Hi everyone, I think this is my first time posting on here. I lurk around on this sub a lot reading post. I am mostly wanting to ask some questions regarding an MLIS/information science/library science program/degree. For some context on myself, I have about 2.5 years of experience working in libraries, specifically in academic+public libraries. I don't work in libraries at the moment but I am seriously considering going back to school for an MLIS degree. Primarily because at least in the city I live in, it seems the only jobs available in libraries are part-time page jobs and anything full-time essentially requires the degree. I also would say my motivations for wanting to work in libraries are primarily because, A) I look back at my previous experience in libraries to be where I was the most happy and found my "niche" so to speak. B) I am someone who finds a lot of fulfillment in working in spaces where I feel like I am actually helping people and not with any strings attached. and C) during my time working in both academic/public libraries, I found discovery all the things librarians actually do to be really interesting and more dynamic than a lot of people assume (most people just assume all the job is just checking out books to the public). Anywho, my questions regarding MLIS is

1. The Best Method of Getting Your Foot in The Door: So I have noticed a lot on this sub of people saying essentially that it's a waste of time and money to get an MLIS degree unless you either already work in a library currently or you have like 10+ years working in one and that's the only circumstance to ever get the degree. I spent the past 2 weeks going by every branch library in my city and asking this question to branch managers & people who work at libraries at my local University. Most of the answers I have received were "Don't let one discourage you from the other" basically, yes it's good if you already work at a library and go back to school for the degree. But also, at least in public libraries, a lot of positions that open up are just part-time page positions and you can't really get anything full-time unless you have the degree. So it kinda seems like, sure experience matters, but waiting 10 years working part-time to then get a degree is not in the cards for me. So can anyone here share their experiences with getting the degree and finding a job either during or after getting an MLIS?
2. Classes: What was taking classes like? Were they more directly hands-on than lecture based? Is the expectation you should know most of the material beforehand or is there still space to learn new things? I just ask this because I have a friend who went through a masters program to become a nurse and she told the expectations were essentially "undergrad is where you learn everything but grad school is applying it directly". I am sure its different between programs but I just wonder if it's like that for MLIS
3. Finding Your Specific Role: So for me personally I have narrowed down I do want to work primarily in Academic Libraries or Public Libraries. Specifically in Academic ones with a focus in ACTAL librarianship/creative technologies. This is because when I worked at an academic library it was within the Maker Space/Tech Lab of my universities library and I enjoyed that very much. In Public libraries, I am looking to be a reference librarian or a Mends Specialist. Do you get to learn these skills in a MLIS program? and if so, do you have to figure it out at the very beginning?
4. Librarianship Outside Of The US: So because of cost and being as financially smart way for me is to get the degree from my local university, which is a ALA Accredited program. But I also have dual citizenship with The Netherlands and the United States (I live in the USA). Would getting a MLIS degree in the US be useful in the EU or really anywhere abroad? I just ask because I am aware that for jobs, this would be something I am willing or may have to move for, but I just want to know if anyone here has worked in Libraries outside the US and if they accept someone with an MLIS degree from the US?

Hi everyone! I apologize for bargining in as I'm not exactly a librarian but an assitant, but I started working in a small college library, I see a lot of our older more used books kinda "falling over" like this, what would be a good way to help these books, is there anything that can be done at low/no cost? When I see this I usually take all the books out of the shelf and try to put them back as straight as possible, but they kinda sag like this again shortly after.

How do you get your kids to read junior fiction that is NOT graphic novels? Some of our series get read, specifically the Creepover books and Losa Greenwald, but the one-off novels are rarely touched. Half haven't been borrowed more than once in the past five years. Our collection is largely new books (last 15 years, if not last 5!) and all popular and award-winning titles recommended by the major publishers.

We're about to undertake some major weeding to allow for new items purchased with grant. I can come to grips with weeding a lot of these great books, but I don't want to waste money on new books that also won't leave the shelves.

I'm new to this - finished my MLIS in April - so I don't know what I don't know. Is this a promotion issue where I need to market the books more? Is this an issue that is so common it is almost inevitable?

And a further question - our graphic novel baskets are arranged alphabetically, but some of the baskets are labelled by series name and others by author name - e.x. "Rick Riordan" is beside "Sweet Valley High". I get wanting to label things the same way kids will intuitively look for them but it makes me a teensy bit insane to have the mishmash. Would you re-label and re-alphabetize if you were me?

Thanks in advance!

Hello librarians! I'm a public librarian and I generally enjoy my work, but this isn't what I originally planned to do. Throughout my MLIS I wanted to work in either academics or a government library, but I lucked out and got a full time public librarian job immediately after graduation. I've been in a public librarian ever since (almost 5 years) but lately I've been considering trying to make the switch out of the public library. I do have a year of academic library experience (4 months as a library assistant, 8 months as a student librarian) but I'm feeling pretty stuck in the public library.

Anyone who was made the switch from public libraries to either academic or special libraries - how did you do it? Any tips would be great!

Im a month in as a library media specialist at a combo elementary/middle school. Im finding the classroom management very difficult. Today was extra hard. A 6th grade class of students had a sub today. They came in being loud, not following instructions, hitting each other with the space savers, throwing books. I told them to please not be loud about four times, if it continued I would send them back to class. I sent four students because they were being extra loud. They got upset at me and told me they weren't being loud that they wanted to just check out the books. I told them they needed to go back to class because they were being loud. They left but we're angry. I sent an email to the teacher explaining the situation and told him that he could send the stude ts later this week. I feel bad thag I sent the kids back to class because I feel that the teacher and the principal (my boss) will get mad at me, or they go and the students tell their parents I kicked them out. sighs I also dont like doing that. I was left alone with the students, which Im not supposed to, and they were not listening to me. Anyways what do you all think? Anyone else work at a school? Also, I have no experience in this a d have no degrees in this. I have worked for this school district for 2 yrs though. Thank you.

Hello!

I recently got an offer to become a public library children's librarian! At my current job, which is like a page/reference position, I work with children quite often with reference questions and have helped my children's librarian with some of the passive programs. But while getting my MLIS, I focused on adult programs and topics.

Are there any tips that might be helpful for switching over to a children's librarian position from adult services? And just overall what are some things I should know about being a children's librarian?

hi all, currently researching graduate programs as I am interested in becoming a school librarian. I have 1.5 years experience in academic libraries and am seeking roles to gain more experience now. I am located in Illinois, but may relocate at some point. Illinois has two programs (U of I Urbana-Champaign and Dominican University) that offer a combined MLIS, teaching certificate, and school library media endorsement all in one program. is anyone aware of other ALA-accredited programs in the U.S. that offer all three in one degree?