________________________________________
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>now, what a world!) Computer
>> science wouldn't hurt, if you don't mind
>> theory, and you can get some good foundational stuff that will help with
>> the information science part of "libraries and information science."
>>
>> The school where I got my MLIS had an "Information Science" department that
>> was mostly IT, too. So, that's a possibility.
>>
>> --
>> Coral Sheldon-Hess
>> http://sheldon-hess.org/coral
>> @web_kunoichi
>>
>>
>> On Wed, May 28, 2014 at 7:17 PM, Riley Childs <[log in to unmask]
>>> wrote:
>>
>>> I was curious about the type of degrees people had. I am heading off to
>>> college next year (class of 2015) and am trying to figure out what to
>> major
>>> in. I want to be a systems librarian, but I can't tell what to major in!
>> I
>>> wanted to hear about what paths people took and how they ended up where
>>> they are now.
>>>
>>> BTW Y'All at NC State need a better tour bus driver (not the c4l tour,
>> the
>>> admissions tour) ;) the bus ride was like a rickety roller coaster...
>> 🎢
>>>
>>> Also, if you know of any scholarships please let me know ;) you would be
>>> my BFF :P
>>>
>>>
>>> Riley Childs
>>> Student
>>> Asst. Head of IT Services
>>> Charlotte United Christian Academy
>>> (704) 497-2086
>>> RileyChilds.net
>>> Sent from my Windows Phone, please excuse mistakes
>>