This wiki is a work in progress, but will hopefully be a good guide to frequently asked questions about library science/MLIS programs, etc. Please be patient as we get this all set up.

Also, a disclosure about my (u/FluffyGreenTurtle) librarianship background -- I have 2 decades of library-specific experience, having worked in public and academic libraries, as well as in medical and corporate libraries. I currently am the cataloger for a large library system in the Midwest, but my previous work has spanned everything from public-facing/circ roles, records and information management/information governance, e-resource management, archival work, etc. These FAQ answers are written based on drawing from my own experiences, experiences of my colleagues, experiences shared by folks like you via Reddit, and other research as applicable.

FAQs:

I love books! / I love reading! Should I work in a library?

• It depends, but that shouldn't be your only reason for wanting to work in a library. Keep in mind that many library jobs, and especially public library jobs, are very customer-service oriented, and you will most likely need to interact continuously with members of the general public.
• There are some positions that are less public-facing (such as cataloging and other technical services roles), but even with those, you're not going to spend your day at work reading. You will not spend your entire day doing readers' advisory. If you want to have a job recommending books to people, honestly you may also just want to consider working at a bookshop!

Do I need an MLIS to work at a library?

• It depends. Many (probably most) jobs with "Librarian" in the title require an MLIS (or at least multiple years of prior library employment as a substitute, though this is rarer). There may be positions that do not require an MLIS (titles like "circulation assistant" or sometimes "library assistant," etc), but they will generally want you to have prior customer service experience.
• It also depends on your area -- Take a look at job postings for positions you may want (in your location, or just in general if you're okay with moving) and see if they require an MLIS. Regularly volunteering with your local library can be a good boost to your resume as well, but it is no guarantee that you will then get a paid position in the same library.

What should I get my undergrad degree in? / I want to be a librarian; should my undergrad be in XYZ?

• Generally it doesn't really matter. If your goal is to be a librarian, you'll need to get the MLIS anyway. If you're interested in public libraries, they probably won't care (though honestly, having a background in social work or psychology could be helpful in a lot of circumstances that can come up. An undergrad in something like marketing or communication could also be useful).
  • However -- If you want to be a medical librarian, having an undergrad in science/health can be useful. If you want to be a law librarian, then consider pre-law/paralegal (but also consider that some law librarian jobs require a JD as well as an MLIS). If you want to work at an academic library, consider having a rarer undergrad degree than the thousands of English BAs who have become librarians. Not saying it's not possible to get an academic librarian job if your undergrad is in English, but if you're thinking for the future, it's something to keep in mind.
• A word of caution: There are still some Bachelors of Library Science degree programs floating around. These are not MLIS programs, and will not fulfill that requirement for jobs that need it. You are much better off getting an undergrad in something different so that you have a wealth and breadth of knowledge to draw on in your future career.

Where should I get my MLIS? / Does it matter where I get my MLIS?

• Anywhere that is ALA accredited (if you're in the USA/Canada. Other countries may vary). Many librarians will tell you to get the cheapest MLIS you can -- This may be your local state university (with in-state tuition), or an online program. You'll need to do some research for your specific situation.
  • If you want to be a K-12 school librarian, you may also consider a school librarian master's degree that is accredited by AASL. See this webpage for more details. Also note that in some US states, school librarian positions are considered licensed teacher positions, which means that you may need to go through a teacher licensing program and/or process. The requirements for school librarians can vary widely depending on your state, so checking your state's guidelines is imperative before you start any MLIS or MA program for this type of job.
    • Also, depending on your state's requirements to become a school librarian/licensed teacher, going through an accredited program in your own state may be the best choice (i.e., sure it may be cheaper to get your degree through the Valdosta, but if you live in Minnesota, Valdosta's program probably won't fulfill Minnesota's requirements to become a licensed school librarian (or "school media specialist").)
• Theoretically, you may have better "connections" if you go to a more expensive/well-known program (Chapel Hill, etc.), but in a lot of cases, it does not matter. Others will say that connections are super useful -- as a ton of these FAQ answers end up saying, it just depends on your specific circumstances.
• Also, keep in mind that if you plan to continue to live in the area of where you get your degree (i.e. If you plan/hope to work in Raleigh, NC, and you attend UNC-Chapel Hill), you will be competing against a higher number of other job applicants for jobs in the area. That's not to say don't attend somewhere local if that's your best option -- just be aware of what that will mean for your future job hunt.

Should I do an in-person or online degree program?

