Guide to Masters in Library Science Online Programs (MLS)

Many programs now let you earn a masters in library science online. The ALA’s guidelines for choosing a master’s program note that many ALA-accredited programs offer distance learning, that some can be completed entirely at a distance and that some require on-campus courses or a residency.

The ALA’s 2023 accreditation standards say the curriculum addresses information users, resources, services and technologies across diverse contexts and communities. The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) describes school librarians in its position statement on the instructional role of the school librarian as instructors and collaborators who teach multiple literacies, curate resources that support the school mission and champion equity, access and intellectual freedom.

Do you need an ALA-accredited master’s degree to be a librarian?

According to the ALA accreditation FAQ, most employers require an ALA-accredited master’s degree for most professional-level library positions, and some states require an ALA-accredited degree to work as a professional librarian in public or school libraries. The ALA accredits only programs that lead to a master’s degree, and only programs approved by its Committee on Accreditation are ALA-accredited. Use the ALA directory of accredited programs to confirm a program’s status.

For school librarians, the ALA guidelines describe two degree routes: an ALA-accredited master’s degree, or a master’s degree with a school librarianship specialty from a program recognized by the ALA and the AASL. The second route must be at a regionally accredited institution within an accredited educational unit, such as a school of education accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) or the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP). Certification is a separate step. The AASL notes that each state has different requirements for certification or licensure, so check your state’s requirements.

Online Masters in Library Science Admissions Requirements

According to the ALA accreditation FAQ, each program establishes its own entry requirements, so you should contact your accredited institution for detailed information regarding its policies. With that being said, here are some example components that might go into an application for an online MLS program:

1. Application: Fill out an initial application, which you can find on the website of the accredited institution of your choice.
2. Bachelor’s degree: All ALA-accredited programs require a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, and any undergraduate major is acceptable. No undergraduate library and information science degree is necessary. Programs typically also require a minimum 3.0 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale, according to the ALA guidelines.
3. Transcripts: Request transcripts in advance of the application deadline, and plan to provide an official copy of each transcript from any postsecondary schools you have attended.
4. Personal statement: Most programs ask for a statement of educational and professional objectives, according to the ALA guidelines. This is typically an essay. Below are some common topics that should be mentioned in a statement.
   • Your main academic and personal interests
   • Experiences in school or work that have helped to prepare you for this course of study
   • Why you wish to study for the degree you’ve chosen
   • Why you wish to study at the university
   • Your plans for the future after you earn your degree
5. Resume/CV: If the program asks for one, upload a copy of your most recent resume or curriculum vitae as part of your application.
6. Letters of recommendation: Most programs request several letters of recommendation, according to the ALA guidelines. Because each program sets its own entry requirements, check how many letters yours requires, and be sure to request them well in advance of the deadline.
7. Test Scores: According to the ALA guidelines, some programs require Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) scores and some have no test requirement, and students from outside the U.S. may be required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

Masters in Library Science Online Curriculum

Curricula vary by program. According to the ALA guidelines, all ALA-accredited programs require courses that provide general preparation to practice in the profession, and credit requirements run from 36 semester hours to 72 quarter hours. The ALA’s 2023 accreditation standards call for a curriculum that addresses information users, resources, services and technologies, and its Core Competences of Librarianship describe knowledge areas such as organization of recorded knowledge and information, reference and user services, research and evidence-based practice, and technological knowledge and skills. Course topics you may see, which vary by program, include:

• Information organization
• Library and information studies
• Research and evidence-based practice
• User-centered information services
• Information technology

Online Masters in Library Science Concentrations

The ALA guidelines list examples of specializations that include school librarianship, art librarianship, health science librarianship, database design and archival studies. Which concentrations you can choose depends on the courses, projects and practica a program offers. Here are two example concentrations and descriptions of what their curriculum might look like:

Librarian Career Outlook

After completing an online MLS program, aspiring school librarians should look into their state’s requirements. The AASL notes that each state has different requirements for certification or licensure and advises contacting the state department of education where you plan to work for details. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data, the median annual wage for librarians and media collections specialists was $68,270 in May 2025, compared with $50,980 for all occupations. The 10th-percentile annual wage was $43,660 and the 90th-percentile annual wage was $103,990. Read an in-depth look at the career prospects for librarians.

The ALA notes that there are many specialties within librarianship. Its library specialties and library job types pages describe the kinds of libraries and roles behind the examples below. In addition to common school librarian roles, examples of specializations and roles in the field include:

• Academic librarianship
• Archival librarianship
• Cataloging
• Digital librarianship
• Digital preservation
• Information technology and systems librarianship
• Library management
• Museum libraries
• Public librarianship
• Reference librarianship
• Special librarianship
• Youth services
• Children’s librarianship
• Teen and young adult librarianship

How to choose an online master’s in library science program

Use these steps from the ALA to compare programs:

• Confirm accreditation: Check the ALA directory of accredited programs before you apply. Accreditation does not rank programs, according to the ALA accreditation FAQ, so treat it as a minimum requirement rather than a comparison.
• Compare delivery formats: Some programs can be completed entirely at a distance, and some require on-campus courses or a residency, according to the ALA guidelines.
• Check length and credit hours: Credit requirements run from 36 semester hours to 72 quarter hours. Some programs can be completed in one calendar year with full-time attendance, while many take two academic years, according to the ALA guidelines.
• Match specializations to your goals: If you want to work in a school library, confirm that the program fits your state’s certification requirements with the state department of education, as the AASL advises.
• Ask about costs and financial aid: The ALA guidelines list types of financial aid, note that reciprocal tuition agreements between states may reduce tuition or provide waivers and warn that scholarship deadlines may be as early as a year before the term of enrollment. Review the ALA Scholarship Program for additional options.
• Talk to people in the field: The ALA accreditation FAQ suggests talking to faculty, students and alumni and asking librarians in your area as you research programs.