There are some pretty decent online library master's programs out there. But as people have pointed out, the job prospects post-masters aren't real hot. The occupational outlook for professional librarians has listed the primary means of advancement as 'death or retirement' higher up the chain for the last 25 years. And with the economy the way it is, can't imagine too many that are rushing into retirement.
It's not all doom and gloom tho. There are still positions for heavily multi-lingual people, especially those with backgrounds in less-than-popular languages (Arabic, Farsi, Mandarin, etc.). If you think you might want to work academic liberries, be on the lookout for a second masters (or gods forfend a Ph.D) that you wouldn't mind picking up. All this for jobs that pay diddly.
One thing to keep in mind, if you decide to go brick-and-mortar. There used to be a program to give in-state tuition to candidates whose home state doesn't have a library program. I think it's still in existence and you can track it down on the ALA site. (And now I will take my little (un-employed) reference librarian self to the kitchen for a forbidden pint of Ben and Jerrys).
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2011-02-02 02:44 am (UTC)It's not all doom and gloom tho. There are still positions for heavily multi-lingual people, especially those with backgrounds in less-than-popular languages (Arabic, Farsi, Mandarin, etc.). If you think you might want to work academic liberries, be on the lookout for a second masters (or gods forfend a Ph.D) that you wouldn't mind picking up. All this for jobs that pay diddly.
One thing to keep in mind, if you decide to go brick-and-mortar. There used to be a program to give in-state tuition to candidates whose home state doesn't have a library program. I think it's still in existence and you can track it down on the ALA site. (And now I will take my little (un-employed) reference librarian self to the kitchen for a forbidden pint of Ben and Jerrys).