WebJunction

Hi, Greg,

I'd be interesting in knowing the subject of this course because I think some are better suited to practical applications like you suggested than others.

I've just finished my first year at the University of Washington's distance program and I've been pleased with the balance of theory and practical application in my coursework so far.

Two examples that come to mind are "Information Behavior" and "Research Methods." In both course, we went "out in the field" and performed surveys and interviews, analyzed the data (or wrote research proposals), and wrote reports on what we found through our research.

This is not the case in all my courses and whenever possible, I try to augment my coursework with volunteer activities (real-time digital reference for example) or with internships (surveying patrons, performing interviews, and setting up focus groups for an academic library regarding current services). The Information School is big on internships (though they call it "directed fieldwork") and since I don't have any "work experience" in any libraries as of yet, I'm glad they do!

My advice to anyone who doesn't feel like they're getting enough "practice" (and if s/he has the time) is to volunteer and/or see about setting up an internship...

How is the rest of your program?

I think the MLIS program at the UW iSchool does a great job of giving graduates exposure to a broad range of both theory and practice in technology and library-related practice. It's true that I would have to hit my head against a few walls now if I had to actually 'network' anything myself, but the program gave me sufficient overview - and more important than anything else - the confidence/tools that I need to figure out a networking problem *if I had to*. It's a kind of information literacy approach, really. As I've built my career in library & information science, on the job experience has honed the skills that I really want to develop and further explore. If I had stepped into a small/rural library right out of library school, I would have a host of different skills than I do now as an online community manager. Lucky me: it all comes together in the work that I do. I am consistently inspired and amazed by the library staff in small and rural libraries, really doing it all.

There are three of us here from the UW iSchool in Seattle. gregargo is from UT-Austin. I'd like to hear from others on this one. How practical is the MLIS?

BTW: Bob Boiko consulted with us on the development of our site when we first got going. Our Editor (andersoj) is a good friend of his!

Yes, that is a good question. It seems there are many avenues open to an MLIS graduate these days, each one with a specific set of skills to be mastered. A community college librarian may want to have hours of face-to-face reference experience to draw on. An archivist may want a solid foundation in metadata and format migration. A corporate taxonomist may want advanced cataloging and XML skills. The two year LIS programs can't do it all.

This [url http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA443916 ]article on New Librarians[/url] dicusses the results of a survey asking new hires to speak out on the problems they see in their chosen profession. Many of the respondents had complaints about the effectiveness of LIS programs to adequately prepare them for the real world.

"Almost every survey respondent stated that they wanted 'less theory' and 'more practicality' from their LIS programs."

But again, practical for what? The most cited course needs were "cataloging, budgeting, programming, readers' advisory, management, fundraising, grantwriting, marketing, advanced reference, and patron services."

How many of us were clamoring to learn budgeting, marketing, fundraising, and grantwriting while we were in school? I sense an unanticipated skill set emerging on the job. We're back to "teaching librarians to fish" so we will know where to cast about for our continuing professional development as needed.

And I think all of this really demonstrates that obtaining a degree is just a start. I think one of the things that students/employers need to understand is the importance of continuing eduction and mentoring - especially for the practical tools sorts of skills that are going to be specific to a certain position or role.

Brenda