Since I have held on to this goal for quite awhile, nothing or no one was going to sway me not to pursue my MLIS. I can’t think of any other degree I would want to go for; I love this field and have for years. I have not been disappointed in my program at all. My classes were face-to-face; the community of students and faculty was supportive, like-minded, and engaging. I had opportunities to contribute my knowledge of the field (I’ve been given numerous professional tasks throughout my career as a para), to participate in engaging, intelligent class discussions, to bring newly acquired skills to my current position, and to learn from my classmates. In no way do I feel that my time in the program was a waste. I achieved my goal, learned new skills and contributed knowledge, networked with many interesting faculty, staff, and students, formed great friendships, completed numerous projects/assignments that required critical thinking, practical knowledge, good research and writing skills, etc.

If there is a feeling that library school is not “up to par”, then maybe it isn’t for you. Perhaps pursuing a different degree (undergrad, grad, certificate, vocational) makes more sense. I would really be happy to hear more positive comments and experiences from library school students and grads. Let’s boost morale, elevate our profession, and move forward to keep our libraries relevant and essential!

It’s a bit embarrassing to be calling it a graduate program when admissions standards are pretty low and we are being taught basics that everyone should have learn in undergrad (i.e. learning the difference between qualitative and quantitative research, lessons on how to work in a group, etc.).

Also, at least half of my cohort were already employed in libraries in some fashion when they started the program. For people in that situation, a required internship strikes me as a counterproductive waste of time.

I do have a rant, though. The work for this degree was challenging largely because I was committed to getting everything out of it that I could. Many of my classmates were much less committed. Worse, some of them had the writing and research skills of a 10th grader and should never have made it into a graduate program of any kind. They did not take up the challenge that was offered, their participation was sub-par, their classmates carried them through group projects, and they all ended up with the same degree I did.

Library schools are a business. They cannot keep a staff if they do not fill their classes. They may offer a terrific curriculum, but to stay afloat they participate in the practice of grade inflation that is sadly pervasive in most colleges and high schools in this country.