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What is your best advice for picking between secondary education or higher education for the level of librarianship you want to take on?
I'm looking between those two levels and need some help for a research paper! As a HS senior it's very important to know for sure what level I want to specialize in before I enter undergraduate education.
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4 answers
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Stephanie’s Answer
I would advise you to consider both the material you want to specialize in and also the population and environment you want to work it. Secondary education and Higher education are very different populations. Which do you see yourself working with. Like others have said, if you have the ability to connect with a Librarian in your area to ask questions on their experience that may be helpful.
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Victoria’s Answer
To answer your research question, it may help to interview a few current library science students or librarians in your area to learn what degree they earned and why. I find that talking to people and hearing their firsthand experience can strengthen any text-based research you're doing and help you zero in on what you want your own future to look like. For example, if you wanted to work at a large archival library, what does the road to that career look like versus being a librarian at a primary school or university?
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Geraldine’s Answer
Hi!
To find the answer you are looking for and as part of your research, it would be interesting to interview librarians from both your own school and a university; I suggest asking them what they studied for their undergraduate degree. However, you should consider that if you decide to become a high school librarian, an undergraduate degree in education is appropriate, whereas for a university librarian whose role focuses on in-depth research and supporting professors, students, and adults an undergraduate degree in a specific subject area is often preferred, as some universities seek specialized librarians to serve as liaisons to different academic departments.
To find the answer you are looking for and as part of your research, it would be interesting to interview librarians from both your own school and a university; I suggest asking them what they studied for their undergraduate degree. However, you should consider that if you decide to become a high school librarian, an undergraduate degree in education is appropriate, whereas for a university librarian whose role focuses on in-depth research and supporting professors, students, and adults an undergraduate degree in a specific subject area is often preferred, as some universities seek specialized librarians to serve as liaisons to different academic departments.
Updated
TRAVIS’s Answer
Look at the job market and projected job market in your area, career field and for the next 5-20yrs. That will tell you what you want to know.