03.31.08
Don’t be this “librarian” and other news
Edited to remove link to blog post.
And here is more on the debate about MLS vs. non-MLS. Some excellent points are raised in this blog post. Until we have a MLS that is not just a jump-through-hoops, training-in-answering-questions-well, everyone-thinks-it’s-a-joke, there is absolutely no reason to expect that having that piece of paper makes anyone better than those without. Maybe this is a rather strong stance to take, but if we aren’t offering a rigorous educational program based on theory, then the MLS doesn’t really mean much.
For more about libraries who may have to cut staff, read this. The loss that seems the worst is that of the children’s librarian. Not that I’m saying reference librarians aren’t valuable, but it seems like most people have their first library experience in the children’s room.
While I don’t know about the whole gaming in libraries thing (although the possibilities are interesting), I do agree that librarians and library staff need to get out into the community. That’s one thing that I’m exploring where I work.
There you go. Just a few highlights of stuff floating around out there on the interwebs.
kileigh7 said,
March 31, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Hi-
I left you an email regarding this, but I’m also leaving this here.
Please disable the link to my blog. See the email for specific reasons behind this. I would expect this to be done within the next 24 hours.
Thank you.
JayBob said,
April 8, 2008 at 12:02 pm
I was in library school in the early 90’s. A fellow student, who was a very bright guy and someone I respected, called librarianship a “pseudo profession.” This from an MLS student.
I agreed then and still do. I think the majority of jobs in libraries can be done by staff with some higher education (two year or four year degree) and some OJT. The MLS should only be required for very specialized positions, such as someone working in archives, or for upper level management and supervisory positions.
One of the big reasons that there is even such a thing as an MLS and that it is required for “professional” positions is so that higher salaries can be justified.
I started out as a paraprofessional, obtained my MLS, and am now considered a professional. I’ve worked in public, medical, and academic libraries. I have been on the lower end of the pecking order and in management. I have a second graduate degree to go with the MLS. After all this education and years of work experience I can safely say that while no education is wasted the MLS is an over-rated degree that is heavy on theory and short on practicality. It should not be a requirement for entry-level librarian jobs.