GEN: curious about credentials?

[Patricia Lynn Clark-Erskine <pclkersk@TENET.EDU>]

In nearly every advertisement I read, the ALA approved MLS is requested
for a librarian position either public or private, yet I have an MS in
Learning Resources and I am a licensed school librarian.  Are the ALA/MLS
programs different than a simple school librarianship program would be?
I knew nothing really of the field when I start my MS so I did not know
to look for the ALA/MLS-type program.  I am beginning to feel unsure of
myself because I do not have the"proper" credentials.

Are other degrees considered within the field as 'less' valuable?  I s
the ALA/MLS just the highest standard and others will also be considered
in job recruiting?

I feel my course work and professors were very knowledgeable and that I am
a qualified librarian, is this a misconception, or is it that being a
'school librarian' and any other librarian position are just not related?

I surely would enjoy a discussion on this issue, or at least some private
feedback.  I am very new to this field and it is an issue which I have
not heard addressed in the few months I have been on LM_NET.

TIA

Patricia L. Clark-Erskine, M.S., Learning Resource Specialist
Sam Rayburn H.S., Pasadena I.S.D., Pasadena (Houston), TX.
pclkersk@tenet.edu, (713) 477-3601 x 275-voice, (713) 920-8259-fax
"...All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players..."-WS