Grad schools do need reforming; however, it is up to the student to receive the absolute best education that he or she can provide for themselves. Consequently, doing your homework about what your prospective school’s professors are researching, ensuring that you incorporate technology within your education, and paying close attention to the skills required for positions that you are interested in then modeling your education accordingly are all important considerations.

Sarah hit the nail on the head. Unless you’re thinking about a PhD, a MLS (or MLIS) is for the sole purpose of giving an applicant the necessary skills base to obtain a job as a librarian.

A 21st century librarian must embrace constant change, must strategically plan their future, and must be ready when unexpected challenges and opportunities arise.

And as far as the job thing…While dumb luck played a big part in my embarrassingly easy job search, I did some things that were helpful.

First, I started thinking about my job search before i even had all my textbooks purchased. I targeted the places I wanted to work, checked their boards every week, tried to meet people who worked there, and applied promptly for any position I could conceivably be eligible for.

Second, I did an internship. DO THIS IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, especially if you have no LIS experience or if you want to make a change in specialty. I got my break specifically because of my internship.

Third… I was as flexible as i could be on location. While we didn’t really want to leave the state, I was open to that possibility if need be. Fortunately, I got my opportunity at a small university about 30 miles outside the city I live in, that nobody else thought to apply with because it was “too far”, or “too small”. My willingness to pay my dues with a slightly longer commute helped me land a great academic library gig where I was able to put many of the things I was studying into practice. One of the librarians retired a few months before I graduated, and I was fortunate enough to get to move into his slot after I finished up.

While grades are important, you can’t lose sight of the bigger picture. You’re not doing this just to get the pretty piece of sheepskin. You are doing this to GET A JOB. Think strategically, be flexible, and even in the current job market you can graduate with a diploma in one hand and a job offer in the other.

Wonderful suggestions re: the job situation. Something I would add: be willing to move. The single largest stumbling block I saw for the folks with whom I graduated my MLS program was that they were determined to stay in state. This might work fine, except we were in a state with two library schools churning out graduates like no tomorrow.

I found the job market out west to be a lot more welcoming for new librarians. I got a decent job that started within a month of my graduation. And I also remind friends that the local economy goes a long way to determining how “good” a salary is. $35K might not be much in Chicago or LA, but it’s a good living in Wyoming or Montana. As my boss says, all you have to do is get your foot in the door to start with.