Lots of librarians at NCU

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Guest, Jan 30, 2004.

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  1. Guest

    Guest Guest

    I was looking at the NCU website and I noted in the faculty bios that there are a great number of MLS degree holders listed ( http://www.ncu.edu/mentor_list/pub/ )

    Out of 109 listed faculty members 21 had MLS ( or MLIS which it is frequently called these days). I think that is remarkable, and especially appropriate for a DL school as library assistance do distance learning students is remarkably important given the nuances of accessing library materials at a distance. Having an instructor that is both an expert in the subject matter and a librarian would seem to be a bonus.

    I have read the various discourses on NCU, but from what I have read on their website, and what I have been told over the phone both by administrative personnel and from librarians in their electronic learning resource center, I am seriously considering the org behavior Ph.D at NCU. Not that I am a shill for them, just partial to librarians.
     
  2. Tireman4

    Tireman4 member

    Mdoneil,

    I am partial to librarians as well. We "gotta"stick together. Where do you practice your craft? I am a Librarian I with Houston Public Library. There are days that I enjoy it so, and other days ..well. I am so pleased that Texas Women's University and the University of North Texas has the MLS online. Two of my co-workers are going to go through the program.
     
  3. Guest

    Guest Guest

    I currently practice nursing until such time as I find a library that will pay a living wage that does not think hiring 'smart college graduates', as Jacksonville is prepared to do, is appropriate library staffing.

    Oh to live in Florida the home of the hanging chad and the undergraduate librarian.

    ( after all MLS = makes low salary)

    Jax libraries article:
    http://www.lisnews.com/article.pl?sid=04/01/23/0719237&mode=thread&tid=74

    I would love to see the CV of the 'graduate student' that completed the reserach that showed smart college graduates a better bet than MLS degreed librarians.

    I went to FSU's DL MLS program but live in the Tampa area which has a traditional library studies program at USF so most of the jobs are taken by those who network locally.

    Of course my city is also hiring BA degreed people as librarians for the new library the are building. They actually call them librarians too, not paraprofessionals or some such odd term.

    I'll always keep my nursing license in case I ever want to afford luxuries like food and gasoline on a librarian's salary.
     
  4. airtorn

    airtorn Moderator

    OK, I have a couple of questions. What does it take to be considered a "smart college graduate"? Second question (for librarians), does a library staff need all MLS staff or does it just need a certain number of MLS staff to direct those employees who do not have that degree?
     
  5. Guest

    Guest Guest

    I emailed Mayor John Peyton to get a copy of the report issued by the graduate student. I have yet to read the report as it has not been supplied to me so I can make no comment on what as smart college graduate might be.

    [br]
    Will there be a test? Are we going with GRE scores? Mensa members only? I have no idea. However an ALA accredited MLS is a common denominator.

    Of course each employee in a library need not hold an MLS, only the librarians. The paraprofessional staff who do a great number of things including collection devlopment assistance such as evaluation of items based upon cirulation statistics, some statistical analysis, community outreach, and most importantly (if applicable) subject matter experts.
    As an example, I am an RN and I have a great deal of knowledge that would be useful in selecting library materials and directing library patrons. I had this knowledge before I became a librarian. I am certain anyone with a BA has subject matter knowledge in their area and it could certainly be used to the advantage of the library.

    However, librarians are schooled in the minutia of operating a library, collection development, reference interviews, appropriate censorship ( everyone and evert organization censors ), policy decisions, planning, negotiation with publishers and information providers, budgeting, community outreach, and a myriad of other small albiet important details.

    I am not employed as a librarian ( no one gives me a check) but as an unpaid intern - which I had to spend 2 months arguing to get in my city as they had no provision for such- I have taught Internet use to Spanish speakers emphasizing authority of sources. ( The get a green card for $195 sites are most probably not able to provide what they advertise.) I have continued a story hour that was interrupted with the departure of a children's librarian, I have had a mySql source correctly formatted - I worked on it and a friend completed it. I have done outreach in the black areas of town ( I am not politically correct.) I have done held health information workshops where we cleared up the defination of AIDS and reviwed the different types of literature regarding many health conditions : the medical journal, the popular press regarding important health issues such as HIV and Hepatitis C, and cancer; and introductory literature provided by the various NIH institutes specifically geared toward early readers - especially readers of a more than traditional age.

    So, I didn't do this to toot my own coronet, I think any librarian does this sort of thing. All librarians go into this profession knowing that there is no million dollar income in their future. While I do have other graduate degrees that would provide a greater income, and frankly provided me the opportunity to attend school and work part time as a nurse by allowing me to pay off the mortgage early, I like being a librarian and I like being a nurse. I am entrusted by everyman to assist them when they seek help.

    Of course as a librarian I am always available to degreeinfo.com members and visitors to assist them with their reference questions. Please feel free to post or email questions to me if you need assistance. I think everyone here would do the same in their area of study.

    I'm sorry this is a bit long but I wanted to clarify the differences between a 'smart college graduate' subject matter expert and a Masters degreed librarian.

    ( no spell check due to length and lethargy) By the way, the first round of drinks at the degreeinfo meeting is on me!
     
  6. seekinghelp

    seekinghelp New Member

    mdoniel, since you are a nurse, as I am, you know that organizations with areas of expertise circle the wagons around their own all the time, nurses are some of the biggest offenders IMHO. This is a natural way of self preservation and doesn't always make the best sense to what could really work best in a given situation. Hope you find your dream job, we nurses are a very bright group who are unfortunately relegated to a lower (although highly trusted) status by other professions.
     
  7. Tireman4

    Tireman4 member

    I so agree. I make 31k at HPL and am not expecting a raise for the next 2 years. I realize that there are budget cuts, but when the last raise was in 2000, then something is wrong. Here is a kicker, I make more money with my MLS than I do with my MA in History. So I did to go my SLIS with the intentions of at least making a working wage. I wish you luck in the future Mdoniel.
     

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