#Loose thoughts of course and I might delete this buttttttttttt

[kojoty]

as a potential MLIS student… i want to hear your thoughts in the library science majors 👀

It's a great major and if I go back to grad school, I will absolutely be applying for / fulfilling a library science masters. There is true and serious heart in this profession, and our local communities are bolstered and supported tremendously with people who choose the dedication of library sciences.

My gripes come less from the major itself-- though, which I'm sure is probably covered in the curriculum, we really need to be cognizant of the political pitfalls of libraries as an institution, and the power they wield over more disenfranchised populaces, as well as the historical beds of racism, classism, etc that produced the structure of libraries. Far more than most fields, I've seen a concentrated effort to decolonialize where able, to connect to community, to rectify these situations, but it's still there and needs to be acknowledged.

My gripes are very anecdotal tbh. I've just found such a privilege in a lot of people pursuing this major. Privilege is not inherently a bad thing, it can be a neutral descriptor. But if you are in a position to wield privilege, you must be cognizant of it. A lot of higher learned academics in general have a tendency to forget/not learn how to deal with less educated populations and it shows particularly in libraries a lot. Because our jobs are to assist and help disenfranchised members of the population, if you lose sight of what it feels like to be a lower class individual who is not as savvy at tech, research, etc, you can absolutely contribute to the failure to give proper community outreach. I unfortunately see this vibe from a lot of students and also people who go on to he librarians. MOST DON'T AND AREN'T LIKE THIS, but enough are that it's left a.... Taste in my mouth, I'll say that.

Also, anecdotally, I'll have students who will cut me off as I'm explaining how my library works to tell me they know already, always with this caveat of 'I'm a library student' or whatever in this tone of voice that is very patronizing. As though I should thank them for their willingness to pursue an academic career. As though I am not the one actively working in a library. As though every library functions the same. As though I'm not just doing my job and also, as someone intimately aware of some of the more unique aspects of my own library, I might have information that your classes will not tell you. I just don't like being cut off tbh, esp when it's.... You know. Patronizing.

The big thing is just the accountability of privilege and what your goals are. 80% of a library job is front facing (unless ur acq/collections or archives) with people who need help. You have been granted the academic training to help them but you still need to cultivate a desire to communicate with people. It's great that you memorized the Dewey decimal system and can rote spit out a call number! I'm still learning that. But equally if not more important is learning the instinct to anticipate someone's needs who does not know these things. How to apply for jobs. How to find material they need. Making them feel warm and welcome and NOT PATRONIZED to. Again, I know the major has classes specifically designed to account for this training. But if you go into this job thinking 'I know more than these people I'm helping' you've lost empathy points lol.