What Is a Master’s in Library Science?

You love books. You spent your childhood summers participating in the summer reading program at your local library. Now you’re all grown up and you want to know exactly what a Master’s in Library Science is. In short, a Master’s in Library Science is the degree generally required for reference librarians and library directors, but school districts and law firms also hire librarians and archivists that have library science degrees.

How Long It Takes

A Master’s in Library Science is a fairly quick degree to complete. In fact, some programs take only a single year to be completed by full-time student, although many programs require two full years of graduate work. Depending on the program, an Master’s in Library Science requires as few as 36 semester hours or as many as 72 quarter hours for completion. Many programs cater to part-time students, but most programs have a time limit for degree completion.

Master’s in Library Science Specializations

All Master’s in Library Science programs require core general classes, but many master’s candidates will choose a specific specialization. Since the 1990s, specializations have grown beyond the walls of the traditional library, and many new information degrees are no longer called library science degrees. Master’s degrees in information such as a Master’s in Library Science can include specialization in school librarianship, database design, archival studies, art librarianship and health-science librarianship. Currently, many students pursuing degrees in information science are also getting an academic emphasis in search engine optimization to help them better market their skills after receiving a degree.

Choosing a Degree Program

Those interested in attaining a Master’s in Library Science degree should start by looking for a degree program accredited by the American Library Association. An ALA-accredited program will provide greater flexibility for graduates. If you’re interested in library science or have decided to complete a master’s program to improve your upward mobility in a library career, you can select from programs that teach more than just library and information science. Several ALA-accredited programs allow students in Master’s in Fine Arts or Master’s in Music programs to add Master’s in Library Science classes to their degree programs as a way to improve their marketability upon degree completion.

Related Resource: Master’s in Education Specializations

Who Should Get an Master’s in Library Science

Although an Master’s in Library Science can be beneficial to those working in libraries as well as to archivists at a variety of businesses, you don’t necessarily have to have an Master’s in Library Science to work at a library or to be a researcher, according to Forbes. Many libraries hire workers for their children’s department and even the adult research desk that do not have a master’s degree. However, most libraries still require directors and other professionals to have a master’s degree. Those working toward a Master’s in Library Science today should be careful to learn as much as possible about information technology in general since skills such as search engine optimization are now in growing demand.

Being a bookworm isn’t a good enough reason to pursue a Master’s in Library Science degree, but the Master’s in Library Science is still a viable degree. Individuals with a natural curiosity and a knack for organization are good candidates for a Master’s in Library Science.