folks, I come from a blue collar background and as we used to say in the English department it beats digging ditches.

And listen to this -- most of us are pretty cool. And I can say without reservation that I've done things as a librarian that have changed people's lives.

I actually started a library at a literacy program 10 years ago and was recently pretty thrilled to find out that it had evolved into a learning resources center.

Tips -- make the most of your opportunities, take the chance to make things happen, and get involved with student library organizations (ALA, and any regional or state orgs). Once I started interacting people in my field I got really excited. And it definitely helped people get to know me.

If you don't like it get out, but if you're committed it can be a great ride!

I have just started my MLS degree at Indiana University and my first week has been great. The professors expect a lot out of us and it's going to hard work, but they are helpful and their door is always open. I work at the life sciences library as well, and my boss and the other people that I work with are great.

So far the stuff I have done in my classes is ranges from interesting to kinda boring. But I think any program is like that.

I may update later when I've been in the program longer.

Oh ya, I also worked in libraries from the time I was an undergrad and all through library school so I was able to see how the coursework I was taking fit in with the real work environment.

The real irony of all this is that I was a part time library assistant in the periodicals department at the same library I now work in as the Periodicals/Reference Librarian!!!

Talk about full circle. I worked as an Archivist in a non-profit for 5 1/2 years after I got my degree in '93 but, when a new librarian position was created at my former institution I went for it and got hired in '98. It felt like coming home. Been there ever since and loving it. We also have an archives that I get to work in as part of my professional development.

Couldn't have done any of this without the masters degree so it is important to hang in there.