Hi all,
Someone on the list said that museum and libraries and archives are two different worlds.  I have to agree.  I am an archivist by training (MLIS with a concentration in archives), but work in an archives/library/museum.  Granted ours is a small institution thus the multiple roles.  When I started at Navarro, the archives was part of the library (actually it still is).  In October, we opened a museum based on our Civil War and Western Art collections.  Coming from a library science and archival background, the learning
curve for the museum has been steep.  I read every museum-related book/periodical that I can get my hands on because I am reminded daily where the gaps are in my training.  (And I know that for the time being, I will be the only professional - archival or otherwise.)  There are parallels between and among the fields, but there is a definitely an expertise that comes from the training and education of a museum studies program and many days I feel that lack of training.  I think someone with an MLIS without museum
experience would have a very tough time securing a museum position other than as archivist or librarian.  I love the diverse environment that I work in, but there are days when I miss being "just an archivist" because there are aspects of that job that are unique to that position.
Julie Holcomb

"Fonda, Suzi" wrote:

> Hi Sara and others:
>
> I cannot speak to any specifics, but I can tell you that at the last two museums I worked at we had a librarian and/or an archivist with a degree in library science.   As Candace pointed out, an MLIS probably won't help you secure jobs in education or curatorial work.  But many museums have libraries and/or archives that really need the expertise you gain from an MLIS.
>
> Best of luck,
> Suzi
> ---
> Suzi Fonda
> Project Coordinator, Teaching American History Grant
> Maxwell Library, Room 312
> Bridgewater State College
> Bridgewater, MA 02325
> 508.531.2166
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Candace Perry
> Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2003 11:45 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Library Science and Museum Work (response)
>
> I haven't seen anyone weigh in much on this...I would say that library and museum work are very different, and most likely you would not be considered for a museum position with an MLIS without experience in museums.   You would have too much competition from people with museum/public history degrees.  And I suppose you also need to consider what aspect of work you're interested in...admin, curatorial, registration, education?  I fear your professors gave you misinformation...it's really two different worlds. JMO.
> Any other thoughts out there?  I think this is an important question.
> Candace Perry
>
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--
Julie Holcomb, MLIS, CA
College and Special Collections Archivist
Pearce Collections at Navarro College
Navarro College Archives
3100 W. Collin St.
Corsicana, Texas 75110

Phone: 903-875-7438 ~ Fax: 903-875-7593
E-mail: [log in to unmask]

Internet: http://www.pearcecollections.us/ or http://www.navarrocollege.edu/library/archives/

"Men make their own history, but they do not make it just as they please; they do not make it under
circumstances chosen by themselves, but under circumstances directly found, given, and transmitted
from the past.  The tradition of all the dead generations weighs like a nightmare on the brain of
the living." Karl Marx, The Eighteenth Brumaire

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