Riley,

As an undergrad, I studied music, religion, and English. I got my MLIS
after realizing that, out of my three majors, not a single one was
employable. If I'd known at the time that I'd enjoy teaching myself to
code, I would have just done that and skipped the MLIS.

As many people have mentioned, having a broad education is important for
librarians. This is especially true if you want the option of working at a
smaller school, where job descriptions can be quite broad. At a small
school, you'll be much more employable if you have both tech skills and a
subject specialization needed by that library. So a liberal arts degree can
be a good choice, especially if you pick one that isn't well represented in
libraries (i.e., not English or history).

But for now I wouldn't worry about choosing a major. Go to a good school
that feels like a good fit for you. Get a job at the library, even if it's
just circulation. During the first year, take a CS course along with GE
courses from a variety of disciplines, then choose your major(s) based on
what interests you the most.

Sarah




On Fri, May 30, 2014 at 9:30 AM, craig boman <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> I have a BA in Music and the MLIS(union card), starting the Ph.D this fall.
> Even though an MLIS was not required for my job, I find it incredibly
> useful to know the language of librarians and be able to serve all the
> librarians I support to the best of my abilities. Without the MLIS I would
> feel less able to speak the same jargon/language.
>
> And along the same lines as everyone else, I would highly recommend getting
> the most IT practical experience you can get with the most personal
> connections you can get in libraries. Attend as many library conferences
> you can as a student, while its still cheap. And once you get a part-time
> student IT job, volunteer to do everything you can. Also don't
> underestimate being a nice guy; having people like you in our customer
> service/IT type employment is a highly prized commodity.
>
> Good luck,
> Craig Boman, MLIS, BA
>
>
>
> On Fri, May 30, 2014 at 9:43 AM, scott bacon <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
> > I got a BA in Anthropology, made my millions, heh heh, then got my MLS
> > about 10 years later. No, but Karen is right, I constantly use what I
> > learned about cultural anthropology in my job as a librarian.
> >
> > My place of work is currently hiring a library systems administrator
> > and we don’t require an MLS. The upside is that we offer tuition
> > remission for a certain amount of credit hours per semester. So in
> > theory someone could take this job with a bachelor’s in CS or IT or
> > Info Science, learn while on the job, and also take classes to earn an
> > MLS through an online degree program offered at another university we
> > partner with in our state. So it definitely varies by institution.
> >
> > I’d echo the sentiments others have made in this thread by saying get
> > to know what it’s like to work in a library by taking any library job
> > you can find. I’ve known people to spend years and years getting
> > degrees only to find that they didn’t like the job once they started
> > working in the courtroom, cubicle, etc.
> >
> > And I believe the most important thing regarding valuation of
> > employees is the ability and drive to learn new things. Your job
> > duties will probably change significantly within a short amount of
> > time after your hiring, whatever it is you end up doing, so the drive
> > to learn will serve you well no matter what undergrad path you choose.
> >
> > _____
> >
> > Scott Bacon
> > Web Services and Emerging Technologies Librarian
> > Coastal Carolina University
> >
> > On Thu, May 29, 2014 at 2:15 PM, Joshua Welker <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > > Yes, experience trumps education completely in my experience as far as
> > > developing skills in libraries and technology. Some employers will
> demand
> > > the degree, but it is really of secondary value to hands-on experience.
> > >
> > > One possibility would be talking to a systems librarian or anyone else
> at
> > > your university whose job interests you and explain to them that you
> are
> > > looking for some mentoring and experience. It is quite likely that they
> > > could whip up a student worker position just for you. At least I know I
> > > would if a student approached me that way. All the libraries where I've
> > > worked have had fairly free reign with student worker hours. Chances
> are
> > you
> > > are going to end up doing some kind of student work position anyway, so
> > you
> > > might as well use it learning something valuable rather than raking
> > leaves
> > > or cooking pizza.
> > >
> > > Josh Welker
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
> Of
> > > Fleming, Declan
> > > Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2014 1:05 PM
> > > To: [log in to unmask]
> > > Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] College Question!
> > >
> > > Hi - I'm also an English undergrad.  This was after miserably failing
> > out of
> > > a Math/CS program (although I learned a lot).  The English degree
> forced
> > me
> > > to write a lot while in college - a time when one's mind needs some
> > > expanding lest it get caught in ruts.  This helped my communication
> > skills
> > > immensely.  Despite what Giarlo says.
> > >
> > > I also agree that a background in informatics is going to be really
> > helpful
> > > in the years to come.  We are awash in data, yet little of it has the
> > > semantics needed to automate the extraction of meaning.  I think there
> > are
> > > going to be many years of smart people plowing meaning back into the
> data
> > > sets that we're struggling to put away at the bit level now, and I
> think
> > it
> > > sounds like fun work.
> > >
> > > Another common thread I agree with, and one my kids have heard since
> they
> > > were in diapers, is GET A JOB!  Especially in the area you think you're
> > > interested in.  You'll learn more practical things there than in any
> > class.
> > > You may suck at it at first, but hey, they're paying you anyway!  If
> you
> > > like doing it, you'll get better, build your resume, and be better able
> > to
> > > see if it's something you want to do long term.
> > >
> > > Year later, after working in corporate IT for a while and getting sick
> > of my
> > > profession being treated like an expendable commodity, I went back and
> > got
> > > an MBA to better understand business - and learned that corporate IT is
> > an
> > > expendable commodity...  I wasn't really OK with that, so I came back
> to
> > > academia to do more meaningful work for far less money ;)  With the
> MBA,
> > I
> > > was able to come back at a director level and influence change, so
> that's
> > > kinda cool.
> > >
> > > Good job getting ahead of this!  You're a neat person and I appreciate
> > what
> > > you do for the community!
> > >
> > > Declan
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
> Of
> > > Henry, Laura
> > > Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2014 5:51 AM
> > > To: [log in to unmask]
> > > Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] College Question!
> > >
> > > My undergrad degree is in English, and it actually has come in handy at
> > > times. Good communication is important, regardless of what you end up
> > doing.
> > > If I could do it again, I'd seriously consider informatics - but I
> didn't
> > > know it was a thing until I started library school.
> > > http://www.soic.indiana.edu/informatics/
> > >
> > > As far as IT, I learned a lot from the tech-support job I had right out
> > of
> > > college, and after that I'm self-taught. I imagine it's a steeper
> > learning
> > > curve than if I had some sort of tech degree.
> > >
> > >  If you're going for an ML(I)S, major in whatever interests you.
> > Librarians
> > > come from all kinds of backgrounds. In my class there were a ton of
> > English
> > > and History degrees, but we also had people with degrees in
> astrophysics,
> > > soil science, and accounting.
> > >
> > > Laura C. Henry, MLS
> > > Assistant Systems Librarian
> > > Beaufort County Library
> > > 311 Scott Street, Beaufort, SC 29902
> > > Phone 843.255.6444   [log in to unmask]
> > > www.beaufortcountylibrary.org
> > > For Learning ♦ For Leisure ♦ For Life
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
> Of
> > Amy
> > > Drayer
> > > Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2014 12:50 AM
> > > To: [log in to unmask]
> > > Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] College Question!
> > >
> > > 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
> > >> >
> > >>
> >
>



-- 

Sarah Thorngate
Digital Services Librarian
North Park University
[log in to unmask]
773-244-4562