Dear Colleagues,
I'll add just a few comments to Courtney's excellent post on distance
education, in response to an earlier request to the list for feedback
on such library-school programs. I am an April 2004 graduate of
University of Pittsburgh's "FastTrack" MLIS distance program, and my
experience could not have been richer. I lived in New York for a
month to do Field Experience at the New York Public Library, and my
independent research will be published in an upcoming issue of Art
Documentation.
The experience was surprisingly personal, despite the distance. I
continue to benefit from the adivce of my academic advisor, and still
communicate with my Cohort through a Yahoo Group--only now we offer
each other professional advice instead of homework support! Many of
us work at highly regarded institutions.
I truly believe there is no wrong way to get a library degree. One's
choice of method is highly individual, so I urge anyone considering a
distance program to talk to as many people as you can, do your
research, ask lots of questions and compare programs.
Louise Kulp
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Date: Fri, 5 Nov 2004 13:04:27 -0500
From: Courtney Yevich <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Distance Education for Librarians
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I'm sorry that it sounds like you had such a bad experience with your =
distance education program. I have had just the opposite experience.
=20
I am currently pursuing my MLIS from the University of Pittsburgh's Fast =
Track program. Their distance degree mimics the courseload that an =
on-campus student would take - they do not lessen the requirements at =
all - it simply takes more time because almost all of us work full-time, =
have children, or both. More importantly, their program is based around =
the concept of a cohort - a group of students that learn together, go =
through the process together, mentor and support each other, and it =
works excellently. We are mandated to travel to campus each semester for =
an extended period of time for on-campus discussions, lectures, =
assignments and social activities. Because we have all met repeatedly =
face to face, most of us e-mail each other, call each other and some =
even visit each other in their respective cities/towns of residence as =
well. I would also argue that the networking capabilities are even =
stronger because between all of us, one of cohort members can find some =
connection in almost all states in the country and even in several =
international locations.=20
=20
There is no masters program available where I live (unless I decide to =
quit my job which would be illogical as it the reason I am getting a =
masters in the first place), so I guess you could say that the program =
was "forced" on me, but I choose to look at it as an extremely =
significant opportunity that would not have been available even five =
years ago. Now I can work in a library and get a MLIS at the same time - =
an invaluable combination in my opinion.
=20
While a distance program isn't right for everyone, I do not feel like I =
am missing out on any part of the graduate experience and I am getting a =
top-rate education from one of the best MLIS programs in the country.=20
=20
Courtney C. Yevich
Assistant Fine Arts Librarian / Archivist
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
200 N. Boulevard
Richmond, VA 23220-4007
804 / 340-1497
mailto:[log in to unmask]
=20
--
Louise Kulp, MA, MLIS
Visual Resources Curator
Dept. of Art and Art History
Franklin & Marshall College
P.O. Box 3003
Lancaster, PA 17604-3003
717/291-4242 ~*~ fax 717/358-4599
[log in to unmask]
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