[updated January 2016]
I started my MLIS in the fall of 2008 and graduated, with a concentration in digital libraries and archives, in spring of 2010. Before I started library school, I spent a lot of time researching on anything having to do with the library career field, looking for blogs/journals/etc about the process of schools, what kind of classes would benefit me coupled with my own background (10 years in technology, plus a BA and a MA), and anything really from those who were in the current throes of school and what they did next so that I could get some idea of what was out there. There was, at least then, very little on any kind of topic on this discussion. While I did find a load of stuff about librarianship from those working in the field, I found that many of the blogs/journals/books for those interested in getting into the field were outdated or getting close to being outdated. For example, if you published a book about digital libraries in 2003, much of the discussion was horribly out of date by 2008.
In addition, many of the most online communities/networking sites that styled themselves for wannabe librarians tended to be filled with the same type of questions: What schools are the best? Should I take the GRE? I have a background in X, would this be applicable to becoming a librarian? Add, rinse, repeat. To me at the time, that wasn’t quite what I was looking for.
I decided to put together series of blog posts on what I thought would be helpful to others considering going to lib school ranging from determining what type of school one should choose, lecture delivery, job placement, programs available, how to determine your career path, what other professions/career paths a MLIS can be used for and on to job hunting and more.
- So now you’ve got that in-person interview! 11 March 2016
- I Want To Be A XXX Librarian, Part IV 18 February 2016
- The Great Job Hunt of 2016 25 January 2016
- I Want To Be A XXX Librarian, Part III 20 January 2016
- I Want To Be A XXX Librarian, Part II 19 January 2016
- I Want To Be A XXX Librarian, Part I 18 January 2016
- So, You Want to Become a Librarian/Archivist: 2012 edition 8 December 2012
- So, You Want To Be A Librarian/Archivist: A Portrait of the Librarian as a Young(ish) Woman #libday7 26 August 2011
- So, You Want To Be A Librarian/Archivist: Plan 19 November 2010
- So, You Want To Be A Librarian/Archivist?: Getting “Developed” 13 October 2010
- So, You Want to be a Librarian? To degree or not to degree: Revisited 17 September 2010
- So, You Want To Be A Librarian/Archivist: Job Hunt Part III: 75 and counting 17 August 2010
- So, You Want To Be A Librarian/Archivist: Job Hunt Part II: DOs 2 March 2010
- So, You Want To Be A Librarian/Archivist: The Job Hunt (Possibly Part I) 2 March 2010
- What the eff can you do with a MLIS/Archives/Library Science degree? 15 February 2010
- Day in the life of a MLIS student. #librarydayinthelife 18 November 2009
- So, You Want To Be A Librarian? Part I 15 October 2008
- To Degree or Not To Degree – That is the Question 27 September 2008
- lib schooled: first month impression 24 September 2008
- Future librarian confessions, part I 7 September 2008
- Ninja Librarians: Reimagining the image of librarians 5 September 2008