Should I become a teacher or a librarian?

[StellaBlue]

Okay... I have solicited lots of advice and spoken with both teachers and librarians. I have agonized and pondered and talked to DUers!

Here is the short version of the background story:

I have a BA in English with a minor is History and an MA in English/Art History (interdisciplinary studies focusing on modernism and the culture of the interwar years in France and Germany). I originally wanted to be a professor of late-19th- and early-20th-century English literature, but I burned out during my MA. All the BS criticism killed my interest. I then floundered around for two or three years, working various jobs, before returning to the USA (I had been living in the UK for four years) this summer. I am now working a job I am overqualified for in my small hometown in East Texas, in order to save up some money to better position myself to do what I want to do: which is either teach or become an academic librarian.

I don't want to work with small children, but I could be a middle school or secondary English/history teacher; I have a passion for both subjects. I was also previously a historical tour guide to lots of student groups while doing my BA. I am considering teaching because a) it's not directly for The Man (even if it is indirectly thanks to the bureaucracy, NCLB, etc.), not profit-driven; b) it's about knowledge and learning and I have a passion for the above subjects; c) I want to do a job I really believe in, to change lives; d) I would expect my colleagues to have similar interests and values, compared to the corporate world; and e) the pay/benefits/security are better overall than I expect to get in the private sector, where I would also be bored to death under flourescent lights, typing crap into a screen for the next 50 years, as I am doing now. Remember I am a bit of an iconoclast and will NOT be any kind of 'executive' no matter what - so making over $100,000 is not any kind of possibility for me, and that's fine.

I am considering becoming an academic librarian because a) it is close to my original goal of becoming a professor; b) I would get to work with books, manuscripts, etc., on a university campus but without all the Derrida BS or pressure to publish; c) there is scope for a varied career path, as an MLIS degree can be versatile; d) I would like to earn a PhD ultimately and possibly teach library courses part-time, and a job at a university would afford that; e) I am a good organizer and planner and information retriever, and I also enjoy helping people find information they need; f) my second MA would be very useful in helping get a leg up in an academic library, for instance if I wanted to work with manuscripts from the period I have already studied; g) like teaching, I would expect to be mostly surrounded with kindred spirits in this field; and h) it is a professional occupation, utilizing my background, and in line with what I always envisioned for myself career-wise. I am afraid that, after my dreams of being a university professor, I would feel like I had 'settled' for teaching, and that I would feel let down by myself for not doing something 'more intellectual'.

HOWEVER, I am also a fiction writer, and I could use those summers off. Plus I want to have children one day, and the compatible holiday schedules would be nice. Plus, from what I have learned, teaching is a great profession for anyone who wants to take time off to be with kids, but then wants to get back into their career.

Any input appreciated. I am ready to make a decision. Please tell me honestly what you think, especially if you have experience with either or both of these fields.

[StellaBlue]

1. Okay, 2 to 1

Thanks - I will become a teacher.

haha

:D

[Orangepeel]

2. academic librarians in Universities don't have to publish?

that surprises me. I'm not a librarian, but I would have guessed that an academic librarian with a PhD at the level of school that requires significant publishing from professors would require significant publishing from librarians.

[StellaBlue]

3. I don't want a job that necessarily requires a PhD...

I was just thinking that would leave my options open re: teaching at the university level or working as an archivist or something.

Thanks for the input...

[Orangepeel]

4. well, it was really a question, rather than input

my input would be that you should be a teacher.

It sounds like that would be flexible enough to fit your life, enjoyable for you, and rewarding (intrinsically, of course). I also think it would be easier to get a job. My understanding is that the job market for librarians is quite poor, although I'm sure you would know that better than I.

[LostinVA]

26. You don't need a Ph.D., just your MLS

[LostinVA]

25. Nope/.... most also don't have Ph.D.s

I only know three who do, but theirs is in a foreign language and they are catalogers.

A very few publish or present at conferences, but that's because they want to.

[hickman1937]

5. I voted librarian but tell you what,

give middle school a try. It's still called junior high in some parts of my school system, and good luck. Really. :scared:

[StellaBlue]

14. we call it junior high around here, too

I was talking to a junior high history teacher on Saturday, and he LOVES it, though I think he is more into coaching football than teaching...

[hickman1937]

16. I met a few af my kids teachers in their junior high.

Some seemed truly inspired, and some just seemed tired. At 12 mommy and daddy's special little girl or boy finds their inner goth/headbanger/rabid vegetarian/just pissed at everyone, and mommy and daddy just thanks God that teachers have to take them for 7 hours a day.

[spacelady]

6. Librarian!! Because I was a high school art / 8th grade English

public school teacher, vintage '84-86. If you think you can teach and have time to do research and write and travel, think again. The students who were interested were great, too bad I had to spend more time with the rowdy ones, but even then, I still liked the students-- it is the parents and administration who will come between you and your enthusiasm. Then again,maybe I wasn't one to fit the mold.

[Kenneth ken]

7. I voted academic librarian.

I'm not all that familiar with either field.

Based on your comments, I think the versatility you mention would be a plus. Additionally, I'm not sure if as a teacher you'd really get summers off. I think teachers do a lot of recertification training type things (but again, I don't know that.)

best wishes for whichever choice you decide on. :hi:

[Flaxbee]

8. I'd become a librarian if I could have a do-over...

well, anything to do with books. Like restoring ancient books, or seling rare books, or even becoming an appraiser for antique books. Two of my favorite people work with books and documents - a law librarian and an archivist.

True, you wouldn't have summers off, but you'd still have a pretty reasonable, predictable schedule that you could plan around. I have a sibling and brother in law who are teachers and they enjoy it, but I think they'd prefer to have a job that would ultimately offer more variety/opportunities for different jobs. As it is, they can teach, or become administrators (but then again, they're also currently constrained b/c of their kid situation).

