MLIS Diaries | what was my first month of grad school like?
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- čas přidán 28. 09. 2018
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I talk about my first month of grad school!
Do you have questions about my program? Ask away!
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I am finishing up the MLIS program that I’m enrolled in. Congratulations to you on pursuing this degree. The real world experiences you are getting by shadowing librarians in the community will give you a better perspective of what you learn in class and through the readings. Good Luck and Best Wishes on your journey as a future librarian.
Yup..been there. All those courses. I graduated last year. I love the idea of reference librarian but I think in class it was picturing this ideal situation, whereas the real-life situation is very disjointed. I sometimes felt like in class the professor was imagining this perfect patron who knows what they're looking for, lets you know in advance, gives you time to prepare, etc. and you can help with all this research....and the real life experience is ... not quite so. I found the reading less intimidating than undergrad but there was a lot of things they just assumed we knew about librarianship, and then it somehow required more reading just to know what they're talking about. "Community" is certainly the buzzword though. Discussions of future libraries were pretty daunting though, we had to read the Atlas of new librarianship and the author presented this future where the library is a futuristic community centre where people just hang out like if it's a cocktail bar....but remaining an intellectualized space. My best recommendations are the essays on "the third space" where the community needs a third space other than work and home to hang out for free that serves the community in both an intellectual and social way. I'm very intrigued to see how your opinion of MLIS is going...I found mine to be slightly disappointing compared to undergrad, but there were aspects I loved, like the rare books courses..that was worth everything! Where do you see yourself in the future? A public library, academic, health, law...and why?! Awesome video and great idea! I wish I had documented my LIS experience.
I can definitely talk about what kinds of libraries I'm interested in and why. The short answer is I haven't decided yet! I am interested in a bunch of facets of the field.
I can see what you mean about the reference course being idealized. Luckily, I've been shadowing a reference librarian so I have several hours of real-life experiences behind the desk and how that goes. Plus, I've been yelled at by a patron, so I've already got that milestone under my belt.
As far as third spaces, this is a concept that has come up a lot in my intro class. We spend a lot of one class period talking about third spaces and what we look for in different libraries that make them successful (or not).
I've also paged through The Atlas of New Librarianship, but didn't read it cover to cover. I was inspired by a lot of the ideas he posed in it, but I'm also curious to see how my opinions change over time.
Thanks for this video. I've worked in several departments of several libraries over the last 8 years. I work in the digital media lab of our system and now I'm accepted into an online mlis. Good to remember what the academic world is like.
Congratulations! I hope to make another video about my experience soon. I hope your program is amazing :)
I’m so glad that you are doing this series. I currently work as a biochemist. It was something I was really passionate about when I started college, but I’m just really unhappy working in the industry. So I decided earlier this year to start looking into becoming a librarian. The only MLIS programs in Indiana are online only degrees. So I’m applying this year and will hopefully start in January. So our experiences will obviously be different because my program won’t have in person classes, but I’m finding your discussion about what you’re learning to be fascinating and is making me more excited to jump into it. Fantastic video! Love this series. So thoughtful and helpful! Happy reading (both for school and leisure 😊😊😊)
So cool!
I definitely considered online programs, but never had the chance to live away from my home state long-term before, and thought school would be a great opportunity to do so. I understand that not everyone can do that. A lot of iSchool MLIS programs (mine included) have online programs, so definitely don't limit yourself to just looking at one program if you don't want to, or don't feel like you only have one choice. One of the reasons I didn't go to the University of Washington iSchool is because I was only admitted into the online program and I really wanted to move. You will miss out on some in person opportunities, but I think the program translates well to online study. I might have to take some online electives, too, over the course of my program. I'd be happy to talk more about my program one on one sometime!
Chris I didn't know you were going the library route! So exciting! Good luck with the application :) Loving this series - it's always interesting to see how programmes differ. My experience was definitely different!
Chris,
Not sure if it was written correctly... but Indiana University (both the main campus in Bloomington, IN and the IUPUI campus in Indianapolis) had, and still have face-to-face options. I believe they were still the same program in 2018, now they are seperate... and COVID, so they have on-line options but I don't believe that it has ever been online only. Did you choose to pursue a library program?
In the academic library I work at the reference desk librarian has been dissolved from a physical position into a virtual chat option. I’d say circulation is the closest you’d find to that. Just to keep in mind. 💜 I start my mlis this fall! Super excited.
I am now an Adult Services/Reference Librarian :D
I agree with you, there's a lot to read. I'm doing this program in Canada and I read 150+ pages every week. I did a degree in history and it was never that much every week. 😅
Thank you very much! This has been incredibly informative. I have just applied for the library and information science postgrad course. I am a bit anxious as I’m a year out of my bachelor degree but your videos have made me excited about this course and starting studying again.
Don't be nervous! There are a variety of experience levels in my program. I waited 3 years after my undergrad to apply. Many wait much longer than that. I felt right at home back in the classroom :)
Thank you for making this video! I am a library technician in a public library and I've been considering going to college to get my MLIS. This video has helped me further understand how some of the courses are and how they progress. Thank you again :)
You're welcome! And if you have any other questions, let me know. I'd love to keep making videos like this.
your coursework sounds like a dream! again, thank you for doing this series!
in regards to your organization class, it's interesting because at my library it's actually employees without an MLIS who do the bulk of cataloging and processing. thus it's my understanding that the work is teachable even without a foundation in library sciences. basically what I'm saying is that maybe that class just IS at an easier difficulty in relation to your other classes? just a guess!
also, question: are you encountering anti-technology perspectives from any professors or fellow students, or is it mostly from the textbook? I can't imagine most young people holding on to the idea of card catalogues, but maybe they're out there!
