MLIS Track: School Library Media

Master of Library and Information Studies (Online)

Interested in learning more?

Attend one of our upcoming virtual info-sessions on February 8th or February 12th!

REGISTER TODAY

Woman entrepreneur managing her business from home by working on laptop computer.

The School Library Media program is an optional track within the 36-credit hour MLIS program, enabling students to earn the MLIS degree while qualifying for School Library Media Certification in Rhode Island and other states in the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement (including Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont.)

This program is accredited by American Library Association (ALA), the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), and certified by the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE).

Requirements

Core Courses

  • LSC 502 (3 credits) Lead, Manage, & Connect Lib Services
  • LSC 503 (3 credits) Collection Management
  • LSC 504 (3 credits) Searching for Answers; Meeting Users’ Information Needs
  • LSC 508 (3 credits) Introduction to Information Science and Technology
  • LSC 596 (3 credits, taken 3 times for a total of 9 credits) School Library Media Internship and Seminar

Fundamentals

  • LSC 520 (3 credits) School Library Media Services
  • LSC 527 (3 credits) Planning and Developing Library Instruction

Focus on Children and Youth (Select 2 from the list)

  • LSC 513 (3 credits) Social Justice in Children’s and Young Adult Literature
  • LSC 530 (3 credits) Children’s Materials and Services
  • LSC 531 (3 credits) Young Adult Materials and Services

Electives

  • 3 credits from MLIS electives or career-related courses in other online accelerated graduate programs with the approval of your advisor and program.

Total = 36 credits

Optional Tracks

Student may choose to specialize in an area of interest. Tracks will have additional required courses and specific electives from which students can choose. Visit each track page to learn more.

School Library Media

Digital Media

Libraries, Leadership,
and Transforming Communities

Information Equity, Diverse Communities,
and Critical Librarianship

Practicum and Student Teaching

The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) requires 420 hours or the equivalent of student teaching experience in the school library. Sixty hours of field experience are also completed over the course of several required classes prior to student teaching.

Students will confer with their advisor to select student teaching placement sites convenient to their location in the spring prior to student teaching.

Practicum Mentors. If you are a School Library Media Specialist with at least three years experience and are interested in being a practicum mentor, please email Mary Moen, at mary_moen@uri.edu.

Teacher Certification Program

For individuals who already have an MLIS from an accredited institution and want to be a school librarian, GSLIS offers a Teacher Certification Program (TCP) with a specialization in School Library Media. In the TCP, students complete the additional requirements of the SLM degree for RI Department of Education certification. The number of courses needed to complete the TCP will vary depending upon a transcript analysis. 

School Library Media TCP candidates must follow the same guidelines and application process as for the MLIS degree program. Upon acceptance, students will become a provisional school library media candidate.  Students admitted into the TCP are governed by the same academic standards as other GSLIS matriculated graduate students.

PRAXIS Test Requirements

SLM candidates are required to take and pass the PRAXIS II School Library Media Subject Test (5311) prior to student teaching and either the PRAXIS II Principles of Learning and Teaching test (5622 or 5624) prior to completing the SLM program. These tests are administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS.org).

Note: Those candidates who have a current, valid teaching certificate are exempt from the PRAXIS II PLT test requirement once they provide appropriate evidence approved by the program coordinator. These candidates are still required however, to take and pass the PRAXIS School Library Media subject test prior to student teaching​.

Once candidates successfully complete the SLM program they will have fulfilled all requirements for RI All Grades School Media Certification.


Get in touch.

URI Online Student Support Center

401.874.5280
online@uri.edu

Program Director

Valerie Karno, J.D., PhD.
Associate Professor, Director
Graduate School of Library and Information Studies
vkarno@uri.edu