The state of Georgia is a beautiful state that enjoys long summers and has sandy beaches, mountains, and great cities. Atlanta Georgia, which is its capital, is one of the largest cities in the U.S. and has one of the largest international airports in the nation. Additionally, in Atlanta and other parts of the state, art, theater, and the preservation of history are celebrated. Also, in Georgia, they have some of the most popular attractions in the country, including the town of Helen, Stone Mountain, Six Flags, and the largest aquarium on the continent, which is also the third largest aquarium in the world. 

Georgia is also known for having quality education, especially in its colleges and universities. It is one of the highest-ranking states for higher education among the southern states, according to U.S. News and World Report. It’s also known for college football, and in the last two years, the Georgia Bulldogs of the University of Georgia won the national championship. However, if you’re not a football fan, Georgia is still a state worth considering for earning your Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS),  or other library and information-related degrees. 

There are two colleges in Georgia that offer a school librarian program and one college that offers a master of library science and is accredited by the American Library Association (ALA). If you want to be a professional in school librarianship, or a librarian in a public library or academic setting, then keep reading to learn more about what Georgia has to offer. 

ALA Accredited Masters in Library Science and MLIS Programs in Georgia

Most libraries in the state of Georgia, and most other states, require librarians to have an MLIS degree from an ALA-accredited program. For upper-level jobs, it is almost always expected, and an MLIS is always preferred. Georgia has one ALA-accredited program and it is designed for those who have a family, job, and other responsibilities they need to work their schooling around. Also, as you will read below, this program will prepare students and give them the skills to serve their communities and adapt to changes in information technology and culture. 

Master of Library Science and Information at Valdosta State University

In this fully-online program, students will learn about creating, organizing, and retrieving information for their community. Also, students will gain knowledge in technology advances, areas of administration, and providing services in educating communities. Additionally, their program is flexible to meet the needs of their students who have jobs and families, and they have four optional concentrations. 

• Online program
• 39-credit hours
• ALA-accredited
• Optional concentrations in cataloging, library management and administration, reference sources and services, and technology.
• No GRE required

How to apply 

To qualify, you must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college and have a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale. If you do not meet these qualifications, you will need to write a letter of exception. Then apply online and pay the application fee. You will also need to send in transcripts, three letters of recommendation, a resume, MLIS application essays, 

How to Become a Librarian in Georgia

Georgia offers four kinds of certificates in librarianship. The first level is a para-professional certificate which allows library workers in at the entry-level. Paraprofessionals must have a bachelor’s degree and at least 12 semester hours in a library science program at an approved school. The next level is a librarian professional graduate certificate, which requires an MLIS degree from an ALA-accredited school. The third level is a librarian advanced professional graduate certificate, which requires an MLIS and six or more years of planned graduate study from an approved institution. The last level of librarianship is a librarian doctorate certificate, and to obtain this level you must earn a Ph.D. in information science from a school that has an accredited MLIS program.

To become a school librarian in Georgia, you will need to pass competency tests, pass a certification program approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC), have a thorough knowledge of information organization, and literacy for all ages, and have three years of teaching experience. 

What else can you do with a Library Science Degree in Georgia?

There are opportunities for MLIS degree holders in cataloging, marketing management, digital archiving, and information science. Also, there are many archiving and preservation careers available because of Georgia’s well-funded historical society and over 20 different museums and archives in the state. 

Library and Information Careers in Savanah, Georgia

The library system that serves Savanah and surrounding areas have 16 different locations, one of which is on the beach! Also, anyone in the library system who works over 20 hours a week will be put into the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia (TRSGA). Additionally, the library system serves the community by aiding in education, providing information, enriching the community, and providing wholesome entertainment. 

Another employment opportunity for librarians within the Savanah area is with the Georgia Historical Society. Both the Research Center and the Jepson House Education Center are located in Savanah.  If you love researching Georgia and American history or teaching others about American History, then a career with the Georgia Historical Society might be a good fit.  

Additionally, there is a children’s museum, the Savanah History Museum, Georgia Railroad Museum, Pin Point Heritage Museum, Owens Thomas House and Slave Quarters, American Prohibition Museum, Andrew Low House, Old Fort Jackson, Tybee Island Light House, Flannery O’Conner’s Childhood House, and many more museums and historical sites, many of which are also managed or funded by the Georgia Historical Society.  

For those wishing to work in an academic setting, Savannah is home to Savannah State University and Savanah College of Art and Design. Additionally, Savannah has a private university and a public technical college. 

Library and Information Careers in Atlanta Georgia

The Fulton County Library System serves the greater Atlanta region and consists of 32 library branches. They offer a myriad of services for all ages and to meet the various needs of the communities. So, they staff many different library positions. Visit their website to take virtual tours of each library and to learn more about the library system.  

If you are looking for archiving opportunities, there are over 10 different museums in Atlanta, including Jimmy Carter Library and Museum, and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.

If you want to work in an academic setting, Atlanta has more than ten colleges and universities including Georgic Institute for Technology and Georgia State University.

Also, Atlanta is a great city to live in or commute to daily. Some of the reasons are that they have multiple transportation options including the MARTA Train system, the largest aquarium on the continent is in Atlanta, they have numerous other events and things to see each weekend, they are known for their excellent food, the weather is nice for the majority of the year, and they have nearby nature and recreation opportunities including Piedmont Park.

Library and Information Degree Programs and Careers in Valdosta Georgia

Valdosta is the only city in Georgia with an MLIS program that is ALA-Accredited and it is at Valdosta State University. The best feature of this program is that it is online and flexible enough for students who have other responsibilities, for example, those who support their families and have jobs. Valdosta is also an excellent city for librarians to find work. They are a college town and have over 56,000 residents in the city of Valdosta. Plus, the metropolitan area of Valdosta, which includes Brooks County, has 149,590 residents according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Valdosta’s public library system also serves Lownes County and holds 202,000 volumes among seven different locations. Among these branches is the largest library in South Georgia and they are praised by its community and visitors because of its wide selection and various free events, programs, and classes. They offer GED classes, commuter classes, Spanish Classes, storytimes, teen events, and book clubs.

The charming city of Valdosta was also named “America’s Friendliest Cities” by Randy McNally. It is a scenic city with old buildings that have been well-kept over the years, but the city also keeps up with innovative technologies and services. Click this link to learn more about the city of Valdosta. 

Georgia Library Science Career and Salary Opportunities

There are over 3,000 librarian positions in the state of Georgia and many other information and archivist positions. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average wage for librarians is $6,6310 annually.   

In every county, there are librarian positions including school librarians and public librarians, and there is a multitude of academic librarian positions, especially in the cities of Atlanta, Valdosta, and Savanah. Columbus, Woodstock, Columbia County, Macon, Decatur, and Augusta Georgia are also all known for having wonderful public libraries.

Additional Links

To learn more about library science, and for online resources and guidelines visit https://www.ala.org/

To learn more about Georgia libraries and librarians visit https://gla.georgialibraries.org/
To learn more about library media in Georgia visit https://www.glma-inc.org/