Expert: Robert H. Kieserman, MBA, MLIS - 10/25/2009

Question
What is the reasoning behind requiring a Masters degree in order to be a librarian?

Answer
Professional librarians study library and information science in a masters program. This involves many areas that are used by librarians in the performance of their jobs. Aside from learning about how to conduct a reference interview, the procedures of cataloging a book or other material, and how to search in the inner depths of the internet, librarians also learn about interpersonal relationships, the psychology of how the user thinks, and how library customers use information. In addition, one can specialize in business librarianship, music or art librarianship, medical librarianship, government documents librarianship, law librarianship, news libarianship, plus many other specific specialties, and the student need to become expert in the information that these respective fields utilize, and how to find it and present it to users. When I was in library school. I focused on library management and administration. The masters program allows a future librarian to fully understand how information is gathered, and how it is processed and used by the library customer, whoever that customer may be. That is why we study library and information science. Feel free to write back with any questions or comments.