I believe that library education is worthwhile for a professional
librarian, and I think that hiring people with an MLS is a good thing. I
want patrons to know that there's a difference in role (as well as
expertise) between me and the undergraduate staffing the circ desk. And I
want law firms to know that having a secretary or paralegal file pocket
parts does not transform that person into a "librarian."
But I think we can lighten up a little.
According to the 1996 Survey of Members, more than 4 out of 5 AALL
members have an MLS degree -- which means that almost 1 in 5 do not. Hmm.
Do we want to write off 15-20% of our colleagues?
Open up the AALL _Biographical Directory_ at random. Nearly every
two-page spread has at least one person who lacks the MLS. Here's someone
who has a paralegal degree; he has worked as a law librarian for nearly
twenty years, at two New York law firms; he has served on two LLAGNY
committees and has written for LLAGNY Law Lines. Here's someone with a BS
who began her career as an elementary librarian (perhaps her undergraduate
education included certification as a school librarian) and has worked at
a county law library for 11 years. Here's someone who has an AB and a JD
who has been working as a public services librarian at an academic law
library for 10 years; she has written a book on legal research in her
state (as well as two law review pieces when she was a student). Here's
someone who has a BA and a JD; she worked at a county law library for 6
years and has been a law firm librarian for 11 years.
In my state, aspiring lawyers can still "read the law" and qualify
to take the bar exam without a JD. It's clear that in librarianship, some
people learn on the job -- and through reading and professional
development activities -- and become professional librarians without an
MLS. They exercise professional judgment and have broad and deep
expertise: they are much more than the undergraduate at the circ desk or
the secretary who files pocket parts.
If asked for advice on pursuing a career in librarianship, would I
recommend going to library school? You bet. When my institution has
vacancies do we require an MLS? Yep. But would I say that our colleagues
without MLS degrees should stop calling themselves librarians? Absolutely
not.
-- Mary
Mary Whisner (BA, JD, MLIS, if you're curious), Head of Reference
Gallagher Law Library, University of Washington
whisner@u.washington.edu
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Wed Nov 14 2007 - 20:49:32 PST