[Web4lib] Skillset for new librarians

[Jesse Ephraim]

>the emphasis on the MLS degree is misplaced. 
>It should not be a union card requirement for 
>a professional job 

Most MLS programs are not what I would consider to be of graduate level
quality.  The MLS is one of the easiest graduate degrees out there
(generally).    I would prefer to see a return to having a bachelor's
degree be the entry-level qualification, with the graduate degree(s)
being reserved for specializations like management, IT, etc.


Jesse Ephraim

Director, Roanoke Public Library
308 S. Walnut
Roanoke, Texas 76262
(817) 491-2691
jephraim at roanoketexas.com



-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Kevil, L H.
Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2011 12:53 PM
To: web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Skillset for new librarians

Just two additions from the Peanut Gallery to this nice thread:

(1) Eric Lease Morgan's list of five skills looks terrific. The point is
to give students the ability to continue career-long learning on their
own through the job and to weed out the technophobes. A little knowledge
of PC hardware wouldn't hurt a bit. The skills need to be reinforcing or
overlapping, at least to the extent that learning them will develop a
positive problem-solving attitude.

(2) As John Fereira suggests, the emphasis on the MLS degree is
misplaced. It should not be a union card requirement for a professional
job, nor should it be used to discriminate against technical people and
place them in a different category for salary, promotion, governance,
and the like. There are reasons for the typical library class structure
(credentialism,) none of them admirable. 


L. Hunter Kevil, Ph.D.
Collection Development Librarian
University of Missouri Libraries

kevill at missouri.edu