Submitted by iSoReddit t3_1167utm in pittsburgh
Is a library science degree a requirement for your job or is that a nice to have?
Thanks!
Comments
iSoReddit OP t1_j95go02 wrote
Thank you!
CaptainCearis t1_j95lcb3 wrote
There are a lot of jobs you can do at a library that don’t require an MLIS, but if you want to be a librarian, you need one. That’s not necessarily true in all states. Some states, especially in small towns, have people without MLIS degrees working as librarians.
duker_mf_lincoln t1_j95oj85 wrote
Wow, I never would have imagined that a masters degree is required. My son Nico said this is a hard degree to obtain.
HomicidalHushPuppy t1_j95q3zy wrote
It tends to pigeonhole you career-wise as well, and it takes an eternity to see a return on the investment. I started mine and then bailed when I realized you don't really need it. It's just industry gate-keeping and I didn't want to be part of it.
newcitynewme724 t1_j95s3jv wrote
That's ridiculous
robin_terrae t1_j95wma9 wrote
It depends on the sort of library you are looking at. I’m a library assistant for the state and I needed a bachelors in something.
tarsier_jungle1485 t1_j95wpea wrote
At universities, 75% or more of the work in the libraries is performed by people w/o MLS degrees for peanut wages. They only hire MLS holders for a handful of high level positions. Those people are considered faculty.
ultimate_ali t1_j95xem0 wrote
Hi, MLIS holder here. I don’t work in libraries anymore, but the degree does come in handy with my work.
You don’t have to have an MLIS to work in a library. to be a part of ACLA (Allegheny county library association) libraries need at least one person on staff that has a MLIS or a bachelors degree and a provisional library certificate . Which is a 12 credit certificate. A few local colleges offer that online, I think Clarion.
I wouldn’t recommend getting the MLIS unless you want to be a library director or work for Carnegie library of Pittsburgh, and even then I’d get a low level job there first and get the cert on the side.
Happy to answer questions!
iSoReddit OP t1_j96km1x wrote
thanks this is really helpful!
[deleted] t1_j975j7y wrote
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[deleted] t1_j97i737 wrote
mmmmkyeah t1_j97z8dd wrote
Not all univ libraries give librarians faculty status.
MrChichibadman t1_j98uulc wrote
What is the pay like?
HomicidalHushPuppy t1_j98wn3q wrote
It's been at least 4 years since I left the program and quit job hunting in that field, so I really can't accurately say. But it wasn't enough to justify the cost of an undergrad and masters. Just like teachers who need special degrees/certifications for relatively shitty pay, many library jobs require MLIS degrees but don't pay nearly well enough to justify the cost unless you luck into an admin role.
arguchik t1_j98wxip wrote
True. I was a union organizer at an R1 university and consulted with librarians there who were determined to win either a union or faculty status. (Because of state law if they got faculty status they would not be able to form a union because the law requires all faculty of all ranks to form one union. So adjuncts also can’t form their own union there, which absolutely sucks.)
joseph_dewey t1_j95glnl wrote
According to this website, every librarian in Pennsyvania needs an MLIS (Master of Library and Information Science)
https://www.everylibraryinstitute.org/requirements_to_become_a_librarian_by_state