Have you ever told someone you were considering getting a Master's Degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS) and they gave you an eyebrow-raised look that meant something along the lines of, "oh dear, you have really lost it."? Or maybe you're just considering the idea yourself, and are tempted to ask yourself the very same thing - you're stuck wondering how you would ever find a job.

Fortunately, it may not be as impossible as you (or your loved ones) think. These days, a MLIS can lead to so many varied job titles, job descriptions, fields, and types of organizations, it's positively mind-boggling. As Dean Sandra G. Yee mentions in this video, "now, more than ever, the skillset of a library and information science professional translates into many different fields…after all, the world runs on information."

In some ways, the decision to obtain a MLIS is not so much a career choice in itself, as it is the introductory step to a whole new subset of career choices. Love to work with kids? There's a place for you. Want to work for an international organization? There's a home for you here, as well. Good with computers? There's a whole array of options for you, all within the MLIS degree.

Whether you hope to work in a traditional library setting or elsewhere; whether you prefer to sit at a desk or be on your feet; whether you have a background in another field or are fresh out of an undergraduate degree - the MLIS and its variety of associated career paths can accommodate your interests and skillsets.

But don't take my word for it. Head over to "I Need a Library Job's" website, inalj.com, and check out the list of Keywords for Job Searching right on their main page. This is a great starter list for possible job titles. If you'd like an even longer list, try this site. Or this ALA Library Support Job Titles site. Or this ALA Job Lists site. Just scan down the page and imagine the possibilities.

Your dream job could easily be in that list. And if it is, there's a home for you in a MLIS program, too.

Would you like more information about the School of Library and Information Science?

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