The US Bureau of Labor Statistics provides promising data about the growth of libraries and needs for librarians in America. As of April 2024, The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the median wage for Wisconsin library workers was around $65,000 with around 2,200 librarians currently employed. Roughly 20% of librarians were employed in larger metropolitan areas, suggesting that these highly populated areas are growing – and the need for more librarians is also growing.

Librarians staff Wisconsin’s many libraries, including public facilities, K-12 school facilities, and academic facilities, to name a few. Librarians can be trained to fulfill the duties of many library environments, and there are quite a few great in-state programs to help prepare those future librarians for success.

Associates in Library and Information Studies in Wisconsin

Some schools offer two-year associates degrees for people interested in studying library and information science. These degrees can prepare people to move further in their education and/or succeed in library-related work and positions.

Chippewa Valley Technical College offers a fully-online, two year, 60-credit-hour associate’s degree program in library and information studies. As a bonus, this degree transfers directly to the bachelor’s degree program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison listed below, if the student is interested in furthering their education. CVTC’s program outcomes include…

• Advocating the importance of libraries in communities
• Educational and web-based technologies
• Library administration
• Managing and organizing collections
• Copyright, licensing, and information ethics
• Engaging children, young readers, and adults with library services
• Effective use of print and online library services
• Grant writing and programming

Bachelors in Library and Information Studies in Wisconsin

The University of Wisconsin-Madison offers a great opportunity for undergraduate students interested in studying library science. The school offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Studies, making it an excellent foundational degree for students interested in entering library work, or advanced studies in information and/or library science. For undergraduate students interested in the program, the school offers educational opportunities including…

• A focus on the ethical, cultural, and social factors in design and use of information technology-based and data-driven systems
• Development in the skills needed for the creation, management, retrieval, and curation of data and information 
• Chances to study concepts and examine issues at the nexus of people, data, information, and computing

…all of which are foundational concepts for future librarians to understand and explore. 

Similarly, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee offers a Bachelor of Science in Information and Technology degree program. The program’s main focuses are information, or how knowledge gets organized and stored, and technology, or the tools used to organize and access that information. The program is an excellent foundation for library science studies, making it an ideal undergraduate degree choice for prospective librarians. Some other important notes about this program include…

• Real-world internships that involve opportunities to apply concepts in actual businesses and more
• Options for completing credits toward an accelerated master’s degree 
• Chances to work collaboratively on teams working together to solve real-world issues

Wisconsin Masters in Library Science (MLIS) Programs

ALA Accredited MLIS Programs in Wisconsin

There are two American Library Association (ALA)-accredited MLIS programs in the state of Wisconsin. While every library employer doesn’t require an ALA-accredited degree to be considered for employment, many do – or, at the very least, ALA accreditation is listed as a preferred quality for new employees.

Both ALA-accredited MLIS programs are offered by schools in the University of Wisconsin system:

The University of Wisconsin-Madison offers an on-campus attendance option as well as an online program option for students interested in attending without having to relocate near or on campus. The school’s program boasts an accreditation that has existed since the inception of ALA accreditation statuses in 1924, making it one of the oldest programs to achieve this status. This program also offers a small number of required courses to fulfill the 36 credit hour requirement for graduation, allowing students to explore electives more in line with their professional interests. Some of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s concentrations for their MLIS program includes…

• Traditional librarianship
• Archives & records
• Digital librarianship
• School library media 
• Double degree programs (ideal for students seeking dual degrees – one degree in library science and another in a different field/concentration)

The second school with an ALA-accredited MLIS program in the state of Wisconsin is the University of Wisconsin-Milwaulkee. This online-only program earned its ALA accreditation status in 1976 and is one of the longest-running online programs in the country. Students in this program have a variety of program focuses and concentrations for their studies, including…

• Public libraries
• K-12 school libraries
• Academic libraries
• Digital libraries
• Information law, policy, and ethics
• Special libraries
• Information literacy 

Similarly to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Milwaukee also offers options for MLIS students seeking dual degrees in library science and other areas of study.

Online MLIS Programs in Wisconsin

Both schools listed in the previous section are not only ALA-accredited, but they also offer online program options for their students. Online coursework is an ideal pathway to a master’s degree for many people, especially working adults who are balancing other important responsibilities with their educational pursuits. It is also noteworthy to mention that both programs can be completed mostly asynchronously, meaning students can complete coursework and attend lectures on their own time rather than having to follow strict class meeting schedules.

Ph.D. in Library Science Programs in Wisconsin

Some library science students decide to move forward with their education by pursuing a doctoral degree in library and information science. Fortunately for Wisconsin students seeking advanced degrees, there are Ph.D. program options in-state.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison offers a Ph.D. in Information that prepares its graduates to enter promising careers in libraries, academia, industry, and other information-related areas. Some of this program’s perks include…

• Involvement in cutting-edge research happening via the college’s iSchool
• 5 years of full funding, including a stipend, tuition, and health insurance
• Successful job placement options 
• Support to conduct independent research and prepare results for publication in journals, etc.
• Teaching experience

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaulkee’s Ph.D. in Information Studies prepares its students for academic and professional work that requires them to perform in-depth research and information evaluation. This program is hybrid, offered online and in-person, and boasts an R1 classification status, meaning it is one of the nation’s top research universities. Some of the program’s key features, as noted in their online program brochure, include…

• An opportunity to spend at least 9 credit hours in specialized courses
• Teaching assistantship opportunities
• Funding support for travel, tuition, and more
• Distance attendance options for non-local or commuting distance students