UwyoReligiousStudies

Thanks for responding, Anna. I am having difficulty choosing between the program at Indiana and UIUC. Funding is a huge concern for me (I have more than enough debt from undergrad study), and after much research it seems that UIUC has the edge in that respect. Right now, I'm grappling with the prospect of getting an MA in Religious Studies before my MLIS in order to increase my probability of landing a decent job in the area I want. Ugh...

I've been thinking of forgoing the MLIS degree altogether and focusing on NBSS and possibly a masters in conservation afterward. NBSS seems to have a pretty good rapport with West Dean College in the UK; quite a few NBSS students have entered their one year conservation MA program. However, I'm afraid he absence of a MLIS degree will hinder me in the long run... Any thoughts? To be honest, I really don't have any desire to be a traditional librarian.

Thanks for the thoughtful response BFunky29!

Hello everyone! As you can probably infer from my user-name, I'm a Religious Studies major at the University of Wyoming. I have an interest in rare books and manuscripts (as well as traditional bookbinding) and currently volunteer at UW's rare book library. I've been looking at MLIS programs for quite some time and have narrowed my choices down to three: Simmons College, Indiana University-Bloomington, and Illinois Urbana-Champaign. While the latter two schools both have rare book and special collections concentrations, Simmons does not; though it does have a well-regarded archives program. While IU and U of I seem like the most logical choices given my interest in rare books, Simmons is in the same city as the North Bennet Street School, which offers a ton of workshops in book binding and book/paper conservation that I could take in my free time. I have also thought about attending North Bennet Street School full-time after getting an MLIS as I'd like to have the option to go into book binding or conservation as well as librarianship. Can anyone offer any insight into the MLIS programs at these schools? I'll be an out-of-state student, so costs are relatively comparable. And while the cost of living is highest in Boston, it would probably even out if I decide to attend the NBSS afterward (moving is expensive). If I want to be employable in rare books librarianship (in some form), would it be better to go to IU or U of I and specialize in the field? Or, would I be better off specializing in archives at Simmons while taking courses at NBSS and possibly interning and getting hands on experience with rare books? I could also potentially take a few courses at the Rare Book School over the summer. They hold courses in D.C. and N.Y., both of which are closer to Boston. Thanks for your help in advance!