Master's in Social Work or Master's in Library Science?

Question

In the long run, which degree would be more beneficial? A MSW or a MLS? What jobs are there for a MLS?

Answer 1

In my mind the MLS is the stronger option. There is a great deal of technology in the MLS programs. You can pick your setting, k-12, medical/legal/ university.

see links

http://www.lisjobs.com/
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos068.htm
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos060.htm

Note comment about about growth and jobs in coming years, retirement ect of librarians. The BLS does indicate a high growth rate for social workers. It really depends on where you want to spend your time. In both cases you are helping people, neither choice is bad. Look at the earning potential as well in the bls reports for both.

Talk to representatives from both programs. They can tell you what the newly minted masters grads are doing ...

good luck

Answer 2

That would depend on what you want to do. I can speak best to librarianship (since I am a librarian) With an MLS, you can work as a librarian in any one of a number of fields. There are school librarians, public librarians, academic librarians, and librarians who work in special libraries such as law or medicine. Some sub-fields of librarianship will pay better than others, of course. Depending on what kind of coursework you take, you could end up doing preservation/conservation work, cataloging or public services such as reference. You could even, with some technical expertise, become a systems librarian. So I guess the first thing to think about is what kind of librarian you are thinking of becoming.

The repeatedly slashed budgets in recent years have turned some large urban libraries into day destinations for the homeless and/or mentally ill (see Alternet link below). This has given librarianship a bad rap (as has the widespread public opinion that librarians are merely glorified file clerks). While this is a problem, the majority of libraries are not like that at all. For example, I won't call my workplace posh, but it is certainly comfortable in a government-issued-furniture sort of way.

You'll hear a lot of hype about "the greying of the profession" and how librarians will be in high demand as a consequence. Many newer librarians discount the hype, believing that older librarians are not retiring as predicted (many working longer, or going into a part-time work kind of semi-retirement), and that shortsighted libraries are replacing fully qualified librarians with paraprofessionals. And I won't lie to you -- the market for librarians is tough for people looking to go into public librarianship. However, the market is much, much sunnier for budding academic librarians, and in special libraries (such as law librarianship). The only catch to those positions is that it is becoming common for academic positions to require (or prefer) a second Masters degree (and a JD is becoming a standard qualification for law librarians).

But I'll also tell you that I absolutely love being a librarian. I help people learn how to find information (which I feel empowers them), and I organize information so that it is findable. The new directions that librarianship is taking are really exciting, and I work within a profession of exciting, driven, interesting people.

Answer 3

If the state of libraries is any indication of the job market an MLS is practically worthless. Libaries are the most undervalued resource in most universities and in most communities. They are the first agency to experience cuts and they never get the funding back. DA

Answer 4

MLS - you can work in a library for a city or university. You can make really good money as well.