Before pursuing my MLIS, I had a Master’s degree in Counseling and eight years of experience in higher education. As I began applying for positions before graduating in December 2003, I knew that I wanted to work in academic libraries and that my experience would be an asset, but I questioned whether I would get to directly use my Counseling degree. Two months after graduation, I began work as a subject-specialist (liaison) librarian for Counseling & Psychological Services as well as 3 other related programs.

Many academic libraries use the liaison model, in which librarians are assigned to work with at least one academic department (in larger institutions, it may be several). Given that LIS graduates often have prior Master’s degrees and/or substantial expertise in a particular field, this model is of substantial benefit to potential librarians, academic departments, and libraries alike.