Results from the 60-Second Survey: What is the Value of an MLIS to You?
Over the last two weeks of May, librarians, library staff, and library school students weighed in on the LRS 60-Second Survey “The Value of an MLIS Degree to you.” Almost 2,500 people from every state and 15 countries, representing all library types, responded. Around 1,300 respondents left comments, sharing additional thoughts on the value of the MLIS degree today.
When asked if they thought their MLIS degree was/is worth the money and time invested in it, just over three-fourths of respondents (76%) agreed or strongly agreed that their degree was worth the investment. Seven percent of respondents disagreed with the statement that their MLIS degree was worth the time and money they invested in it, and another 4 percent strongly disagreed. Ten percent indicated neutral feelings toward the value of their MLIS degree.
My MLIS degree was/is worth the time and money invested in it:*
*3 percent of respondents indicated N/A and the question was skipped by 11 respondents.
Respondents who have had their MLIS degree the longest were more likely to indicate that the time and money invested in the MLIS was worth it. Nine out of ten (92%) of respondents who have had their MLIS for 16+ years agreed or strongly agreed that the degree was worth the time and money they invested in it and only 8 percent disagreed, strongly disagreed, or were neutral. Almost 90 percent of respondents who have had their degrees for 11-15 years agreed or strongly agreed that the investment in the MLIS degree was worth it, as did 80 percent of respondents who have had their degrees for 6-10 years. While over two-thirds of newer professionals agreed or strongly agreed that their investment in the degree was worthwhile, they were less likely to strongly agree and were more likely to select neutral or to disagree or strongly disagree. Respondents who completed their degree 1-5 years ago were the most likely to indicate that the degree was not worth the time and money they invested in it, with 21 percent selecting disagree or strongly disagree.
My MLIS degree was/is worth the time and money invested in it, by when degree was completed:
Survey respondents also indicated whether or not they would recommend pursuing an MLIS degree if asked today. Almost two-thirds of respondents (63%) would recommend pursuing the MLIS degree, with one-fourth of respondents indicating they would “highly recommend” the degree. Close to one in six respondents would not recommend pursuing the degree, and 8 percent would actively dissuade others from pursuing it. Around 14 percent of the respondents said they were not sure if they would recommend the degree if asked.
If asked TODAY, would you recommend pursuing an MLIS degree?
In addition to being more likely to agree that the investment in the MLIS degree was worth it, respondents who have had their degrees the longest were also the most likely to indicate they would recommend pursuing the degree to others, with three-fourths of those who have had their MLIS for 16+ years indicating they would recommend or highly recommend the degree. Around two-thirds (65%) of those who have had their MLIS for 11-15 years and 6-10 years would also recommend or highly recommend the degree to others. Those who have had their degree for 1-5 years were the least likely to highly recommend or recommend the degree (49%) and were also the most likely to indicate that they would not recommend (22%) or actively dissuade (13%) others from pursuing an MLIS.
If asked TODAY, would you recommend pursuing an MLIS degree, by when degree was completed:
Stay tuned for a more in-depth report on the survey results, including a comparison with the 2008 survey results and analysis of the comments left by respondents. Until then, we’d love to hear your thoughts so far – please leave any comments below!
~Lisa
Posted: June 14th, 2011 under 60 Second, Library Workforce.
Comments
Comment from Danielle Carr - June 17, 2011 at 12:24 am
Yes, I think the ambivalence shown by the more recent MLIS degree holders reflect the negative job prospects. I obtained my MLIS in 2004. I was employed in the field from 2002 to 2009 when my job was outsourced. I have been out of work eversince. I have been actively seeking employment in all things library and to date have not had as much as an interview. I have reservations as to whether obtaining this degree was a mistake. The way things stand right now unfortunately the answer is yes.
Comment from Ken Simon - June 17, 2011 at 5:41 pm
There may be another element at play, too: the change in perspective that occurs after being in a profession for a while. I know that when I was in library school, it was all too common to hear other students complaining that there was “too much theory,” “too much busywork,” or “I could learn all this on the job.” Some of that probably carries over into the first years as a librarian, but it’s possible that over time, the value of the education behind the degree makes itself more apparent. I don’t think that this alone accounts for the numbers we’re seeing here, but I have to wonder if it’s a factor.
Comment from Dee - June 18, 2011 at 11:08 pm
Danielle, have you thought about relocating? I’m from NY and I tried to get jobs in libraries while I was there. I am now living in GA and working in a library. Sometimes you may not be where the jobs are in your field.
Comment from Andrew P. Jackson - June 21, 2011 at 10:55 pm
One key point I make at public school career days and with my GLIS students is “versatility” of MLS degree. So many fields within, parallel to or outside the profession and libraries across the nation or abroad looking for our skills. I’ve been in librarianship for 30 years, love the work, meet new people and use my skills, everyday. Best choice I ever made.
