The MLS Issue: Linda Porter Responds

     Linda Porter is the 2004 ParaProfessional of the Year for Library Journal. I mentioned her here. I sent her some questions concerning the MLS issue and she was incredibly gracious enough to respond:

GM: Do you have any education beyond a high school diploma?

LP: No, I graduated from Rancocas Valley Regional High School in 1968 majoring in Business Education. I had also taken some college prep courses. I always loved English Lit.

GM: When you mention starting from scratch is that a reference to education or in the job field?

LP: I was talking about College. I have always needed to work a full time job and had taken no college courses at all. I can't imagine how long it would take to get a BS and finally an MS.

     I did start at the very bottom of the ladder here at the Library. I just felt that I needed to work somewhere that was important to people in general. Sort of bringing a meaning to my life.

     I feel that a substantial number of New Jersey Library Assistants around my age group grew up in old fashioned families with different ideas about women's roles. We grew up with the idea that women married fairly young and had families. My father did not believe in women going to college. He said it was a waste of money. Of course I don't believe that myself, but he held the purse strings.

GM: Has it been your experience that people with only an MLS and no previous library experience are properly prepared for their positions as professionals?

LP: I feel that they learn on the job too. They are good at their library subject training, but as Supervisors, they are not very qualified. Many don't have the personalities. Yet because they have that MLS, They are automatically in charge. I firmly believe you need to learn supervising skills. And, some personalities are definitely never good supervising types. Many people have a natural talent. Talent is not taught, you either have it or don't. Should those with talent not be hired and utilized just because it wasn't taught in school?

GM: Do you have any general opinions on the MLS programs offered in the New Jersey area?

LP: I don't feel I have the expertise for this question. Many of our librarians have degrees from Rutgers and feel that program is good. We have had instances where people who have just graduated from library school apply for jobs in cataloging for instance and complain that the typing end of the job is for clerical staff . Perhaps Library schools need to make sure they teach the importance of all staff in the library, not just the degree holding staff. I have also met some of the school librarians with BS degrees from Rowan University who feel that that school has a good program and that they don't need an MLS to be a good librarian.

GM: Your library has a very large staff. You mention certain positions being in a gray area, carrying both professional and assistant responsibilities. Are there any positions in the library that you personally would classify as ones solely for professional librarians and requiring an MLS?

LP: I definitely feel that Library Director, Assistant Director, Chief Librarian, & Head of Reference depts. should be Librarians. If for no other reason, they have to deal with the political sides of the system. I don't feel that Acquisitions, Cataloging, Circulation, and Branches need to be run by them. There are some very good staff out there with many years of experience and knowledge who can handle those positions as well as anyone else.

GM: How would you feel about the requirement of the MLS in most positions being replaced with a 4 year degree or even a 2 year degree?

LP: I think that would be wonderful. Especially with the soaring cost of education and low salaries.
I can understand an MLS in a University situation. I don't understand it for public libraries. Why can't the courses given in an MLS program be taken during a regular college year as a major? School is not easy for everyone..

GM: What are your own views on what it takes to be a librarian?

LP: I feel that the public thinks anyone who works in a library is a librarian, and that says it all. We all perform library services for them.

GM [end of email]: I realize these are somewhat hot button questions but I hope you will feel free to respond. Thank you and again congratulations.

LP: I tried to be as frank as I could. There are a lot of touchy issues here and I have spent my career trying to handle the problems that I have encountered with tact and forbearance. I am sure that I have not always succeeded. Sometimes I just get tired. Making people aware of the roles and importance of Library workers has been my 'Cause' since first becoming involved in the New Jersey Association Of Library Assistants (NJALA) organization. The problem is that Library assistants, whatever their titles, have been discriminated against for many, many years. As we all know, discrimination breeds reverse-discrimination; that is probably something that will never be resolved and will always be a problem. In a field where people pride themselves on fighting discrimination, many librarians ignore the fact that it happens everyday in their workplace.

Thank you so much for your patience and your interest in my opinion. LSPorter

LP [addendum]: I would like to say that I don't think that any education is unnecessary or not valuable.  I really respect and admire anyone who can go to school as long as someone with a masters does.  I wish I could have gone to school when I was younger.  But I don't regret any choices I have made and I love what I do.   However, I don't think on the job experience and learning is any less of an education.  In a way we pay for our education by salary differences we are not paid every year.  After 20 years, that dollar amount adds up.  Thanks