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By Rhonda Filipan, Academic Program Coordinator, Kent State University, School of Library and Information Science Kent State University’s School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) offers a variety of services for SLIS students as they prepare to embark upon their careers, including two annual Career Night events, resume and interview workshops, position announcements on the Kent SLIS listserv, practicum and internship opportunities, and guidance from faculty. Kent’s Library Careers Night events are held every spring semester, once in Kent in the Student Center Ballroom, and once in Columbus at the State Library of Ohio. We have many exhibitors from all types of libraries. It is an informational event, not a job fair, but it is still a wonderful way to introduce students to the myriad opportunities available with an MLIS degree. Libraries, in turn, get the chance to showcase their staff and their wonderful programs. Dr. Richard Rubin, the director of the School of Library and Information Science, frequently does resume writing and interviewing workshops. He also made two online videos to assist graduate students with library job searches. He has a webpage titled “Effective Job Hunting Techniques” which gives students advice on writing resumes and cover letters and interviewing successfully. All students in our MLIS degree program are required to join the listserv, and many students choose to stay subscribed after they graduate. Currently, there are more than 1,000 students on the listserv. Of particular interest to students who are embarking on their job hunts are the many position announcements that are sent to the listserv. Examples of positions offered over the past twelve months include numerous positions in libraries of all types, as well as positions as researchers, archivists, and so on. Students have several opportunities to gain professional experience while enrolled in the master’s degree program. They can enroll in either LIS 60692 (Practicum—Libraries and Information Center) or LIS 60670 (Culminating Experience—Practicum) to gain both library experience and academic credit that they can count toward their degree. LIS 60670 is designed to be a capstone course that students will enroll in at the end of their degree program. Students work 100-clock hours and have chosen to work in all types of libraries based on their career goals: public, academic, special, school, and non-library settings in need of an information professional. Last, but not least, the SLIS faculty are committed to student success. At the time of admission, each student in assigned to a faculty advisor who teaches courses and workshops in his / her area of specialty. Job search advice from an SLIS faculty advisor is invaluable. Faculty members not only know the library and information science field, but are also actively engaged in research. For information on any of these opportunities, or for answers to any additional questions you may have, please contact Rhonda Filipan at rfilipan@kent.edu. |
