So, I've started kicking around the idea of going into Library Science, but I honestly have no idea what to expect as far as classes or getting into a program.

Anybody know anyone in one of these programs? I know UNC has a really good one, and I know Central has a program, but if I go to Central will I still be able to get a decent job afterwards?

Any info on the subject would be helpful.

5/25/2006 8:55:47 PM

Is that like a secretary?

5/25/2006 8:56:40 PM

Master of the card catalog

[Edited on May 25, 2006 at 9:30 PM. Reason : asdf]

5/25/2006 9:30:36 PM

UNC-G has a program, but I haven't heard much about how good it is.

Central is considered to be a good school and you will definitely be able to get a job later on. Going to UNC would be beneficial if you're planning to go into a specialized field instead of general library science because going there might give you a competitive edge.

There are a lot of MLIS programs that are conducted online at various institutions throughout the US and Distance Ed isn't looked down on when you're trying to get a job unless you have a seriously stuffy potential employer.

I think that a lot of people who go into Library Science programs don't have much experience in the field and the schools expect that.

5/25/2006 9:35:07 PM

Thanks a bunch, tartsquid.

5/26/2006 11:22:53 AM

i had a friend who just got accepted into the UNC program
shes kinda book-ish

5/26/2006 12:05:58 PM

if you're still in school at NCSU or near campus, you could drop by the library and ask some of the librarians. many of them went to UNC and i know of at least three staff that are in Central's program.

5/26/2006 12:24:47 PM

i think you should get a masters in smacking around rat dogs... that would come in handy in your life..


besides.. books are going to die... the intarweb will replace them all... soon after.. skynet will become self aware and we're all fucked anyway..

5/26/2006 12:28:22 PM

Quote :

"besides.. books are going to die... the intarweb will replace them all... soon after.. skynet will become self aware and we're all fucked anyway.. "

The IS in MLIS is for Information Systems. ;p Librarians will be directly responsible for our demise.

The classes will teach you everything you need to know if you wanted to singlehandedly run a library. Everyone I've talked to who's getting or gotten a degree in Lib Sci worked in a library as a student or as a grad assistant in a library, but that might be because I hang around in the library too much.

5/26/2006 3:25:59 PM

punchmonk needs to get all up in this thread

5/26/2006 3:30:56 PM

Forget this thread. Send her to UMiss Hattiesburg for the online/distance MLIS. All the education and none of the hurricanes.

5/26/2006 4:15:29 PM

is punchmonk in an MLIS?

5/26/2006 5:02:01 PM

not yet, but planning on it after she finishes up her undergrad this spring

5/26/2006 6:25:23 PM

I'm thinking about it myself because I'm not sure if I have the dedication to get my PhD in English.

5/26/2006 8:53:52 PM

nah, forget that. go track 3 and get a master of architecture, then give me a call and i'll put you to work

5/26/2006 9:11:18 PM

If only I were architecturally inclined. It does seem like a good field.

5/27/2006 12:11:25 AM

equal parts art and science. the bread and butter workaday can be tedious, but conceptually the rabbit hole is endless

just yank my chain when you're ready to study under my expert tutelage

of course thats if the whole librarian thing falls through...

5/27/2006 12:31:00 AM

Quote :

"I'm thinking about it myself because I'm not sure if I have the dedication to get my PhD in English."

yup, that's pretty much what happened here. I was all for it, and then I realized that I'm just tired as hell and I'd prefer not to have to fight to get into a PhD program, then fight to get published, then fight to find a damn job, then fight for tenure.

5/27/2006 11:11:15 AM

I'm very upset at you for not replying to my post

5/27/2006 12:14:10 PM

just be ready to compete with all the emo kids who think being a librarian is the coolest fucking thing ever

wait, you're not an emo kid are you?

5/27/2006 12:49:59 PM

no. I'm not emo. I have some emo characteristics (in that I do think being a librarian would be pretty freaking cool), but I'm far too happy to be classified as such.

Sayer, my dog is not a rat. he's fucking adorable:


and if the revolution is carried out as planned, we will destroy skynet.

5/27/2006 5:06:22 PM

VIVA LA RAT DOG

5/27/2006 10:54:47 PM

viva la revolution

5/28/2006 9:48:04 AM

I'm trying to get the US News rankings of MLIS programs without paying for them-- I couldn't find the article in the electronic print copies that State has. Anyone know the rankings or where I can get them?

5/30/2006 9:50:15 PM

A girl I worked with is doing the program online at ECU...it might even be 100% online

5/31/2006 1:41:04 PM

It is. My girlfriend just finished her online master's in library science at ECU. The workload was laughable compared to anything either of us faced as undergrads.

5/31/2006 1:44:10 PM

how useful is this thing?

5/31/2006 1:49:31 PM

She's a librarian in a public school, so she just needed the piece of paper for the instant raise. I don't know how much she learned with the online degree, but, for her, it was just as valuable as spending several years at a more prestigious school.

5/31/2006 1:56:59 PM

not to diverge too much, but how's the journalism game work? how would one go about building a portfolio?

5/31/2006 2:37:21 PM

Getting a degree at ECU would only work for getting a public school job at the moment, since their other program isn't ALA certified. Pretty much any job listing I've ever seen for a librarian specifies that they want someone from an ALA approved school. They are working on getting certified, though.

5/31/2006 9:39:14 PM

what's that pay?

5/31/2006 9:49:41 PM

I work in one of the branch libraries and the department head over here makes like $70k and doesn't do a damn thing. Comes in at 10, leaves at 2-3. She's got it made.

[Edited on June 1, 2006 at 12:49 PM. Reason : ]

6/1/2006 12:49:05 PM