Ask anyone in the information, library and broader GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives and museums) field what the value of an MLIS is and why they do or don’t have one, and you are bound to get a range of answers as diverse as the field itself. It has been argued that the degree is an irrelevant gatekeeping device. Many others stand firm in their position that earning an MLIS centers you in a field of practice , tying you to a long and rich history of engagement at the nexus of learning, social behavior and technological development.

Personally, I am inclined towards this latter view. I am particularly moved by the ethical commitments of our field, including those that compel us to work together to ensure equitable and unfettered access to the information necessary to support informed decision-making, about our health, our democracy and our own lives.

As you move through your MLIS program, you will have ample opportunity to form your own opinion about the value of the degree and, ultimately, of the coherence of “the information professions” writ large. Are we still birds of a feather? Does this one degree bind us all? What do we share in common, and does it matter? These are questions that you will begin to answer for yourself as you move forward through your degree and your career. To help you proceed, I have gathered the following resources as supports. They are grouped into three categories: academic support, community involvement, and professional development.

Academic Support

• 14 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Got My Master’s/Grad School – There are loads of these listicles around the internet. This one addresses a lot of the concerns and insecurities I’ve heard expressed by students during my time as a Teaching Assistant.
• We’re All Frauds – An essential must-read for all incoming grad students, as we all suffer from imposter syndrome. Remember that you are starting on a path; no one expects you to be anywhere but where you are.
• Where Do the Hours Go? This is a very helpful piece on time management for graduate students, put together by the American Psychological Association. Strategies that they mention that have really helped me include auditing my time, establishing (and sticking to!) bright lines, and abandoning perfection (which took me three years and many tears to fully embrace).

Community Involvement

• Becoming involved in the scholarly societies that support and advance our fields is, in my opinion, one of the best ways to affect those fields. Feeling disenchanted? Frustrated by outdated priorities? Or perhaps you’re passionate about a particular challenge and inspired to help address it head-on. Join one of the groups below and become involved in a committee or two. Scholarly societies are eager for student involvement and offer an excellent means of finding community and purpose in your work.
  • American Library Association (ALA) – The ALA is an excellent starting point, as it is the largest society serving the information professions in the United States. It houses many discipline-specific associations, including:
    • Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) – Supporting academic and research librarians.
    • American Association of School Librarians (AASL) – Supporting the school librarian community; currently actively engaged in the fight against book bans.
    • Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) – Supporting reference, user and technical service librarians.
    • Young Adults Library Services Association (YALSA) – Focusing on the unique needs of those among us who work with young adult populations.
  • Society of American Archivists – A diverse and active group advancing discussion and best practices surrounding everything from archival theory to repatriation and web archiving.
  • Association for Information Science & Technology – This long-running, international organization serves the information science community with many annual conferences and symposia, dedicated committees and working groups, and mentoring and other engagement opportunities for students and early career professionals.

Professional Development

• With a bit of effort and determination, it is not just possible but likely that you can supplement what you are learning with invaluable hands-on experience through an internship or volunteer position. The benefits of this kind of experiential learning cannot be overstated; in addition to providing you with the skills that will set you apart from the crowd when you’re next on the job market, they can and very often do lead to the creation of professional connections that can affect the course of your entire career.
• I recently completed a fellowship through Drexel University that placed me on a project with the National Science Foundation and led to a job with NASA. You never know what an internship, fellowship, or volunteer position might bring, but you do know that you won’t get one if you don’t apply. Here are some resources to help you on your way.
  • Library of Congress Volunteer and Internship Opportunities, including some that are both paid and virtual.
  • Smithsonian Institution Internships, also including some that are paid and virtual!
  • State and local governmental offices often offer paid internships as well, many of which are particularly well tailored to the skills and expertise of students in library and information science.
  • Your local libraries, museums, historical societies and groovy nonprofits are also great resources, although the internship opportunities they afford may not be paid.