to wonder what a masters in library studies involves?

[giraffesCantGoGuising]

I read a description and it was rather vague - something about library science and moving towards digital collections.

My understanding of a MA is that it builds on a previous relevant degree - so would you have had to do a librarian degree first?

My MA had a major research project we carried out, critical evaluation of lots of journals etc. What is the equivalent of that in library MA? Are there journals/research papers about library use?

I think it mainly involves great expense for almost guaranteed unemployment.

Well that is what I was thinking! An acquaintance did it - and seemed to learn all about the Dewey decimal system, that is all she spoke about. I am prepared to be told I am wrong. She spent a year full time doing it.

My MA was involved in research that a Dr then said she would happily consider supervising me at PhD level for if I wanted to go down that route - s that the same with library MA?

I really just don't get it, but am prepared to be corrected - google hasn't helped so far though.

bof how is your friend?

Things are settling down, I think, thanks. Everyone involved was a bit in shock afterwards, I think- feeling knackered and weepy. It all feels a bit surreal that it even happened tbh- these things are so rare. Thanks for asking

www.fims.uwo.ca/acad_programs/grad/lis/mlis/Courses/all-mlis-courses.htm

Yar, just Dewey decimal...

It renders you virtually unemployable, tbh, unless you fall into a specific niche and are lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time. It's interesting, but unlikely to be something you can just walk into a job after.

I have a friend who is still out of work after five years, and someone else who was beyond thrilled to pick up an unpaid internship in another country straight out of her masters. She couldn't believe her luck. Mostly, the available jobs are few and far between, and have around 1-200 applicants with the same qualification. You have to be shit hot to pick up a position.

(I receive applications from MLIS grads for an unpaid library job. They are all keen as mustard. And unemployed.)

Good glad to hear it. I could feel your absolute panic when it happened. You were a good friend that night. I am a real wimp about travelling far and every so often I think I should but stories like that put me off - obviously they could happen anywhere but it is the not knowing how the system works, not knowing exactly who to trust for help.

I don't understand what makes it a masters and not a post grad certificate or something? What is it about the level of study involved that deems it to be a masters level? I am aware I sound like a bitch, but I am genuinely curious!

They study hard and then get paid to put the books back on the shelves when people drop them, or put them in the wrong place, or something.

That is what the non Halloween dresser upper does netto it seems mad

I did one of these 30 years ago. It involved knowledge management, database development, understanding of telecomms, human-computer interaction, thesaurus creation, a teeny tiny bit of Dewey, online searching, analytical thinking, organising information, retrieving information etc etc.

People think it just means books. Nope.

But yes, sadly librarians (as a generalisation) have not managed to convince people that we still have a value.

Our skills still have a value, but now come under IT or knowledge management, and in the public library sector it is either staff-management or events-management.

Oh, just clocked what was being said upthread. BOF, I'm in the same place as your friend. There are still rumblings here. Some people saying it was random. Others saying it wasn't. I drove down that road yesterday.

A Post grad library qualification is essential for most professional library jobs. It involves evaluation of information, information management and, yes, a research based dissertation. There are many professional library and information management publications.

I am reluctant to slag off any study as useless, as even the most esoteric subjects usually have merits, but "library science" is foolishness.

No need for librarians, then falcon? Weird pov, but I guess it'll save the tax payers some money, eh? Get rid of all those useless public knowledge repositories.

It isn't foolishness.

No need for librarians to have fake degrees in fake sciences.

Librarians are necessary. A subsidised education in this particular pseudo-science is not.

Most need to sort, shelve, swipe books; wash their hands of the grime that comes off books (it's unbelievable); deal with customers who resent the most paltry of token fines; read out stories to kids; dish out passwords for the internet to passers-by; checking that the books are in a fit state to remain on the shelves; tell hooligans to shoosh; try to locate the parents of the two-year-old who has been dumped unsupervised in Children's corner. Not everyone can be a good librarian, but the idea that you need advanced archival techniques to do the work of 99% of librarians is quite idiotic.

Maltese, you are talking about Library Assistants there. People who do not have specialist qualifications. Yes, they do need to be able to read stories, dish out passwords etc.

Library managers in public libraries select stock, manage staff, make strategic plans, manage budgets.

Librarians in academic settings are akin to researchers. They assist academics in their research, also manage staff, and budgets.

Riiiight. Our librarians look after specialist arts collections and spend a lot of their time re-cataloging and transferring the archive (as well as increasing it, obv) to ensure continuing and improved accessibility on a global scale. Given that information technology, storage capabilities and mediums are changing all the time, it's pretty important that they keep up with new developments in order not to lose the resource that we have now (and secure it for future generations).

The ones that re-shelve and wipe down and check out books don't have MLIS. they come in as wannabe librarians, and wouldn't have a hope of managing a collection or sourcing specific items for a specific project. I know that - I've been a shelf wiper, re-shelver and check-outer. That's not a librarian.

And in fact, if you note the comments above, that's why it isn't really an option for most folk - there aren't the jobs. But to rubbish the qualification as being a waste of time and not a real qualification is a piss poor attempt to belittle the work of those that use the qualification and the skills on a day to day basis.

I hear being a brain surgeon is fairly niche. Still important to have those skills knocking about in a society, though.

Thanks, madwoman, specific examples of what I am trying to say.

People don't think that a bank cashier is a banker, do they?

Nor do they think that a GP receptionist is a GP, do they?

Nor that a solicitor's secretary is a solicitor?

So why do people assume that the front-of-house person they meet in a library is a Librarian?

The people with MLIS are not the people you see as you walk in through the doors of a public library.

Not sure that librarianship degrees are subidised any more.

I also think there may be a bit of overlap between the work of library assistants and that of academic librarians - and of course there are lots of inbetween grades.

My perception is that even in a fairly low grade job you are taking care of the collection of information and its organisation, as well as assisting with/facilitating various types of 'research.' For example children's homework, adults' enquiries into local history - as well as advising people who want do develop their reading and/or who are doing their best to use the computers but have limited IT skills.

Arguably as more and more information becomes available - in a great variety of media - the need for people who can organise this information and assist those who are trying to access it becomes even greater.

It really isn't a matter of saying, 'Okay everyone (eg those who aren't skint and have some level of literacy) has a Kindle and internet access, so we no longer need libraries.'

The ones I know also include things like Latin and Philosophy.

People who run a library are completely different from real librarians. Those with a phd or masters get involved in tracking down documents or helping with transcriptions and cataloging. Think of Rachel Weiss's character in The Mummy type thing, rather than the person who does reading time with your dcs.

So if I work as a library assistant then by definition a) I am pretty stupid and deluded b) wouldn't have a hope of moving up the scale or being able to make use of further training and c) doing something that anybody else could do.

(Despite the fact that I am using quite complex software, liaising with a network of other libraries within a large local authority, and responding in a courteous and efficient way to the needs and challenges of an enormously wide variety of library users.)

I am glad that my colleagues, mostly on higher grades -and most of the customers I deal with - have a bit more respect.

Fuck no, Frau. Sorry, didn't mean to offend you. I was trying to simplify in order to explain to the OP. So sorry.

Actually I shall pm you, cos I have loads to say on this.