Dan and others,
Thanks for the response. Apologies, I was generalising based upon my own
limited experience. An MA would of course not be neccessary if you have the
appropriate qualifications already. The word 'needed' was definately the wrong
choice. Still, a post graduate qualification of some sort is become more the
norm. Many library schools no longer offer undergraduate programmes in
traditional LIS. Maybe with alterations to the chartership programme this will
change. Personally, i thinkt he more routes offered the better.
With the second point, monopoly was a strong word, but as there is no real
alternative organisation to support our needs (unlike, say teachers who have a
choice of unions) it does arguably apply. Going it alone is an option, but
arguably a very tough one. Still, thanks for your other info, it is good to
hear that CILIP is not the be all and end all of the profession.
I do I also see advertised jobs requesting chartered applicants only,
especially in public libraries. in this case, they are surely requiring CILIP
membership, despite the legal background?
Personally I think CILIP is a worthwhile institution, just possibly to inward
focused. Otherwise I would not about to be starting chartership. Or indeed
using this service!
>===== Original Message From "Bye, Dan J" <[log in to unmask]> =====
>Just a couple of responses.
>
>Edmund Chamberlain said:
>
>> (many of my fellow students at Loughborough were amazed you
>> needed an MA to be a Librarian, somthing they saw akin to
>> working at Tescos!).
>
>You don't need an MA to be a Librarian.
>
>I only have a first degree in Librarianship and Information Studies and
>no interest at this moment in further academic qualifications.
>
>> As far as i am aware, CILIP has a
>> monopoly on us. We need to pay a sizeable amount to be in it,
>> and need it to progress in our careers.
>
>Again, this is overstating the case. We do still have freedom of
>association. While being chartered may be an advantage in some
>positions, this is not always the case. No employer is really in a
>legal position to insist on someone remaining a member of a particular
>organisation, I would have thought (outside of the statutory
>professions). Plenty of librarians are not CILIP members, and that
>includes some (a small minority, I would guess, but I don't have the
>data) people who are quite some way up the hierarchy.
>
>Dan
Edmund Chamberlain
Library Systems Assistant
The London Library
14 St James's Square
London SW1Y 4LG
Tel: 020 7766 4733
email: [log in to unmask]
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