My experience is that some (or many) of these students start off with
the idea that money isn't everything.  But after a couple of years
they come to their senses when they realize the library and archival
positions aren't as plentiful as they believe, the competition is
pretty tough and pay is pretty low.  And if they want to work for a
library in a research university they need an additional masters which
adds more $$ to their already high student loans.  Even with
deferments the payments can get pretty hefty.

Over the years I have received number inquiries asking how one gets a
position in RM.  Many of these individuals have either an MLS/MLIS
and/or MA (history).  Their perception is that opportunities in
records management are more available and pay and benefits are better.
Based on the salaries I've seen for librarians and the documents
published by SAA I say they are right.

The challenge with rebranding information schools is that ALA
accredits the programs and trying to get them change is extremely
difficult.  I know of a few universities such as Emporia State and
University of Texas that offer courses in records management but I
believe these are few and far between.  I think at one time many years
ago ARMA tried to get more schools to include records management as
part of their curriculum.  But I don't believe the initiative went
very far.

Bruce White, MBA, CRM, PMP
Radnor, PA
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
LinkedIn:  http://www.linkedin.com/in/bblanco

"Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work,
so most people don't recognize them."
                  - Ann Landers


On Thu, Oct 1, 2015 at 11:07 AM, Kinney, Anita <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> David,
> I can't see how this is the fault of any school - as long as an ALA-accredited MLS is required for the fantasy jobs, there will be an endless supply of library school students who pursue the MLS to chase their dream. These people are more than willing to take pay cuts to work at their dream library. I can't count the number of times I hear my classmates say, "I didn't go to library school for the money." (Am I the only person who did?)
>
> Maybe Tammy is onto something and rebranding as "information schools" is a bid to get a different type of student (ie, more open-minded ones) to enroll. I'm a little tired of people from the "information school" up the road (I went to a more traditional library school) telling me that I've "gone to the dark side" now that I'm a records manager!
>
> Tangentially - can someone comment on the requirements for CRM candidacy - this thread has me thinking again about why an MLS paired with clerical experience couldn't qualify a candidate. I'm submitting my materials now and getting a little nervous about whether my experience "conducting studies and surveys" in an unrelated field is actually what ARMA had in mind....

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