Getting an MLIS
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Archived Q&A and Reviews
MLIS programs: UCB vs. SJSU
I am interested in pursuing a Master's in Library and Information Services. I would welcome advice on the pros/cons of the two local programs of which I am aware: UC Berkeley and San Jose State University. I am a full-time working mom, so it seems that SJSU would possibly be the only viable option as, if I understand correctly, UCB is geared towards full-time students (i.e., classes only during the week during regular business hours). Additionally, I would welcome any advice regarding working for one of the UCB libraries in general (e.g., job opportunities, trends, is preference given to those already at UCB in other positions, etc.). I wish to stay within the UC system as I plan to retire from it down the line, and working at UCB is preferable to UCSF geographically since I live in the East Bay. I would also appreciate any advice on how to best prepare for such a career move (e.g., online links I should check out, professional organizations I should join, etc.). Thanks!
Anonymous, so my colleagues don't know I'l planning to leave my current job
Just FYI -- the UCB program is not accredited by the American Library Association. So SJSU is the only real library school in the area. Thinking about library school, also
Unless the program has changed drastrically since I graduated in the late '90s, I would not recommend SJSU for an academic track librarian. The program was good for those wishing to work in schools or public libraries, but left something to be desired for those of us intersted in corporate or academic libraries. Many of the courses on those paths were taught by adjunct staff who, IMHO, should have stuck to their day jobs. And the program was surprising weak on the technological aspects of information science. The school did offer a smattering of programming ! p; database courses, but I found them to be poorly designed and not part of a coherent curricular structure. Things may have improved since then, but I'd read the catalog carefully and interview current students before opting for SJSU.
MLIS 1998
Hi, As you probably know, CAL lost its ALA accreditation, which means that its MLS (if it is even still called that) is not accepted at most libraries in the country. The degree program that they offer now does not focus on library services but rather on information management and I believe that its grads do not, in general, go to work at libraries.
As a hiring institution, CAL also has some problems. They do not hire very many people as professional librarians. Instead, they hire MLS-carrying people as ''library technicians'' (I cannot remember the specific name of the classification, but it is not a professional class), have them do professional work, but pay them a considerably smaller salary. Most librarians would not find that acceptable, but there are enough people who want to work in academic librarianship that the UC is able to take advantage of the ''cheap labor''. Over the years, as the librarians retire, they are consistently replaced with ''technicians'' and thus the UC is able to save on their costs. SJSU is not considered a top-notch library school and I was told that it would be very difficult to get an academic position with an MLS from SJSU. Many of their grads go on to work in public librarianship.
I looked into this when I was getting my MLS too.
Univ. of WA library school grad
My understanding is that the MLIS program at UCB is focused a lot less on libraries and a lot more on information -- how information is used, organized and managed. Another considertation is that the UCB program is not accredited by ALA. SJSU is a more practical program for people who want to work in libraries. I once heard the head of the San Francisco Public Library say that she always recommends SJSU to people wanting to get their library degree locally. Having been on many hiring committees, I would say that the prestige of the institition where the candidate got their MLIS/MLS is rarely a factor.
As for working in the library at UCB, the climate is not ideal for getting a job. Like all of UC, the library is the victim of dire budget times and there is currently a freeze on the hiring of all positions. Even in the best of times when there are openings in the UCB library, most positions advertise for individuals with a few years of relevant, professional experience (there are, of course, exceptions).
an anonymous librarian
Hi - First and foremost, UCB's program is not American Library Assn accredited. For many jobs, a requirement is an MLIS (or MLS or whatever) from an ALA accredited program. I don't think that UCB even offers a MLIS - you would get a ''MIMS.'' I can't speak for the program itself, however. I got my degree from SJSU, and yes, it was nice to have eve and wknd classes - a common strategy is to try to have all or most of your classes in a given semester on the same day - ''majoring in Tuesday'' !! I work at a UCB library, and it's great. I will warn you, however, that due to the current budget situation, it is very unlikely there will be much hiring here in the next couple of years. Who knows - by the time you get your degree, the situation may have changed! Good luck! michael
I'm a UC Berkeley Librarian and SJSU MLIS graduate, and would be happy to chat. Feel free to get in touch.
Hi there, I have an MLIS from SJSU and not sure I'd recommend it. There are far more people receiving MLIS degrees than there are jobs. By the time I was eligible for a public librarian 1 position (which was what I thought I wanted to do), I was making much more money at a library-adjacent job. Also, I qualified to be considered for Librarian1 but so did hundreds of other people who applied to the SF Public Library. Despite the fact that I'd been an intern there and had worked on various events with the library as part of my job, I wasn't event selected for an interview. If you wanted to work at UCB, you'd need not only the MLIS degree, but a masters-level subject degree (like art history or chemistry, etc).
