MLIS (Masters in Library and Information Studies)

eclectichoney

Parker kent - great point about the grad stats. Gives me an idea in fact - would be well worth surveying recent grads to find out how many are employed within the LIS sphere (anyone want to join me on my research study? /me digs out log-in for survey monkey )

I totally agree that the MLIS programme is also for those who wish to work in the information field more generally - however, the truth is the vast number of people who do the course, do so because they pretty much want to work in a library (even if it is a special / non-traditional library e.g. a tax library, ngo library etc.)

This also makes interesting reading for anyone considering entering the profession:
http://www2.libraryassociation.ie/2011/10/26/task-force-on-employment-support-report-to-the-executive-board/

parker kent

eclectichoney wrote: »

I totally agree that the MLIS programme is also for those who wish to work in the information field more generally - however, the truth is the vast number of people who do the course, do so because they pretty much want to work in a library (even if it is a special / non-traditional library e.g. a tax library, ngo library etc.)

Yeah that's the issue. I don't think I remember many, if any, in my class who did not regard it as just the "library course". I'd say a lot have ended up in other information related roles.

You can start the MLIS grad survey, I'll be happy as the inspiration :pac:

escargotbleu

Really glad I found this thread! Loads of good advice - and great to hear from people who have actually done this course!

I'm starting a nine-month internship in a public library soon and I can't wait...despite my reservations about Job Bridge. I think it'll work for my particular circumstances.

I was planning to apply for the MLIS in UCD up until the fees and maintenance grant for post-grads got cut this week. Now a tiny part of me is actually starting to see the positive side of this; If I have to pay fees and support myself anyway, I'm no longer limited to Ireland. I'm interested to hear more opinions on the UCD course versus those in Aber, UWE etc.

Thanks!

raher1

There is no work!

BG2

kopite4 wrote: »

There is no work!

Do you mean that it is difficult to find work in libraries? Or that you are too lazy and do not have the intelligence or motivation to discover other areas in which you can apply this degree?

Raphael

Probably the first one, and leave the abuse out please.

raher1

BG2 there is no work,unless 9 months of internship thats usually cover for illness of childbirth is work,you go man. its not me anyway,

parker kent

kopite4 wrote: »

BG2 there is no work,unless 9 months of internship thats usually cover for illness of childbirth is work,you go man. its not me anyway,

I think the mildly irritated point being made was that the MLIS is about more than just libraries. Yes I know 95% of people consider it "the library course", but there is more to it than that.

Weepsie

Mildly irritated perhaps, downright insulting, quite definitely. And as kopite said, most opportunities (not just in libraries) are temporary contracts. This obviously extends to beyond the information profession and is a product of the current economic climate. There are a good deal of full time positions for those willing or able to specialise in very specific areas, but the course does not have that option really, and is dependent on prior qualifications and experience for these positions.

You will see around april/may (or at least this year I did) some of these temp positions open up.

There are also an awful lot of people studying in the area with both UCD and DBS having large classes now, and quite a few Irish students registered at loughborough, aberystywth and RGU. It's quite competitive, so best to always remain open to other fields and identify various areas would consider working or studying in once you're finished. That's the best advice I think I could give.

eclectichoney

parker kent wrote: »

I think the mildly irritated point being made was that the MLIS is about more than just libraries. Yes I know 95% of people consider it "the library course", but there is more to it than that.

Where are these other areas with jobs though? I have seen very few information-type roles being advertised over the past couple of years, and one or two I can think of were more IT-centred knowledge management ro,es where you absolutely needed an IT background as well.
Sure you can apply for other jobs (admin etc.) having an MLIS - but you could probably apply for thos jobs without the MLIS or with another Masters degree as well.

I agree with Weepsie that most of the positions advertised are very short term contracts (maternity leave etc.) and so the organisations understandably need someone ready to hit the ground running rather than a new grad with a year or two experience who is going to take a couple of months to feel their way into the job. These days they can get plenty of the former applying, so recent grads don't get a look in.

Compounding the problem, a lot of vacancies are advertised internally which means LAs fill the AL jobs and then the LA jobs are never advertised externally as these are the jobs that suffer the hit from the need to cut staff budgets by 5-10% in many institutions (as well as the obvious difficulties caused by the PS Recruitment embargo)

parker kent

eclectichoney wrote: »

Where are these other areas with jobs though? I have seen very few information-type roles being advertised over the past couple of years, and one or two I can think of were more IT-centred knowledge management ro,es where you absolutely needed an IT background as well.

