MLIS
From Digital Innovations @ Emory Libraries
A one-time, three-year digital librarianship program has been announced at Emory University, in collaboration with the University of North Texas School of Library and Information Science and the Atlanta University Center’s Robert W. Woodruff Library. Emory is delighted to once again be fostering the training of librarians in the Atlanta area. Watch this site for new information releases on this program.
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[edit] Application Process
Individuals wishing to be admitted into the graduate program in Library and Information Sciences, offered by the partnership with Emory and University of North Texas (UNT), as part of the fall 2008 Georgia cohort, must go through the specified application process. The application process requires each student to submit application materials to the UNT Toulouse School of Graduate Studies. Students must separately and concurrently apply to UNT's School of Library and Information Sciences. If a student wishes to be considered for one of 35 scholarships, he or she must also complete the application for the UNT/Emory/AUC/IMLS Scholarship. APPLICATION PROCESS DETAILS
[edit] Upcoming Events
Save The Date!
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Mentor/Protege Event at Auburn Avenue Research Library.
Check back for details!
[edit] Overview
A select group of North Georgians soon will have a one-time opportunity to earn an accredited master’s degree in library and information sciences (MLIS) from the University of North Texas – without ever leaving their home state. Emory University, the University of North Texas and the Atlanta University Center’s Robert W. Woodruff Library will offer the three-year, distance-learning degree curriculum between 2008 and 2010 using a $778,409 grant from the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program. Graduates of the distance-learning opportunity, which is accredited by the American Library Association (ALA), will develop special expertise in digital knowledge management, says Dr. Martin Halbert, director of library systems for the Emory University Libraries. “Librarians of the future must be able to create, use and preserve not just paper, but digital text, audio and video, as well,” Halbert said. “They may be working with digital photographs of rare books, or sets of computer data collected by researchers. Digital knowledge management ensures that the librarians of tomorrow create, collect and care for such material appropriately, and that they are well-versed in the computer systems they’ll be using.” This one-time degree program was announced Saturday, September 29, 2007 during Emory’s Homecoming Week, to mark Emory’s new opportunity to contribute to librarianship education.
[edit] Scholarships
A total of 35 candidates of diverse backgrounds will be accepted into the program. Scholarships of $12,800 per person will be available, said Dr. Herman Totten, Dean of the University of North Texas School of Library and Information Sciences. “These scholarships will enable many students to fulfill their dream of completing an accredited master’s degree,” Totten said. “We are very thankful to our colleagues at the Robert W. Woodruff Library of Emory University for their support of our program.”
[edit] Need for a New Generation of Librarians
The Atlanta University Center’s Woodruff Library is deeply interested in collaborating with Emory’s Woodruff Library on this project and in other capacities, said Loretta Parham, Director and CEO of AUC Woodruff Library. “This opportunity to train and support a new generation of library professionals is an especially golden one,” Parham said. “Developing digital librarians and providing scholarships to AUC students and library staff, as well as the larger community, is so timely, and will generate great excitement throughout Atlanta and Georgia.” In addition to their online coursework, students will attend workshops locally that are taught by leaders in the field of digital libraries; serve digital library internships; and enjoy networking opportunities in preparation for their job searches. The one-time program provides the only an ALA-accredited education option based in North Georgia. The entire state is home to 385 public library branches and other service outlets, including 20 bookmobiles, according to the Georgia Public Library Service. That figure does not include other types of libraries, such as those in private schools, colleges and those run by the federal government. Graduates of the program will help meet a portion of the growing national need for librarians. Librarianship has one of the highest median ages of any occupation – 47 years old, according to the ALA. Based on U.S. Census data, more than 25 percent of all librarians with master's degrees will turn 65 before 2009. This data does not take into account early retirement, death or other reasons for leaving the profession before reaching 65. The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program, administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, has funded 2,913 master’s degree students, 178 doctoral students, 1,166 pre-professional students, and 5,629 continuing education students.
[edit] An IMLS Funded Project
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) generously enabled this program to go forward with a $778K grant. See details at http://digital.library.emory.edu/Librarians_for_the_Digital_Age
