Catalog Home Graduate College Library and Information Science

Library and Information Science

Today's age is defined by the intersection of information, technology, and human creativity. In this context, library and information science is dedicated to understanding the nature of information, the interaction between information and communication technologies, the relationship between information and knowledge, the cognitive and affective aspects of knowledge acquisition, and the interface between people and information. It offers new knowledge, technological benefits, and professional expertise for every dimension of human affairs.

Library and information professionals take on many challenges in serving the needs of their constituencies--children and teachers, members of academic communities, employees of profit and nonprofit organizations, and the public at large--constituencies that range from information poor to information rich. They work in the contexts of issues such as information and communication technology, public and private information policy, managerial policy, and regional, national, and international economics.

The School of Library and Information Science prepares professionals to meet these diverse challenges. It offers a graduate-level program of preparation for careers in all types of libraries and information centers, providing students with a strong, well-rounded education in an environment that supports individuals from all segments of a multicultural, multiethnic, and multilingual society. Its curriculum reflects the profession's immediate and long-range needs and prepares students to be leaders in a changing field.

By promoting excellence in research, the school contributes to the base of theoretical and practical knowledge in library and information science and helps develop an understanding of how to meet the varied and changing information needs of individuals and society. It also provides public service through continuing education programs, selective consulting services for library and information centers, and participation in professional organizations.

The school strongly encourages its students, faculty members, and alumni to shape the future of the profession by filling key roles in organizations involved in all aspects of the information cycle.

Graduate Programs

The school offers a Master of Arts in library and information science. It offers the joint J.D./M.A. with the College of Law, the joint M.B.A./M.A. with the Tippie College of Business, and the joint M.A./Certificate in Book Studies/Book Arts and Technologies with the Center for the Book. Library and information science students also may earn the Certificate in Informatics.

The Master of Arts in library and information science has held continuous accreditation from the American Library Association since 1971.

Library science graduates have many options for employment. Alumni hold positions in public, school, special, and academic libraries as well as other information settings. They serve in varied roles, such as information consultant, database manager, library administrator, webmaster, network coordinator, cataloger, children's librarian, school library media specialist, and archivist.

Master of Arts

The Master of Arts in library and information science requires 36 s.h. of graduate credit. A thesis option is available for students who seek additional research experience.

Students pursuing the master's degree gain an understanding of the foundations of the library and information profession, including the history of the field, ethical and philosophical concerns, the information cycle, principles and procedures for dealing with a variety of information carriers, and the theory and practice of strategic management. They examine future trends, with emphasis on cutting-edge technological concerns. They study the discipline's research base, gaining heightened awareness of the synergism between library and information science and other disciplines, as well as the close relationship between research and practice. Finally, students become knowledgeable about the factors that underlie users' information needs and appropriate strategies to satisfy those needs.

Students typically complete the program in a year and one-half to two years. The maximum allowable load for graduate students is 15 s.h. during regular semesters and 8 s.h. during summer sessions, but most full-time students carry fewer semester hours than the maximum. It also is possible to complete the program on a part-time basis.

Work for the degree includes 9 s.h. in three required, introductory-level courses; 12 s.h. in secondary-level courses; 15 s.h. in electives; and the successful completion of a poster presentation. Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 3.00.

Students may apply a maximum of 9 s.h. of graduate transfer credit in library and information science or related areas toward the degree, subject to the approval of the transfer credit committee. Approval is given course-by-course and is determined by the course's content, currency, and applicability to the student's program.

The curriculum has three tiers. The first tier consists of three required courses that provide a solid grounding for all successive course work: 021:101 Cultural Foundations, 021:120 Computing Foundations, and 021:122 Conceptual Foundations. The second tier includes 10 courses; students must take at least four of them and may include 021:260 Organizational Management or 021:262 School Library Media Administration, but not both. Courses in the third tier are electives. This three-tier arrangement allows each student to concentrate in an area that most closely matches his or her professional goals.

TIER I

All of these: 

TIER II

Four of these: 

TIER III 

Students choose electives from the following courses.

Specializations

Students earn 15 s.h. in elective courses selected with the guidance of their advisors. Students' programs often are designed around particular career goals. Following are examples of possible specializations.

PUBLIC LIBRARIES

Public libraries provide informational, educational, and recreational materials and a wide range of services for a diverse clientele. Although public libraries receive the bulk of their funding from local taxes, they also may be organized on a regional or statewide cooperative basis. The variety of uses, services, materials, and organizational structures of public libraries makes this a challenging area of librarianship. Public librarians need to develop skills in analyzing the communities they serve, designing comprehensive marketing plans to meet their needs, implementing the plans in a cost-effective way, and evaluating the success of their efforts.

