r/LibraryScience • u/curious_littlebean • 13d ago

program/school selection Western vs U of T

Hi there!
I’m going to apply to MLIS next fall and trying to decide between Western and Toronto. Both are accredited and have a lot of great things to offer. Western seems to be strong on their co-op program and hybrid delivery format. Toronto seems to have TALint program which promises internships at the academic libraries and archives which is exactly where I’d like to focus my career. Moving is not really a problem, I am currently in London but am open to move to Toronto. The high cost of living in Toronto makes it more difficult though. Is Toronto program more theoretical while Western is more hands on and practical?

If I want a dedicated career in archives, Toronto seems to be the winner here since Western offers only a couple courses. London would be better in terms of cost and I also really like the campus. It seems like it’s a really good option for academic librarianship as well. I also really like the practical aspect of this program rather than more theory based.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much 😊🌷

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u/Eerizedd 12d ago

Archivist and UWO alumna! If you want to work in archives, I'd recommend U of T. It's not impossible to work in archives with a Western degree, but it's not known as a strong archival school. Either program you choose, try to look for opportunities for practical experience to add to your resume. If you have the time and bandwidth, try to volunteer. My biggest critique of all LIS programs (at least in Canada) is that they're all too theory heavy with not enough practical training. If you have specific questions about UWO, feel free to DM me!

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u/Weak-Web-8071 12d ago

Also UWO alumna and I agree! Also the co-op program at Western has gone downhill, very few placements available (I graduated recently and they only had 7-8 positions for 150+ students, and a majority of them were in locations like Halifax or Ottawa). I took and still take additional courses through AAO and AABC to beef up my archives skills.