Public Library Concentration Requirements

What does a public librarian do? Why would you want to become one? Visit the following URL at the American Library Association website for answers to this question: Public Librarian ( http://www.ala.org/ala/pla/projects/publiclibrecruit/publiclibrarian.htm )

The forty-two (42) hour master's program requirements are:

Eighteen (18) hours of required core courses
LSC 502: Management of Library and Information Sources
LSC 503: Collection Development
LSC 504: Reference & Information Services
LSC 505: Organization of Information
LSC 508: Introduction to Information Science & Technology
LSC 557: Research and Evaluation in Library and Information Science
Students planning careers in youth services may take both LSC 530: Reading Interests of Children, and
LSC 531: Reading Interests of Young Adults in lieu of LSC 503.

Twenty-four (24) hours of elective courses
All MLIS programs of study (POS) are individually designed to meet each student’s specific career goals. Each student meets with her or his faculty advisor to determine the elective courses that are best for that student. The elective courses listed here are ones that often help meet the goals of those wishing to work in public library settings, but students not restricted to only these courses.

Experiential Learning
LSC 595: Professional Field Experience [Internship]
Higly beneficial for all students. Those who lack previous library experience or wish to change specialties should definitely enroll in LSC 595.

Electives for public library generalists
Most public libraries are quite small; some have only one professional staff member, who must take the lead in both public and technical services for diverse populations. Some practical choices include:
LSC 506: Technical Services
LSC 515: Information Ethics
LSC 517: Community Relations for Libraries
LSC 521: Public Library Service
LSC 525: Multiculturalism in Libraries
LSC 547: Online Searching and Services
LSC 548: Information Architecture
LSC 564: Introduction to Library Preservation
LSC 597: Selected Topics: Digital Libraries

Electives for public librarians who specialize
For work in larger public libraries, the following electives may be useful for developing specializations:
LSC 524: Teaching About Information
LSC 530: Reading Interests of Children
LSC 531: Reading Interests of Young Adults
LSC 533: Digital Resources for Children and Teens
LSC 535: Public Library Youth Services
LSC 539: Business Information
LSC 543: Government Publications
LSC 544: Visual Information Science
LSC 550: Organization of Digital and Nonbook Materials

Electives from other academic units
With the approval of her/his faculty advisor, a student may apply up to six graduate credits from other academic departments toward her/his MLIS degree. Students planning careers in public libraries may find that courses in other areas such as Public Administration or Communications help to advance their career goals.