Comments on: What a PhD Plus an MLS Gets You These Days

By: Sally

Sally — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 10:54:36 +0000

This ad is honest. They want someone highly educated, but not “entitled.” They are looking for someone who will come in when called for emergencies and not complain if they have to fill in at the circulation desk. I am sick of working with people who think the MLS degree automatically entitles them to never have to be on call, never work weekends, and never check out books. Guess what–public librarians, even managers–do that stuff all the time.

By: Magda

Magda — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 14:18:42 +0000

“It was touted to other people as a selling point by my administration until I found out and made them stop.”

So says the person whose web handle is “Ivy League PhD”.

…maybe you’re being ironic?

By: gatoloco

gatoloco — Wed, 30 May 2012 13:07:18 +0000

Pardon me. I meant the response to go here.
I would be critical of this position in any setting, rural or urban. What I believe many are taking issue with, is that the position as written provides little chance for professional success, asking for too much in all areas. This happens in urban areas too, and some people posting here have learned the hard way, taking a position that was doomed from the get go. It’s a tough lesson to learn, and after learning it, one reads position descriptions in a whole new light.

By: gatoloco

gatoloco — Wed, 30 May 2012 13:06:18 +0000

I would be critical of this position in any setting, rural or urban. What I believe many are taking issue with, is that the position as written provides little chance for professional success, asking for too much in all areas. This happens in urban areas too, and some people posting here have learned the hard way, taking a position that was doomed from the get go. It’s a tough lesson to learn, and after learning it, one reads position descriptions in a whole new light.

By: Annoyed Librarian

Annoyed Librarian — Tue, 29 May 2012 19:54:35 +0000

Ashley H., you seem confused about the nature and purpose of the PhD, whose purpose is to train people to be researchers. Since when is pointing out that people don’t need PhDs to teach introductory courses or process library books “hurling negativity”? It’s a statement of fact about the world. You’re obviously uncomfortable with stating such facts, but that says more about you than it does about this blog post.

By: Ivy League PhD

Ivy League PhD — Tue, 29 May 2012 13:12:35 +0000

My PhD gains me absolutely nothing extra in this job. It was touted to other people as a selling point by my administration until I found out and made them stop. It’s just one of the ironies that people who don’t have one think doctorate = $$$. If you are pursuing one for the big bucks, you’re an idiot. Education does pay…to a certain extent. Once you’ve crossed the master’s level, that rule no longer applies. No one can ever take my degrees, my knowledge, my book, and my experience from me, but no one’s paying me for them, either.

By: Melbourne on my mind

Melbourne on my mind — Sun, 27 May 2012 04:49:51 +0000

I once saw a position being advertised at a museum in London that required a Masters of Fine Arts, a PhD in Dutch paintings, a Masters in conversation, and for the applicant to be fluent in reading seventeenth century Dutch. Oh, and it paid £17,000 per year. You can’t even live in London for less than £20,000…

I desperately want to know how many applicants they had!

By: Melbourne on my mind

Melbourne on my mind — Sun, 27 May 2012 04:42:30 +0000

As a MLIS student, this is somewhat disheartening. Especially with a background in museum curation, where you find people with a PhD in ANYTHING getting given a job over people with years of experience! It seems like the reasoning is very similar though – so that the institution in question can say “Have you met our staff member, DOCTOR Blah?”

Hopefully this is a one off, and not a sign of things to come in the industry…

By: Maureen Perry

Maureen Perry — Sat, 26 May 2012 21:59:56 +0000

On top of my MLS I have a subject master’s and a certificate of advanced study. While it is sad that higher degrees do not always mean higher salaries, I dislike the implication–intended or not–that work in small libraries in beneath us.

I work in a small Maine library. While the school may not be the most affluent, I am proud to serve our students. I am proud to offer them the benefit of my learning. These students teach me something new every day and inspire me to learn more.

By: Techserving You

Techserving You — Sat, 26 May 2012 20:24:25 +0000

Oh yes, this was in 2007.