i was about to write to respond to this subject,
when i saw sara's response--so no need for me to
repeat what she said, but i might add a coupleof
things - 1) when a lot of us entered the field of
art librarianship, there pretty much was no field of
art librarianship--of course it has always been a
specialty for older museums and universities, but
the growth of the field has been huge over the past
decade or so, with the advent of digital stuff. 
that said, the normal reference many of us do in
undergraduate institutions, which have limited
budgets and therefore commitment to this digital
material, is still predominantly book related. i too
was an engish major, and find that base has been
enormously helpful at this level-(undergraduate,
liberal arts college).

2) for librarians at state institutions, the
possibility of tenure might exist, but for the vast
majority of us at small private colleges, that is
not the case. we also don't have the same kind of
tuition benefit  simply because our institutions
don't offer masters degrees, so the only courses
available to us are those which would lead to a BA.
i don't know if my college would pay for me to get a
second masters at another local university, but i
doubt it..they make us pay for credit courses!!!
(admittedly a tiny fee, but still....)
i have audited a gazillion art history classes, and
know this isn't the same as actually taking the
course for credit, but it has still been invaluable,
especially in working with the students from new
courses--recently, i try to sit in on those new
subjects which might not be considered part of the
classical courseload(african art, african american
art, latin american, etc..you get my drift). it 's
been great to be a part of this growth in the field.
in response to what ellen said about the pay
increases at her institution, that is another thing
that is not available at private colleges. but i
won't get started on that!!!

interesting topic for the list.

anne

Anne Haas
Bowdoin College
Brunswick, Maine

----- Original Message -----
From: "MacDonald, Sara" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thursday, December 22, 2005 12:10 pm
Subject: Re: [ARLIS-L] Art History Masters degree

> My undergraduate degree is in English, and I do
not have a 2nd 
> master's degree.  I have a theory that, when
applying for jobs at 
> the more prestigious academic institutions, that
2nd master's might 
> move your resume over to the interview pile, but
that's only a 
> guess.  I always thought that the ideal situation
for a librarian 
> starting out would be to work at an institution
where they could 
> earn that 2nd master's degree for free by using
one's tuition 
> benefits.  That would depend on the conditions of
the master's 
> program, of course, but if I wanted a 2nd master's
I'd certainly 
> seek out such a situation.
> 
> As to how it might help you do your job, it's hard
to say.  Depends 
> on your patrons (primarily undergrad?  master's? 
PhD?  faculty 
> doing research?).  Serving what is primarily an
undergraduate 
> population, I can't say I've ever felt at a loss
by not having an 
> art/art history educational background.  I use my
English major 
> education every day.  And at my age, and after 17
years of 
> experience, it's not hard to know more than a
20-year-old in terms 
> of doing research - and I mean that in the nicest way!
> 
> Sara MacDonald
> The University of the Arts - University Libraries
> Philadelphia PA
> [log in to unmask]
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ART LIBRARIES SOCIETY DISCUSSION LIST on
behalf of Deale A. 
> HuttonSent: Thu 12/22/2005 11:33 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [ARLIS-L] Art History Masters degree
> 
> My 2nd Masters is a Master of Fine Arts --
painting and sculpture 
> focus. 
> I am an artist and a librarian. This has been an
interesting 
> combination. 
> I find it useful ... I have a good grasp of
contemporary art, am 
> able to
> assist studio majors and art history majors.  I
do, however, have very
> little free time!
> Deale Hutton
> Art Librarian
> SUNY Oswego
> 
> > My 2nd Masters is in German Studies (though I
tried to take a lot of
> > coursework on the Visual Arts, especially
Cinema, and had a strong
> > interest in the painting of Otto Dix, George
Grosz, et. al.).  
> I'm not
> > currently working in an Art Library, however;
before taking this 
> job I
> > was merely volunteering part time in 2 local art
museum libraries.
> >
> >
> >
> > This is an interesting thread/question, and I
look forward to 
> reading> the posts of more experienced Art/Museum
Librarians & Library
> > Administrators.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > John J. Ronald '93, BA, MA, MLS
> >
> > Technical Services Librarian
> >
> > Jack K. Williams Library
> >
> > Texas A&M University at Galveston
> >
> > 200 Seawolf Parkway
> >
> > P. O. Box 1675
> > Galveston, Texas   77553-1675
> >
> > Tel. (409) 740-4571
> >
> > Fax. (409) 740-4702
> >
> > Email: [log in to unmask]
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ________________________________
> >
> > From: ART LIBRARIES SOCIETY DISCUSSION LIST
[[log in to unmask]]
> > On Behalf Of Gibbons, Beverly
> > Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2005 9:13 AM
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: [ARLIS-L] Art History Masters degree
> >
> >
> >
> > Related to Heather's question, how many of you
have other humanities
> > degrees related to art history?  My second
master's is not in art
> > history, but in English.
> >
> >
> >
> > Thank you, Beverly
> >
> >
> >
> > Fine Arts Librarian
> >
> > Hamon Arts Library
> >
> > Southern Methodist University
> >
> > [log in to unmask]
> >
> > 	-----Original Message-----
> > 	From: ART LIBRARIES SOCIETY DISCUSSION LIST
> > [[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Heather Kline
> > 	Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2005 7:54 AM
> > 	To: [log in to unmask]
> > 	Subject: [ARLIS-L] Art History Masters degree
> >
> > 	I am in the process of getting my MLIS, and
I've been
> > considering the costs vs. benefits of getting my
Art History MA 
> after> I'm done.  How many of you on the list have
both degrees?  
> Has it seemed
> > to be a requirement for jobs for which you have
applied?  Does this
> > change between academic libraries and museum
libraries?
> >
> >
> >
> > 	Thanks,
> >
> > 	Heather
> >
> > 	__________________________________________________
> > 	Do You Yahoo!?
> > 	Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam
protection around
> > 	http://mail.yahoo.com
> > 
>
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__________________________________________________________________
Mail submissions to [log in to unmask]
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        to [log in to unmask]
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