Library and Information Science Graduate School Information

Interested in pursuing a career in library and information science? This LibGuide contains useful information to help you in your graduate school search. In it, you will find a collection of links related to becoming a librarian, including lists of American Library Association accredited programs, advice on how to pick a graduate school, and current job openings in the field. You can also find information on a variety of professional associations that can help you decide on a specialization.

Some of the most popular library career paths lead to jobs in academic, public, or school libraries, but did you know that many library and information science programs are now being customized for students with vocational interests outside these settings?

“From the onset of my program, knew I wanted to work in a college or university library, but this was not the case for everyone I went to grad school with. A master’s degree in library and information science can prepare you for a broader range of careers than one would typically imagine,” Todd Wiebe, a reference librarian at Van Wylen, said. “I would guess that 20 to 25 percent of the people in my program entered into it with plans to work in areas beyond what most people would consider traditional librarianship.” He went on to list some of the library-related career paths in fields such as: archives, records management, information architecture, user experience design, human-computer interaction, knowledge management, and content management.

Looking for perspective from someone who has been through a library graduate program? The librarians at Van Wylen would be happy to help. The LibGuide includes contact information for all of the librarians, including which school they attended, so you can get an idea of the options for students considering this career path.

— Bethany Stripp, Library Student Blogger