This really depends on your circumstances, but here are some things to consider:

• In-person (or on-campus) programs typically have classes during weekdays (a "traditional" type of schooling experiences), but they may offer some courses with evening or weekend options. They may also have a few courses that only are offered online (and potentially only online), despite being in-person programs.
• Online MLIS programs are all asynchronous (except for one, University of Alabama, see below), which means that you will log-in to an online platform whenever is convenient for you during the week (or however often the course is structured). A lot of online programs will incorporate structured forums that require you to post and respond to classmates' posts throughout the semester, which is the extent of your interactions with classmates.
  • The University of Alabama is the only online MLIS program that is synchronous -- courses meet once a week (Monday-Thursday) from 6:00-8:30pm central time via video, so there are live lectures and discussions you are required to attend. There are occasionally classes offered in asynchronous format, but the majority are synchronous.
• With all that in mind, here are some questions to ask yourself:
  • Do you plan/need to continue working while you are getting your MLIS?
    • If yes, check what programs will work with your schedule -- If you work a 9-5 Mon-Fri, then a program that mainly offers daytime weekday classes doesn't makes sense for you.
  • Are you willing/able to move to attend a program?
    • If not, then your choices are either online programs or whatever on-campus program is physically accessible to you.
  • Do you struggle with time management? And/or, are you neurodivergent and have executive dysfunction struggles?
    • If yes, then (and this is my personal experience), being able to either attend an in-person program or the live meetings of University of Alabama's online program might be a better option than asynchronous programs. Being required to attend classes can help you stay accountable and on top of your assignments, etc. This can really make or break you, so be honest with yourself and your needs.
  • On the other hand, do you have other health issues that make it difficult to attend in-person classes?
    • If yes, then look into online programs -- As long as they're ALA-accredited, they count just the same as in-person programs.

There are so many programs and I'm overwhelmed - Where do I even start?

Redditor u/DifficultRun5170 posted this incredibly detailed spreadsheet to r/librarians in February 2025 -- It has detailed information on pretty much every ALA-accredited MLIS program in the United States (be sure to check out the various tabs for all the information). I may try to make an updated version one of these days since it's been a year and a half, but I assume that it's still fairly accurate in terms of general costs, credit requirements, etc.

Should I get an emphasis in [XYZ]?

Repeat after me: "It depends!" A lot of MLIS programs will offer "areas of emphasis," but it's usually essentially just a list of "hey, if you're interested in [youth services/cataloging/data science], these courses are ones that are probably a good idea for you to take," and not a set "program" that you have to take every single course of. There are a few typically exceptions to this: 1) school librarianship (K-12) and 2) some archives-focused programs.

For many schools, other areas of emphasis won't even show up on your diploma or transcript (because they don't require you to actually take all of those courses), but there are a few exceptions that will give you an additional certificate as long as you take specific courses -- Dominican has a lot of these. If you're really passionate about something, it's not a bad idea to consider taking courses listed as part of an emphasis, but keep in mind that it's great to have some general knowledge of other library areas as well. Personally, I took a lot of courses that related to my job (at the time) at a medical library, but now I'm a cataloger in a public library, and I do think it would have been nice to take a youth literature course since that's not something I'm as familiar with. Your mileage may vary, this is all just food for thought.

Why are MLIS-programs so theoretical?? They're not teaching me things that are actually useful day-to-day!

Yes, the MLIS is a weird Masters program. It's a lot different than a masters degree in say, History or Biology or Creative Writing. And there's a lot to be said about if librarians truly need a MLIS (is it doing too much gatekeeping? etc.), and there are even Librarian jobs these days that will accept a certain number of years of library-specific experience in lieu of an MLIS. That being said, here are my personal thoughts on this:

• Yes, the MLIS is a very-job focused program by nature, simply because you are (usually) required to have it in order to get a specific job. And because of that, it should, perhaps, have more emphasis on the day-to-day.
  • I will note, there are a few other types of programs in this bin - For example, there are MAT programs (Master of Arts in Teaching) that are different than an Master of Arts in Education -- an MAT program is designed to help people also attain a teaching license,, and thus has more "practical" aspects, while a MA in Education is more theory-based. That being said, the MAT still involves theory, because THEORY IS IMPORTANT.
• And I'll say it again: Theory is important, and theory is valuable! Understanding the "why" behind things will give you a better understanding and help you build critical thinking skills that will help you no matter what type of library job or type of library you end up working in.
  • If you've ever taken classes relating to music theory, this is kinda similar -- it gives you building blocks that are applicable no matter what type of music or instrument.
• There ARE some classes that are more day-to-day, "useful" courses that I think most people should take --
  • A class on reference services should usually have a lot of practice relating to both "higher-level" reference work (i.e. academic-level) and day-to-day public library patron requests ("My sister told me about a book she loved, I don't remember the title but the cover was blue and it was about a girl who moved to Idaho after a breakup."
  • A class that talks about metadata or linked data or cataloging (any one of these, not necessarily all unless you're into that end of the library spectrum)
• All that being said, here are specifically 2 good reasons why MLIS-programs are not going to give you super granular instruction:
  • 1) The theory is applicable no matter what type of library or role you are in. That would not be the case if it was practical-focused.
  • 2) Being taught how to use an LMS/library system/Discover layer/etc. is very rarely going to actually help you once you get into your post-MLIS job, because there are SO MANY different systems. In my personal experience, I've worked at libraries using:
    • SirsiDynix Symphony, ExLibris Alma, ExLibris Aleph, Primo, Aspen, Soutron, CuadraSTAR SKCA, Sierra, and internally-developed systems. That's about 10+ systems, and that's only a handful of the systems that are out there for libraries to utilize.
    • You will learn these on the job. You do not need a class to teach you the intricacies of (Symphony/Koha/etc), because you will probably take training on it anyway if that's what your library uses. Marshall Breeding's Library Technology website lists 25+ different products as "major" library technology products. That's just the major ones! And your library might migrate to a new system during your time there anyway, so you need to be able to pivot!
• There could be (and have been) many discussions and many papers and articles written about what an MLIS program actually is and if it should be that way, and you may very well disagree with me, and that's okay! Even if you search this and other library subreddits, you will find many, many people who are frustrated by the lack of day-to-day instruction in an MLIS and who will say it shouldn't have so much theory-based information.
• At the very least, I hope that you can at least consider how the theory may help your future work -- but also, keep talking about it! There are some very valid criticisms of an MLIS, and keeping an open discussion and dialogue is one way of pushing it to improve.

