Menu:
Choosing, Financing, and Getting Through Library School
by Denise Hamilton
After earning a B.A. in English, I got married, and for 21 years followed a military spouse - changing jobs every time I changed ZIP codes! I wasn't sure what I'd do once we settled somewhere permanently. One day in 1999, I was channel-surfing, and was immediately riveted by a segment on the graduate program in library and information science at the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign (UIUC). Within minutes, I was on the phone requesting an application.
Distance Learning - Is It Right for You?
As a working mother of three far from any library school, an online program (then new) was the only option. Librarianship is often a second career, and the 30-, 40-, and even 50-somethings who want to pursue an MLS have families and/or jobs that must be part of the overall plan. It's important to do your homework, however, and find out just what is meant by the term "distance learning" at the school you are considering. Illinois' distance program requires Internet access, so most work can be done from home or office (although students must spend a few days on campus each semester.) Options vary. The University of Hawaii's program, for example, uses an interactive television system that is limited to the islands. Other schools use "distance education" to refer to the availability of classes at one or more satellite campuses.
Whether you choose a distance learning or resident option, it is important that the program be accredited by the American Library Association. Investing the time and money in anything less will be a major drawback once you are in the job market. The American Library Association has an online directory of accredited programs.
Some students, myself included, know that they want the training but are unaware of the vast career options. Other students have a clear vision from the beginning. Michelle Kazmer (Ph.D., UIUC, 2002) knew she wanted to get her MLS at the University of Pittsburgh. She'd spent four years working in a library. "I wanted to study cataloging and Prof. Arlene G. Taylor had just taken a faculty position at Pitt," Kazmer said. She was fortunate; the school of her choice offered her a one-year fellowship that paid tuition plus a stipend.
Anne Ostendarp (MLS, SUNY-Albany, 1985), an archivist, was motivated by her first job as an archives assistant. "I loved the work," she recalled, "but recognized I didn't know enough to make good decisions...I wanted a better background than I had."
Students with specialized interests can earn dual degrees that take advantage of their expertise. Again, look at ALA's web site for information about programs that combine the master's in library science with master's degrees in subjects such as music, divinity, business, history, and law - among others.
Paying for Library School
Well, yes, a credit card was the method used by a few people I spoke with, although they acknowledged it can be an expensive option - even when interest rates are low. Graduate assistantships are available, but positions are competitive. Apply as early as possible. Likewise, apply early for scholarships. Your school will have information on scholarships and other forms of financial aid. Be prepared to do your own research, too. Pay attention to deadlines; if you are late with applications, you will probably be out of luck.
No one I spoke with had direct financial help from parents, although MLS candidate Eileen, who is in her early 20s, moved back home after getting a bachelor's degree from a private university a thousand miles away. She didn't want to take out any more student loans, so she commutes forty-five minutes to the library program she chose mainly because of its proximity to her parents' house. She works a full-time job to pay for school, and she's grateful she does not have to pay rent. Others found that two part-time jobs offered roughly the same money as a full-time position, but more flexibility.
Survival
Many students try to complete the degree as quickly as possible so they can start earning money doing work they will enjoy. Michelle Kazmer, now an assistant professor of information studies, had this to say: "I wish I had taken fewer courses per semester and really immersed myself in the coursework...In order to get the most out of a degree program, it's worth it to manipulate every other factor (time, work, etc.) to allow yourself maximum immersion." Others agreed that trying to hurry through a program is not only stressful, but can compromise learning.
In addition to coursework, librarians could not emphasize enough the value of real-world knowledge. Anne Ostendarp said: "Take every practicum and internship you can find. Volunteer at the type of setting you'd like to work in. Do everything you can do to get solid, practical experience." Siobhan Champ-Blackwell (MSLIS, UIUC, 2002) agreed. "Experience is the best teacher, and the contacts you make are invaluable." She is proof of that. She currently serves as Inner City Services and Minority Outreach Liaison for the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, MidContinental Region. Because she'd done a practicum, she was a "known quantity," and she landed her position in a city with a tight job market for information professionals. She also advises involvement with state library associations and professional organizations. In other words, she says, "Network, network!"
And finally, filed under "Easier Said Than Done," everyone advised students to remember to take time to breathe. "Don't sweat it." "Remember to keep balance in your life." "Don't stress out."
Great advice, both for graduate school, and for the real life that lies beyond!
Denise Hamilton earned an MSLIS from the University of Illinois in 2001. She writes frequently on topics of interest to information professionals and currently works as a reference librarian.