Re: [LM_NET] ALA accreditation

[Shonda Brisco <sbrisco@GMAIL.COM>]

Gail's comments about the differences between the two programs (MLIS
and school librarian certification) is absolutely true.  The two
programs are different and they do lead you down different paths;
however, it's not impossible to walk down both paths at different
times.

I received my school library certification after getting a teaching
degree.  I worked for 8 years and then decided to get my MLIS which
required that I go BACK to college and repeat some of the same
coursework in an ALA-accredited university.  Although the materials
were similar (some things had changed in 8 years---technology, library
automation, etc.), the coursework focused heavily on reference,
collection development, and library administration (all public and
academic library-type programs). Along with this, I also took courses
that I thought I'd never use...like "Databases"...."Government
Documents"...."Multicultural Librarianship"...."Cataloging I and
II"....(these have saved my life in school libraries, believe it or
not!)  However, the depth of the program helped me to better
understand how school libraries can work within the framework of
public and academic libraries.  It was almost a missing piece of the
professional puzzle for me.


Now, the downside of this is that whenever I have to submit a
transcript to anyone, I have about 6 pages of paperwork that covers my
undergraduate work (177 hours--double major in English / Journalism),
my school library certification work (30 hours) and my MLIS work (36
hours).  [Now considering a PhD...yikes!]

But I wouldn't trade the experience of learning all of this for the world!


~Shonda
-- 
Shonda Brisco, MLIS
Library Media / Technology Specialist
Digital Bookends wiki / blog:
http://digitalbookends.pbwiki.com
http://shonda.edublogs.org/
sbrisco@gmail.com

Resources for Texas School Librarians:
http://txschoollibrarians.ning.com/
http://txschoollibrarians.wikispaces.com/

"Digital Resources" columnist
School Library Journal

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