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Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
MLIS job opportunities in industry?
I've been considering going back for an MLIS. I've heard the job market for librarians is pretty weak, but I'm wondering about options in other industries. Do any of you have your MLIS and aren't a librarian? Tell me about it!
For background, I graduated in 2008 with a BA in Art History. I'm currently working for the government and would be able to work full-time while attending school.
Thanks!
Re: MLIS job opportunities in industry?
Nearly everyone I know with an MLIS, or the equivalent (my husband is a librarian, I'm a library science student and I've worked in libraries for the past 8 years, so I'm talking about a lot of people), chooses to work in some type of library. You can find jobs in other fields where your degree is helpful, but I don't think the degree helps you get the job, and it's often underutilized in those positions. Your MLIS classes will focus almost exclusively on libraries and librarianship. It's a vocational degree. If you don't want to work in libraries, then don't bother getting the degree.
If you do want to work in libraries, I suggest securing a paraprofessional position in whatever type of library you're interested in (special, medical, academic, government, public, ect.), and then getting your degree. I've noticed students in my program who don't have library experience are at a pretty big disadvantage to the students who do. Your coursework requires field experience and networking with librarians, and for people outside the field, you end up having to put a lot more time into your assignments. I've also noticed that many of the entry-level professional positions I come across require library experience from 6 months to 2 years.
This is great advice!
I can't say that I agree that the MLIS is exclusively for those wanting to work in libraries. There is a whole new field of information/knowledge professionals out there who work in corporations, universities and across all industries. There's e-learning, software training, database administration, document/records management and so much more that can be done with what is covered in an MLIS program. I'm mainly interested in reference/research services and hope to work in health care.
However, I wholeheartedly agree with your second paragraph about securing library experience, should you wish to work in one. Librarians are all about networking, so the more contacts the better. As you mentioned, most positions require 2 years min. of experience. I feel sorry for those in my graduate program who are not in the field, because they will surely have a difficult time finding a position. I find there are several openings for all realms of librarianship, but so many people going for those openings. Best of luck to my fellow librarians =D
I think this depends on what you want to do in industry. I've seen some job postings for records managment and retention say "MLIS preferred" and some archives and corporate library positions at different businesses. Out of the people I went to grad school (MLIS) with, only one that I know of works in industry, and it's in archives at a large corporation.
As for the job market for librarians, PP's advice to get a job in the area (public, academic, etc.) while in school is great.
Why do you want to get an MLIS?
I know this is a few days late...but the last time I checked this thread there were not this many responses! I'm glad I stopped back.
I've always loved doing research and finding information and I thought an MLIS would be a way to make a career out of my interest in research. Like I said, I'm not interested in working in a traditional library (school or public) but would to do research for a business or corporation.