| School | Program | More Info |
|---|---|---|
| Syracuse University | Online MS in Library and Information Science
 ALA-accredited. Multiple professional pathways or specializations available. No GRE required to apply. Complete in as little as 18 months. |
|
| St. John's University | Online M.S. in Library and Information Science: Youth Services
ALA Accredited, learn to reach young readers and thrive as a youth librarian specialist. |
|
| Notre Dame of Maryland University | Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership for Changing Populations
Affordable tuition Earn the credentials to accelerate your career as an occupational therapy program administrator or educator. |
Maine has one offering for an undergraduate library science program but at this time, the state of Maine has no university with a graduate level ALA-accredited program. The ALA accredits Master's degrees in the disciplines of library and information science.
Alternative example disciplines include Library Science, Librarianship, and Education with a concentration in library and/or media. Other states with accredited Library Science programs include Massachusetts and Rhode Island library science degrees.
Are There Online Library Science Degrees in Maine?
No online library science graduate programs in Maine are available in the library science discipline. Residents in Maine should consider looking at alternative options in other states to pursue their desired education. For prospective students looking at education prior to this in a convenient online format, one institution does provide an opportunity in Maine.
Campus Based Maine Library Science Degrees
University of Maine at Augusta Library Science undergraduate program
The University of Maine at Augusta offers undergraduate study in the discipline of Information and Library Science. This offers a pathway for eventual graduates to enter further education in the field from an ALA-accredited program. Program options include gaining a specific certification, associate degree, or Bachelor's degree.
Graduate-level education in library and media science provides advanced skills for library and technical workers. In many cases, these degrees blend topics in collection management, curriculum development, information technology, and teaching. As libraries transition to digital collections and more advanced services, workers must hold proper education and training to improve their local community.
A few states in the New England region offer ALA-accredited programs at the graduate level, but with some limitations. Plymouth State University in New Hampshire has an online program restricted to residents of the state.
The University of Rhode Island Master of Library and Information Studies
The University of Rhode Island has a more open program with multiple tracks available. 36 total credit hours are needed in the Master of Library and Information Studies offered by URI. Core subjects cover information technology and collection organization, and spans 15 total credit hours. The remaining 21 credit hours are geared toward electives based on the career pathway selected.
Admission into a graduate program typically requires the completion of a Bachelor's degree with a 3.0 GPA or higher. If an applicant's GPA is not high enough, consideration may be given if other aspects of the application are outstanding. Additional documentation may require letters of recommendation and a personal statement detailing career goals and why the particular university was selected.
List of the best campus-based and online CAEP, AASL, or ALA-Accredited library science degree programs in Maine
| University | Degree Program | Accreditation | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
University of Maine |
Bachelor’s of Information and Library Science | Online |
Consider a Sponsored Online Library Program Taking Applications
| School | Program |
|---|---|
| Syracuse University Website |
Online MS in Library and Information Science
ALA-accredited. No GRE required to apply. School Media Specialization available. |
| University of Denver Website |
Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS)
ALA-Accredited, No GRE Required. |
| St. John's University Website |
Online M.S. in Library and Information Science
ALA Accredited. Complete in as little as 2 years. |
| University of West Alabama Website |
Online Master of Education in Library Media
Develop knowledge and skills in school library media with our online library media specialist degree. |
| University of West Alabama Website |
Online Ed.D. Rural Education: Library Media
Explore the essential role of library media within rural schools and districts. |
Maine Career Options in Library Media
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics recognizes around 800 librarians and media collections specialists in the state of Maine. This is on par with the nearby states of New Hampshire and Vermont. Roughly 30 percent of workers are in Portland, and this increases significantly when looking at Lewiston and the surrounding rural area.
Portland is the state’s largest city with over 65,000 residents, followed by Lewiston and Bangor. South Portland is within the Portland metropolitan area and accounts for the total workers in that area. Places to consider for library employment throughout the state include academic libraries, school media centers, and specialty law and health care centers.
Maine State Library
The state library has a goal to improve libraries across the state and is behind digital services, including the Digital Maine Library. This offers additional resources to residents across the state to access e-books, historical archives, and academic resources to aid in studies. Digital initiatives are made to be available worldwide with the Digital Public Library of America.
Salary Estimates in Maine
According to the latest estimates from BLS in May 2020, the annual mean wage for Maine librarians is at $54,240. This increases to approximately $80,780 annually for those earning in the top 10 percent. While there is a lower amount of workers represented, Bangor has the largest average estimates with $58,550 annually.