You are putting yourself in a great position. The MLS degree is a
solid credential for either setting. Since you are obtaining a library
degree and have a museum interest you might want to shift some focus on archival
principals and techniques. This will give you some potential with
conservation work as well. I would look at some salary data also to be
sure you will be in the range you would like. Academic libraries tend to
appreciate their employees a bit more when it comes to compensation. If a
museum environment is where you truly want to be, I would really take a look
at which department you would want to work with and then focus
classes in that direction. Getting an internship will definitely give you
the greatest edge in a museum. Getting an internship at the museum you
would one day hope to work with will really give you a bump. A lot of the
interns here have a leg up on any applicants because they have built a working
relationship with the full time employees. The employer knows their work
ethic. If you want to maintain the excitement of the new developments in
library studies and museum studies be sure to check and ask about the future of
the organization you will be interning or working for. Where are they
in their technology programs. And throw some terms, programs, and
specifics on what you are interested in around when asking questions to get a
solid read on what you might be getting yourself into. Talk to your future
supervisor before committing to an internship. I received my MLS last
May. I have been working in the Photography Department here for the last 4
years while going to school. Our department is really moving in a positive
direction for new technologies, image management, etc. I cant think of
another department I would want to work with. And the MLS degree really
gives us a great heads up on new technology, cataloguing our archive, presenting
the data to users and preserving museum assets. So the bottom line is TRY
to figure out which department you are wanting to work for and focus.
www.ima-art.org[log in to unmask]>>>
[log in to unmask] 12/17/2003 11:25:25 AM >>>
Hi-
With regard to your MLIS degree and finding museum work, I think
you will
encounter serious competition in the job market with people who
do have MA's
in museum studies or history. I don't think that having an
MLIS alone
would give one an advantage in the museum field. Museum jobs
are
ideally acquired by people with museum credentials. I don't think
I
would be able to get a job in a library with a museum studies
degree.
I've been told in no uncertain terms by library types that one needs
an
MLIS degree to work as a librarian. Ok. I am not arguing that
point.
It makes sense. Just the same, museums should look for
qualified
candidates with appropriate credentials. The two degrees are
not really
interchangeable- unless you work for a very small museum that
hires you
as a jack of all trades.
Arlyn
Danielson
Newseum
-----Original Message-----
From: Sara Shreve [
mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent:
Monday, December 15, 2003 1:14 AM
To:
[log in to unmask]Subject: Library Science and Museum
Work
I hope this post is not inappropriate for this list,
but I am
eager to hear the opinions and advice of
professionals currently working in
museums. I am
within a few credits of finishing my masters degree
in
Library and Information Science, but my true interest
is in history and
historic conservation, special
collections, and archival work. I felt that an
MLIS
degree might give me flexibility with regard to
geographic location
and the duties of a job, which is
why I did not originally pursue a degree in
Museum
Studies. I was also told by several LIS professors
that I could
possibly make the transition into museum
work with an MLIS degree. I would
like to ask for the
opinion of museum professionals about this before
I
make any post-masters plans. Would someone holding an
MLIS possibly be
considered for a position in a
museum?
I am currently making plans for
the internship that I
need to complete in order to finish my degree, and
I
am hoping to be able to conduct this internship at a
small local museum.
Even if this is not possible, the
museum does accept volunteers and I would
imagine this
would be a wise opportunity for me to take advantage
of. But
I am also considering a second masters degree,
in history with a focus on
"public history" which
includes some museum studies. Does this sound like
a
wise course of action, and are there other steps I
need to take to
qualify myself for museum work?
Any information and advice would be
greatly
appreciated.
Thank
You,
Sara
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