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Graduate School of Library and Information Studies

PFE

Students: browse or search our PFE Database (Username = pfestudent, password = gslis) for placement ideas. Contact the LSC 595 instructor before arranging your PFE.

Catalog Description: (1-6) Directed field experience applying theory to practice in libraries, information centers, and related organizations. Jointly supervised by a member of the faculty and a professional in the cooperating institution. (Practicum) Pre: 18 hours of library science with a B average, 45 hours per credit. 593 and 595 may be repeated for a combined total of 6 credits.

Requirement: Three credits of PFE are required for all students entering the program after January 1, 2009, except those who take the School Library Media Practicum (LSC 596) or successfully petition to waive the requirement.

Purpose: The Professional Field Experience (PFE) allows students to gain their initial library experience or to diversify their previous experience within the MLIS program. It encourages reflective practice, based on professional values and core competences listed in the GSLIS Educational Outcomes. Students will identify the outcomes they wish to emphasize and negotiate their PFE objectives individually with faculty and field supervisors. Achievement of objectives will be documented in student journals, poster sessions, and portfolios, and in evaluations by site supervisors.

The PFE is pursued for academic credit, and is distinct from paid internship programs. However, students who participate in paid internship programs may register for LSC 595 and receive academic credit if all requirements of the PFE are met by the internship experience.

Student Eligibility: Prerequisite for LSC 595 is the completion of at least 18 hours of GSLIS course work with a B average. Courses taken prior to the PFE should include LSC 502 (Management of Library and Information Services), LSC 503 (Collection Management), LSC 504 (Reference and Information Services), LSC 505 (Organization of Information), LSC 508 (Introduction to Information Science and Technology), and at least one additional course. Host sites may require or prefer relevant electives.

Students will not ordinarily be permitted to pursue a PFE in the library or institution in which they are employed.

Site Eligibility: The site supervisor must hold an ALA-accredited master's degree or comparable qualifications, and must be willing and able to mentor a student.

Optional: Librarians and information professionals interested in hosting PFE students are invited to return a completed Site Supervisor Form to geaton@mail.uri.edu or janice_hromi@mail.uri.edu; sites will be added to the PFE data base for student selection.

Registration Procedures:

  1. The student begins by filing the PFE application form; this should be done approximately two months in advance. Student may suggest either exact placement or type of placement desired. Potential sites and projects will be listed at the PFE Database. Additional sites and projects may be identified by student or by instructor, in response to student's educational objectives.
  2. Based on student suggestions and criteria, instructor will investigate site availability and make preliminary contact with potential site supervisors.
  3. Instructor will give names and contact information for willing site supervisors to student. Student will arrange informational interviews. Placement will be made when student and site supervisor agree.
  4. When placement is confirmed, instructor will give student a permission number. Student will then register for LSC 595 in e-Campus. Instructor will also add student to LSC 595 Sakai site, for convenient access to syllabus, PFE agreement form, and other resources.
  5. The student, site supervisor, and faculty supervisor will negotiate the PFE Agreement, which should be complete and on file at GSLIS by the second week of the term at latest. Questions about the form should be directed to the instructor via the Sakai site or at the orientation session during the first week.

The Professional Field Experience agreement includes:

  1. Contact information for all parties to the agreement;
  2. The number of credit hours, beginning and end date for the PFE;
  3. The student's major learning objectives (linked to GSLIS Educational Outcomes);
  4. Specific activities through which learning objectives are to be realized; and
  5. Assignments on the basis of which student achievement of learning objectives will be evaluated.

The agreement will be negotiated by the student, the faculty supervisor, and the field supervisor to meet the needs of the student and the cooperating institution. The PFE form will serve as a formal agreement, and will be the first item in the PFE portfolio (see below). After it has been approved by the faculty supervisor, it will be signed by the student, the field supervisor, and the faculty supervisor, each of whom will retain a copy. A fourth copy will be placed in the student's file in the GSLIS office. This form must be approved and signed by the second week of the PFE.

Resources for the PFE: Registered students will find updated syllabi, agreement forms, and assignment rubrics at the Sakai site.

For prospective host sites: Site Supervisor's Form. This is not a requirement for hosting a PFE student, but a way of posting your opportunity to the PFE database for future students to find. (To log into the PFE database, use "pfestudent" as your username & "gslis" as your password.)

For prospective students: