[Michlib-l] Library Student

Fri Feb 7 12:01:31 EST 2014

Hello everyone!

I'm also a current online student at Wayne State University--maybe I'll be in the same class as Michelle! I already have my Master's degree in library science, and I decided to get a Specialist Certificate where I can choose my own field(s) of study. I'm concentrating on youth/young adult librarianship as well as digital librarianship in order to expand my horizons and my chances of getting hired. I'm currently taking a Children's literature class, and I've taken classes in information professions and information technology as well as information behavior. I'll be taking more classes that will teach digital libraries as well as information science. I'm thinking of taking classes in metadata, web design, advanced reference, human-computer interaction as well as other children's lit and young adult classes. But any suggestions/recommendations will be most welcome! I did work for six months as an adult reference librarian, but I'm now more interested in
 youth and young adult, as well as e-books and digital since that is where librarianship is heading to. Very glad that Michelle asked this question because I'm in the same boat as she is, so to speak.

Regards,
Lupita Garza-Grande
current Wayne State University online student
MLS degree obtained from Indiana University in 2004 with a certificate in Special Collections (rare books)

On Friday, February 7, 2014 10:46 AM, "Mutch, Andrew" <AMutch at twp.waterford.mi.us> wrote:

The content listed for the eligible courses for the Web Design and
Development looks pretty interesting. In the ideal world, everyone
coming out of library school would have a good understand of some of the
topics covered, even if it was just to be able to be part of a
conversation about evaluating and integrating the ever-expanding amount
of digital content into your library's services. But I realize that most
LIS students don't have infinite amounts of time and money for such
courses.  The certification might help someone looking to have their
resume stand out from other recent LIS grads.  But it also looks more
technical than I think most librarians would need for their day-to-day
work (sorry Wayne State!) 

If you're interested in pursuing librarian positions that will have a
heavy emphasis on web site design or a similar technology angle, it may
be worth your time/money. Even so, if I was asked to evaluate the
qualifications of an applicant for a position like that, I would place
more emphasis on specific knowledge (what Content Management Systems do
you know, what scripting languages have you worked with) and real-world
experience (show me web sites you've created, maintained, etc.) over a
line in your resume showing that you've taken those courses. You would
need to take what you learned from those courses and turn them into more
concrete examples of how you've applied this knowledge outside of the
classroom setting. If you're mostly interested in beefing up the resume
but don't plan on taking it beyond that, I don't think it would be worth
the time and money. I would be interested in hearing what the folks who
actually do the hiring of librarians think is the value of pursuing that
kind of certification.

Andrew Mutch
Library Systems Technician (I'm not a librarian!)
Waterford Township Public Library

-----Original Message-----
From: michlib-l-bounces at mail.mcls.org
[mailto:michlib-l-bounces at mail.mcls.org] On Behalf Of Francine J. Allen 
Sent: Friday, February 07, 2014 9:13 AM
To: michelle wise
Cc: michlib-l at lists.mcls.org
Subject: Re: [Michlib-l] Library Student

Please share answers with me (or the group if you think it appropriate).
I'm thinking of expanding my library credentials if I decide I can
afford to, and Information Management and Website Development for
libraries sounds promising.  Thanks

Francine Joy Allen
Youth Services Librarian
Ecorse Public Library
4184 W. Jefferson Ave.
Ecorse, MI  48229
313-389-2030

----- Original Message -----
From: michelle wise <michellew1989 at hotmail.com>
To: michlib-l at lists.mcls.org <michlib-l at mail.mcls.org>
Sent: Thu, 06 Feb 2014 17:14:04 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Michlib-l] Library Student

I am currently signed up to take my summer semester classes, which would
finish off my MLIS degree if I stopped there. My questions are: do you
have certificates with your degree, do you or did you have much
experience before-hand, and does your library look at certificates OR
experience more when it comes to hiring?

I am an online student at Wayne State University. The two certificates I
was planning on getting are {Library Services to Children and Adults,
Public} and {Information Management for Librarians-Web Design and
Development}. Each certificate is basically (one semester) 4 months of
effort and $4,400- is it worth it? I would love to be a Teen Librarian
in a public library with some web elements. 

If you wouldn't mind adding your position/Title with your comments,
please do. Any recommendations would be very helpful.

Thank you,

                        ~Michelle Wise~

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