Library Science, Other.

Degree Overview

Library Science, Other (CIP 25.9999) is an interdisciplinary frontier category for information professionals who apply the principles of organization and curation to non-traditional fields. While a standard library science degree focuses on public or academic collections, professionals in this "Other" category are "Knowledge Orchestrators." They study the intersection of informatics, socio-technical systems, and niche data environments. It is a path for "cross-sector experts" who want to manage information in unconventional settings like scientific research labs, intelligence agencies, or private heritage foundations.

This field is ideal for "boundary-pushing researchers"—individuals who love the logical structure of a library but want to apply it to "wild" data, emerging technology, or specialized cultural artifacts that don't fit into a standard catalog.

What Is an "Other" Library Science Degree?

A degree in this category is a flexible, often advanced professional path that emphasizes specialized informatics, community-specific knowledge systems, and information advocacy. You will study the "Universal Core"—the theory of how humans seek and use information—but your focus will be on unique applications. Because this code houses experimental or niche programs, your studies might focus on Tribal Library Management, Digital Humanities in Virtual Reality, or the creation of "Living Libraries" within healthcare systems. It prepares you to be a "Strategic Information Partner" in environments where "information" is constantly being redefined.

Schools offer this degree to:

• Train "Information Strategists" who help scientific teams manage and share massive datasets across international borders
• Develop experts in Community Informatics, focusing on how to build information networks for remote or historically underserved populations
• Prepare professionals for Competitive Intelligence, using library research techniques to help companies predict market shifts
• Study Information Justice, exploring how the design of search algorithms impacts civil rights and social equity

What Will You Learn?

Students learn that "information is a tool for empowerment and discovery"; they focus on customizing systems for specific human needs rather than applying one-size-fits-all rules.

Core Skills You’ll Build

Most students learn to:

• Master Interdisciplinary Synthesis—combining library science with fields like law, medicine, or environmental science to solve complex data problems
• Use "Qualitative Research Methods" to understand how specific communities (like doctors or artists) find and share knowledge
• Design Bespoke Information Systems—building customized search tools and databases for private organizations
• Perform Strategic Knowledge Audits—identifying "information gaps" within an organization and designing systems to fill them
• Utilize Advanced Data Visualization—turning complex search results into visual maps that are easy for leaders to understand
• Understand Global Information Policy—navigating the international laws that govern data flow and censorship

Topics You May Explore

Coursework is a blend of social science, technical system design, and specialized research:

• Knowledge Ecosystems in Organizations: The study of how "tacit" knowledge (what people know) can be turned into "explicit" knowledge (what can be stored and shared).
• Digital Humanities and New Media: Using library science to analyze and preserve video games, social media, and 3D models.
• Social Justice in Information: Investigating how bias in classification systems (like the Dewey Decimal System) affects public perception.
• The Ethics of AI in Information Retrieval: How to ensure that automated search systems are fair, accurate, and transparent.
• Scientific Data Curation: Managing the lifecycle of research data in fields like genomics, astronomy, or climate science.
• Oral History and Non-Print Archiving: Techniques for preserving traditions and records that were never written down.

What Jobs Can You Get With This Degree?

Graduates find roles as high-level consultants, research directors, and specialized curators in diverse sectors.

Common job roles include:

• Specialized Information Officer: Managing the proprietary research and internal libraries of law firms, hedge funds, or biotech companies.
• Digital Humanities Specialist: Working at the intersection of technology and the arts to create interactive digital exhibits or databases.
• Competitive Intelligence Analyst: Conducting deep-dive research to help organizations make strategic business decisions.
• Information Architect (UX Focus): Designing the "navigation" and organization of complex websites to be user-friendly.
• Community Data Liaison: Working for government or non-profits to bridge the "digital divide" in marginalized communities.
• Research Data Manager: Overseeing the data integrity and accessibility for large-scale academic or corporate research projects.

Where Can You Work?

These specialists are the "navigational experts" in specialized information environments:

• Think Tanks and Policy Centers: Providing the research backbone for high-level political and social reports.
• Private Heritage Foundations: Managing the archives and legacies of influential families or organizations.
• Tech Research Labs: Working at companies like OpenAI or IBM to help train and organize data for large language models.
• Scientific Research Consortia: Managing the flow of data between international laboratories.
• Cultural and Tribal Organizations: Working to preserve and organize the unique knowledge of specific indigenous or local groups.

How Much Can You Earn?

Because of the high-level consulting and specialized nature of this niche, salaries are often significantly higher than traditional library roles.

• Competitive Intelligence/Strategy Managers: Median annual salary of approximately $95,000–$140,000+.
• Information Architects/Designers: Salaries typically range from $90,000 to $135,000.
• Specialized Research Analysts: Median annual salary of around $75,000–$115,000.
• Entry-Level Technical Information Officers: Often start between $65,000 and $80,000.

Is This Degree Hard?

The difficulty is in the mental flexibility and interdisciplinary rigor. You must be able to understand the "language" of multiple fields simultaneously—for example, knowing enough biology to organize a lab's data while knowing enough law to manage its privacy. It requires a brilliantly curious, analytical, and highly organized mindset—you must be comfortable with ambiguity and have the stamina to build a system where none exists. It is a major that rewards those who are "Strategic Synthesizers" and who enjoy the challenge of being the bridge between data and meaning.

Who Should Consider This Degree?

This degree may be a good fit if you:

• Love the concept of a "library" but want to apply it to something like space exploration or the music industry
• Are fascinated by how information affects power, and you want to design more ethical systems
• Enjoy "detective work" that involves both high-tech databases and deep social research
• Want a career that allows you to be a specialist in a niche area while using "universal" organization skills
• Believe that the most important challenge of the 21st century is managing the sheer volume of human knowledge

How to Prepare in High School

• Take AP Computer Science and AP Statistics; data logic is the core of modern information science
• Take AP Psychology or Sociology to understand the "human factor" in how people search for answers
• Practice Niche Research—try to find everything you can about a very specific, obscure topic and organize it into a report
• Join a club that requires Knowledge Organization, such as Model UN or a competitive coding team
• Read about "Data Ethics" and the Digital Divide to understand the social impact of the field

The ability to apply unconventional logic and strategic mastery to the complexities of specialized information environments is the hallmark of a successful professional in this field.