Maryland is a beautiful state with miles of coastline on the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay, and a large portion of the state is a wildlife preserve. The state is home to 300 rare species and over  400 species of birds alone. Additionally, the state surrounds Washington, D.C., and has the great city of Baltimore for ample career opportunities and city life. Just outside of Baltimore is the Baltimore/Washington National Airport (BWI), which is one of the fastest-growing airports in the US. 

Maryland has one master’s of library and information science (MLIS) degree program and two school media programs. Each program is accredited by universal standards, and the degree will put you on the right track to becoming a librarian. In this article, we cover the library science programs offered in the state and the qualifications for admittance. We also cover other opportunities available to librarians and information specialists in the great state of Maryland. 

If Maryland sounds like a state you may want to move to, and if library and information science is a scholarly discipline you are interested in, keep reading. This article will inform you about the process of becoming a librarian, what it means to be a librarian, and more information about Maryland.  Additionally, we include links to related websites to extend your search if you want to know even more. 

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ALA Accredited Library Schools and Programs in Maryland

In Maryland, the American Library Association (ALA) accredits one MLIS program, which is offered through the University of Maryland. An ALA accreditation is important for those working towards becoming professional librarians. ALA sets the standard that future employers respect when considering their candidate’s education. Additionally, the University of Maryland offers unique opportunities for thesis work and internships being that the university is less than 10 miles from Washington D.C.

Master of Library and Information Science at the University of Maryland

This degree is 36 credit hours and is offered online and on-campus. Most class times are at night to fit around students’ work schedules. Students can take the program full-time or part-time. Typically, full-time students complete the program in two years, but part-time students can take up to five years. The University of Maryland also offers a dual program for MLIS students that combines the degree with an MA in History. The dual program is 54 credit hours. Additionally, students must choose an area of study and take at least 15 credit hours within that area. They offer archives and digital curation, diversity and inclusion, youth experience, legal informatics, intelligence and analytics, and school librarianship. Students may also choose an individualized plan of study. 

Students can choose a thesis track or a non-thesis track. The thesis track is 9 credit hours and includes an introduction course to research methodologies. The non-thesis track is also 9 credit hours and offers a choice of further electives in either archives and digital curation, or information service. 

How to apply

Fill out an online application and upload all official transcripts from universities you’ve attended. Then pay the application fee. During the application process, you will be asked to provide names and email addresses for individuals to write you a letter of recommendation. You should choose current professors, or other individuals who can attest to your academic ability.  Additionally, you will need to send in an updated resume, and a statement of purpose, and write a supplementary essay. Follow the online guidelines for the essay. No GRE test scores are required, but they are optional.

How to Become a Librarian in Maryland

There is no certification process for librarians in academic libraries, but many academic libraries require an MLIS degree or higher as a qualification. However, to become a public librarian, Maryland requires more for their public librarians than most other states. They also require a certification for library associates. The school librarian certification requires a different education and experience background from what’s expected from public librarians, but the school librarian certification is comparable to what other states require. 

To become a public library associate, you must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. Additionally, you must complete either 9 hours of academic coursework within the first two years of employment or 90 hours of on-the-clock training that is approved by the Library Association Training Institute (LATI). Public library associates must also renew their certification every five years and complete the required continuing education by either earning 90 contact hours or 9 semester hours of accredited coursework in library science within the five years.

To become a professional public librarian, you will need a master’s degree from an ALA-accredited program, and complete at least 6 credit hours of coursework directly related to your job assignment. Public librarians also need job experience related to their job assignments before becoming certified. Because of the change and growth in librarianship, librarians need to become experienced with complex technology, have good customer service skills, and have strong collaborative skills. 

The qualifications to become a library director are the same as a professional librarian, plus they will need five years of experience as a professional librarian and at least two years as a manager or supervisor. 

To become a school librarian you will need to receive your teacher’s license and have experience as a teacher. You will also need to take a certification track in library media. You can either earn a master’s in library media from an CAEP accredited program or take 36 semester hours of post-graduate work in a related field and have a year’s experience as a teacher.

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What Else Can You Do with a Library Science Degree in Maryland?

One of the largest employers in Maryland is a major IT service management corporation called MAR MD. They employ over 80,000 people and have a revenue of $35 billion. People who work for them love their job too and the corporation hires a diverse group of employers. 47.1% of the hires come from ethnic minority groups. This company is a great employer for librarians with experience and education in information technology, as many new graduates today do. 

Lockheed Martin is also a great tech company and was voted the best tech company by Zippia. They design, research, create, and manage research for information systems, space systems, electronic systems, and aeronautics. The average employee makes $75,771 annually, and they employ 41.7% of minority groups. This company is doing great things for the development of information and can use information and information technology specialists. 

If technology is not something you are passionate about, then Maryland also has plenty of opportunities in archives and historical research. They have a robust state archive, the Maryland Center for History and Culture, the B&O Railroad Museum, and around 50 other museums to work for. Archivists are responsible for preserving physical materials, digitizing materials, and making these materials available to view either through a database, or physical display in a museum or archive. 

Baltimore Library Degree Programs and Career Opportunities

Librarians and information specialists are sure to find work in Baltimore in various areas of librarianship and information. Baltimore has different industries for librarians, archivists, and information technology specialists in which to find career opportunities. In population, Baltimore is the largest city in Maryland. It is a historic city and home to the Fort McHenry National Monument, which has a rich history. The fort played a role in The War of 1812, The Civil War, and World War I.  Additionally, according to Forbes Magazine, Baltimore’s largest industry is in bio-science and health care, and job growth in Baltimore is up 1.1% since 2018. It is also known for its art scene and hosts the “largest free art festivals in America”. 

Baltimore also has two universities in the city that offer library degrees. Notre Dame of Maryland University offers a master’s in library media, and Towson University offers a master’s in school library media. Both of these degrees will prepare you to become a school librarian in k-12 grade schools. 

Salary Opportunities in Maryland for Librarians

According to BLS, Maryland has over 3,500 library positions within the state and the median pay is $78,100 annually. Additionally, Washington D.C. and the surrounding metropolitan area holds 3,760 librarian positions, and the city is right next to the University of Maryland. There are more than one school districts in Maryland that are in the top 100 largest school districts in the U.S. and those are Montgomery County Public School System and Prince George’s County Public School System. 

The third largest school district in the state is the Baltimore County Public School  System, and outside of public schools, Baltimore has the majority of Maryland’s librarian positions. The Baltimore County Public Library System has 20 library branches and offers services to children, and provides resources to diverse communities. 

Additional Links 

To learn more about library science and the American Library Association visit https://www.ala.org/. 

To learn more about librarianship in Maryland and to find librarian positions in the state visit https://www.mdlib.org/.