ACADEMIC LIBRARIES

The academic library, whether in a community college, a four-year college, or a university, provides information services in support of the parent institution's teaching, research, and public service missions. These services include instruction in the use of the library and its resources. Management skills and subject or language competence often are required. Since librarians in this setting usually are considered academic faculty members, a second master's or other advanced degree is desirable.

SPECIAL LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION CENTERS

Special libraries serve corporations, private companies, government agencies, technical and academic institutions, museums, medical facilities, and information management consulting firms. They are organized to anticipate and quickly respond to the specific information needs of their users. Special librarians are information resource experts who collect, analyze, evaluate, package, and disseminate information to facilitate accurate decision making. Knowledge of information technology and the ability to design services suitable to the parent organization are professional necessities. In addition, substantial subject expertise may be required.

SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA CENTERS

The school library media center makes available to students and teachers a wide range of library and instructional materials in a variety of formats. The work of the library media specialist includes providing instruction to students in accessing, evaluating, and using information; collaborating with teachers on the use of resources in instruction; providing leadership in the use of instructional and information technologies; offering reading guidance; providing reference service; and managing the library media center. The University of Iowa offers a state-approved program leading to endorsement as school media specialist K-12. In order to fulfill state requirements for this endorsement, students must hold or be eligible for a teaching license and must complete a designated sequence of courses that leads both to certification and to the M.A. degree.

INFORMATION SCIENCE

The multidisciplinary field of information science is influenced by the rapid growth in digital information collections and technologies. This specialization offers expertise in retrieval, dissemination, and use of information. In addition to libraries and information centers, many for-profit organizations are finding that information is a valuable commodity in today's competitive world and are employing information management personnel. The curriculum offers opportunities to study information science aspects, such as digital libraries, electronic publishing, and automated systems design.

Joint Master's Degrees

The School of Library and Information Science offers a joint Master of Arts/Master of Business Administration with the Tippie College of Business and a joint Juris Doctor/Master of Arts with the College of Law. The primary goal of the joint programs is integration of the two areas of study.

Students in the joint programs may apply a limited amount of credit toward both degrees. Up to 9 s.h. in business or law may be applied toward the M.A. in library and information science; up to 9 s.h. in library and information science may be applied toward the M.B.A., and 12 s.h. may be applied to the J.D.

Separate application to each degree program is required. Applicants must be admitted to both programs before they can be admitted to the joint degree program. For more information, see College of Law or Master of Business Administration Program in the Catalog.

In addition to the joint M.A./M.B.A. and J.D./M.A., joint programs may be arranged between departments on an ad hoc basis. A minimum of 60 s.h. of graduate work is required for a joint master's degree program.

Joint M.A./Book Studies Certificate

Students interested in special collections, book arts, or museum librarianship may pursue an M.A. in library and information science in conjunction with a graduate Certificate in Book Studies/Book Arts and Technologies. The joint program also may be appropriate for students interested in book studies scholarship and those seeking careers in publishing, graphic arts, or book-related industries that require a similar blend of subject and technical knowledge.

The joint program requires a total of 51 s.h. At least 27 s.h. must be earned in the M.A. program, at least 15 s.h. must be earned in the certificate program, and the remaining 9 s.h. may be earned in either program.

To enroll in the joint program, students must be admitted both to the School of Library and Information Science and to the Center for the Book, and must fulfill the basic requirements of each program.

Informatics Certificate

Students interested in careers involving health science libraries or hospital information centers may earn a Certificate in Informatics with the optional health informatics subtrack. The certificate is offered by the Graduate College together with several other University colleges and departments. Its health informatics subtrack emphasizes the organization, management, and use of health care information; health care research, education, and practice; and information technology developments in the socioeconomic context of health care.

The certificate requires at least 18 s.h. of course work, including021:275 Health Informatics I, 021:280 Health Informatics II, and approved electives. Students may earn the Certificate in Informatics with the health informatics subtrack in conjunction with their M.A. in library and information science. Visit http://www.uiowa.edu/health-informatics for more information.

Honor Society

The Beta Beta Theta Chapter of Beta Phi Mu, the international honor society for library and information science, is located at The University of Iowa. Each year new members are chosen from the top 25 percent of the preceding year's graduating classes. To be eligible for membership, graduates must achieve a g.p.a. of at least 3.75, demonstrate professional promise, and be recommended by the faculty. 

Student Organizations and Activities

All students in the program are automatically members of LISSO, the Library and Information Science Student Organization, which also serves as the student chapter of the American Library Association. In addition, there are student chapters of the American Society for Information Science and Technology and Special Libraries Association. These student-run organizations sponsor various activities such as speaker series, a journal club, workshops, brown bag lunches, and picnics. The associations provide students with significant opportunities for professional and extracurricular growth. Students also are encouraged to join other state and national professional organizations.

Admission

Applicants for admission to the M.A. program are required to have a g.p.a. of at least 3.00 on a 4.00 scale and are required to have a verbal and quantitative score of at least 1000 and an analytical writing score of at least 4 on the Graduate Record Examination. The admissions committee also considers each applicant's letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, and other appropriate criteria. Each entering class is selected on a competitive basis.

