This is true. I'd also add that at a lot of universities, librarians are professors. That is true where I work. So the second masters doesn't get you hired, nor does it make you a good or bad librarian, but it does have an impact on the promotion and tenure process, your corresponding rank, and pay scale. I would be your rank also determines how active you can be in the faculty governing body - in some, you can only be a voting member at a certain rank or above.
We recently went through a two-year process to change librarians ranks, making MLS the terminal degree rather than a PhD, and librarians have a separate promotion process. We don't qualify for tenure, which I would prefer was different, but at least I can move above assistant professor rank now.
I often wish I had another masters because I sometimes feel I have a lack of depth in subject matter knowledge after only studying it on the undergraduate level. Ultimately, however, it is my performance that the other professors respond to. It takes longer to gain credibility without extra letters after my name, but I'm up for the challenge. I'm an intelligent person, and capable of learning outside of the requirements for a degree. This is what makes me a good librarian and contributor both to the library and the music department. I'm even teaching an upper level music elective next spring, just with an MLS.
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Re: as someone who has been in academia who whole MLS careeer
Date: 2009-04-23 12:41 pm (UTC)We recently went through a two-year process to change librarians ranks, making MLS the terminal degree rather than a PhD, and librarians have a separate promotion process. We don't qualify for tenure, which I would prefer was different, but at least I can move above assistant professor rank now.
I often wish I had another masters because I sometimes feel I have a lack of depth in subject matter knowledge after only studying it on the undergraduate level. Ultimately, however, it is my performance that the other professors respond to. It takes longer to gain credibility without extra letters after my name, but I'm up for the challenge. I'm an intelligent person, and capable of learning outside of the requirements for a degree. This is what makes me a good librarian and contributor both to the library and the music department. I'm even teaching an upper level music elective next spring, just with an MLS.