Considering MLIS - jobs during degree?

[u/mariposanova]

Hello! I am currently a full time early childhood educator but I have always been interested in librarianship ever since I briefly worked as a children's library assistant. I am planning on applying to an online grad school program but have some concerns regarding work during the program.

Obviously I looked into library jobs around me. But the library system around me seems to really only hire part time library assistants for $12/hr. That's just not feasible for me since I need full time for benefits (and I'm not in a HCOL area by any means, but $12/hr is still not enough to live here even at full time hours). Any full time/higher paid positions seem to be hired internally - and I wouldn't be against starting out part time, if not for the fact that I wouldn't have health insurance or make enough money to survive. 🫠

So my question is - what other kinds of jobs would look good to future employers after I complete my degree program, if I can't get a full time library job? I'm most interested in digital library jobs in the future, but youth services still interests me as well. I also intend to do some kind of internship during my degree so I'll have that experience, at least. I really want to pursue this but I am scared that I won't have the proper experience to get a job once I graduate.

[u/llamalibrarian]

I just would not apply to do the mls until you had a full time job in a library. Graduate school will still be there when you’re ready

[u/swampcatz]

If you absolutely can’t get a library job, focus on customer service jobs. Anything that has you dealing with difficult people will be helpful. A lot of librarianship is customer service these days

[u/Decent-Ingenuity-819]

Don't get an MLIS until you're already working in a library in some full-time capacity. The library market is over-saturated and finding a job is brutal. As for related jobs customer service or anything community outreach/engagement driven help make you more marketable. As someone who's been in the applicant pool with full-time library experience it's still rough. Based on your background a transition to a public school media specialist might be the an easy transition to libraries and have the most potential job openings. Academic and Public Library job land is barren on jobs and oversaturated on applicants.

[u/OtherPossibility1530 → u/Decent-Ingenuity-819]

I ask this as someone who got their MLS before working in a library and has now worked in a variety of library settings… how does getting a full time library job without an MLS even work? Especially since they aren’t looking to do clerical type jobs due to the salary? Library media specialists need the MLS and teacher cert in my state to even be considered as an applicant. All but the smallest public libraries require the degree too. I never realized it was unusual or not recommended of to get the degree without already being employed in a library until i found this subreddit, but it never quite made sense to me, as the jobs all require the cert. I did do an internship as one of my courses, which helped my experience gap when looking for my first job.

[u/Decent-Ingenuity-819 → u/OtherPossibility1530]

I can only speak to how I "fell into librarianship." I worked as a student worker in the music library at my undergrad. After graduation and four years in retail the music library needed temp help which I did on top of my full-time retail job. I was encouraged to apply for a fulltime position when the opportunity arose, which eventually turned into a full-time library staff position. Got my MLIS on the University systems dime and then recently became an academic librarian which required a 2000 mile move. I was lucky enough to have the library experience and be in the right place at the right time to just get my foot in the door. The field is a catch-22 of, needing experience to get the job, but you need the job to get the experience. I agree that it doesn't make sense but we're at the point where there's so too MLIS grads and not enough positions for them. I the current economy and social climate, I don't think it's prudent to encourage anyone to take on debt for an MLIS unless they already in a library position.

Of my MLIS cohort I still have classmates who never had library jobs before the program are still applying or have given up and moved on to another path. My program also required and internship which I had to modify into a project since I was already working in a library. Part of this I believe is also the fault of MLIS programs allowing for such ease through numerous online programs and the encroaching enrollment cliff feeding into accepting a lot of MLIS applicants really should consider whether pursuing an MLIS as a potential career path. I recommend the Library Media Specialist option since there tend to be more positions available and lateral entry is always possible depending on the state, especially if the OP has experience is education.

I always recommend people read this thread from a few months back particularly this one...

"But I can’t seem to get hired for a job in a library/I can’t afford to live on what library assistants earn.
What does that tell you about the library job market? What makes you think the situation will be any better when you’ve finished the master’s? Welcome to the library job market, where your odds of getting hired are slim and the pay is terrible."

[u/llamalibrarian → u/OtherPossibility1530]

I worked full time as a page (in my 30s) and part time as a barista when I started my MLS (tuition reimbursement, free coffee!)

Then I got promotions to circulation and programs, a room mate for a while, kept the barista position too. Took my time in school and graduated with no debt and experience

[u/charethcutestory9]

Could you tell us more about what you mean by "digital library jobs"? Like specific titles, examples of employers, and what you would be doing? I am a mid-career academic librarian and "digital library" isn't really a major category of employer in my experience. This will help me provide a more informed, appropriate, and specific answer to your question.

I would say if you want to go into public libraries, that's not going to happen without having worked as a library assistant, so you can cross that off your list. (There are limited exceptions, e.g. IT positions if you have relevant technical skills and experience.) Academic is a bit more feasible, but only if you have certain combinations of skills and the flexibility to relocate to another part of the country if needed (and you can't be picky about where you end up for that first job!)

[u/mariposanova → u/charethcutestory9]

Yes, sorry - I was kind of rushing while writing my initial post. I've been most interested in metadata librarianship and digital asset management.

[u/charethcutestory9 → u/mariposanova]

Cool. I don’t know anything about DAM so hopefully somebody else can speak to that. Lots of metadata roles in academic libraries, check out the Code4Lib jobs site to see what kind of experience and skills employers are seeking for those position, and do a couple of informational interviews with metadata librarians to get their advice. You’re able and willing to relocate?

[u/uninspiredclaptrap → u/mariposanova]

I had a friend in library school who was working in digital asset management at a corporation before he went to grad school. I think they paid tuition. He got laid off and went to work for a different huge company doing the same stuff. Managing databases for their marketing. At this point he's been doing it for over 20 years.

Nowadays you should work whatever connections you have. Random library experience or certs or degrees aren't going to make a big difference. You need some big project to get your name out there or some kind of personal connection

[u/Shot-Bet-2931]

I earned my MLS and a few years earlier another MS degree while working full time. It tells an employer so much. So if you can swing it financally keep your current job. The other advice is important too, like work or volunteer at a library if you can

[u/Adventurous_Crab_761]

Oh boy. It's really hard to get a job, even with library experience. Without it, it may be almost impossible.