r/LibraryScience

Hey all, I've spent a good part of this year thinking about library science as a kind of "what if?" and now I've been told my contract at work, where I've been for the last five years, likely won't be renewed, so I have to start thinking about next steps. I'm currently doing manual QA testing for a telecom company, something I basically fell into. It's not the worst, but I don't have any passion for it. Quite frankly, being in a field where so many people just want to talk about AI has been incredibly depressing in the last little while. Based on librarian subs and other things I've seen online, I know a pivot into this field wouldn't be a picnic and I don't have an expectation that I'd just fall into a perfect dream job, I know there are issues in any field. But I've been feeling for a while like I would do better in a field where I at least think that some of it is meaningful. I'm 32 now and going back to school is feasible in the sense that I do have savings put aside. It's scary feeling like I'm at a bit of a fork in the road, so I'd appreciate any advice from anyone who's been in a similar position. Thanks!

Hi everyone

I'm planning to apply to UCLA's MLIS program for the Fall 2027 cohort and I'm wondering how much library/archive experience alumni or current students would recommend having before applying. For context, I do have over five years of work experience as a business analyst at a reputable entertainment company, but I don't think this compensates for my lack of direct experience in the library/archive field. I'm starting a volunteer position this week at my local public library but also not sure if that will hold any weight.

Any success stories of people without direct experience who were admitted? Should I test my luck and apply for 2027 or spend the next year building experience in the field and apply for 2028?

Thanks in advance!

I’m a first-year student at a strong lib-sci master’s program working a GAship that is funding most of, albeit not all of (ab 5.5k a semester left over), my tuition. It also provides me a good stipend.

This is, for context, my second master’s program. I have made a few posts in the past expressing my concerns regarding whether or not a masters in library science could help me achieve what I want — the ability to do research in what I’m interested in (which is a specific subset of new media research intersecting with a larger idea for a digital humanities project), the ability to teach and work with students — but after a few negative experiences (major health issues, then an abusive committee chair I had to remove) and speaking with multiple faculty members and the librarians at my former university, I was encouraged down the path of the MLIS.

Now, I’m sitting in my GAship, and in orientation, and with the program advisors, and I’m feeling like I made a massive mistake by not just going through with applying to PhDs in Info Sci (including the one @ my current university). As someone who already has an MA, it feels like I’ve taken one step forward and two steps back, and every time I meet a new doctoral student, I’m hit with grief again. Now, perhaps I’m just being particularly negative and I’ll feel differently when classes start…but maybe I won’t.

I’m mostly posting to get my thoughts out and see if any other current or previous MLIS students had similar feelings. Any and all replies are much appreciated.

for those who went to UIUC for their MSLIS, for my own sanity could you recommend me any profs who aren’t heavy handed on breakout rooms / group projects? or classes/profs that you really liked? 🙂 I’ve had a few not so great experiences so far and am only halfway through my degree. I don’t have anything against break out rooms in general but it feels like pulling teeth with some people and i’m always having to lead which I don’t love. I already know how to work with people considering i’m working FT 🙃 I’m in the LEEP program so it’s kind of hard to make connections w classmates online to get this advice.

feel free to DM me if you want!!

I've applied for a handful of positions throughout the past month and still have not heard back. Im super desperate for work :/

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!

Im in my 40s and have been a practicing attorney for about two decades. But I feel compelled to finally get the MLIS I’ve always wanted and focus on law librarianship.

My law school grades suck, but I’ve been pretty successful in my career and have good recommendations. I’m absolutely going to need scholarships (single mom!), too.

Is my application cooked? What do admissions teams and scholarship folks look for in these positions? What should I avoid?

[I’ve already selected the schools I want to apply to; it’s a short list that I think will meet my needs and where I could be successful]

I have accepted an offer to study at The University of Manchester in their newly CILIP accredited (ALA UK equivalent) Library and Archive Studies program. I have been so so so excited since November when I received my offer. I’ve been interested in library and archives programs since college (2015) and have spent time volunteering at libraries, teaching, and working in information and data management at a law firm. I would like to either work at a university as a research librarian or law librarian (at a university or firm). I know this is what I want to do, or at least thought I knew.

The program starts in late September and I’m getting ready to move. I’ve submitted the deposit, completed all required paperwork, secured scholarships and funding, etc., but now I’m questioning if I’ve made the right choice. I’m very stressed currently about my housing situation (referencing is taking much longer than I expected) and I’ve had fairly poor experiences thus far with university administration, I.e. financial aid office. I think these interactions have left a negative impression which is why I’m questioning everything. The program also seems so young, both in its accreditation and student body — I’m 30 and many students seem to be in their early twenties.

I’m hoping to get some advice and perspective.

