This is my first post. I’m looking for some libertarians’ opinions on librarianship. First let me explain my personal situation. You can skip this paragraph if you’re not interested in my personal situation. I just graduated from college with B. A., majoring in English Literature. I’m trying to decide on a good career, and think I might enjoy being a librarian. I feel like majoring in English generally prepares you for these career tracks (people can always do something unrelated to their major, but I would rather do something that uses my education): teaching, writing, editing, or further study. I am not currently interested in teaching, and find the job prospects and pay for writers unappealing. As far as further study goes, I think that library studies and law are good programs for English majors, and are programs which are unique in not requiring a specific undergraduate focus. As a somewhat shy person with an attention to detail and interest in technology, I think that I am better-suited to library studies than law. Though the job markets for both fields are tight, focusing on technology during my graduate school education might provide me with an advantage in getting a library job. I will seek a job at a private academic library (or maybe even a corporate library), since I do not support government libraries. I understand that even private universities benefit from government funds somewhat, but I do not feel like working at one would be a significant ethical compromise. I didn’t avoid a college education just because the government inevitably funded my private school somewhat, after all.
Anyways, I’m wondering what people think about libraries and librarians. Are they needed? Since I plan on working in an academic library, I am especially interested in such libraries. Do you think students and researchers need the services that academic libraries and librarians provide? What do you think the future will look like? I guess it’s partly an economic situation: the institutions buy access to expensive materials that users might not buy on an individual basis. There’s also the sort of “internet cafe” service that many libraries provide, although neither libraries nor librarians are required for such a service. If I get the MLIS (Master’s of Library and Information Science) degree, but libraries become obsolete or librarian jobs become very scarce, do you think this specific degree or a master’s degree in general will give me an advantage in job markets (especially those related to librarianship and information systems)? It is a professional degree after all, as opposed to academic degree, and thus focuses on technical skills, unlike an M. A.
I have already been accepted to a program, and am currently trying to decide whether or not to get myself into what should be about $30,000 in loans for the entire program (I already have about $30,000 from my undergraduate program), or just try and get the best job that I can with a bachelor’s degree. If I do the program, now is a good time, since I’m relatively free of financial obligations (living with my parents) and have already been accepted. I will appreciate any advice, especially if somebody is a librarian or MLIS-holder, or knows one. Also, feel free to comment on the value of college and graduate school degrees in general.
Update: Thanks for the replies. I think am going to go ahead with the MLIS program. I know that pay for librarians is not generally very remarkable, but am still interested in librarianship. It does seem like having the extra degree would enable me to make a good bit more money.