College: College of Letters and Science
Designation: School
Major: Library and Information Studies
Degrees Offered: M.A., Ph.D.
Other: Specialist Certificate in Library and Information Studies; Ph.D. Minors in Library and Information Studies, and in Print Culture History
Tracks: Academic, public, school, or special libraries; archives and records management administration; information technology
Faculty: Professors Robbins (director), Lundin; Associate Professor Pawley; Assistant Professors Downey, Eschenfelder, Kim, Klais, Paling, Smith, Trace, Whitmire
The Wisconsin Library School was founded as a summer school under the auspices of the Wisconsin Free Library Commission in 1895. By 1906, it was a full-time professional program. Three years later it became affiliated with the University of Wisconsin. In 1938 the school came under the direct supervision of the university in the College of Letters and Science.
Today the School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS) is a graduate professional school offering a program of education in library and information studies at the master's, specialist (post-master's), and doctoral levels. In addition, SLIS operates one of the world's largest continuing education programs for library and other information workers. The school is a member of the Association for Library and Information Science Education. Its master's program is accredited by the American Library Association, recognized by the Wisconsin Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning for certification of public librarians, and by the State Department of Public Instruction for licensing of school library media specialists.
SLIS exists to educate professionals to bring together information in all its cultural forms and the people who need or want it, thereby contributing to individual and collective knowledge, productivity, and well-being; to create and disseminate knowledge about recordable information, its users and uses, the services, processes, and technologies that facilitate its management and use, and the economies and policies that impact access to it; to provide for the continuation of the faculties of schools of library and information studies through the doctoral program; and to help shape the future of the library and information professions.
Please explore the school Web site for news and information at www.slis.wisc.edu .
The school is known internationally for its focus on service. The faculty and staff are known as leaders locally, in the state and regionally, nationally, and internationally as they take on key service roles in organizations in each of these arenas. In addition, service is a core value and mission of the school’s nearly 4,000 graduates. Service is also a key component of the SLIS Continuing Education Services (CES) (see www.slis.wisc.edu/continueed/index.html ).
In the past decade CES has grown in importance as the profession continues to change and librarians continue to demand training beyond their formal schooling, especially in the area of information technology and management. Support staff find themselves also wanting more training. All library staff are required to function at ever more sophisticated levels of expertise, and the education they receive from CES enables them to perform higher levels of public service. The international study tours sponsored by CES provide yet another opportunity for librarians to connect with colleagues abroad.
The School of Library and Information Studies occupies some 22,000 square feet on the fourth floor of Helen C. White Hall. Facilities include administrative offices, faculty offices, instructional laboratories, a conference room, and a student commons. The school maintains its own laboratory library (see www.library.wisc.edu/libraries/slislib ) containing more than 62,000 volumes and providing access to over 400 periodical titles in the area of library and information studies. The laboratory library provides an in-house site for many class projects and practicum opportunities. Students are encouraged to use the laboratory library to design and carry out research and gain practice in various aspects of library and information service. The school’s computer lab is attached to the library and allows access to specialized tools and databases besides those available on the campus network. Many user education workshops are facilitated in the computer lab by library staff and students; book discussions, and other programs take place in the library. The laboratory library also provides a home base for several community outreach projects as well as the office for student organizations.
The Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/ , is a unique gathering place for books, ideas, and expertise in the field of children's and young adult literature. Located in proximity to the school, it provides a noncirculating examination, study, and research library for Wisconsin school and public librarians, teachers, early childhood care providers, university students, and others interested in children's and young adult literature. The CCBC is part of the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW) School of Education (SoE), and receives additional support from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI).
The extensive collections and services of the UW-Madison General Library System and numerous specialized libraries are available to all students, as is the library of the Wisconsin Historical Society. The many business, college, and state agency libraries in the Madison area offer a range of specialized employment and laboratory experiences. The Madison Public Library, with its central building and variety of branch services, provides an important laboratory. The Madison public schools have a strong program of library media centers, with a variety of patterns of organization, and demonstrate a centralized technical services plan.
Students may prepare themselves for a wide variety of positions available in libraries and information centers, and for other information work. The information professions are concerned with the ways people create, collect, organize, store, analyze, find, distribute, and use information. Employment opportunities in the information field are as diverse as the people who work in it; examples of some of these opportunities are librarian, information resources manager, abstractor or indexer, archivist, online search specialist, information broker, library systems analyst, information architect, and information products and services sales representative. The core of the master's program focuses on theories and philosophies of knowledge and information in its historical, economic, social and cultural perspectives; the information infrastructure including multiple information environments, diverse users and their needs; philosophies, theories, and values of the library and information professions; and professional practices. Specialization, which combines information studies with other disciplines or professional fields, can be individually designed for students.
For those who already are Wisconsin teachers, Web-based School Library Media courses are available through the UW-System School Library Education Consortium, UWSSLEC (see academics.uww.edu/libmedia/uwsslec/ ).
