We are an art museum and we just hired a librarian/archivist who has a MLIS and 

a BA in Art History. For our purposes, we wanted to this new hire to have a 

background in art, but that didn't necessarily have to be a MA in art. Her BA was 

sufficient for our needs.

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!

I'm  not an art librarian, so can't answer your basic question. 

However, having a subject MA beyond the MLIS can be very valuable for your 

career.  You are more likely to be hired, although perhaps not with any increase 

in salary. The Univ. of California system *requires* a 2nd MA in order to be

hired for an entry-level job. Many other universities require a 2nd MA for

promotion. You'll have more credibility with univ. teaching faculty if you

have a subject MA - ditto if the MA is the same subject as the business 

or government agency if you apply to a special library. Another advantage 

of earning the 2nd MA *now* is that, if required/desirable later, you won't

have to do it while working!
 

I have an MA in Art History and I find it very useful. They don't 

require an MA at the Ryerson & Burnham Libraries but it is preferred 

and employees without an MA tend to get one during the course of 

their tenure here.

I did the dual degree program at Pratt.  Art library positions are few and far between, 

in many cases, and there is much more competition than for say, a science librarian 

(and you probably need to be willing to relocate for the right job).  The extra degree 

gives you that extra edge, and can bring a higher salary, especially in academic 

libraries.  Academic positions often require a second master's too, although it is 

certainly possible to work in art libraries without it. Visual resources positions 

(slide curators) often require a background in art history if you decide to go that 

route.  I'd say a good 50% or more of ARLIS members (more, probably) have 

master's in art history or another field.  It's alot of s!
 chool,
 however, and costly.  

If you can get the MLS and have an employer pay for the art history, that seems 

the way to go (I didn't do that).

I'm a Visual Resources Curator.  I completed my Master's in Art
 History

almost twenty years ago.  Three years ago, I decided that I needed to 

update my skills to keep up with new technology and practices in the field, 

and went back to school part-time for my MLIS, which I completed last  spring.  I

must say, part of my decision was predicated by the fact that I have noticed many more position descriptions requiring both degrees, and as VRC positions

are becoming more precarious, I feel better having them both in case anything ever happens to my job.  That said, I think that for what Visual Resources curators are generally paid, it is unfair for institutions to require both degrees.  I think academic librarians generally earn more than Visual Resources curators

(which is certainly the case here, which is starting to gall me even 

more now that I have one more Master's degree than most of them!), and I 

think the more subject knowledge you have, the bette!
 r, both
 for your patrons 

and for your job satisfaction.  So if you can afford it and have the energy, I'd say go for it.  Personally, I enjoyed my Art History graduate experience a whole lot more than the Library Science one.

I have both. It wasn't required for my position, but it certainly helped.

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!

At the Univ. of Hawaii, librarians and archivists are faculty. You need
 a

2nd MA for a promotion, which comes with a pay raise. The 2nd MA is a

ticket to apply - you still have to be performing well, be a leader, etc. to actually get promoted.

I would not consider applying for an academic library position without a second masters degree.  I strongly recommend a course in Art Librarianship if one is offered.  With only an undergraduate degree in Applied Art/Art History, I benefited greatly from the mentoring by colleagues in my first position in the Music & Art Dept. at a large public library, my first pos!
 ition,
 and membership in ARLIS, with its many resources. On-the-job-training is acceptable for certain employers who cannot afford to hire more highly qualified candidates.  I would not have been qualified for my current position without the previous experience at the public library.  It depends on what other skills and experience you bring to the table.   I had already had a career in business management before the career change to librarianship.

1) when a lot of us entered the field ofart librarianship, there pretty much was no field of art librarianship--of course it has always been aspecialty 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 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 univer!
 sity, 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!!!