WWW.GWLA.ORG 1

What Else Can I Do with an M.L.S.?

MPLA 2005 Conference

Jackson Hole, WY

Anne E. McKeeProgram Officer for Resource Sharing

Greater Western Library Alliance

WWW.GWLA.ORG 2

McKee’s “Untraditional” Career Track

Received a B.A. in Library Science, worked as student assistant in Serials Unit

After B.A., worked as paraprofessional in Serials Became 1 of 2 library staff to automate serials records.

(Datalinx/SC-10) Graduate school for M.L.S.

Position open as paraprofessional in their Serials Department. Trained local staff in Datalinx operations

After M.L.S., accepted position as Head of Serials George Mason University, Virginia Worked with Datalinx/SC-10 again LOVED the job but low salary and high cost of living necessitated

in having to take 2nd job in a clothing boutique

WWW.GWLA.ORG 3

Untraditional career track con’t Accepted position 2 ½ years later to become first Head of Serials for

a brand-new campus-ASU West in Arizona. Much lower cost of living! Travel allowance to attend conferences and network, but salary still

low 2 ½ years later, vendor sales position became available and I was

invited to apply. Assumed sales position with subscription vendor. Base pay-40%

higher than academic salary PLUS commission Recruited by a competitor after 2 ½ years, compensation included

base pay, commission and lure of international travel Constant travel burn-out! Applied for current position with large

multi-state research library consortium. Starting year six with GWLA

WWW.GWLA.ORG 4

Alternate Career PathsVendor Sales, Customer Service,

Systems/Technology

Publisher/Content Provider Sales, Customer Service, Editor/Indexer/Abstractor, Business Services

R&D, Marketing

Systems I.L.S

Software IP authentication, R&D, Project Management

Web

Editor/Indexer/Abstracter

URL Linking Software, Sales, Trainer, R&D

Consortium/Association Executive Director, Program Officer, Marketing, Grant Writer

“Other”

Project Manager, Development, Consultant, Recruiter, HR, Concierge, Service Industry, Trainer, Researcher

WWW.GWLA.ORG 5

Helpful References http://studentorg.cua.edu/asis/marc

h98.htm http://www.libsci.sc.edu/bob/class/

clis724/SpecialLibrariesHandbook/non-traditional.htm

http://hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/jobs/tips/

http://www.craigslist.org/ http://www.quintcareers.com/