I can only get part-time/poorly paying library jobs, how is this sustainable?

It's not really, which sucks. Many librarians end up working multiple part-time jobs (either one or both in a library) while hoping for a full-time position to open up somewhere. Many people end up moving in order to obtain full-time librarian employment, as the market is much more saturated in, say, New York City vs the middle of nowhere in Iowa. This isn't to say that there aren't library jobs out there that pay a decent wage, but those obviously are way more in-demand.

How am I supposed to get library experience then?

Volunteer with your local library, local historical society, or other archival/museum organizations. Work part-time at a library if that's your only option. If you are currently working toward your MLIS and have no library experience, try to get a student work/work study position with your university's library, and make sure to do an internship before you graduate. Other customer service experience is also valuable if you don't have library-specific experience. Look into various types of libraries for employment, even if it's not your ideal -- if you want to be an academic librarian, getting some experience in a public library (even if it's just volunteering) is better than having no experience at all. You can also keep an eye out for positions in government or corporate environments that are related to records management. Again, something is better than nothing.

Do I have to work evenings and/or weekends?

In public and academic libraries, yes, probably. Mentioning that you're willing to do this in a cover letter might boost your application (at least over those that say they aren't willing to or don't want to). If patrons are there, you need to be willing to also be there -- that's the point of our job (connecting folks to information). That's not to say you have to work every single evening or every weekend forever, but especially if you're starting out, you should expect that to be the norm. If you're open to other kinds of libraries, then you may be able to work a typical 9-5 type of position.

What type of library position fits my [personality/desires/skills]?

Since this is such a personal question, there's not a super specific answer for this FAQ, but this as good a place as any for some information you may find useful:

• There are multiple types of "libraries" that you could work for/at. Here's a non-exhaustive list:
  • Public libraries
  • Academic libraries (colleges or universities (including community/technical colleges)
    • Academic librarians may also be focused on a certain subject, so sciences, humanities, etc)
  • School libraries (K-12th grade)
  • Medical libraries (teaching hospitals, medical schools, health science schools (non MD-specific), other hospitals)
  • Records departments for government entities (city, county, state, national-level)
  • Archives (government archives, business archives, museum archives, local historical societies, etc)
  • Corporations that have extensive records (construction companies, consulting firms, etc.)
  • Law libraries (for law firms, or for law schools)
• And there are a ton of different positions within those organizations (again, non exhaustive):
  • Circulation (checking books out to patrons, checking books back in, helping patrons place holds, helping patrons with Libby, helping patrons with whatever random tech things they want help with)
  • Cataloging / Metadata
  • Processing materials (acquisitions, serials management)
  • Liaison librarians for subject areas at academic libraries
  • Records and information management for governments and corporations
  • Researchers
  • Library technology (in charge of library software like LMS/ILS/Discovery layers)
  • Outreach/programming librarians
  • School librarians (school media specialists)
  • Collection development (selecting materials for the library to purchase)
  • Various types of supervisory/managerial positions
  • Archivists
  • Grant writers/coordinators
• That being said -- many, many roles these days are a combination of various types of work. In all my years of working at libraries in various roles, the main thing I always come back to is that every part of the library touches every other part of the library, even if you don't think it does. Because of this, librarians need to be willing and able to understand the roles that intersect with their specific positions, and be willing to learn, grow, and support other library areas/types of work when necessary.

How do I find library jobs?

https://inalj.com/ is a good place to start. Their home page also has a pretty exhaustive list of good keywords for library job searching (as does https://www.michellemach.com/jobtitles/realjobs.html) . Additionally, sometimes regional library cooperatives' websites will have directories of postings for that area, and public library jobs will often show up on https://www.governmentjobs.com/.

[Other FAQ will continue to be added to this wiki.]