LISTSERV mailing list manager LISTSERV 16.5

Help for CODE4LIB Archives


CODE4LIB Archives

CODE4LIB Archives


CODE4LIB@LISTS.CLIR.ORG


View:

Message:

[

First

|

Previous

|

Next

|

Last

]

By Topic:

[

First

|

Previous

|

Next

|

Last

]

By Author:

[

First

|

Previous

|

Next

|

Last

]

Font:

Monospaced Font

LISTSERV Archives

LISTSERV Archives

CODE4LIB Home

CODE4LIB Home

CODE4LIB  May 2014

CODE4LIB May 2014

Subject:

Re: College Question!

From:

Megan O'Neill Kudzia <[log in to unmask]>

Reply-To:

Code for Libraries <[log in to unmask]>

Date:

Thu, 29 May 2014 11:45:13 -0400

Content-Type:

text/plain

Parts/Attachments:

Parts/Attachments

text/plain (224 lines)

Riley, great questions! Everyone, great answers!

I guess I'd just add (as another English major who went to a small liberal
arts school for undergrad, and who sort of backed into systems and
programming) that what I've found really useful about the breadth of
education I got kind of breaks down into 3 things:
1) I get cred with people I potentially otherwise wouldn't. I have enough
knowledge to be dangerous about a lot of subjects, but it helps faculty see
me as someone who knows what I'm talking about. I can speak some of the
language of a lot of fields, which then helps those faculty feel
comfortable about my expertise (such as it is). So that's really useful.
2) I got used to the idea of seeing problems as complex, large-system
things. I have worked with folks who can absolutely bash something together
and make it work, but they don't always see the big picture re: how much
time/sweat/frustration it's going to cost them 3 years from now, and 5
years from now, etc. when they have to migrate or upgrade or fix up that
thing they never really did properly in the first place and then didn't
document. This is NOT TO SAY that you can't get that perspective elsewhere,
or to allege that I always document or build things properly, etc. It's
just a useful perspective to have, and that's where I learned to think that
way.
3) If you're a person who learns or explains well through analogies, a
broad education that forces you to take classes in a lot of subject areas
and brain work types (textual analysis vs. modeling, etc.) will give you
TONS more fodder for those analogies.

I share the regrets of many others, in that I wish I had taken advantage of
the CS curriculum offered at my institution and taken classes in that area
when I had the chance. As Adam says, I just have some catching up to do now.

I'm really enjoying watching this discussion and seeing where we all came
from, academically speaking :)