I wasn't actually saying that was my opinion, just interpreting what I thought the poster above meant in his/her post.

The MLIS is not really any different to most other post grads in that a very limited number of positions are longer than temporary contracts. There are not many people getting longer than a 1 year contract outside of those applying to graduate programmes (your KPMG type programmes for example). Somebody getting a maternity leave role is actually not to be sniffed at as it opens doors.

I would agree that the only specific area the MLIS qualifies a graduate for is library related roles. However, it can be used to get more general information related roles, albeit roles where you are competing with graduates from other areas. So the benefit to postgrads would be having a masters (I know not exactly what many will have signed up for) and having demonstrated a certain level of knowledge in information environments.

I can only speak from personal experience and that of my friends and I do know that there are recent grads getting "decent" jobs (even maternity leave positions). Like I said in the other thread a few weeks ago, of course it is extremely, extremely tough to find a job. I'm not denying that as it would basically be a lie. But there are some people getting lucky.

Also just to re-iterate the above posters point (as I slightly meandered through various topics!), there is more to SILS (or SISC as it now is!) than libraries. It is not all about getting a job in a library. Many enter it with that specific aim and I don't think the School do much to alter that mindset of MLIS students, but it is supposed to be about more than libraries.

Miss Smilla

escargotbleu wrote: »

Really glad I found this thread! Loads of good advice - and great to hear from people who have actually done this course!

I'm starting a nine-month internship in a public library soon and I can't wait...despite my reservations about Job Bridge. I think it'll work for my particular circumstances.

I was planning to apply for the MLIS in UCD up until the fees and maintenance grant for post-grads got cut this week. Now a tiny part of me is actually starting to see the positive side of this; If I have to pay fees and support myself anyway, I'm no longer limited to Ireland. I'm interested to hear more opinions on the UCD course versus those in Aber, UWE etc.

Thanks!

All the best with your internship-you'll get vital experience which is fantastic. I did the course in UCD-some elements were great, some not so great but I got a good overview of the field. My 6 week vol work exp led to a part time lib assistant job while I was at college, which then led me to getting a librarian post in the private sector when I finished so don't give up hope! I know I am one of the lucky ones but some of my classmates got library-related work, some internships, some paid. Experience was crucial in every case so take it when you can.

The course in Wales is highly respected in the field and some manage to do the distance one while working.

Good luck!

Handsome Bob

Sonye wrote: »

BG2 there is no work,unless 9 months of internship thats usually cover for illness of childbirth is work,you go man. its not me anyway,

Well, your only other alternative is to emigrate. Interning, if you get the right role, can open up a world of opportunities. I've been volunteering for 15 months at this stage and only recently have I begun to get interviews for paid positions. You have to pay your dues.

Ginger2

Has anybody out there done the MLIS Part-Time? If so, is it possible to hold done a job doing the course over the two years? Also, are the F/T and P/T lecture and tutorial classes mixed together or separate?
Cheers.

Weepsie

parker kent wrote: »

Yeah that's the issue. I don't think I remember many, if any, in my class who did not regard it as just the "library course". I'd say a lot have ended up in other information related roles.

You can start the MLIS grad survey, I'll be happy as the inspiration :pac:

It was one of the projects for the 2011/12 Class. Or something along those lines anyway.

@Ginger you would be in the same classes, though in the first year you would not be allowed do some of the classes I believe. I think they changed it so that you couldn't take the second Research Methods class until your second year as that's the year you'd be doing the capstone, but that might have been the choice of the student I knew.

electric_light

Hi everyone Just wondering if anyone else is planning on doing the MLIS in September? Also if anyone from previous years had any experience working in libraries abroad or at home I'd love to hear how ye got on after qualifying?

seventyeight

Yeah, I start the part-time MLIS in Sept. Looking forward to it!

AthloneTown

Hi seventyeight, I'm interested in doing the part time mlis next year, can you let me know how many hours per week you have and how they are assigned please? I'm from AthloneTown so I'm wondering if it's a case where I have to commute one day per week or is it more, weighing up if I should do distance learning?. Any information on the timetable would be fantastic thanks x

seventyeight

AthloneTown wrote: »

Hi seventyeight, I'm interested in doing the part time mlis next year, can you let me know how many hours per week you have and how they are assigned please? I'm from AthloneTown so I'm wondering if it's a case where I have to commute one day per week or is it more, weighing up if I should do distance learning?. Any information on the timetable would be fantastic thanks x

The UCD MLIS timetable is doable part-time but it's not an evening course and there's no option for distance learning. If you PM me your email address I can send you the timetable so you can get an idea of how the modules are offered. Most of the modules are spread out so may be able to do it by coming up for, for example, two afternoons per week. Some modules are at 9-10am, 1-3pm and 4-6pm so bear that in mind. I'm doing it part-time as well as working so I know it's not easy.

