We survey our MLIS alumni within 13 months after they graduate to track employment trends, ensure that our curriculum remains relevant, and help us anticipate shifts in the job market.

Our most recent survey was sent in June 2023 to graduates who completed the MLIS program during calendar year 2022. We received a total of 161 responses to our survey. Not all of the questions were mandatory, and the responses may be rounded.

“The MLIS program was integral to me finding a new librarian job and advancing my career.”

We are pleased to share the following data regarding our alumni:

• Library and information science is not the first professional career for many of our recent graduates (57%). They are changing their career focus to LIS from a wide variety of fields, such as education, finance, law, psychology, and healthcare.
• Many students begin the MLIS program already having some library work experience and/or gain library work experience while completing their studies. Only 26% said they had not worked in a library.
• Of those who are currently employed, 80% hold jobs in a library or information science career environment, 11% are working in a LIS capacity but not in a LIS institution, and 9% are employed in a non-related position and field. 

The survey continued with questions asked of those who are working in a LIS career environment or related capacity.

• 73% have full-time positions and are working in diverse LIS career environments, including public libraries, academic libraries, K-12 schools, special libraries, and government libraries. 95% of full-time workers are employed in permanent positions.
• Their job titles are just as varied as their employers and include Library Media Specialist, Circulation Manager, Assistant Law Librarian, Adjunct Faculty, Archivists, Business Manager, Reference Librarian, Taxonomist, Business Analyst, Librarian, and many more positions.
• Our alumni are putting their MLIS skills to work performing many different job duties, such as circulation, access services, public services, and reference/information services.
• When asked to select their primary job assignment, the following job assignments received the most responses: reference/information services; circulation; children’s services; and metadata, cataloging and taxonomy.
• Many students worked while earning their degree and opted to remain with an employer or position held prior to or while attending the MLIS program. Those who chose to stay with an existing employer after graduation said the master’s degree helped advance their career. 57% reported that they received a promotion, became eligible for tenure, got a raise, moved from support staff to professional staff, or another positive change in employment.
• For those who were not employed when they graduated, 77% were employed within 6 months of graduating.

“This program prepared me well. I have secured three library jobs since getting my degree one year ago.”

Our alumni shared that they believe the following three experiences/activities were most helpful or important in obtaining their first job in the information profession:

1. Previous Employment Experience
2. Technological Skills
3. Subject Specialization

Our students not only live across North America while completing the fully online MLIS program, they are also working in different geographic areas after graduation. For example, our alumni reported their employers are located in the U.S., China and Canada.

We invite you to learn more about our alumni by browsing our alumni career spotlights, reading alumni stories, and watching videos of them at work and their impact on our global communities.