Library Science Degrees Oregon
In a world filled with constant news and information streaming in through television and social media, libraries have never been more valuable and important in the communities they serve. Besides being hubs of information and literacy, libraries also offer open access to books, DVDs, internet, computers, quiet study spaces, classes, storytimes, programming, and more to citizens of all ages. In order to best provide these services, it is crucial to have libraries staffed with knowledgeable and trained librarians.
The state of Oregon is no different – all across America, different states have different expectations and requirements for prospective librarians to meet if they want to seek employment in their states. Oregon has its own specific standards and expectations for librarians hoping to work in public libraries, K-12 school libraries, and academic libraries. For someone hoping to obtain a professional role in any of these environments, it is important that they understand what will be required of them before applying.
MLIS Degree Program Options in Oregon
It is important to realize that there are currently no MLIS degree program options available in the state of Oregon. This means prospective librarians will need to earn their MLIS degrees from colleges and universities outside the state. Fortunately, there are programs close by that offer great features and options for Oregon students seeking an MLIS. To find great in-person, online, or hybrid MLIS options, visit the ALA’s searchable MLIS program database to conduct refined searches.
How to Become a Public Service Librarian in Oregon
The State Library of Oregon reported serving almost 1,700,000 library users during fiscal year 2023-2024. During that year, they reported holding over 8,500,000 print items in their various collections, circulating over 35,000,000 physical items, and hosting over 1,150,000 participants in programs designed for all ages. That is evidence of a busy and thriving public library system!
These extremely active public libraries need trained librarians to keep them running and serving their communities. In order to ensure that the proper library staff are hired, Oregon public libraries have some requirements for prospective librarians to consider. Consider these basic steps to becoming a public service librarian in the state of Oregon:
- Obtain a bachelor’s degree in any subject area.
Like many other states across America, Oregon public libraries are not particular about a librarian candidate’s undergraduate focus of study. While some people may choose to earn a bachelor’s degree in library or information science, it is not a firm requirement for consideration when applying for public service librarian positions in Oregon. It should also be noted that a bachelor’s degree in library or information science is typically not a requirement for admittance into a master’s degree program, which leads to the second step…
This requirement is a bit firmer than #1 – Oregon’s public libraries typically require (or at least, strongly prefer) librarian candidates with a completed MLIS degree. These degrees can be found at a number of reputable colleges and universities – see the section at the end of this article for details about various MLIS programs offered in the state of Oregon.
One caveat that is important to consider when choosing a good MLIS program is whether or not it is American Library Association (ALA)-accredited. An ALA-accredited program adheres to specific qualifications set forth by the American Library Association, guaranteeing that participants in the ALA-accredited MLIS program will leave fully prepared and ready to serve in an American library institution. Colleges and universities offering ALA-accredited MLIS programs must adhere to strict expectations and guidelines to ensure their level of rigor meets the standards set forth by the ALA to maintain their accreditation status.
While every employer may not care whether or not a prospective librarian candidate has a degree from an ALA-accredited program, it is typically listed as a preferred (or sometimes required) qualification on position listings. While choosing the right MLIS program for their needs, prospective librarians in Oregon should take time to research job postings to get a good idea of preferred qualities between different public library systems.
How to Become a K-12 School Librarian in Oregon
K-12 school librarianship typically has the strictest sets of requirements for prospective librarians to meet, and Oregon’s K-12 school districts are no different. To become an official K-12 school librarian in Oregon, prospective candidates need to follow a specific set of steps to ensure they have the proper education and certification needed.
- Earn a bachelor’s degree in education or teaching (but don’t panic if your undergraduate education is in something else).
Typically, K-12 school librarians studied education and earned a teaching license during their undergraduate years. However, this isn’t the case for everyone – if you determine that you want to be a K-12 school librarian later in life, there are alternative paths to licensure that do not involve returning to school for long periods of time to complete teacher certification requirements.
- Earn an MLIS degree focused in K-12 school librarianship.
If you don’t already have a teaching license from undergraduate studies, this is where an MLIS focused on K-12 school librarianship comes in handy. Not only will this particular degree pathway, which is offered through most MLIS programs, prepare prospective librarians for school library licensure testing in Oregon, but it will also help students who do not already have teaching licensure obtain it during the course of their library studies. Often, Oregon school districts will also require its school librarians to earn a degree that is ALA-accredited (though they may be willing to accept non-accredited degrees) – in this case, it is best to carefully consider degree options before fully committing to an MLIS program.
- Earn a Library Media Endorsement (LME).
All certified K-12 school librarians in Oregon must have a completed MLIS as well as an LME, according to the State of Oregon’s government website. The website also explains that no Oregon college or university program is currently offering an LME, but there are options available to allow prospective K-12 school librarians to transfer licenses and endorsements from other states.
How to Become an Academic Librarian in Oregon
Also like many other states, Oregon doesn’t have many hard and fast requirements for librarians working in its various colleges and universities. However, this does not mean librarians don’t play important roles in academic communities. Between instruction, research assistance, collection development, and beyond, academic librarians are quite busy assisting the communities they serve.
These basic steps can help a prospective librarian find employment in one of Oregon’s academic libraries:
- Earn a bachelor’s degree in any subject area.
Similarly to public librarianship, prospective librarians can enter academic library work with a variety of undergraduate experience. Because MLIS programs aren’t firm on undergraduate library and information science work, they tend to admit folks with good academic records in any field or subject area. While some people may choose to earn an undergraduate degree focused in library and information science, it is typically not a requirement to secure a spot in an MLIS program.
- Earn an MLIS degree.
Similarly to public libraries, Oregon’s academic libraries typically want to hire librarians with a completed MLIS degree in hand. Another similarity: many of them will seek candidates with an MLIS degree from an ALA-accredited program. However, this isn’t always the case, and some colleges and universities may be willing to make exceptions for non-ALA-accredited degree holders.
- Earn any other certifications or degrees relevant to the academic libraries’ communities.
Many larger colleges and universities often have large library systems that encompass multiple facilities or collections. In these situations, they may prefer to hire librarians with relevant education or experience in the fields of study specifically served within some of those facilities. For example, a college with a school of law may have an entire wing of the campus library dedicated to the study of law – and they may prefer the librarians working there to have law experience so they can best serve the students and faculty of that particular department. While this isn’t always the case, it can make prospective librarians more competitive for certain jobs.