|
|
Rank: Newbie
Groups: Member
Joined: 1/6/2008
Posts: 1
Points: 3
Location: Michigan
|
My undergrad degree was in Creative Writing and Lit, and then I went on to get an MA in Arts Administration. I focused some of my arts admin. projects on literary arts - volunteered with the local book festival and 826 michigan, etc. While I was working on my MA, I worked FT (3.5 years) at a children's publishing house doing communications and events -- scheduling promotions and book tours for a plethora of children's authors and illustrators. I really enjoyed this position, but felt that I had reached the height of what I could achieve/do at that particular company.
After I received my degree, I moved on to a position with a local university art museum, heading up their communications, events, and marketing. I would say my main interests in terms of arts admin. are arts marketing and arts programming. As I've worked at the museum, it seems that museums and libraries have a lot in common -- redefining themselves as "third places" where members of the community can gather and have conversations and exchanges. I would ideally love to work on library programs and events someday. However, I think one really needs an MLS to do this.
Though I love my work at the museum, I still find myself pulled back toward the world of books, publishing and/or libraries. Even the projects I am most excited about potentially at the museum involve expanding content into different formats accessible on the web, etc. -- things it seems the library world is getting into.
I am at a crossroads -- I could put further study into general "museum studies," but I'm feeling more drawn to the idea of an MLS degree. It seems that an MLS degree could potentially be useful in a variety of positions.
I have looked at the University of Illinois LEEP program. If I were to stay in Michigan -- I'm not sure at this point -- the University of Michigan is known to have a great School of Information. Does anyone have thoughts on these particular programs or on the similarities or differences between libraries and museums?
Mariah
|
|
Rank: Newbie
Groups: Member
Joined: 1/9/2008
Posts: 2
Points: 6
Location: Champaign, IL
|
Hi Mariah, I'd be happy to talk to you more about the crossover between museums and libraries. i do think there is a lot of potential for MLIS students to make contributions in a museum setting, however I do think it depends on what kind of role you want to have. Information organization and access is definitely is one route, but Media Studies and Communications might also be another route if you are interested more in "third place" kinds of interactives. John Hopkins recently started an online Museum Studies program that will particularly focus on technology in museum settings. http://advanced.jhu.edu/academic/museum/Here at the University of Illinois we have a number of faculty who have been interested in museum applications, particularly Dr. Michael Twidale (http://www.lis.uiuc.edu/oc/people/bio.html?id=twidale). There are plenty of opportunities here to explore museum/cultural heritage related topics. One of the advantages of the MLIS is that it would allow you to move between museum and library worlds...particularly if/when salaries may be an issue. Plus the library community, by numbers is about ten times as big as the museum community, so their can be more frequent job opportunities. Having some museum experience already will be a big help if you are really interested in pursuing that as an option. You might also be interested in the Visual Resources Association (http://www.vraweb.org) - I find people working in these settings are sometimes an interesting cross between museum and library professionals.
|
|
Rank: Newbie
Groups: Member
Joined: 1/9/2008
Posts: 2
Points: 6
Location: Champaign, IL
|
P.S. I also started at UIUC as a LEEP student and can talk about how its a different experience from some other online programs...
|
|
Rank: Newbie
Groups: Member
Joined: 1/10/2008
Posts: 1
Points: 3
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
|
Hi Mariah, That's great that your interests are connecting you to LIS programs, and it sounds like your background would provide you some great skills. I work at the School of Information here at the University of Michigan, and I'd be happy to chat with you more about your interests. We definitely are also really interested in how collections can be used on the Web. That's great to hear that it is an interest of yours as well. There are some good opportunities to work on this as an LIS student here, and also great opportunities to think about how LIS can blend with Museum work. We have a few faculty that are interested in that as well, and there is also a Museum Studies certificate program that you can apply to as an LIS student. Although the program is competitive, even if you don't get in, you can still take some great classes there to blend into your LIS work. In fact, the director of that program is a grad of the School of Information. Let me know if you want to talk further, and maybe we could have you come in for a visit since you are in Michigan, or if you would rather, we could do a phone appt. My direct email is lauramb@umich.edu, or you can call the School of Information directly at 734-763-2285. Great to hear about your interests! Laura Elgas Manager of Masters Admission School of Information University of Michigan
|
|
|
Guest |
