Why Louisiana should close its Library Science School
Author: petercoyl | Filed under: UncategorizedLouisiana State University has proposed to close its graduate School of Library and Information Science. Among the reasons people oppose this action is the face it is the only program in the state. [See this article.]
What opponents don’t take into account is the current job market. I have been looking for a job for over 8 months. I have applied for over 80 jobs. I would have applied for more, but there weren’t any more to apply for. I have applied for jobs in small towns, big towns, towns in the middle of no where, towns in towns where I didn’t want to live. Yet nothing.
The problem is there are simply no entry level Librarian jobs out there. Too many large libraries have cut funding and cut budgets causing a glut of unemployed Librarians with experience. These Librarians are the ones getting the jobs over newly minted Librarians. When I attended PLA I talked to Librarians from all over the US, and they concurred. They said they would rather hire a Librarian with the 2-5 years experience, because quite frankly, they were willing to be paid as much as a new entry level Librarian.
Forbes recently called the MLS one of the Worst Degrees to have a Masters in [source] . I am not sure why they said that. Is it because we don’t get paid much? Is it because there are cuts all over? Or is it because there are no jobs for new entry level people? It is hard to say but logic follows: if there are not entry level jobs, why produce more Librarians?
I know people are attached to their Alma matters. But who are the ones having a fuss about he program closing? Are it the current students? Are it the alumni (who all have jobs)? I for one think the job market is too tight to have any more Librarians minted because I for one would like to find a job.
[Andy on Agnostic, Maybe has written a similar post on why some public libraries should be closed for now]
I can tell you are quite upset because you let several typos go through.
I love you. Something will turn up. Hug
I have the worlds greatest mom
When I heard the news, I thought exactly the same thing. New graduates are moving around all over the country and the popularity of online programs is increasing, so there is really no need for each state to have a library program. Even students of school librarianship can generally meet the requirements that are particular to the state they wish to find work in.
D.
Good post. I was referred here from Agnostic, Maybe.
1st point I want to make is that I sort of agree with you about closing the school, even though I don’t know much about the situation. But I can tell you this, in California, where I live, we have 2 library schools in the entire state. If a giant state like California can get by with 2 library schools, a smaller state like Louisiana might be able to get by without 1.
Secondly, this is of no consolation, and I’m sure you know already, but the last few years have been the worst job market for just about anybody not just librarians, since the Great Depression. As librarians, we mainly work in the public sector, and the public sector is now feeling the hit from loss of revenue, that the private sector felt a year or two ago. Theoretically, as the private sector improves, government revenues will improve, and there will be restored funds. In the meantime, I have a recommendation that you may not have tried yet. Prisons. In most states, prison libraries staffed by MLIS librarians are mandated by law, making them essential positions that can’t be eliminated. My wife was a librarian at a prison for a few years. The job is terrible..My wife worked without a/c or the Internet and had to deal with guards who treated everyone who wasn’t a guard like a prisoner. However, the job will get you experience and you can hang in until the job market for public and academic librarians turns around in a few years (hopefully).
Rob: Thanks for the compliment on the post and the advice about prison libraries. Ill take a look at some of the state listings and see if I can’t find one.