Comment from Toni Stone - June 23, 2011 at 5:07 am
As someone who graduated within the last year, I have to say that while I enjoyed my graduate studies, the recent job prospects in my city are pretty sparse. I would concur with Micah that the main problems with an MLS degree are the serious dearth of job prospects and the failure of programs to adequately train new students in the skills most needed for libraries today, particularly educational technology and web design skills.
Comment from Sara M - June 23, 2011 at 5:51 pm
Another thought regarding current/recent graduates is the promotion of there being tons of library jobs available. I was often told there would be tons of retirements coming so the jobs would open up quickly. There is also the struggle between theory vs. practice in libraries. The GSLIS programs have not done a great job of keeping up with teaching the skills modern professional librarians need in the field. There needs to be more of a balance between theory and practice in these programs. More programs for job shadowing, internships and credit for experience on the job need to be pushed. If I hadn’t been working, even as a student level/para-pro employee, as a student I would never have been able to get a job after I graduated. I have been lucky to be working in the field I wanted, but I know many classmates who didn’t because all of this.
I wonder if this has always been the case though? Are we talking to people who were in GSLIS programs 30 years ago even if they aren’t in the field anymore? Do we only hear from those who have remained in Libraries? The success stories if you will. I haven’t seen a job survey from my alumni office since I graduated. I want to see the numbers that include people who aren’t in the field, but have an MLS. Especially all those fields we are told we can use these skills in.
Comment from Wendy - June 23, 2011 at 7:31 pm
Simply put, it’s because we’re unemployed. It took me 18 months to find a job, then I had to quit after two years to follow my husband’s career to another state. I have been unemployed for 18 months with no pospects, even though I’m finishing a doctorate. I would actively dissuade students from pursuing a library degree unless unemployment appeals to tham.
Comment from Sally - June 24, 2011 at 1:55 am
I, too, would not have gone into this field if I knew then what I know now. I got my degree in 2003 and was employed until 2009–but have been very disillusioned about how the school librarian is treated in the school system. From overly territorial technology heads, to support staff that undermine our efforts to mysogonist administrators –I have had it with trying to make a difference in a profession that puts special interests and cronyism ahead of student achievement and support of their professionals. We are treated like glorified study hall teachers and consistently have teachers and administrators “dump” kids to the library for babysitting all nine periods a day, but are not compensated as the teachers are for having more than five classes a day, because the library is an “area” not a class…AARRGGHH. Then there are the jealous teachers who don’t want the librarian to be respected and admired for doing a good job, I was actually told ” be careful, people aren’t going to like all the positive attention you’re getting from the students”. Am I alone here?? Any body else finding the politics and back stabbing to be overwhelming???
Comment from t.s. - June 24, 2011 at 3:52 am
I see I’m not the only disillusioned librarian. I hate being unemployed and still living hand to mouth.
Comment from Disappointed - June 24, 2011 at 11:12 am
I too, like Sally, am disappointed at the role of the librarian in a school. I take it she is in middle or hs, but in elementary it is no different. Kids who can’t go to gym or out for recess are dumped in my room even though I am teaching most of the day. Teacheres compare how many preps I have vs them, even though and an LMS we have 2 jobs- teacher and library administrator. But that doesn’t matter. I take home more of my library admin work because I don’t have time to do it at work. It’s very disappointing because it could be a great profession, but we are superivised by school administrators who don’t value the library or have a vision of what it should be. The whole LMS profession is eroding in front of us. The state’s new APPR evaluation of all teachers based on student performance makes me cringe. I am looking at other options because of my experience these last few years.
Comment from Jessica - June 24, 2011 at 4:57 pm
Aren’t there any recent grads out there that are having luck finding jobs? I am currently an MLIS student residing in NY, and see several job postings daily for librarians, mostly in academic/college libraries.
Comment from Nancy Ramsden Owen - June 25, 2011 at 10:34 pm
I have been a professional librarian since 1993, and have been receiving job offers ever since enrolling in the program. My experience has been amazing, with a career that began in competitive intelligence, and moved along to research assistant to a college president and teaching reference librarian, public library reference department manager, super-searcher for a consulting firm, and after a second master’s in secondary education, now a school library media specialist in a low-income district, which I enjoy immensely. It’s been a fantastically flexible degree that has led me to skills and opportunities I never envisioned. I would not hesitate to recommend this field to an intrepid researcher and person who loves a challenge.
Comment from Micah Vandegrift - June 16, 2011 at 12:40 pm
“Those who have had their degree for 1-5 years were the least likely to highly recommend or recommend the degree (49%) and were also the most likely to indicate that they would not recommend (22%) or actively dissuade (13%) others from pursuing an MLIS.”
This is the statement that stands out to me the most. What is it about recent graduates that makes them less likely to recommend the degree? Is it the negative job prospects these days? Is the curriculum failing to keep up with the needs of students? It seems like these are the questions I keep coming up against when thinking about the value of the MLIS today, and I hate to think that any of that might be true. In fact, I hope its just me. Not sure how to relay these results into my understanding of the profession, but I appreciate you all sharing them.