Is It All Worth It

Is it all worth it? Elisabeth Leonard, MLS, MBA

First, some background

BS in international business and German

MBA was free for me and encouraged by my director, the Vice President of Academic Affairs, and the CFO

Why did I do it?

I wanted more background than my BA provided, esp. on areas I was weak in

I wanted to increase my job possibilities

I wanted to hone my skills and knowledge

What benefits did I see?

The faculty were very proud

The students related to me differently

The University administration knew me

Economic development committee

I was able to bring business knowledge to my job *esp. marketing*

Made some great friends and some good contacts

Asked for other opinions

111 with advanced degrees

100 people said what the degree was

Master's in accountancy 2.0% (2)

Master's in business administration 77.0% (77)

Master's in public administration 4.0% (4)

Master's in economics 6.0% (6)

Other: Master's in (organizational) communication and technology; Master of international management; JD; Master of Business & Technology; Master’s in international business

How did others benefit? Top benefits 33.0% (32) 27.8% (27) Increased the amount of respect and/or credibility I receive from faculty 43% (40) 19.4% (18) Provides opportunities outside librarianship Very Beneficial Beneficial (n=98) 32.0% (31) 26.8% (26) Increased the amount of respect and/or credibility I receive from colleagues 76.3% (74) 19.6% (19) Increased understanding of my patrons 79.6% (78) 17.3% (17) Increased subject knowledge

Other benefits

Made me a better manager/leader/team player

Helped me get a promotion

Self-fulfillment

Increased understanding of how business information flows, what is helpful for analysis, what is not so necessary

Knowledgeable as to how to help patrons; can speak with authority with business faculty re research needs of students; considered expert in field by colleagues

Consulting work

Disparity between perceived benefits and actual benefits Very beneficial Beneficial Perceived 57.3% (59) 26.2% (27) Increased subject knowledge Very Beneficial Beneficial Actual 79.6% (78) 17.3% (17) Increased subject knowledge

Disparity between perceived benefits and actual benefits Very beneficial Beneficial Perceived 16.0% (16) 33.0% (33) Increased understanding of my patrons Very Beneficial Beneficial Actual 76.3% (74) 19.6% (19) Increased understanding of my patrons

Disparity between perceived benefits and actual benefits Very beneficial Beneficial Perceived 24.5% (25) 18.6% (19) Increased the amount of respect and/or credibility I receive from students Very Beneficial Beneficial Actual 33.0% (32) 27.8% (27) Increased the amount of respect and/or credibility I receive from students

Disparity between perceived benefits and actual benefits Very beneficial Beneficial Perceived 30.4% (31) 30.4% (31) Increased my salary Very Beneficial Beneficial Actual 24.7% (24) 25.8% (25) Increased my salary

Not all wine and roses

Some librarians see business as evil and thought I might be corrupted

Others believed I had ulterior motives and was trying to make a statement

These impressions have lingered in contacts with other librarians

Drawbacks for others?

It wasn’t worth it: 11% (n=12)

Not as relevant as expected (4 people)

Cost too much for the benefits received (2 people)

Although it enhances my credibility with and elicits greater respect from the faculty and students, it does not do the same with my librarian colleagues and library administration….

Library colleagues seem to be jealous of the degree & look for opportunities to devalue it relative to their degrees. I actually had a supervisor (who had no advanced degree) who told me my MBA was "irrelevant."

It made me "overqualified"

The verdict from the survey: Recommended! 76% said it was worth it

Do it because…(comments)

I think it should be a requirement. How can one possibly serve their clients adequately if they are not versed in the subject matter.

Personally, it was valuable to me because I have and had a strong interest in the topics. Professionally it was valuable to me in the sense of being more knowledgeable etc. in performing work.

Depends on the librarian - the opportunities are there, but it requires more of a love for the subject matter than an expectation of higher salary, etc.

Personally?