Well, I kind of agree with him. I got my MLS and then my Masters in Art
History, and I have to say that despite the fact that I had some excellent
professors and classes in Library School, there were also a lot of dippy
courses on issues that were irrelevant and sophomoric. The switch from
library school to Art History was most refreshing and rewarding. But in the
long run, it's the MLS that counts and if you want to go into librarianship
it's the way to go. At least it's fast and easy; and in the end I think that
you do get a feeling for librarianship as a profession rather than just a
job.
-----Original Message-----
From: ART LIBRARIES SOCIETY DISCUSSION LIST
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Andrea B. Cox
Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2001 5:45 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Art Doc Spring '01 Article by G. Ditchburn
I just finished Gary Ditchburn's article on Dual-Degree Programs for
Librarians. I am on the verge of applying for library school and I was
interested in hearing other people's reaction to this article. His basic
premise is that although he used to think that dual-degree programs were
the best educational program for librarians, now Mr. Ditchburn believes
that the idea of a MLIS is inherently flawed and that there should not be
any graduate library school programs, only continuing ed training.
A few of the more inflammatory quotes:
"A student curious and capable enough to earn admission into a genuine
graduate program should be deterred from the library school path."p.24
"We no longer need and can no longer justify the LIS degree." p.24
"Supply-side education, driven by a need to maintain university programs
and departments, seems to be producing pseudo-professionals who are too
expensive to do the practical work, but not, as a rule, really prepared
for intellectual work." p. 24
Although Mr. Ditchburn has not deterred me from my path to library school,
I was curious what other people in the field thought of his ideas.
Andrea Bailey Cox
Assistant Visual Resources Curator
x3331
acox2
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