You could always, as you say, teach library sciences. I think you'd just have more freedom as a librarian, to be perfectly honest.

[AwakeAtLast]

9. If you don't want to work with small children

you don't want middle school either. They are just children with hyperactive hormones. For what you are asking, I would suggest high school or older.

Just my $.02. :hi:

[StellaBlue]

10. Oops! Spoke to soon!

haha...

Thanks so much for all the input.

According to the libarians/MLIS students I have spoken to, no recent graduates have had trouble finding jobs, and the US Dept of Labour Bureau of Statistics says that over the next 10 years many librarians will retire, which will create a need for more new blood. Apparently, despite what common sense might make us think, the information revolution has created more work in this field, not less. But of course it remains to be seen how many outgoing professional, sometimes even tenured, librarians will be replaced with contract librarians. :/

Ultimately, on that path, I would want to be an archivist of some sort in a literature/manuscript collection, such as at the Harry Ransom Center at Texas.

[Floogeldy]

11. Is there some particular reason why you ruled out prostitute or stripper?

Just askin'.

;)

[StellaBlue]

12. I'm not that kind of girl

Plus I would be the type that, on the first night, would take off one of my stilettos and stab it straight into the heart of the leery, middle-aged misogynists ogling me.

haha (but, seriously, I would)

[Chan790]

13. Have you considered being a lecturer

many colleges will hire you to teach lower level college courses with an MA especially if that MA is highly focused in a single content area. When combined with a part-time gig as a personal researcher for a professor currently writing a book, it provides all the perks of both the librarian and teaching position, without the academic BS or the writing requirements that you are looking to avoid...and it would allow you to pursue the Ph.D as well in the spare time.

I don't know exactly how it works but I have a friend who is doing it at the Univ. of Louisville in political theory with a focus on current inter-european international relations and the EU, so I know that it can be done. He did it because he finished his MA and felt burnt out and unsure of where he wanted to go from there.

[StellaBlue]

15. cool idea

Thanks!

And I like your Tofurkey

[SoCalDem]

17. Teacher, then librarian, then first lady

sorry couldn;t help myself :spank:

[StellaBlue]

18. hahahahahahaha

good one

[MissHoneychurch]

19. I am a librarian

not with the background you have but I tell you what: I love my job. It is interesting helping customers, you always learn something new. Of course you won't have the chance to actually READ books during your working time, but to be surrounded by books is a great things also :) And depending in what field you will are a librarian you always know what is new on the market.

[StellaBlue]

21. Thanks-

I forgot to mention that I spent two years working in a bookstore in the UK - one of them as the events manager, and, aside from the general usual retail hell aspect, and the crap pay, I liked it.

But I know what you mean about not spending all day reading books! People think you get to, but of course you don't. You have to squeeze them in on the train or during your lunch hour - and working with books just taunts you - there are always a hundred new ones you can't wait to read, and never enough time! I miss being out of the loop re: new releases.

[MissHoneychurch]

24. true so true

I would say when you already worked with books and liked it then go in that direction again. And you don't need to be a children's librarian :) Something I ruled out for myself.

[StellaBlue]

22. .

duplicate

[TallahasseeGrannie]

20. Well, this is an area I know a bit about

because both my husband and I are teachers, but he went on to get his PhD in library/information science.

Teaching is a good gig if you can handle chaos and red tape and bureaucracy. Pay is adequate, hours are great, lots of time off although not paid. Job security is good, good benefits, and good retirement.

Now, librarians in general get paid practically nothing in libraries for all that work they have to do to get certified. But at the academic level, it is a bit better. You can do pretty darned well if you get the PhD and specialize in something. You work 9 months of the year, get to travel a lot to various conferences, have major job security after you make tenure (very stressful time) and your hours are AMAZING. But the academic environment makes politics look like tea time.

Write me privately if you want to talk to my husband and he'll have good advice. Come on down to Florida State. I'll adopt you! It is the 2nd best school in the country for library/info science. I believe Rutgers is #1.

Read the book Radical Change by Eliza Dresang. It is very inspiring.

[Callalily]

23. Librarian

Some of my favorite people are librarians!

[MissHoneychurch]

27. so I am a favorite of you???

:D

[Callalily]

28. Yes MissHoneychurch

you're the best!

[trof]

33. Me too. I like librarians.

Mine is a close friend and I'm on the board of our Friends of the Library group.

I'm sure they must exist, but I've haven't yet met a right-wing librarian.

[Mizmoon]

29. I love my flexible MLS

I've used it to get business jobs and librarian jobs. I've made as much as $85,000 with it and as little as $30,000. It all depends on you.

My only complaint is that my fellow librarians often take themselves a bit too seriously. I love em anyway, the pompous little lambs :)

[Deep13]

30. Be a teacher, not a right-wing nutcase...

...Oops, I thought you said "Libertarian."

[northzax]

31. librarian

don't teach unless you actually need to, in the pychological sense. it'll burn you down in a couple of years (it took three for me)

and the vacations? a joke. since they tend to be unpaid vacations. So, especially if you have kids, you'll be working somehow over that break to make ends meet. You will have plenty of opportunity to teach as a librarian, and your degree will help you move into a school setting if you decide that you prefer kids to academia.

[StellaBlue]

32. Thanks for all the great, insightful responses.

This has confirmed my hunch that a library career is right for me.

I am SO excited to apply to MLIS programs!!!

[WCGreen]

34. I think you would make a great stripper...

Just think, one night you could be Miss Peabody, sexy librarian who has come to collect a fine and then the next night, you could be Prime and proper Miss Honey, the virginal teacher who wants to spank the naughty boys....

see, you could have both careers....