On Thu, May 29, 2014 at 11:27 AM, Cary Gordon <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> I include science and math in liberal arts. Of course, Greek and Latin are
> also considered liberal arts essentials, and I wish I had studied them.
>
> I also have an MLS, which beyond being a requirement for many jobs, makes
> it easier to comprehend the conversation. I got mine 10 years into working
> with libraries.
>
> Cary
>
> On Thursday, May 29, 2014, Laura Krier <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > I wouldn't knock a liberal arts education, especially based only on high
> > school experience. It's sort of the point of college: to be able to learn
> > and understand about a wide range of fields and subjects. Otherwise you
> > might as well go to trade school. College isn't just about getting a job
> > when you graduate, but about learning how to think and understand
> different
> > perspectives.
> >
> > And liberal arts includes the sciences, which I think people tend to
> > forget. We think "oh, liberal arts are the arts and humanities" but they
> > really encompass every school and department in a university.
> >
> > And as other people have mentioned, there are key skills you can learn
> from
> > courses in English, anthropology, history, philosophy, sociology, etc.
> This
> > is where you learn to write, to communicate effectively, to understand
> how
> > people think (user experience, anyone?). These are all crucial skills
> that
> > separate leaders and those who are more successful in their fields from
> > those who are not. I'm not saying you can ONLY learn these skills in
> > college, from a liberal arts education, but it sure helps.
> >
> > I also don't think there's anything wrong at all with going to a "trade
> > school" or whatever we call them these days, and learning a skill set
> > outside of the realm of a liberal arts education. It really depends on
> what
> > you want to do and how fast you want to get to doing it.
> >
> > Laura
> >
> >
> > [image: Laura Krier on about.me]
> >
> > Laura Krier
> > about.me/laurakrier
> > <http://about.me/laurakrier>
> >
> >
> > On Wed, May 28, 2014 at 11:11 PM, Riley Childs <[log in to unmask]
> <javascript:;>
> > >
> > wrote:
> >
> > > ________________________________________
> > > From: Code for Libraries [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Laura
> > > Krier [[log in to unmask]]
> > > Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2014 1:22 AM
> > > To: [log in to unmask]
> > > Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] College Question!
> > >
> > > >>Hi Riley,
> > > >>Congrats on starting college in the fall! If you like to learn,
> college
> > > is pretty much the best place ever.
> > >
> > > College next fall, but almost there, pretty scary :)
> > >
> > > >>I second others in not necessarily recommending a bachelors in
> library/
> > > information science. I would actually suggest computer science if
> you're
> > at
> > > all skilled with math and logic. You'll probably have the best
> > > post-graduate opportunities even if you change your mind about
> > >>libraries.
> > > >>
> > > >>But make sure you get a well-rounded liberal arts education. Take
> > > advantage of gen ed courses to study things outside of your major
> > whenever
> > > you can. All people are served well by having a broad base of
> knowledge,
> > in
> > > my opinion. And you'll need solid writing skills no matter >>what you
> do
> > in
> > > life so make sure you practice those every chance you get. :-)
> > >
> > > I am meh on liberal arts, my high school is Liberal Arts and I really
> > > don't like it....
> > >
> > > >>Basically, as long as you learn to be a lifelong learner, it doesn't
> > > really matter what you major in I think. You'll always have to learn
> new
> > > things anyway.
> > >
> > > >>Congratulations again!
> > >
> > > >>Laura
> > > >>PS- To more directly answer your question, I majored in literature
> and
> > > women's studies in college. Now I'm a web services librarian. I kind of
> > > wish I had a more solid computer science background but I'm still able
> to
> > > learn what I need to.
> > >
> > > Sent from my iPhone
> > >
> > > > On May 28, 2014, at 9:49 PM, Amy Drayer <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Dear Riley et al:
> > > >
> > > > I was thinking the same thing as Coral. I have a humanities
> undergrad
> > > > degree; a computer science oriented degree would certainly have been
> > > > beneficial, especially with an emphasis on network and server
> > > > administration, or even web development depending on your interest
> (as
> > a
> > > > systems librarian I also managed the website and catalog). The
> > > > library-oriented education can wait until grad school.
> > > >
> > > > Honestly, I think we come from a variety of backgrounds. My liberal
> > arts
> > > > foundation works for me (I feel my education was well rounded in a
> way
> > a
> > > > science or IT degree may not have been), but I would definitely have
> > > wanted
> > > > some more technical classes such as I mentioned above if I had known
> I
> > > > would be in this field.
> > > >
> > > > In peace,
> > > >
> > > > Amy
> > > >
> > > > In peace,
> > > >
> > > > Amy M. Drayer, MLIS
> > > > Senior IT Specialist, Web Developer
> > > > [log in to unmask]
> > > > http://www.puzumaki.com
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On Wed, May 28, 2014 at 11:24 PM, Coral Sheldon-Hess <
> > > [log in to unmask]
> > > >> wrote:
> > > >
> > > >> Riley,
> > > >>
> > > >> Whatever you do, don't major in library science as an undergrad.
> Maybe
> > > >> minor in it, along with some other major, if you want, but it's not
> > > useful
> > > >> by itself as an undergraduate degree--most libraries want librarians
> > to
> > > >> have the MLIS. And what if you change your mind after a few years
> and
> > > don't
> > > >> want to get the masters? Do something you could get a career in--or
> > work
> > > >> in, part time, to afford the MLIS.
> > > >>
> > > >> If you want to be a systems librarian, why not get a degree in
> systems
> > > >> engineering or IT? (Seriously, there are degrees in
> > > >> IT< <http://www.ccsu.edu/page.cfm?p=332>
>
>
>
> --
> Cary Gordon
> The Cherry Hill Company
> http://chillco.com
>



--
Megan O'Neill Kudzia
Web Services & Emerging Technologies Librarian
Stockwell-Mudd Library
Albion College
602 E. Cass St.
Albion, MI 49224

Top of Message | Previous Page | Permalink

Advanced Options


Options

Log In

Log In

Get Password

Get Password


Search Archives

Search Archives


Subscribe or Unsubscribe

Subscribe or Unsubscribe


Archives

October 2024
September 2024
August 2024
July 2024
June 2024
May 2024
April 2024
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004
September 2004
August 2004
July 2004
June 2004
May 2004
April 2004
March 2004
February 2004
January 2004
December 2003
November 2003

ATOM RSS1 RSS2



LISTS.CLIR.ORG

CataList Email List Search Powered by the LISTSERV Email List Manager