Alaska Library Science Degrees

At this time, there are no programs offered at universities in the state of Alaska with ALA accredited library science degrees. Residents in the state may consider looking at an online library media program with no on-campus residency requirements to avoid travel to the continental states.

There are courses at the University of Alaska Anchorage that you could take if you are interested in library science:

• LS A101 - Introduction to Academic Library Research (1 credit)
• LS A211 - Library Research in the 21st Century (3 credits)

Are There Online Library Science Degrees in Alaska?

At this time, there are no online library science degrees available in the state of Alaska. With limited availability and being away from the continental 48 states, residents will often look for a 100 percent online program in a different state. This means all coursework can be completed without any visits to the campus required.

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Alaska Library Science Degrees

There are limited library science options available at universities in Alaska, and none at the graduate level. The University of Alaska-Anchorage offers an introduction to academic library research and how this is conducted in recent times. The University of Alaska-Fairbanks has an introductory research course. You might also consider a campus based program on the west coast in one of the following popular states:

• Arizona Library Science degrees
• California Library Science degrees
• Texas Library Science degrees

Master's degree education is often completed in one to two years depending on prior educational experience and enrollment. Holding this degree ensures that the graduate has received proper skills in research methods, information organization, and trends in literature of various ages. Students may find graduate-level programs of this type under the disciplines of Librarianship, Library Science, or Library and Information Studies.

As an alternative, a Master's degree in education and/or leadership with a specialization in school librarianship is also possible. These programs are generally accredited by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL). Individuals looking to become a school librarian will often need a teacher's license and pass specific exam credentials.

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Career Options in Library Media

Around 400 librarians are accounted for by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This employment is divided up nearly evenly between the Anchorage metropolitan area and surrounding rural area. Anchorage is a significantly larger city in Alaska with over 282,000 residents.

Library positions can be found through the Alaska Library Association (AkLA). This organization is committed to the improvement library work and services across the state of Alaska. It is headquartered in Fairbanks and has two chapters in Anchorage and Juneau.

Licensure Requirements in Alaska

For library director roles at the state level, higher education is recommended. At least one continuing education program is needed to retain licensure. This could feature annual conferences organized by the state library association or various workshops to improve a particular skill.

School librarianship requires a Type C endorsement in the state of Alaska. At least a Bachelor’s degree in the field of library science or media is needed. In addition, three credit hours of Alaska-based studies and multicultural education is required.

Salary Estimates in Alaska

ZipRecruiter estimates that the average salary in Alaska is around $54,694 annually. Similarly, this matches what the BLS estimates in their latest findings for librarians and media collections specialists. This is around the national average and it is a competitive location in Anchorage and rural areas.