Thanks

I work full-time and I’m about to start a hybrid MLIS program. I’m taking two classes, with one that meets once a week for two hours and one that’s entirely online and asynchronous. I was also recently offered an internship doing archival research and writing at a local government office. The internship is 10-15 hybrid hours a week and pays enough to cover tuition. I’d be going into the office once or twice a week for a few hours at a time and doing the rest remotely. It feels like too good of an opportunity to pass up, but I’m starting to wonder if I’m underestimating how hard it will be to juggle everything.

When I look at my schedule on my own it seems difficult, but doable if I plan things out effectively. I went to a fairly academically rigorous school for undergrad, and I’m used to being chronically busy. From my point of view, doing all of this is just reorienting all the various bits of my current busy schedule so they all work towards the same goal. I do, however, wonder if I’m banking too much on what I’ve heard about MLIS classes being relatively easy.

I’m fairly young and live with my partner and some other friends/roommates. My family lives out of state, so outside of a trip or two each year to visit I don’t have a ton of outside obligations on that end of things. I haven’t signed the final offer letter for the internship yet, but I feel like this is probably the best possible time to have a hellish year in exchange for some extra money and a ton of experience. This being said, I don’t have a great sense of how rigorous my classes will be or how much time I’ll need for homework. I know it’ll vary between programs, but please tell me if I’m making some horrible terrible mistake!

I have been reaching out to MLIS programs that I am interested in applying to however due to health issues in undergrad I don't meet the 3.0 gpa requirement to apply (Currently about 2.5 without senior grades). One school suggested taking community college classes after I graduate to be able to apply to programs and I found Long Beach City College Library Technician program. Anyone gone through this program than applied to MLIS that could give advice. Or should I take my chances and continue to apply to MLIS programs, any programs with conditional admissions that you suggest? I am starting to get worried about my options of breaking into the field.

Hi everyone,

After several years of talking with colleagues about our discipline, I have noticed different trends when it comes to naming our field of study. I wanted to ask about these different options and get your opinions on them.

In my case, I usually use the term Bibliometrics (the origin of the name of this subreddit!), but I have heard Scientometrics on multiple occasions, perhaps due to the name of the prestigious journal.

I understand there are other, more specific fields that for me fall under the umbrella of Bibliometrics( such as Informetrics or Webometrics) but I am also starting to come across the concept of Science of Science.

Just to include a bit of context regarding Spanish terminology: in both Spain and Latin America, the specific term "Bibliometría" is used. However, it is traditionally considered a branch of "Biblioteconomía" (Library Science) in Spain, whereas in Latin American countries that overarching field is usually referred to as "Bibliotecología".

What do you think of these terms, and what is your perspective on them? Looking forward to reading your thoughts!

I absolutely apologize if I post this wrong or anything, I've never done a reddit post since it's scary but I figured it's time to!

I'm an incoming senior undergrad and while considering an MLIS wasn't my initial goal in college, I've found archives and data management to be something I enjoy after being granted an archival photo restoration and data management internship in some previous years. Currently I work at my Universities special collections and it'll be my second year going into it. I would've liked more experience, but I had to seriously network my way into the job since at first they told me there was no positions open. Now I have an awesome time making our collections accessible to researchers, students, and teachers!

I've been told that San Jose State (California) is a good college to get an MLIS from, especially with it being online. Though, I find myself fearing that I wont get many opportunities from an online college as much as in person. I Currently live in Nevada but might consider North Carolina in the near future post-grad since i have family down there. I pretty much support myself financially so I don't know if I see myself affording top-end schools. I also find myself alarmed by the large number of reddit posts with people regretting their MLIS or saying it's no longer worth it especially with the pay. Even on my family end I get asked if it'll even make money. Any advice and/or words of encouragement?

I saw linkedin posts Like chemist (preservation scientist), reference librarian...etc

To work in these prominent organizations, students of Library science can be benefited but what i don't know what paths should i chase to land a job in these organizations

Need advice from the experts

For those who have completed the MLIS at SJSU or are currently in the program, how closely have you followed the recommended pathways? I’m in my second semester and trying to find a course combination that balances public librarianship with a solid amount of cataloging and classification. Interested to hear how others approached this and whether you found it helpful to follow one of the recommended pathways closely or mix and match courses.

hi everyone, I was considering applying to UCLA's MLIS program later this year, but I don't have any direct experience with librarianship, just general work in education.

I was wondering if anyone has any insight on how much experience is necessary to get in? I've been applying to a bunch of museum jobs, applying to volunteer at local libraries, and the people who run the volunteer programs are extremely hard to get a hold of. their program is my ideal program, but I'm worried about going through the whole stress of applying and not being a viable candidate to even start with. please do not caution about the $ of the program -- it's not a factor for me!

Hi, I'm looking for some advice from librarians who have relocated, especially if you've moved to a more competitive job market with librarian experience under your belt.

