Hello everyone! I'm also a current online student at Wayne State University--maybe I'll be in the same class as Michelle! I already have my Master's degree in library science, and I decided to get a Specialist Certificate where I can choose my own field(s) of study. I'm concentrating on youth/young adult librarianship as well as digital librarianship in order to expand my horizons and my chances of getting hired. I'm currently taking a Children's literature class, and I've taken classes in information professions and information technology as well as information behavior. I'll be taking more classes that will teach digital libraries as well as information science. I'm thinking of taking classes in metadata, web design, advanced reference, human-computer interaction as well as other children's lit and young adult classes. But any suggestions/recommendations will be most welcome! I did work for six months as an adult reference librarian, but I'm now more interested in youth and young adult, as well as e-books and digital since that is where librarianship is heading to. Very glad that Michelle asked this question because I'm in the same boat as she is, so to speak. Regards, Lupita Garza-Grande current Wayne State University online student MLS degree obtained from Indiana University in 2004 with a certificate in Special Collections (rare books) On Friday, February 7, 2014 10:46 AM, "Mutch, Andrew" <AMutch@twp.waterford.mi.us> wrote: The content listed for the eligible courses for the Web Design and Development looks pretty interesting. In the ideal world, everyone coming out of library school would have a good understand of some of the topics covered, even if it was just to be able to be part of a conversation about evaluating and integrating the ever-expanding amount of digital content into your library's services. But I realize that most LIS students don't have infinite amounts of time and money for such courses. The certification might help someone looking to have their resume stand out from other recent LIS grads. But it also looks more technical than I think most librarians would need for their day-to-day work (sorry Wayne State!) If you're interested in pursuing librarian positions that will have a heavy emphasis on web site design or a similar technology angle, it may be worth your time/money. Even so, if I was asked to evaluate the qualifications of an applicant for a position like that, I would place more emphasis on specific knowledge (what Content Management Systems do you know, what scripting languages have you worked with) and real-world experience (show me web sites you've created, maintained, etc.) over a line in your resume showing that you've taken those courses. You would need to take what you learned from those courses and turn them into more concrete examples of how you've applied this knowledge outside of the classroom setting. If you're mostly interested in beefing up the resume but don't plan on taking it beyond that, I don't think it would be worth the time and money. I would be interested in hearing what the folks who actually do the hiring of librarians think is the value of pursuing that kind of certification. Andrew Mutch Library Systems Technician (I'm not a librarian!) Waterford Township Public Library -----Original Message----- From: michlib-l-bounces@mail.mcls.org [mailto:michlib-l-bounces@mail.mcls.org] On Behalf Of Francine J. Allen Sent: Friday, February 07, 2014 9:13 AM To: michelle wise Cc: michlib-l@lists.mcls.org Subject: Re: [Michlib-l] Library Student Please share answers with me (or the group if you think it appropriate). I'm thinking of expanding my library credentials if I decide I can afford to, and Information Management and Website Development for libraries sounds promising. Thanks Francine Joy Allen Youth Services Librarian Ecorse Public Library 4184 W. Jefferson Ave. Ecorse, MI 48229 313-389-2030 ----- Original Message ----- From: michelle wise <michellew1989@hotmail.com> To: michlib-l@lists.mcls.org <michlib-l@mail.mcls.org> Sent: Thu, 06 Feb 2014 17:14:04 -0500 (EST) Subject: [Michlib-l] Library Student I am currently signed up to take my summer semester classes, which would finish off my MLIS degree if I stopped there. My questions are: do you have certificates with your degree, do you or did you have much experience before-hand, and does your library look at certificates OR experience more when it comes to hiring? I am an online student at Wayne State University. The two certificates I was planning on getting are {Library Services to Children and Adults, Public} and {Information Management for Librarians-Web Design and Development}. Each certificate is basically (one semester) 4 months of effort and $4,400- is it worth it? I would love to be a Teen Librarian in a public library with some web elements. If you wouldn't mind adding your position/Title with your comments, please do. Any recommendations would be very helpful. Thank you, ~Michelle Wise~ _______________________________________________ Michlib-l mailing list Michlib-l@lists.mcls.org http://lists.mlcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/michlib-l _______________________________________________ Michlib-l mailing list Michlib-l@lists.mcls.org http://lists.mlcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/michlib-l