Youth Librarianship Program of
Study
Available as an In-Residence or Web-based Program of
Study Option
All students coming to SLIS for the Master's degree in Library and
Information Sciences choose a program of study emphasis.
This program of study focuses on
the foundations of professional preparation with a specialization in
library and information services and programming for children and
young adults (youth). Students will have exposure to faculty in a
variety of areas of expertise and will have the opportunity for
intensive study with a team of professors who specialize in courses
targeted to the youth services population.
This program of
study is not for students seeking School Library Certification.
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A recent
American Library Association study produced a document
entitled Public Libraries as Partners in Youth Development,
which outlines the need for library professionals in the youth
services area. The articles states, "In recent years, public
funding for libraries has generally improved and many
libraries have been able to restore services. However, larger
or well-endowed library systems that can hire specialized
staff often find there's a shortage of trained children's and
young adult librarians. In the 1970s, the library field began
to move away from the specialization of staff and toward
hiring more generalists. That, coupled in recent years with a
growing emphasis on expertise in information technology, has
resulted in a decline in library school programs for youth and
a dearth of trained professionals in that area." |
There are many opportunities for
professional positions in metropolitan, suburban, and rural public
libraries and Master's
prepared library and information sciences youth specialists also
find work in community colleges and academic libraries where they
can provide library services to persons in other professions who
teach and work with youth and youth-related information services.
The information professional serving
youth is first of all fully knowledgeable in the theories, practices
and emerging trends of library and information sciences but must
also have specialized knowledge of the particular information needs
of young people. This program of study focuses on developing the
competencies in the following areas specific to youth:
- the history of youth information
services/systems;
- knowledge of the client group;
administrative and managerial skills;
- communications skills; materials
and collection development; reference services;
- programming skills;
- technology applications;
- advocacy, public relations and
networking;
- and professionalism and
professional development.
All students who complete the Youth
Librarianship Program of Study meet the requirements for the
Graduate Academic Certificate in Youth Services, which
appears on the student's transcript. Many students doing this
program of study also choose to earn the
Graduate Academic Certificate in Storytelling.
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Web
Institutes
For the
Web-based Master's Degree with a Program of Study emphasis in
Youth Librarianship, students come for a few days to the
Denton campus or one of our distance sites (Houston, Las
Vegas, Minnesota) to attend a Web Institute. SLIS offers our
Web Institutes each semester for orientation to the school,
training on the WebCT technology used to teach the courses,
and to launch the three core courses. Generally, the SLIS 5000
orientation is for one day; SLIS 5200 is for 4 days, and SLIS
5600 is for three days. any students choose to do the core
courses over two semesters. After the Web Institute days,
students return home to complete the core courses online and
continue in the program with Web-based courses that can be
completed without coming to campus. Traditional on-campus,
commuting or distance students may take courses from both
Web-based or on-site course selections. |
PLEASE NOTE: Students who
want to work with youth in the school setting will
enroll in the School
Librarianship Program of Study.
SCHOOL OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION
SCIENCES REQUIRED CORE COURSES (3 COURSES / 9 HOURS)
- SLIS 5000 - Introduction to the
Information Profession (1 hour)
- SLIS 5200 - Introduction to
Information Organization (4 hours)
- SLIS 5600 - Introduction to
Information and Access Retrieval (4 hours)
YOUTH LIBRARIANSHIP PROGRAM OF
STUDY RECOMMENDED WEB-BASED CORE COURSES (5 COURSES / 15 HOURS)
- SLIS 5420 - Literature for Youth
(3 hours)
- SLIS 5400 -- Information Resources
Development (3 hours)
- SLIS 5440 - Storytelling for
Information Professionals (3 hours)
- SLIS 5685 - Information Resources
and Services in Culturally Diverse Communities (3 hours)
OR
SLIS 5210 - Organization and Control of Information Resources I
- SLIS 5320 - Public Libraries (3
hours)
OR
SLIS 5300 - Management of Information Agencies (3 hours)
WEB-BASED ELECTIVE COURSES (4
COURSES / 12 HOURS)
Electives are selected by the student in consultation with the
advisor. Traditional on-campus, commuting or distance students may
take elective courses from both Web-based or any on-site course
options. Please note: This is not an exhaustive list -- the
electives in this program of study are very flexible and students
may choose other courses in consultation with the advisor.
- SLIS 5445 - History and (Culture)
of Youth Information Services
- SLIS 5611 - Advanced Storytelling
- SLIS 5410 - Adult Materials and Reading
Interests
- SLIS 5685 - Information Resources
and Services in Culturally Diverse Communities (3 hours)
- SLIS 5960 - Multi-ethnic Materials
for Children and Young Adults (3 hours)
- SLIS 5680 - Graphic Novels and Comic for
Youth and Adults
- SLIS 5300 - Management of
Information Agencies (3 hours)
- SLIS 5303.001 Financial and Human Resource
Management in Information Agencies
- SLIS 5302.001 Advanced Management of
Information Agencies
- SLIS 5320 - Public Libraries (3
hours)
- 5330 - Academic Libraries (3 hours)
- SLIS 5713 - Telecommunications for
Information Professionals (3 hours)
- SLIS 5714 - Website Development
- Other courses as negotiated with the
program advisor
REQUIRED PROFICIENCIES (Hours
are not counted toward degree credit.)
- Practicum/Field
Experience/Internship may be satisfied in two ways:
1. By prior work experience in a library or information work
setting and documented by completing the
Field Experience Requirement Request for Waiver form.
2. By taking
SLIS
5090 Practicum/Field Study (see form).
- Entry-level Computer Competencies
and Knowledge Skills: May be satisfied by the ITKS
Self-Assessment, testing, and experience waiver, or course work
such as SLIS 5710 Information Technology.
CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE
The UNT Graduate School requires all Master's
students to complete some type of exit examination. In SLIS, this is
the Capstone Experience. Complete information about Capstone is
located on the SLIS Homepage.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE YOUTH
LIBRARIANSHIP PROGRAM OF STUDY CONTACT:
University of North Texas
School of Library and Information Sciences
Information Sciences Building, Room 205
P.O. Box 311068
Denton, TX 76203-1068
Phone: (940) 565-2445
FAX: (940) 565-3101
University Metro (817) 267-3731, x2445
slis@unt.edu
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