A: Actually, I only spend about 12 hours a week on the Reference Desk. The rest of my week is spent in instruction, working on university committees, researching, writing grants, maintaining the website, and coordinating our automation and technical services divisions.

Q: You have to have a Masters to be a librarian? What do you study? The Dewey Decimal System?

A: Yes, you have to have a Masters to be a librarian, at least a librarian at IUS and at many other academic, public and school libraries. An M.L.S. covers some basic library skills: Reference (how to ask questions, which books to use, philosophy), Collection Development (how to buy library materials, policies, censorship), Cataloging (how to write out those catalog records, Library of Congress System, subject headings and yes, one lecture at the very end is on Dewey).

But librarians also study basic theory and practice associated with organizing and representing knowledge and how people seek information. Some of my electives were in Information Science, where I studied databases, web design, usability testing of information systems. I studied to be a school library media specialist, so many of my electives dealt with school library management and children's resources.

Q: Where did you go to library school?

A: I went to SLIS (Indiana University Bloomington's School of Library and Information Science). I also took some classes at IUPUI (Indiana University Purdue University in Indianapolis). I only applied at IU and UT (the University of Texas at Austin). I was accepted at both places. The University of Illinois is currently the top-ranked library school. All are ALA accredited.

Q: Is grad school hard?

A: Grad school is different. Your major in grad school is much more concentrated than in undergrad. You have much more freedom and much more responsibility. Your classes might only meet once a week, mine did. Your research papers will probably be longer, mine were. Your professors might be less formal. Your classes might be smaller. Some of your classmates might be more driven. You will probably meet some lifetime friends, I did.

Q: Can you get a good job as a librarian?

A: That's relative to what you want and mean by good job. Librarians are professionals and communicators. Librarians are in demand at software companies and in many aspects of the technology industry because of their skills at organizing information. Librarians' research skills make them valuable for in many ways for both for profit and non-profit companies. Librarians also have good social and management skills (not everyone in the library is a librarian, many are our important support staff who manage the circulation, acquisitions, cataloging, serials, and interlibrary loan aspects of the library.)

Librarians do not make very high salaries compared to other professions requiring Masters degrees. Starting wages at most libraries are in the 30's. There is supposed to be a labor shortage due to retiring baby boomer librarians in the near future. Basically, I make medium-sized bucks.