I looked at distance learning options in Aberystwyth and Robert Gordon. The Aberystwyth course is highly regarded but has a week-long study school each year - I have two small kids so that wouldn't work for me. The Robert Gordon course is all online and is very highly thought of. I believe it was voted the best MLIS in the UK a couple of years ago. The downside of these courses are the fees. It was much cheaper for me to do the UCD course, even part-time over two years. There's also the Dublin Business School course which is definitely worth a look but I don't have much information on it.

http://www.dbs.ie/course/postgraduate/msc-information-library-management-march

Hope this is of some use. If you have specific questions I'll try to answer. I know the course pretty well from being friends with past students but I don't start until next month.

AthloneTown

Just pm'd you! Thanks so much for the quick response!!

mhav91

Hi,

So glad there are lots of posts on this!
Would like to apply for this Masters for September 2015 but not sure if I am too late?
I have yet to get work experience and worried I may be too late to apply.
I am a qualified secondary school teacher with the subjects of English and Religious Education.

I could use some help with the online application form if people were able to help?
I know it has been asked already within the thread but the section 'Statement of Career Aspirations' anymore information regards this part?

Also as I have no experience yet, it states on the programme page 'If you don’t have experience, you should indicate what plans you have to fulfill this requirement.' Would you upload a detailed plan in the section 'Proof of Info. work expr.'

Any ideas of what the likelihood of acceptance without the experience? I am EXTREMELY interested in this course and would love to be accepted and attend in September!

Thanks

LovexxLife

Just wondering how you lot got on since 2010 and how you found the course?

An Bradán Feasa

Assistant Librarian job is being advertised in MIE and they're looking for someone with a recognised qualification in Library and Information Studies.

http://mie.ie/getdoc/140be61c-cceb-40e6-abbb-ed36b26e1d99/Library-Position-May-15.aspx

AM2790

I have been thinking of applying for this course for a while now. I currently work full time but think it is nearly time to move on. Unfortunately, most jobs I want (library assistant etc) I wont even get an interview for without the MILIS which is understandable. My question relates to doing the course full-time versus part-time. Financially it may be more manageable part-time, but only if I can hold on to my current job. I could probably switch to four days a week in my job but does anyone know how many days realistically I will need to be in UCD? Would I be better off biting the bullet and doing the course full time for the year?

WoolyJumper

Hi, I know this is an old thread, I was reading through it because i'm thinking of applying for this course but the job prospects seem a little discouraging. Anyone know what the prospects are like now? Any improvement?

Ever2010

There are definitely more jobs coming up at the moment, it's been very slow for years.

Most of the positions will have a lot of competition, so if you can try to secure some part time work in a library or information setting while you study - even some volunteer work if you can afford it will really help to build your CV up.

WoolyJumper

Thanks, yeah planing to call to some of the Library's during the week to hopefully get some vol work. I was doing a quick look earlier and saw a vacancy for a assistant librarian in CIT. It might be of interest to some people here. Unfortunately it's full time and I'm finishing up my bachelors degree so I can't take it on but for anyone else looking, just fyi.

Ever2010

WoolyJumper wrote: »

Thanks, yeah planing to call to some of the Library's during the week to hopefully get some vol work. I was doing a quick look earlier and saw a vacancy for a assistant librarian in CIT. It might be of interest to some people here. Unfortunately it's full time and I'm finishing up my bachelors degree so I can't take it on but for anyone else looking, just fyi.

What about something like citizen's advice? It's an information service, a large part of library work can be searching or knowing where to search. Might not be ideal but it would be better than nothing.

Depending on the type of library you would like to work in, things like working with kids in a school library... or a private library - many churches or parishes might have something along those lines.

You shouldn't need the course for library assistant, when I started out I got an LA position from having lots of customer service and office skills (excel etc) also any web design, project management skills are very useful.

Best of luck with the search - it's a wonderful profession to work in, particularly working in Higher Education.

Iamhobbi

I've applied for this postgrad to begin in September full-time Can anyone tell me how soon does it generally take for them to give you a conditional offer? I'm still completing my BA so it'd be nice to know what my plans are for after the summer!