I have decided to go back to graduate school and pursue one of two masters degrees – either Library Science or Community College Teaching/Adult Education. While they appear quite different, my reasons for each are much closer together. Library science is the obvious continuation of my current career trajectory. I already have a masters in public history with a concentration in archives and records management. My background in history plus archives knowledge and experience qualify me to be a reference librarian in a university special collections – all I need are those three letters added to my name to keep my application from being tossed immediately in the shredder 
I’ve decided I would enjoy working as a reference librarian in a special collections library because it would allow me to interact with both historical records and patrons. Plus there is the thrill of the hunt for an obscure record!
Community college teaching is another career that fuses my love of history and commitment to sharing that love with others. There is the added benefit of not having the “publish or perish” mantra echoing around in your head 
Added to that are the benefits of being on an academic schedule and being a state employee. Also not having to work a strict 8-5, M-F schedule allows for greater freedom to get work done. Finally, teaching is a job I could really commit myself to and feel good about at the end of the day. The little bit of TAing I did in grad school showed me how much I care about helping students learn history.
Where this leaves me is looking at schools for each program and figuring out the best fit. Ultimately it will come down to cost and location as the deciding factors to each school. But how will I decide which program? That’s the question…
You should do Library Science and I happen to be part of a fantastic, flexible program
I’m also voting for special collections librarianship! Are you looking at staying close to home at the UNC iSchool? If you start looking at moving, I know this AMAZING school in a GREAT town.
I am looking both close to home and at distance programs. It looks like I’m staying put in NC for at least the next couple years, so primarily local programs. UNCG offers largely online PLUS grad assistantships. Cost is a big thing and the ability to work and live where I want to is important to me. UNC is only on-campus so I’d have to stay in CH and would have to hope for a fellowship since I couldn’t stay working full time. But who knows what the future holds and where my career will take me! I just might stumble into the perfect job before I get a chance to send off applications.