I had all those classes! the prof I had for intro has retired. She was so great. I also loved the reference class. I took three classes from that prof because I loved her so much.
This was really interesting. It's cool to see how librarians in other countries are educated. In Norway you can take an LIS degree at undergraduate level so that's different. I also love that you brought up the whole accessibility angle to libraries and the web, we're meant to be for everyone, and not everyone can get to a library, not everyone can read in a book, but need technology to help. At the university where I work we've had a survey to check what people ask us at the desk, we also asked some students what they think of the library and several said; that's where the books are, so I feel like we might have an image problem; we're so much more. Anyway, I love libraries, so I'm just very excited about this, even if I watched the video a month after you posted it :).
I feel like libraries definitely have an image problem. I feel like I've learned so much about library services that I didn't know about before, and I wish more people knew. I want to make more videos in this series, but I've been pretty busy with school haha. I hope to make a video or two during holiday breaks. I'm glad you watched and enjoyed!
New to your channel and grateful for your videos. Thanks 😊. I worked 5 years as a manager in a high volume bookstore and hope that some of those experiences could be put to good use in librarianship. Succinctly, we had to know and forsee what our community's needs were. Oftentimes our customers didn't know themselves what they needed so we had to be adept at pulling information out of them . 😆🤷♀️ "I don't know but I need it.." was a constant.
Now that I'm a working librarian, I can confirm that bookstore experience is very helpful! Working the reference desk reminds me of working retail, except I'm not trying to sell anyone anything (which is nice).
This is soooo helpful for me since I’ll be attending grad school soon for MLIS !!! 😊
Good luck! :)
unmanaged mischief Thanks so much!!
"that ends my TED talk" lol well-said!
Oh wonderful
Since you know code, you might want to look into Digital Humanities projects in universities and historical libraries. I first heard about it a year ago, and I have been wanting to learn code just so that I can be a part of these initiatives of making old texts available digitally. There are now hundreds of thousands of manuscripts available for free online because of digital humanists. Now, scholars don't have to travel to the Bibliotheque Nationale or the British Library to have access to manuscripts. You might want to check it out since you want to engage with technology in library science.
Yeah, it sounds like digital humanities and digital archivism go hand in hand! I know for my cataloging class we're going to cover XML and other encoding systems, which I'm looking forward to. I'll definitely keep digital humanities in mind as a keyword I should look out for in the future!
I’m in my first year of the same program! :)
I’m so glad I found you! I am applying to UK for MLIS and I’m terrified haha! It’s been three years since my bachelors so I feel way out of “practice.” Can’t wait to hear more!!
I'm glad you got something out of it :D I also was worried about being a few years removed from my undergrad, but I have no regrets about the way things are working out so far :)
It would be amazing if you could post video about libraries too !
Hi,
I just happen to stumble upon your channel and love your inputs on MLS, just wondering has there been any integration or any progress on integrating tech into the library systems up to date that you are aware of?
I'm not entirely sure what you mean by this. Computer, database, and information literacies, in general, are key to librarianship, particularly public and academic libraries. However, on a larger scale, it is impossible for me to speak to this question. I have only worked or shadowed in a handful of libraries, which all have their own budgets, funding, and employees. In the United States, there are more public library branches than McDonald's, and every library is unique and different, and likely have different technologies to offer. Rural libraries have different needs to meet than urban ones, and all library communities differ at least a bit.
Academic libraries have different patrons and therefore different needs to meet. This also does not account for the other kinds of libraries that are out there, like corporate and law libraries. Also, technology is a really broad term. Most libraries use computers in some way, but many librarians probably don't know how to build apps.
Would it be better to get the MLIS online or in person?
Thanks ji
I've just started my Information Management degree in the UK so it was really interesting to hear the similarities and differences! Hope you're enjoying the course and I'm looking forward to hearing more about your experiences as the year goes on. Is it just a one year degree?
It is a two year program. My university has an entire information school, and Information Management is one of the other degrees offered. I know there are some classes that have overlap, and there's even an opportunity for library students to get a special certificate in data science if we choose that as a focus area.
Glad you enjoyed the video! :)
@@bookishsabrina which university u doing MLIS..?
I want this course?
Hi! Do you have any updated videos on your journey? I would be interested to hear what you are currently up to. Thank you!
I really want to make a video wrapping everything up! I had originally intended on talking about graduation and job searching, but obviously covid derailed everything. Our graduation ceremony was cancelled and it took much longer to find a job than normal. I didn't want to talk about it while I was still struggling through it, but I have plans to make a conclusion video soon :)
@@bookishsabrina Great thank you so much! I am looking forward to watching! As an aspiring MLIS student it is so difficult to find first hand accounts. I appreciate your time!
@@allisun2787 I'm planning on making a one year reflection video in the next couple of weeks to mark the one year anniversary of my graduation. I remember it was really difficult finding firsthand accounts. I'm happy to answer more questions through email or Instagram DMs. You can also always try contacting the institutions you are interested in and see if they can connect you to a student to answer your questions.
I really like that your program is very social justice oriented. Which university are you at? I’m currently looking for a school to start my MLIS.
My school wasn't as social justice oriented throughout, and the tone of the courses could really change with professor turnover. I attended Syracuse. I've heard that UBC in Vancouver has a strong social justice focus.
Syracuse?
Not every librarian enjoys "cataloguing". I think most don't. Maybe you fall into that bucket? (Said by someone who definitely does not enjoy cataloguing.)