http://www.tmttlt.com/2006/12/07/the-mls/ All those topics that i wish i had time to pursue more earnestly. Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:40:54 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://www.tmttlt.com/2006/12/07/the-mls/comment-page-1/#comment-164 Sarah Houghton-Jan (Librarian in Black) Fri, 08 Dec 2006 16:44:17 +0000 http://www.tmttlt.com/archives/2006/12/07/5196/#comment-164 I think it depends on the school. The MLIS degree I earned from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign was just as rigorous and difficult as the Masters in Literature I got from Washington State University. The classes were just as hard, the projects and research just as intense. That being said, I know colleagues who have attended other schools, and said that their MLIS or MLS programs were somewhat of a joke. I don't think that an MLS will entirely prepare you to be a systems librarian at all. Definitely not with the classes that were offered back when I got my degree (6 years ago), and not even now, judging from the classes being offered at most of the schools, though things have gotten better. I'd recommend taking classes in the Computer Science department concurrently with your MLS if you can, and taking as many professional education webcasts, online classes, and other learning opportunities outside the traditional program if you want to come out truly prepared for that specialty. I think it depends on the school. The MLIS degree I earned from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign was just as rigorous and difficult as the Masters in Literature I got from Washington State University. The classes were just as hard, the projects and research just as intense. That being said, I know colleagues who have attended other schools, and said that their MLIS or MLS programs were somewhat of a joke. I don’t think that an MLS will entirely prepare you to be a systems librarian at all. Definitely not with the classes that were offered back when I got my degree (6 years ago), and not even now, judging from the classes being offered at most of the schools, though things have gotten better. I’d recommend taking classes in the Computer Science department concurrently with your MLS if you can, and taking as many professional education webcasts, online classes, and other learning opportunities outside the traditional program if you want to come out truly prepared for that specialty.

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