Following up on Gary's advice, I would also say one of the Moving Image archival programs (East Anglia, Amsterdam, UCLA, George Eastman House or NYU) and in this case, a program that emphasizes digital restoration would be something that would be helpful. All are 2-year master programs while GEH also has a one-year certificate program --- www.amianet.org is a good place to find out more about these schools and the work.
It would also give you the degree if you want to move more into the media archival world. It's also a very hard world to get into at the moment but there's a LOT of media being created so it will be a growing field sooner or later. Best, Dennis Doros Milestone Film & Video/Milliarium Zero PO Box 128 Harrington Park, NJ 07640 Phone: 201-767-3117 Fax: 201-767-3035 email: [email protected] www.milestonefilms.com www.ontheboweryfilm.com www.arayafilm.com www.exilesfilm.com www.wordisoutmovie.com www.killerofsheep.com AMIA Philadelphia 2010: www.amianet.org Join "Milestone Film" on Facebook! On Fri, Oct 8, 2010 at 12:50 PM, <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi David > > This is an interesting and perennial question... > > After having worked in this business for close to 30 years, it's clear to > me that one major qualification for being a media librarian is the > willingness to work in other areas before getting a gig as a media > librarian. At the risk of sounding gloomy, I must say that there are very > few jobs in this particular area of library specialization and the > prospects for the field expanding in the future are fairly slim (despite > the growing importance of media in academia and elsewhere). I personally > do not a single video librarian who went into the business right out of > the shoot. So...being flexible and willing to keep the faith until a > position opens are good traits to have. > > You should also understand that nature of media operations and media > librarians vary widely from library to library: In some instances, there > are discrete media operations which are primarily focused on collecting > and providing access to various media formats. In other cases, the media > collections may be more dispersed. Selection can also be done by a format > specialist across disciplines, by a subject specialist, or various > combinations... In some cases, media operations may primarily function > like reserve book operations, with faculty requests as the primary > determinants of what goes into the collection. > > The media center/media librarian may be responsible for other functions, > such media production facilities and assistance. In some cases, this kind > of tech development and support may overshadow collection building. In > other words, the skill-set required could vary widely, depending on > institutional needs, history, and policy. Also: depending on the > reporting lines and staffing of the media operation, > managerial/administrative skills may be more or less important. > > I think there are generic skills/knowledge that would be useful regardless > of the shape and function of media operations/collections: Not sure > whether a second masters is necessary, but a firm grounding in the basics > of film history and film theory would certainly not hurt. > > A solid familiarity with the ways in which media is or can be used in > teaching and research is also a good thing to have. Having interesting > ideas about these things, even better... > > I think that in this day and age, a good understanding and experience with > various forms of evolving digital media would be a plus, including at > least basic working knowledge of digital capture, editing, and delivery > (even if it's only how to make an iMovie and serve it up over the web) > > Knowledge of copyright issues and policies related to media ain't a bad > thing to have. > > Eclectic interests, creativity, and a willingness to take risks...well, > they're good attributes no matter which field you go into. Like any > public service, effective communication skills are esstential. And > lastly, you've got to demonstrate that you love this stuff...that it's a > passion and a calling, rather than just another job. You've got to be > able to articulate these things, for yourself, your administration, and > your clients... > > Hope that helps a bit... > > gary handman > > > > So I see most of the people on this list are in academic positions, As a > > student who wants very badly to work with media as a librarian, do most > of > > you have and need a second master in film or media studies or if not do > > you > > have masters at all or and what exactly is the qualifications people look > > for in a media librarian , thank you for considering this question > > > > -David Folmar > > MLS student Clarion University > > VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of > > issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic > > control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in > > libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve > > as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel > of > > communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video > > producers and distributors. > > > > > Gary Handman > Director > Media Resources Center > Moffitt Library > UC Berkeley > > 510-643-8566 > [email protected] > http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/MRC > > "I have always preferred the reflection of life to life itself." > --Francois Truffaut > > > VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues > relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, > preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and > related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective > working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication > between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and > distributors. >
VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and distributors.
