Students new to college research are likely to find the new digital paradigm of online libraries refreshing and also somewhat familiar, as online searching is becoming simpler in the switch from physical card catalogs to online access to academic journals and the exponential growth of digital archives, online. Nowadays, there are still reference librarians; however, in addition to providing direction as to how to find the appropriate resource information in physical form, librarians are becoming well-versed in the mining of online resources.
This is due, in part, to the fact that the number of resources available online has grown: in addition to the wealth of information available in book form, the number of digital resources available on any given topic is substantial and growing exponentially as more and more rare and valuable books and documents are becoming digitally archived. This upsurge in the number of digitally available material has transformed the nature of library learning. Because of this transformation, more remote and online research is taking place—and along with it, the role of librarian is evolving into a combination of reader’s advisor and curator of digitally-available information: in addition to articles, there are now a number of books, CDs, and other resources available online for library users to ‘check out’—virtually-speaking, that is.
In fact, because of the abundance of digitally-accessible material, many Master of Library Science degree programs are now in the habit of calling librarians “digital librarians,” and many academic programs are titled differently, using the term “Information Studies,” for example, rather than “Library Science.” Luckily, schools are growing, rather than shrinking. This is in line with what Marc Aronson, a Rutgers University professor, points out in a recent article on librarians and the changing job market: “Traditionally male industrial work is rapidly declining, while work that is significantly female in areas such as health, is increasing.”
Because of this shift from industrial work to more female-populated job markets, students would behoove themselves to go into a field that is growing and practical in nature, such as medicine, healthcare, or education. Reading teachers and librarians both fit that bill, and they may appeal to students who might otherwise consider earning a Ph.D., but hesitate, due to the changing nature of college and university economics and the new pipeline between graduate school and adjunct professorship. Libraries are still bastions of intellectual freedom and exploration for autodidacts and first-generation college students, but the end goals are shifting. Upward mobility is still possible; however, now it’s simply necessary to be more strategic about how to climb the proverbial ladder to the next level.
There are many careers library or information science program graduates may choose to pursue besides being a traditional public librarian. There’s the relatively new position of Content Curator, as well as Business Librarian for a university library or a company. You could also go into marketing and research for a business, helping not-for-profit businesses research grants and other sources of funding. Librarians regularly assist business owners and other library users with searching for reference information over the phone and online, as our competition and economy-driven society is constantly searching out new and better ways to be productive.
If you’re interested in being a librarian but also interested in working with young people, you have a few different options. One option that combines education with library science is becoming a school librarian—either at the grade school, middle school, or high school level. This could be a good option for English majors who want to involve themselves in education without actually becoming an English teacher. There is also the option of becoming a Youth Services Librarian at a public library, as every public library’s YA and children’s sections are usually filled with young people at any given hour of the day!
So, there you have it: multiple reasons to major in library science, and multiple ways to put your MLS degree to good use. Perhaps all the hours you currently spend in the library as a student will translate to spending more time behind the checkout desk than in front of it. Happy reading!
Daphne Stanford has lived in four states and six cities, and she plans to visit the Basque country sooner rather than later. She puts her three degrees to good use through her nonfiction and poetry writing, as well as through her weekly poetry show on Radio Boise. Find her on Twitter at @daphne_stanford or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ThePoetryShow.
Photo source: Patrik Goethe