Library and Information Science

Course Overview

Why Study Library and Information Science at Kent State University? Join one of the largest professional library and information science programs in North America, with more than 600 graduate students at two program sites in Ohio, as well as a thriving online degree option. Graduate from a school that is recognized by U.S. News and World Report as one of the nation's top 20 (at #18) graduate schools in the field, with a youth librarianship program that is ranked 10th. Earn your degree from the only American Library Association accredited master's degree program (M. L. I. S.) in the state of Ohio, and choose from a wide variety of specializations within the degree, such as public librarianship, children's and young adult librarianship, digital librarianship, and museum studies. Learn from the best ' our nationally and internationally renowned faculty who have an excellent record in scholarship, research and grantsmanship. Join the ranks of our successful alumni, most of whom find employment in the field within six months to a year of graduation. Read more about our alumni and how they're helping transform the global information environment. Library and information science is a meta-discipline, spanning what are considered traditional academic research disciplines (e. g. , economics, biology, history, etc.). The theories and practices in library and information science are applied across disciplines. They are varied and many. Some of the duties performed by information professionals include, but are in no way limited to, the following: Curate collections for groups, whether local public populations, engineers building cars, or scholars in universities. Educate people on the availability and applicability of information resources. Organize information for more effective and efficient access and discovery. Preserve our cultural heritage. Present and make accessible the various collections of information. Build and manage information retrieval systems using user-centered design principles. Prepare our youth to become better scholars and citizens, and help them develop a long-standing productive relationship with information and knowledge. Study information needs and seeking behavior to develop better services for various groups. Consider the ethical and philosophical issues related to information, such as access and privacy. Manage and improve information environments. Facilitate the creation and sharing of information and knowledge with people and communities.