Applicants whose first language is not English must score at least 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based), or 100 (Internet-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). In place of TOEFL, the school accepts International English Testing System (IELTS) scores of 7.0 or higher, with no subscore below 6.0. Applicants who submit IELTS scores are required to take an on-campus English proficiency evaluation.

Applicants begin the admission process by contacting the School of Library and Information Science. The process requires a completed application form, transcripts of all academic work, a written statement of purpose and goals, and three letters of recommendation.

Completed applications should be received by the school by February 1 for consideration for fall admission. Decisions of the admissions committee are announced four to six weeks after the deadline. Late applications are considered if places are still available. Financial aid often is not available for late applicants. Admitted students are immediately assigned a faculty advisor for program planning.

Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College; see the Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College or the Graduate College section of the Catalog.

Financial Support

The School of Library and Information Science awards partial-tuition scholarships and one-quarter-time graduate assistantships. To be considered for scholarships, applicants should have an undergraduate g.p.a. of at least 3.00 and a combined score (verbal, quantitative, and analytical) of 1700 on the old Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test, or 1100 (verbal and quantitative) and 4.5 (analytical writing) on the new GRE. Prospective students are urged to apply for scholarships before February 1. Graduate assistantships are advertised as they become available; students should apply for specific assistantships.

For information on student loans, work-study eligibility, or other financial assistance, contact the Office of Student Financial Aid. For information on national scholarships, contact the School of Library and Information Science or visit its web site. Part-time employment usually is available in the University Libraries and other campus units.

Job Placement

The school provides active placement assistance to its graduates through printed and electronic announcements, seminars on Internet job searching, résumé writing and interviewing, and personal counseling. The University's Educational Placement Office issues a regular listing of job openings and provides a credential file service.

According to the annual placement survey in Library Journal, Iowa's placement rate consistently ranks among the highest for ALA-accredited programs. Iowa graduates find positions in all types of libraries. The placement distribution for six recent years was: academic libraries, 38 percent; public libraries, 28 percent; special libraries, 17 percent; and school libraries, 17 percent. Iowa graduates currently work in libraries in 46 states and 9 foreign countries. Strong personal and academic qualifications, job flexibility, and geographic mobility are important factors in obtaining a position.

Facilities, Resources

The School of Library and Information Science is housed in the south wing of the University's Main Library, in a setting that promotes community among students, faculty, and staff. Facilities are provided for the varied instructional and research activities of the school.

Technology Laboratory

The school houses a state-of-the-art technology laboratory with current Windows and Macintosh computers. The computers are networked to the campus backbone and provide access to a rich variety of relevant software. The laboratory is used primarily by students for course assignments and to gain experience with specialized software. In addition, the classrooms are equipped with networked machines that allow faculty members to use teaching technologies in their courses. An Apple XServe is used to deliver and maintain a common software environment. Students have access to Dialog, LexisNexis, OCLC databases, Westlaw, and a wide variety of library automation products. They also are given an account for file storage.

University of Iowa Libraries

All of the resources of the University of Iowa Libraries are available to the school's students and faculty. The system contains more than 4 million volumes in the Main Library and 11 departmental libraries.

The web-based catalog provides access to books and periodicals, electronic indexes, and full-text databases held by University Libraries. In addition, the InfoHawk Catalog to online resources provides access to selected Internet and CD-ROM resources arranged by subject and academic discipline. Wireless Internet access is available in many areas of the Main Library.

Students also have full access to the Information Arcade, which facilitates integration of new information and multimedia technologies with learning and research. Here students find a variety of electronic resources for learning advanced information skills and for gaining access to information in various formats and through various networks, including the Internet. The Arcade also houses an electronic classroom.

The third floor of the Main Library houses the map collection and Special Collections & University Archives, including the Iowa Women's Archives.

Other Libraries

Students have access to a variety of libraries through field trips, practicum experience, and personal use: the State Historical Society of Iowa library in Iowa City; the Iowa City, Coralville, and Cedar Rapids public and school libraries; the Augustana, Coe, Cornell, Mount Mercy, and Grinnell College libraries; and the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum in West Branch.

Other Resources

Lindquist Center, across the street from the Main Library, houses the College of Education Curriculum Resources Laboratory and Education Technology Center. The Curriculum Resources Laboratory contains an extensive collection of book and nonbook instructional materials for children in preschool through grade 12. It is especially valuable for students interested in school or public library work.

Lindquist Center also houses the instructional services and campus services departments of the University's Information Technology Services. It provides instructional and research computing facilities and services for the University community. All University students, staff, and faculty may use the center's computers for University-related research, thesis preparation, and class work. Instructional Technology Centers provide campuswide access to the University's academic computing resources and the Internet.