I am currently a grad student at NC Central University's School of Library and Information Science in their Archives and Records Management program. I am taking both library and archiving classes, and when I graduate in December I will have an ALA accredited MLS specializing in Archives and Records Management. With this degree I can go into either field: librarianship or archiving. To date I've completed my archiving "mini-practicum" in a college library, inventorying, arranging and describing a collection. I will be doing my internship at another university library's special collection. While the two fields are different, they are very, very similar with lots of crossover. I am glad that NCCU program works with NC State's History Department as they have one of the finest archiving programs around with some of the best instructors. However The MLS will give me greater options in pursueing a job as both fields are open to me. And, at least in NC, starting jobs for librarians pay better than archiving jobs. This is my advice to Ms. Vega for what it's worth: get an MLS with archiving certification. BUT make sure you are taking enough courses for fields. I'm taking 18 hours of arching courses (ok I am only taking 15 since some MA credit is being applied to the degree) and 18 hours of library courses. But again this is my opinion. Jerry Judd __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List sponsored by the Society of American Archivists, www.archivists.org. For the terms of participation, please refer to http://www.archivists.org/listservs/arch_listserv_terms.asp. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] In body of message: SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname *or*: UNSUB ARCHIVES To post a message, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html Problems? Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <[log in to unmask]>