This survey was sent in June 2024 to graduates who completed the MLIS program during calendar year 2023. We received a total of 152 responses to our survey. Not all of the questions were mandatory, and the responses may be rounded.

“Enrolling in the MLIS program was one of the best decisions I have ever made for my career. I learned so much, especially during my internships. I was able to secure a full-time job before I graduated, and I still use the skills I learned as an MLIS student today.”

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 (59%). They are changing their career focus to LIS from a wide variety of fields, such as education, marketing, hospitality, broadcasting, 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 23% said they had not worked in a library.
• Of those who are currently employed, 74% hold jobs in a library or information science career environment, 11% are working in a LIS capacity but not in a LIS institution, and 15% are employed in a non-related position and field. 

“Going through the MLIS program was worth it. It gave me skills that were helpful in my current library job and introduced me to professional organizations and networks of people I now rely on for information and support.”

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

• 75% have full-time positions and are working in diverse LIS career environments, including public libraries, academic libraries, K-12 schools, and special libraries. 93% of full-time workers are employed in permanent positions.
• Their job titles are just as varied as their employers and include Ethnic Studies Librarian, Teacher Librarian, Cataloging Technician, Reference Librarian, User Services Technician, Medical Librarian, Digital Asset Manager, Librarian I, and many more positions.
• Our alumni are putting their MLIS skills to work performing many different job duties, such as circulation, public services, reference/information services, patron programming, outreach, children’s services, and collection development.
• When asked to select their primary job assignment, the following job assignments received the most responses: reference/information services, children’s services, public services, circulation, and archival and preservation.
• 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. 56% 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, 87% were employed within 6 months of graduating.

“I found the coursework especially relevant and interesting, with some portions of it immediately applicable to my work. I applied for and received a promotion to library assistant in the middle of the program and then successfully applied for a librarian position after I graduated.”

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. Choosing Electives from Multiple Career Pathways

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., Canada, Ireland, and Qatar.

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.