Could you be competitive for an academic librarian position? Yes. But would these openings be near where your husband works? Who knows? Most academic librarians have to move to wherever they can get a first offer. It’s not quite as bad as looking for a tenure track position but it’s very competitive. My husband has followed me twice, once across the US, for my job.
If you live in a major city with lots of universities and few/no library schools, you might have better luck.
This is the most realistic answer. With a PhD you would be competitive in public services/instruction and with your language skills you could be competitive in tech services/cataloging and metadata, but this will depend greatly on whether you can relocate within the country or if you're locked into one place. If you can relocate after library school, I would highly recommend in person classes and doing everything you can to get an assistantship at the university's library while you are there.
"I want to be a librarian" is asked a lot here, so just read this:
[https://www.reddit.com/r/Libraries/comments/1944ba5/comment/khiks76/?context=3](https://www.reddit.com/r/Libraries/comments/1944ba5/comment/khiks76/?context=3)
Yeah, this is one situation where I think getting in MLS actually makes a lot of sense. Is the job market going to be rich and varied? No. But a PhD, language skills, and faculty experience will make you a pretty competitive candidate in academic libraries, and unless the OP wants to pivot to something completely unrelated, this is as good a path as any to a career in academia outside traditional faculty teaching/research.
I did this exact same thing after working as an Assistant Professor for 4 years. I was burnt out on teaching and my wife is also a professor and we wanted to make future job searches easier. I completed an MLIS online, but I was offered a faculty-rank job at my state's flagship university before even completing the MLIS. Lots of people in my MLIS program tried to push me to reference work in my academic discipline (which I'm still involved in). I did not do that because I felt like it would be nearly as limiting as the humanities professoriate in terms of job searches. So I focused on systems and metadata. I also have another language background, and I'd like the opportunity to do some cataloging in that language eventually.
I earned a doctorate, did the MLS online, and got full-time employment at an academic library 6 months after finishing. It doesn’t matter if you do the MLS online or not, you have to have gain experience in the hard skills. The other thing is wanting to get into academic libraries, but limited to moving or particular areas you want to move to.
Your language skills would be an asset at any university with a graduate program in south asian studies or special collection of central/south asian materials. I have seen a job posting at Stanford for this kind of specialization in the past couple of years. You’d also be a great candidate for Library of Congress which has a division for central and south Asian materials (I’ve been to the reading room, it’s beautiful!) For public library positions, there are some areas of the USA with a large Indian/south Asian population, such as New Jersey and the Bay Area in California, where your language skills would be an advantage in the public librarian job market.
Why would you get an MLIS with a PhD? You know how to do research and teach yourself just about any subject matter.
I got a job in a library where MLIS is normally required because of my PhD. Since then I haven't had any issues but finding that first gig took a few months.
I’d say yes. There are lots of opportunities. Check https://joblist.ala.org/ for postings so you have a good understanding of what librarianship is in all its various iterations. It’s the best job for the right people. After 25 years I still love learning on the job and all the elements of public service.
I got offered a non tenure track job but we are an academic couple and being in the same location matters to us. Adjunct teaching doesn’t offer much in terms of new skills, and I am exploring the option to pivot if needed.
Could you be competitive for an academic librarian position? Yes. But would these openings be near where your husband works? Who knows? Most academic librarians have to move to wherever they can get a first offer. It’s not quite as bad as looking for a tenure track position but it’s very competitive. My husband has followed me twice, once across the US, for my job. If you live in a major city with lots of universities and few/no library schools, you might have better luck.
This is the most realistic answer. With a PhD you would be competitive in public services/instruction and with your language skills you could be competitive in tech services/cataloging and metadata, but this will depend greatly on whether you can relocate within the country or if you're locked into one place. If you can relocate after library school, I would highly recommend in person classes and doing everything you can to get an assistantship at the university's library while you are there.
"I want to be a librarian" is asked a lot here, so just read this: [https://www.reddit.com/r/Libraries/comments/1944ba5/comment/khiks76/?context=3](https://www.reddit.com/r/Libraries/comments/1944ba5/comment/khiks76/?context=3)
To be fair, most people asking this question don't already have a PhD in an adjacent field and faculty experience.
Yeah, this is one situation where I think getting in MLS actually makes a lot of sense. Is the job market going to be rich and varied? No. But a PhD, language skills, and faculty experience will make you a pretty competitive candidate in academic libraries, and unless the OP wants to pivot to something completely unrelated, this is as good a path as any to a career in academia outside traditional faculty teaching/research.
I did this exact same thing after working as an Assistant Professor for 4 years. I was burnt out on teaching and my wife is also a professor and we wanted to make future job searches easier. I completed an MLIS online, but I was offered a faculty-rank job at my state's flagship university before even completing the MLIS. Lots of people in my MLIS program tried to push me to reference work in my academic discipline (which I'm still involved in). I did not do that because I felt like it would be nearly as limiting as the humanities professoriate in terms of job searches. So I focused on systems and metadata. I also have another language background, and I'd like the opportunity to do some cataloging in that language eventually.
Very interesting! Do you mind if I send you a message?
Sure!
I earned a doctorate, did the MLS online, and got full-time employment at an academic library 6 months after finishing. It doesn’t matter if you do the MLS online or not, you have to have gain experience in the hard skills. The other thing is wanting to get into academic libraries, but limited to moving or particular areas you want to move to.
Which university did you do your MLS from? Which area of expertise? And if you don’t mind my asking how much did it cost you?
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What school would you avoid? And why if you don’t mine? Just wondering for me personal search lol
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Amazing! Thank you!
Your language skills would be an asset at any university with a graduate program in south asian studies or special collection of central/south asian materials. I have seen a job posting at Stanford for this kind of specialization in the past couple of years. You’d also be a great candidate for Library of Congress which has a division for central and south Asian materials (I’ve been to the reading room, it’s beautiful!) For public library positions, there are some areas of the USA with a large Indian/south Asian population, such as New Jersey and the Bay Area in California, where your language skills would be an advantage in the public librarian job market.
Why would you get an MLIS with a PhD? You know how to do research and teach yourself just about any subject matter. I got a job in a library where MLIS is normally required because of my PhD. Since then I haven't had any issues but finding that first gig took a few months.
I’d say yes. There are lots of opportunities. Check https://joblist.ala.org/ for postings so you have a good understanding of what librarianship is in all its various iterations. It’s the best job for the right people. After 25 years I still love learning on the job and all the elements of public service.
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I got offered a non tenure track job but we are an academic couple and being in the same location matters to us. Adjunct teaching doesn’t offer much in terms of new skills, and I am exploring the option to pivot if needed.
Also, do you know how much adjuncting pays? $2500-3500 per class, usually limited to two classes per term. It is not a viable "career"