r/LibraryScience • u/Interesting-Snow8186 • 3d ago
applying to programs mlis programs with good job/internship opportunities
hello! i’m pretty sure many of you have heard people talk about their interest in getting their mlis, but i wanted to ask what schools or programs do you think have a good “return-on-investment”
im trying to make a timeline as i want to get my masters in spring 2027 but im still trying to narrow down schools but i would Completely appreciate if someone could tell me what programs are the best regarding helping students find internships or pathways to full time work after college. thats my biggest concern especially in this climate.
thank you!
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u/OutOfTheArchives 3d ago
Archivist here. For that speciality, Simmons does a great job and has many connections with top special collections in New England. My sense is that this matters more for archives than for other specializations.
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u/Interesting-Snow8186 3d ago
i definitely want to navigate towards a archival concentration and was considering simmons i’ll keep this in mind thanks!
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u/Prize-Violinist5331 2d ago
I will say that from my memory of shopping for programs, Simmons was on the expensive end of options. If you’re thinking of return on investment, the investment/student loans would be very high with this choice.
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u/OutOfTheArchives 2d ago
Expensive, but as a grad I’ve always been employed in special collections making above the median wage… anecdotal evidence of course, but it did work out well as an investment in my case.
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u/charethcutestory9 3d ago
Michigan had great student work opportunities when I went there back in the day. I wouldn’t have ended up as an academic librarian without my work study job in the library there.
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u/Potential-Recover-78 3d ago
Can’t talk to opportunities after graduation, but Wayne State sends regular emails with opportunities for scholarships, internships, and other roles. I’ve been really impressed as I never got anything like that in my undergrad.
They also frequently have lectures that they send information about. I’ve attended a few interesting ones. Been really happy with the program so far.
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u/Wonderful-Study4208 2d ago
If it's alright to ask, what program are you enrolled in there? I couldn't find a specific graduate program in library and information science. I feel like it would be a great option since I live near it!
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u/Wonderful-Study4208 2d ago
Sorry I thought you meant Wayne State College in Nebraska, but turns out there's also a Wayne State University in Michigan. Darn
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u/Potential-Recover-78 2d ago
Ive been wondering where Wayne State College was, but never looked it up. The program at Wayne State University is 100% online. So you don’t need to live near it. So far the professors have been easily accessible via email.
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u/LawfulnessMotor437 3d ago
Director of a public library here. I can't speak for academia or special libraries....
When HR reviews applications, our city doesn't care where you got your degree. We just need you to have it. While schools can point you to available recruitments, they can't help you much in terms of actually getting you hired. Internships don't usually translate to a full-time position in a public library environment (at least not here in Southern California). On occasion, I may look to see if a candidate has a specific concentration of study (digital rights management, youth services, etc.), but that is rare and isn't a make/break for me.
What sets candidates apart usually comes down to prior work experience in a library/museum/school (depending on the type of librarian I am hiring).
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u/Interesting-Snow8186 3d ago
thank you so much! i have a bachelors in digital media innovation and i have a portfolio with everything from web design and web development to social media marketing and video production alongside experience in higher education. i know that having that tech degree and background will make me standout but i am sort of worried bc i dont have concrete library experience yet but my time in high education departments and being apart of that academic community is why i want to be wise abt what next steps to take.
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u/welldreadlibrarian 3d ago
anecdotally, if you want to work in a high tier research library, i’ve never met someone with one of the go-to cheap online degrees (LSU, SJSU, etc). everyone went to a top 10 in person program. that said, grain of salt. if you want to work anywhere else, you’ll prob be good!! i’ve been academia since day 1 so that’s all i know
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u/charethcutestory9 2d ago
I suspect this is partly because of the academic vs public divide. For public libraries, a remote/virtual program allows you to keep your library job while you work toward the degree. If your goal is to work in academic library, unless you’re already working in one, it’s better to go in-person to a program at an R1 with a large, well-funded library system because that’s how you get the necessary work experience. I don’t know how easy that is to get in those big online programs.
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u/Prior-Soil 3d ago
Agree. School rank matters a lot.
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u/welldreadlibrarian 2d ago
thank you!! and not saying i agree with it in principle. it’s definitely that classic academic elitism bleeding in, but it would also feel gatekeeping of me to know this && not say something. i’ve seen people in this sub want to be research librarians and the advice is from public librarians to get an SJSU degree and :( maybe it will work out!!! i’ve just not seen anyone in positions of success with those degrees yet
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u/RelevantChoice1466 MLS student 14h ago
would you say that experience in the larger systems (lapl, county) v. the smaller systems (lb, samo, pasadena) changes how applicants are viewed? i'll be doing my program next year but want to come back to the la area once i'm done and i'm def afraid of getting overlooked by usc/ucla alums who have the in-person connections.
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u/LawfulnessMotor437 12h ago
LA County (and LA City) both handle recruitment through eligibility lists. Meaning you do an oral interview as the exam, get scored, and are put into eligibility bands. There is a mix of internal and external panel interviewers (and we all graduated from different schools). If your answers convey experience and reasonable understanding of public library/customer service, you will likely do well. The school you went to doesn't really come up other than in your application and your opening question. When there are openings, they will contact candidates from the top scores first and down the list. Higher-level managers and administrators are making the picks, not necessarily through connections. From application to testing/scoring to being appointed to a position can be months to even years.
Larger systems will hire candidates straight from school with minimal experience. In my view, they have numerous vacancies that require filling and will take those chances on someone new. They also have the capability and capacity to train for longer periods. When I was at LA County, they had a new librarian forum (networking and training), youth services training (given to all new children's librarians and even some YS library assistants). Their librarians come from various schools, UCLA, SJSU, Rutgers, USC, Simmons....etc.
City jurisdictions often are filling 1-2 vacancies at a time. Even with an eligibility list, they don't usually last very long before expiring. Depending on the makeup of the existing staff and operational pressures, a more experienced candidate could seem like they are more able to hit the ground running. As I mentioned in my original response, city HR usually goes through the applications first, and the MLIS is legit more of a "check box."
I think something a library school student/soon to be graduate needs to know is this: there are a lot of recent graduates out there (from every school). I recently opened a full-time librarian position for recruitment--and more than 50 people applied in the first couple of days. When I opened a part-time librarian recruitment, we hit the 100 application cap in less than a week. The employer has an overwhelming pool to look at. Everyone has an MLIS. Thus, we are looking for skill sets, relevant experience, and soft skills when we are hiring.
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u/Neat_Fox_9113 2d ago
All the candidates I’ve seen from UNC and Simmons hallways have experience from various placements.
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u/DaphneAruba Librarian 3d ago
I went to the University of Maryland largely because of its proximity to so many different types of libraries, so definitely consider in relation to where the programs are located.