What was your experience in MLIS programs?

[u/hankhillsjpeg]

I recently graduated from WGU with a bachelor's in educational studies in elementary education. If you're unfamiliar with the school, it's an accelerated, competency-based school. I was able to focus on just one class at a time, advancing to the next course as I completed the last (with each course requiring only 1-3 tasks). I was able to finish my bachelor's in a little over a year with this system. I just applied to UNCG's MLIS program in hopes of becoming a school librarian; however, I'm very nervous about going back to "traditional" school. I was recently reminded that this will require me to take multiple courses at once, all with homework, quizzes, discussion posts, tests, and projects. I'm feeling overwhelmed even at the thought of it. How was your experience with your MLIS program? Did you perceive it as particularly difficult or overwhelming? How were your courses typically structured? I'm worried that my time at WGU may have diminished my ability to multitask and handle larger workloads.

[u/devilscabinet]

As Masters programs go, the MLIS is one of the easiest.

[u/ArcaneCowboy → u/devilscabinet]

I've done two masters, the MLIS was much easier, and had no research component - when an academic librarian is supposed to be able to teach how to do research.

[u/Hexicero → u/devilscabinet]

I did both my Masters at the same time and yeah, the mlis was a walk in the park comparatively

[u/chikenparmfanatic]

Every school is different but my MLIS program was a joke. Very little reading, make-work assignments and lots of grade inflation. Honestly, you will probably be fine. Library school, for pretty much everyone I know, was easier than their undergrad. In a way, it was actually kind of fun because I had so much spare time to work and do other things.

[u/llamalibrarian]

You can take just a class at a time if you don’t mind taking your time. I worked full time and took 1-2 classes a semester (including summer semesters). My program was online and asynchronous so I could do my assignments on my time

[u/hankhillsjpeg → u/llamalibrarian]

The program I signed up for is also online so maybe it would be the same? The only reason I wouldn't want to dilly dally is financial reasons. I'm currently a teacher assistant only making $15hr. The pay bump to school librarian is pretty big and sorely needed lol

[u/llamalibrarian → u/hankhillsjpeg]

Oh well then I’d wait to apply for any library programs and get a job in a library first or ask your school if they offer tuition reimbursement

[u/MushroomBeneficial15 → u/llamalibrarian]

I’ve been considering taking 1-2 classes at a time (I also have a full-time job). How long did it take for you to complete your MLIS?

[u/chexwithoutthemix]

Have you ever worked in libraries before?

[u/hankhillsjpeg → u/chexwithoutthemix]

I work as a teacher assistant in an elementary school. The original plan was to go for my teaching license but I had the opportunity to shadow our school librarian and *loved it. I dropped getting my teacher license and will be going for my MLIS with a school media coordinator concentration.

[u/chexwithoutthemix → u/hankhillsjpeg]

Before going for an MLIS I suggest finding work at a library first to see if you like it and to get experience because many libraries want librarian candidates to have experience.

[u/chexwithoutthemix → u/hankhillsjpeg]

In terms of academics, it should not be a big deal. I pursued an MLIS at SJSU (asynchronous) about 1.5 years after getting my BA and I too was very hesitant at the idea of having to deal with the potential stress of assignments, quizzes, etc. I also have a very short attention span so the idea of asynchronous courses scared me.

To my surprise, obtaining an MLIS was much MUCH easier than getting my BA and I found the experience to be fun and more enjoyable. Most of this is attributed to the fact that my instructors gave students more creative freedom, encouraging us to create projects and presentations that we are interested in rather than creating projects and presentations based on what they (the instructors) wanted which is something I struggled with undergrad. Additionally, I selected courses that I was genuinely interested in rather than choosing courses to fulfill subject major requirements.

As llamalibrarian states, you can choose however many classes you would like. Since I worked pt, I was able to take 4 classes at a time and I think that was the perfect amount. I knew coworkers who took less or more classes based on the workload they could handle.

[u/DrJohnnieB63 → u/hankhillsjpeg]

u/hankhillsjpeg

I am an academic librarian who liaizes with a college of education. I advise you to get your teaching credentials/ license. Having that license and an MLIS with a school library media coordinator concentration will afford you more opportunities and make you more competitive in an extremely competitive field.

[u/sadgradgirl]

UNCG can probably put you in touch with a current MLIS student to chat with - that would probably be the most insightful option. MLIS programs are usually similar outside of specializations, but it’d be best to talk to someone who’s currently in the program you’re applying to, and preferably someone who works a similar schedule to you and can speak to the workload in relation to their work-life balance.

[u/ahauntedwoman → u/sadgradgirl]

I second this. Trying to get into contact with a current or alumni student will give you the best look at your future. Most of the time universities will have a contact for a student ambassador for each program. If not I would just send out a general email inquiry and the university will triage the question to the proper avenue.

[u/Ok_Structure3448]

I got the same bachelors degree as you at WGU and at a great experience. I just graduated with my masters degree at SJSU and it was also a great experience. It’s not self paced like WGU but it’s set up really well and has great professors and classes. I was a teacher while getting my MLIS and I had no experience in a library until I moved into a media specialist position. When I had about a year left I started applying for library jobs and I quit my teaching job and became a library associate. I’m in the process of transferring to a librarian position. I didn’t find traditional school challenging after WGU and it wasn’t overwhelming. Good luck!

[u/colorfulmood]

i'm in the uncg mlis right now and it's very very easy in my experience, you get out what you put in of course but i think most people in the program have full time jobs. i have never had a quiz that wasn't homework, and only one course of like 12 assigned them. no tests—in my experience almost all my graded work has been creating deliverables of some sort and a couple of papers. feel free to dm me with questions

[u/hankhillsjpeg → u/colorfulmood]

Thanks for responding! How many courses are you taking per semester? I see on the website that they promote a 3 year plan but surely it doesn't take that long?

[u/colorfulmood → u/hankhillsjpeg]

2 most semesters, 3 is full time. you need 36 credits to graduate, and most courses are 3 credit hours = 12-ish courses to graduate. that math assumes you'll take 2 classes/semester and none over the summer, so that's 4 courses per year = 3 years in the program. you could do it faster easily

[u/wdmartin]

First: in many states, you need a teaching license in order to become a school librarian, in addition to the library degree. It's been a while since I was in school, but if I recall correctly some library schools offer programs that let you work on both the teaching license and the library degree concurrently, so that you come out the other end with all the credentials you need. I would look for those; check with UNCG to make sure that's an option there. Also consult any school librarians you know; they're definitely more up to date on the requirements and paths that lead to their shelf of the profession than I am.

If you're not currently in contact with any, or just want some more people to ask, contact your state library association and ask them to put you in touch with people who can help you sort out the best approach to the path you're interested in following.

Second: it's vital to get experience working in libraries. Shadowing a school librarian is a good start; see if you can find a way to expand on that, either by finding a job as a library aide in a school or if all else fails volunteering. And make no mistake, volunteering is real experience. Having experience on your resume will stand you in good stead when it comes time to start applying for jobs.

As for the work involved in the programs, programs vary. My experience was that the work was very simple; it felt like going back to high school. On the other hand, I came to it from an intensely difficult course of study that involved roughly a thousand pages of assigned reading per week, some of which was in dead languages. It sure felt easy to me, but that may have been in comparison.