are you now, or have you ever been, A Librarian?

I see that upthread I posted that I wouldn't do one because of the cost. Newsflash to self last year: YOU CAN DO IT FOR FREE! (Working at a university has finally yielded some benefit, to the tune of £2000 or so in waived fees WOO!)

So, any advice for my forthcoming studies?

Good luck with the MA archel! Just try and think of something interesting to do for your dissertation, is the best advice I can give.

Take the most technology-oriented classes you can tolerate. Learn more about that end of things than you think you'll need to know.

(Incidentally, I got my degree "for free," except that I still ended up having to take out student loans, since the stipend that went with my assistantship was not enough to live on--even though I was only spending $225 a month in rent, sharing an apartment.)

I have to take set modules but the course is newish and part of the Information Technology dept so it's all pretty down with new technologies and all that - which is just what I want.

I'm doing it part-time and continuing to work in my current job as well, so I expect I'll be ok financially though only just...

It pays pretty well (from the point of view of a recently broke-ass college student), but I'm part-time, so it doesn't actually REALLY pay that well. I've thought of going to school for a library degree, but as much as I DO actually like public service, I'm sure I'd be thoroughly burned out and hateful after ten years, and I don't want that so young in life!

"Oh yes! I am planning to get a library qualification, I really thought I should get some experience first...this is a great opportunity..." and etc, and hope for the best...I had about 10-15 library assistant interviews before I got anything, and then I was only 2nd choice, but the first person dropped out.

Once I've finished my Information Management MA, I think I will be a qualified Librarian, or maybe I have to get chartered, I'm not sure...I think the MA will be enough.

NB. The people in my direct office/department are not like this, but none of us claims to be a librarian.

I work with a lot of jaded, superior idiots with endless capacity for self-promotion and a hugely inflated opinion of their own worth. Does this sound any better? It does pay handsomely, I should add.

* Check email, delete spam
* Do a few literature searches
* Process article requests
* Open the post, send of articles to people
* Shelve a few books, tidy the shelves, do a bit of cataloguing
* Tea, lunch, biscuits
* Track down obscure document from years ago
* Read the news
* Download some articles
* Read a few articles from Skeptical Enquirer
* Add some stuff to the intranet
* Help someone with a literature search
* Delete old stock

Do you make the big bucks?
Nope :(

Is it lonely or the opposite?
Can be a bit lonely, you need mental reserves or distractions to get through the quiet summer months.

I'll put in a good word for you adam.

I wouldn't do public service in a library, but I guess some people prefer it.

Heya folks -- friend of mine (here in the US) just contacted me saying this:

wanted to pick your brain for a sec - my partner started her library science masters last fall and is coming up on the end of her first year. as you can imagine zoom university has made the whole ordeal less than ideal and she's been looking for help to kind of guide her into her next year and potential specialization.

Since I'm an assistant and not an MLIS holder nor currently on top of what hiring trends/hot areas are like, I said I'd ask around -- would anyone who feels they can provide some good perspective be available to help? If so, send me contact info via ILXmail or elsewhere and I'll pass it along. Much thanks!

Keep reading about these old school Library Apartments in Manhattan.

I was a librarian at school, on my second shift I was told that a pen had been lost, found the pen, labelled the pen with a post-it-note saying "the lost pen" then labelled all the other pens with "not the lost pen." Then I was told off for wasting post-it notes and was suddenly no longer a librarian.

Not a librarian. I married one.

drop out of school immediately

Drop out of BU.