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I'll throw in a little more Canadian context here: From what I've seen in online discussions, the job market in Canada is significantly better than in the USA, however this doesn't mean "Go do your MLIS because you'll definitely get a job!". A big issue up here is the enrolment numbers at various schools (especially U of T, UWO, in some part UBC) are really high. When I began the program at Western in 2012 there were about 140 new students coming in in the Fall. Another 80 or so started in the Winter, and another 30 in the Spring/Summer. What this means is if you apply and you're not a complete idiot, you'll probably get accepted somewhere. However, once you're done the program, you're now competing with all of your colleagues for the significantly lower amount of library jobs relative to the number of MLIS graduates per year. It's a terrible system that needs to change, but it won't anytime soon since a lot of tuition dollars come in from these programs. If you're really passionate about doing an MLIS, do one. I'd say the same for any other graduate degree. I got lucky - I was able to get a co-op in my final few semesters, which gave me the job experience I needed to get an academic (term) position. Without that co-op I'd probably still be searching for a job, since I have had no prior experience in libraries. However, I'm still in an unstable position since my term expires in June and whether or not the position will be renewed is up in the air. As has been mentioned, careers in library IT services are a lot more plentiful than traditional roles. However, there's a few other areas of specialization that you can do that will likely get you a job sooner than later:
Note to OP: should probably include something about paraprofessional options (library techs/assistants). klockwerk fucked around with this message at 20:22 on Mar 2, 2015 |
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Mar 2, 2015 20:19
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Also, if you do get accepted and are going to library school, don't be that library sciences student:
I'll say this to the paraprofessional track: You can certainly just get a diploma to be a library technician/assistant. You will never be paid as much as a librarian, but you can still find yourself in a decent career if you manage to secure a job. Managerial and supervisory roles are available even if you don't have an MLIS (at my institution, each branch library has branch supervisor who is a library assistant, not a librarian. They make more than a livable wage. You'd be doing a lot more of the hands-on and patron-centred work, but some people prefer that!
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Mar 2, 2015 20:41
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I get the sense that archives and records management as a profession is trying to shift away from the MLIS program as a prerequisite, and are more looking to see people coming out of programs with an actual stated archives focus, such as a Masters of Archival Studies, or an MLIS program with a reputed archival focus stream. Edit: If you want a job in archives, you should really go meet an archivist first and take a tour of a physical storage space. The work isn't what most people think it is.
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Mar 2, 2015 21:55
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I can try to get away with saying I'm one of the librarians out there that doesn't have a history or English degree by saying I have a music degree. However, it's a music history degree so gently caress me. Edit: And now I'm a health sciences librarian. Anything is possible. 
klockwerk fucked around with this message at 00:03 on Mar 3, 2015 |
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Mar 3, 2015 00:00
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Insane Totoro posted:2. Do whatever you have to do to be involved in librarianship, whether unpaid, volunteer, or underpaid. Heck you don't have to be EMPLOYED to go to conferences, seminars, etc. It'd be nice if conference registrations weren't hundreds of dollars. I'm employed and I still can't afford to go to most of these things. Yeah yeah, there's professional development funds, but as as term librarian I don't get the usual package of benefits. (To attend the Canadian Health Libraries Association (CHLA) conference would cost me anywhere in the range of $300 for a single day to $490 for the whole conference. A single CE session is $165-$325 CDN.) On the bright side, conferences usually offer a discounted rate for students, and often will provide grants and funding to attend if the cost of a simple grant request proposal. klockwerk fucked around with this message at 01:05 on Mar 6, 2015 |
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Mar 6, 2015 01:03
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Schmetterling posted:Volunteering at conferences is also an option! I got free entry to all three days of the ALIA Information Online conference in Sydney by volunteering to help with registration, giving directions, counting people in rooms etc. I had half each day to work on volunteer stuff and the other half I could wander freely, attend talks or visit vendors. Plus, now I can write the volunteering on my resume. This. Volunteering typically leads to at least a free day at the conference. Take business cards with you for networking. If you're still a student, see if your department does business cards (I think most schools do for graduate students), or make some yourself.
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Mar 12, 2015 18:01
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Archives are cool. Perhaps the thread title should reflect that archivists and aspiring archivists are welcome here too?
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Oct 16, 2015 20:34
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