Applicants with previous library work experience and good computer skills may support their programs of study through project assistantships or teaching assistantships available in a number of units on campus. Such appointments provide a stipend, paid tuition, and health insurance. There is a wealth of student hourly and work-study employment opportunities in the libraries and information organizations both on the campus and in the Madison area. Students are encouraged to get as much library work experience as they can while enrolled in school.
The school also offers a number of scholarships based on academic record and/or financial need.
Professional organizations affiliated with the American Library Association or other special library organizations provide scholarship support for students in this field. See the current edition of Financial Assistance for Library and Information Studies, available from the Committee on Education, American Library Association, 50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611; 312/944-6780 or 800/545-2433. Check the Web site at www.ala.org under education and scholarships for application information and application deadlines.
Students with work-study eligibility have an advantage when applying for some campus library jobs. Those interested should contact the Office of Student Financial Services for more information. Students are emailed information on library employment and campus assistantship opportunities.
Applications for admission are accepted for the fall semester only. All applications are reviewed on an individual basis. No single admission criterion is the determining factor; the materials are reviewed as a whole. Applicants should refer to the Graduate School minimum admission requirements in an earlier section of this catalog. International students must meet Graduate School language and degree requirements. GRE scores are not required for admission to this school.
Applicants are judged primarily on indicators of their academic abilities. For this reason, two of the three required letters of reference must be academic references, i.e., people who can attest to the applicant's ability to succeed in a graduate-level program. (For applicants whose last educational work was more than ten years ago, or where academic references pose a significant problem, contact the admissions and placement advisor for alternatives.) In addition to academic qualifications, professional promise is also an important criterion. An application is considered complete only after all three references have been received. Under the terms of the Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, the applicant may review letters unless a signed waiver of this right of review is attached. The school may request a personal interview with an applicant.
An undergraduate program that includes breadth in liberal arts and sciences, with a strong subject specialization in a major discipline (science, history, literature, etc.), an applied science (engineering, computer science, business administration, etc.), or a profession (law, education, etc.) is required. Approximately 90 semester credits in liberal arts and sciences, including a major, are normally required. Undergraduate credits in library and information studies should not be so extensive as to dilute the liberal arts component of the bachelor's degree. Prospective students who have questions regarding their eligibility for admission may contact the school's admissions office.
Competency in the use of computers facilitates a student's studies in library and information studies. Therefore, applicants must demonstrate familiarity with word processing, spreadsheets, electronic mail, and database (or file) management software packages at the time of admission. (Students may be admitted with a deficiency in this area but must remove it before the end of their first full-time semester.)
Foreign language skills are essential in some areas of information work. Students interested in careers in academic and research libraries should include language study in their background.
Practical work in an information agency before entering the school is useful, but not required. Such experience tests a candidate's aptitude for and interest in this work, and provides some knowledge of terminology and familiarity with information handling processes. Foundation courses are not usually offered in the summer; summer session courses are electives, specialized, and advanced level.
Applicants must hold a master's degree in library and information studies and should have experience following the professional degree before entering the specialist certificate program. Professional promise in the area of specialization must be demonstrated. The online application for admission must be submitted. A statement of professional interest and reasons for wishing to enter the program must be sent to the school. The applicant's qualifications for admission will be reviewed by the Advanced Studies Committee, which makes an admission recommendation to the director. Consideration is given to the applicant's stated goals and potential for successful completion of the program.
The School of Library and Information Studies requires a GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or better in the last 60 hours of academic credit earned, a master's degree in library and information studies or other appropriate field, a detailed written statement of the area of research interest and the purpose for pursuing doctoral study, and an interview with the school's Ph.D. Committee or other faculty members serving on the committee's behalf. International students must meet Graduate School language and degree requirements. GRE scores are not required for admission to this school.
Applicants whose GPA falls below the required level must provide other evidence of academic ability. (Advice on the type of evidence appropriate to the applicant should be requested from the administrator of the doctoral program.) A master of library science or equivalent degree and professional experience will be useful preparation for the programs of most doctoral students in the school. Applicant qualifications for admission will be reviewed by the school's Ph.D. Committee, which will make an admissions recommendation to the director who, in turn, makes a recommendation to the Graduate School. The criteria used in this review are the probability that the school's doctoral program will meet the goals of the applicant, and that the applicant will be able to complete the program successfully. Under certain circumstances, admission may be approved on a probationary basis or with deficiencies. Students will not normally be permitted to continue longer than the first year on probation.
For more information: School of Library and Information Studies, 4217 Helen C. White Hall, 600 North Park Street, Madison, WI 53706; 608/263-2900; fax 608/263-4849; uw-slis@slis.wisc.edu; For application materials: www.slis.wisc.edu/admissions/application/index.html ; For degree programs and specialization areas: www.slis.wisc.edu/academics/index.html; For continuing education opportunities: www.slis.wisc.edu/continueed/.