Hatrack River Writers Workshop: Anybody familiar with Library Science?

This is topic Anybody familiar with Library Science? in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
http://www.hatrack.com/ubb/writers/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=004671

Posted by debhoag (Member # 5493) on :

I'm looking for a brief description of what master's level library science people are learning. Anybody know? I tend to think that you learn the dewey decimal system and you're good to go, but obviously, there must be a lot more to it than that. Anybody want to enlighten me?

Posted by annepin (Member # 5952) on :

There's also library of congress, which has a different organization system, I believe. People also learn a lot about how to run searches, and how things are tagged and referenced in databases. A lot of the modern programs teach database management and information science.

I suggest reading a few curriculum guidelines, or the required course list for universities offering this degree.

Posted by Jo1day (Member # 7800) on :

I second that notion, and also point out that librarians also need to be able to help people with electronic searches, research, interlibrary loan (as in, getting books from other libraries), and you also have to be aware of books to buy, the needs of your particular library, etc, etc.

It depends on the kind of library you want to work in. You don't necessarily have to have a masters in order to work in, say, a public library or a children's library. But if you want to work in a university library, the Masters is a must.

(p.s.--there are also specialties such as government documents, which require an entirely different classification system, called SuDoc, and there are different qualifications for maps as well.)

Posted by JeanneT (Member # 5709) on :

Here's a link to a Master of Library Science curriculum.

http://slim.emporia.edu/programs/mlscurriculum.htm

Posted by KayTi (Member # 5137) on :

A lot of schools are calling this area Media Sciences as I understand it (or overlapping the former library sciences with media instruction.)

To me, a person from this field would have a phenomenal ability to categorize information, and to understand others' categorizations of information. This makes their skillset really useful in today's world where information zooming - figuring out which information is the right one for what you want, filtering out the bad hits, etc - is an everyday task. Kids today are pretty good at this. Media sciences people are excellent at it, or so has been my experience.

Posted by Elan (Member # 2442) on :

I presume you are asking this question for the purpose of developing a character, so I will offer my observation. I won't generalize all librarians, but will make my comments based on a good friend who is a librarian.

From a personality standpoint, she loves trivia and facts, the more obscure the better. I jokingly say she is the dumbest smart person I know. This individual is a member of MENSA. While highly intelligent, sometimes she is a complete doofus with ordinary details. An example is that she is helping her siblings care for her ailing father, who is on oxygen. Her brother stopped by one night to find she had lit candles going all over the house. It hadn't occurred to her that having open flames in the same room that a portable oxygen tank was in use posed any sort of danger.

It's little things like that... being immersed in the world of higher learning, but oblivious to some of the more common-wisdom details of life that amuses me.

Posted by debhoag (Member # 5493) on :

that's exactly what I was looking for Elan. Would you consider asking her if it's okay if I email her to talk about it?

Posted by Elan (Member # 2442) on :

I'm not sure she would have time for it, right now... as I mentioned in my post, she's doing some pretty intensive caregiving of her ailing father, who isn't in good shape. And, she just started working as... a librarian!... in a new job that is taking a lot of hours.

I'll mention it to her, however, and if she's willing, I'll pass along contact info.

Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :

I asked a friend of mine who's a librarian and this is what she told me:

quote:

A Masters of Library and Information Science is much more than learning the Dewey Decimal System. It involves learning how to gather, provide access to and make information available to the public.
Your Hatrack person could go to the American Library Association website at:
http://www.ala.org/
and ask the same question — or just cruise around it and see what is happening and the concerns of librarians.

Posted by debhoag (Member # 5493) on :

wonderful idea! Thanks!

Posted by Elan (Member # 2442) on :

I've heard back from my librarian friend, and thought I'd post her response here:

My original email to her:

quote:
I belong to a writer’s forum, and one of the other people there is trying to develop a character who is a librarian. She essentially is asking about personality profiles that are common to librarians. I told her, based on my observations of my good friend, that librarians seem to be fascinated with trivia and facts, the more obscure the better. She was wondering what other personality traits might be common among librarians.

My friend's response:

quote:
Actually, there seems to be a wide split in the types that work in libraries: some come for the adventure and some come to hide. There are those who love the "chase" after finding answers and enjoy experiencing new things through reading. There are others who want to find a safe place to be and feel it's the library. It makes for some pretty interesting interactions!

Some things I've noticed have been an afinity for pets, often cats [who love to sit on books and papers that you want to work on] but lots of dogs, too. You'd be surprised that not all library people read as much as you'd think, partly because we don't have the time, but also because, well, you work with books all day long. Humor is a big part of library life, but if it's inherent or a tool of getting by is something someone else would have to decide. Also the humor can be of varying types, and not necesarily appreciated by all.

I just looked at your email and would have to correct your statement on trivia. I think it's more attention to detail. Again, part of it's inherent, but a lot is developed through checking various editions and for other such types of information that can make a big difference in cataloging or answering reference questions.

Hope this is helpful.

Posted by debhoag (Member # 5493) on :

you're awesome, Elan! Thank you, and please thank your friend for me. Cats alone is worth kudos.

Posted by Elan (Member # 2442) on :

I shall pass the word along.

The cat thing reminds me of Powell's Bookstore... you may have seen it mentioned on the Miss Snark blogs and the Cobert Report. Those of you not blessed to live near Portland, Oregon should know this is the bookstore of all bookstores... a full city block, three stories high (and expansion in the works), with auxilary stores throughout the metro area. The technical book store had an orange tabby cat who lived quite comfortably among the books. The only business card the store issued proclaimed the boss's name and title quite proudly:
FUP
Store Cat

[This message has been edited by Elan (edited March 16, 2008).]