Finally, the UCB program is no longer a library program - it is master of information. management and systems and is more technical. It covers stuff like "Understand and apply architectural, computational, and algorithmic thinking and principles of concurrency to the design of information systems."
I'm sorry to not recommend this path! I ended up working in academic communications and am quite happy!
UCB is not an option for an MLIS. You will not graduate with a Library Science degree, and as far as I know, you need an MLIS to be considered a librarian. They got rid of the program in the 1990s. I got my MLIS from SJSU in the early 2000s, but I had a grad student working for me who went there more recently, and it was all online. I currently work for UC (not Cal), and I will say the Cal library salaries are absolutely abysmal. The pay is low, the interview process is insane, they expect you to publish and to be very involved in professional organizations. In short, they are ridiculous. I've worked at every UC in the area, including Hastings and the two national labs as well as UCSF and Cal. I liked UCSF the best. People love the idea of becoming a librarian, but there is little upward mobility and the pay sucks. Not trying to discourage you. Just being realistic. I've been a librarian for 20 years.
I was on the east coast when I got my MLIS and so I'm not familiar with local programs. But I would suggest looking on some online options too. I got my masters at Wayne State University in Detroit while living in DC. They offer in state tuition to all their online students and several other schools do as well. I wasn't sure what doing online education would be like (I hadn't done any as my undergrad) but the classes had both flexibility and rigor and the professors worked hard to get you out in the real world for class work. I'd highly recommend it. I was working full time while I did class work part time (two classes at a time, three is full time). I found that managable before kids.
As far as prepping for a career move, some of the best advice was from the dean of the program at Wayne State at new student orientation. He pointed out that everyone applying for jobs you want is going to have an MLIS. What are you going to do to stand out? That can be experience you already have or some you seek out while at school. I was moving from hospitality to libraries and so I used that experience in interviews to talk about costumer service, welcoming people, dealing with difficult people, etc. I was in public libraries and it sounds like you're interested in academic, but for me the organizations that were most important to join were ALA and my local library associaition. And then attend things! I got my job in part b/c I went to ALA's annual conference and talked to people who were hiring. And local stuff you make contacts and connections with people in the field already here in the Bay Area.
Good luck!
Hello! I'm the head of local library and while I went to school in another state, I have hired many librarians who have degrees from California. First of all, you need to select a program that is accredited by the American Library Association. UC Berkeley is not, they stopped offering the MLIS 1994, their current degrees are in data science and management. San Jose State is accredited, along with UCLA and USC. In the ALA accredited database, you can narrow by your interest (public libraries, academic libraries, k-12, or others) and if you want a fully-online program. https://www.ala.org/CFApps/lisdir/index.cfm If you want to be a librarian, you need the MLIS or MSLIS (Master of Library and Information Science or Master of Science in Library and Information Science). If you want to do data science and not be a librarian, then UC Berkeley is amazing. https://www.ischool.berkeley.edu/programs
San Jose State is fully online- meaning you can do your degree without ever traveling to campus. I just hired someone who graduated from SJSU. It's a solid program, not top-tier, but good. I think what really sets SJSU graduates apart is that many of them have non-librarian jobs in libraries already and continue working while getting their degrees, so when they graduate they have experience. Some of the top programs in the country are residential or hybrid, and it sounds like you want to stay in California. I'd look into the 3 California programs so you can keep working and do your course working online in the evenings and on weekends.
One distinction I will make: for some academic positions, librarians are faculty and others positions are university staff. There is a huge difference, and I have done both. If you are faculty, (for example at many of the UCs), you will be required to publish your own research, present at conferences, and be on the tenure-track (like other department faculty). If you have a staff position, that requirement isn't there. It's something to consider, if you like research and writing.
I'd be happy to chat privately if you want. I'm in the East Bay too. Librarianship is a wonderful field to be in, and I love what I do. There are lots of jobs, but if you are not willing to move, it's a bit more competitive, especially at UC Berkeley.
Hello,
I attended SJSU for my MLIS and would be happy to share my experiences. While I did not end up entering the traditional LIS field (though my work intersects with it in many ways), I consistently find that the degree and overall experience enhances my life skills and contributions in numerous ways. Happy to chat offline if you want to reach out: rosekindness [at] gmail.com.