Will gvmnt libraries hire librarians with a MS in Library Science even if the degree is not ALA accredited?
When reading the job description for a Nashville Librarian, it says that you need a master’s degree in Library Science that is approved by the ALA (American Library Association). Here (http://agency.governmentjobs.com/nashville/default.cfm?action=viewjob&JobID=58869&hit_count=Yes&headerfooter=1&promo=0&transfer=0&WDDXJobSearchParams=%3CwddxPacket%20version%3D%271%2E0%27%3E%3Cheader%2F%3E%3Cdata%3E%3Cstruct%3E%3Cvar%20name%3D%27FIND%5FKEYWORD%27%3E%3Cstring%3E%3C%2Fstring%3E%3C%2Fvar%3E%3Cvar%20name%3D%27TRANSFER%27%3E%3Cstring%3E0%3C%2Fstring%3E%3C%2Fvar%3E%3Cvar%20name%3D%27PROMOTIONALJOBS%27%3E%3Cstring%3E0%3C%2Fstring%3E%3C%2Fvar%3E%3C%2Fstruct%3E%3C%2Fdata%3E%3C%2FwddxPacket%3E) is the link. It clearly says “no substitution”. Is this something they (government people) have to write or are they lenient? The reason I ask is very few schools have ALA accredited programs and many have Library Science Master’s degree but focused on school librarians.
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Most of the positions you find will require an ALA-accredited degree. You can always try applying for the jobs anyway; perhaps thy won’t check to see if your school is accredited, or perhaps you’ll be the only person applying. Are you a minority? If so, perhaps they won’t want to check if your degree is accredited because they’ll want you anyway.
The worst that can happen is you waste the hour it takes to write an outstanding cover letter and send it off with your resume. But, just to be safe, I’d go ahead and keep looking for libraries that don’t require it. A good place to start would be the career center or professors at the school that gave you your degree.
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