I currently work as an Adult Services Librarian in a Florida public library system. I've been with the system for about 9 years, including 4 years as a librarian after completing my master's. My duties have included general programming, teaching technology classes, managing volunteers, coordinating outreach, serving on system-wide committees, and most recently getting a makerspace organized and running smoothly.

My partner relocated to the Orlando area recently for a new job, and I've been watching the job market for a few months and there don't seem to be many librarian openings. When they do appear, they're often youth librarian positions or part-time. I'm hoping to find something in adult services or reference but I wouldn't be opposed to an academic library.

I'm trying to decide on the best strategy and would love to hear from people who have been through something similar. And if you are in the Orlando area and have specific insights, I would love to talk privately!

Some questions I have:

1. Is it realistic to wait for an Adult Services/Reference Librarian opening that matches my experience, or do those positions tend to get filled internally before an external candidate has much of a chance?

2. Would you recommend taking an hourly Library Assistant position just to get into a system, with the hope of moving into a librarian position later? Has anyone successfully done that, or is it difficult to move back into a professional role once you've stepped down?

3. How valuable is networking when trying to relocate? If it's important, what kinds of networking actually helped you? State library associations? Conferences? Reaching out to managers?

I actually really love my current position, so I'm not looking to leave immediately or take just any job.

Thank you in advance for any words of advice!

Hello, first time posting here so if I missed something or used the wrong flair please let me now and I'll change it asap.

My wife and I have decided to work towards moving to Germany for the long-term. Her visa path is clear & straightforward but mine could go in different directions and I would like your guys' opinion on this.

I'm 27M, will be obtaining my bachelor's by the end of the year and am currently working as the sole (and sadly unofficial) archivist/digitization clerk in my department. My employment will end once I finish this digitization project, which is predicted to take 4-5 years unless the boss decides to hire more clerks to help out. Before we decided to work on this I planned to enroll in San Jose for my MLIS and use the work experience to move forward in my career. I really enjoy the work I do so I plan to continue with archival work, but I'm open to trying other professions that are under the MLIS umbrella.

I originally planned on gaining entry into Germany through their student visa & learned that though they have a masters program for library sciences, most people get a bachelor's of the same major and are able to find work just fine; so I'm unsure if I should get an MLIS here and rely on my experience to get employment on a work visa, get a 2nd bachelor's in Germany on the student visa, or pursue their MLIS over there (unless the library sciences bachelors is a prerequisite). Going by Anabin, both the university I'm currently enrolled in and San Jose are accredited in Germany so I can get my degrees evaluated. It looks like I can go either way here.

We have a few years before we make any moves, 2 years at least but it looks to be more like we'll stay in the US for around 3-4 years so there's no rush to figure things out now. But I would really appreciate any feedback or advice on this since there doesn't seem to be a path that would be the definitive choice.

I've been in the library world for 6 years. I worked my way up from a library assistant to the manager and now....with everything being so political...its taking my passion away from me.

I live in TN and in my town, a big group of white nationalist are complaining about the children books and even getting the local government involved in the elections. County commissioners and city council members who don't have a library card are using the library as their campaign. They are saying stuff like "keep p*rn out the library" and a "250 dollar reward if you find p*in in the library". Alot of people are putting politics on the librarians and that is creating a division in the community. Then in Arkansas, their Supreme Court just passed a law that let's librarians and booksellers get prosecuted for giving p*rn to kids but they never defined what qualifies as p*rn so anybody can interpret that and that makes it dangerous. For example, I could get in trouble for giving a bluey book to a child and the mother could take me to court because bluey is not wearing clothes on the front.

This is a scary time. I want to hear from all of you on how are you doing?

I just started part-time as a Library Assistant 2 (Youth Services) in a library system in a fairly wealthy area of the country. My background is a decade in youth ministry (loved it! program planning, volunteer supervision, community-facing work) plus one year of middle school teaching (burned out hard on that one) currently working in museums and cultural sites. Library work itself feels like a strong fit, and I have experience as a page and circ clerk.

What I can’t get a clear read on is whether full-time roles actually exist in good numbers, or whether public libraries are mostly shrinking to part-time/hourly staffing, with a shrinking core of full-timers who never leave.

I keep seeing conflicting takes. Some say libraries are chronically understaffed and hiring, others say budgets are getting cut and full-time positions are disappearing or being converted to part-time.

For people currently in the field:

1: At your library or system, has full-time headcount grown, shrunk, or stayed flat over the last 5-10 years?

2: When a full-time position opens, is it usually a new position, or someone retiring/leaving from a role that already existed?

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3: Is this different by region, or by public vs. academic vs. special libraries?

I don’t need to get rich, just need something stable, that helps the community, and doesn’t require holding two jobs indefinitely. Trying to figure out if this is a field where “part-time now, full-time eventually” is a realistic trajectory or just story people tell themselves lol