D2L - Collaborate/Elluminate - King Library - MySJSU - CASA - SJSU -

• Home
• Admissions
• Programs
• Our Faculty
• About SLIS

Home – Programs – Career Pathways – Public Librarianship

Public Librarianship – A Community Hub for Learning and Literacy

The MLIS program requires 43 units for graduation. Within those units, five courses are required: LIBR 203, LIBR 200, LIBR 202, LIBR 204, LIBR 285, and either LIBR 289 or LIBR 299. Beyond those five courses, a student is free to select electives reflecting individual interests and aspirations.

The Career Pathway described here is provided solely for advising purposes. No special designation appears on your transcript or diploma. All students get an MLIS degree.

Description

Public libraries are a partnership between librarians, clients, patrons and stakeholders. Public librarians began as gatekeepers, progressed to intermediaries, and are now contributing value-added information in a variety of ways.

Forget what you think you know about public librarians. These days a librarian does a lot more than check out materials and shelve books. Technology expert, information detective, manager, literacy expert, trainer, community programming coordinator, reader's advisor, children's storyteller, material reviewer, and buyer are just a few of the hats a public librarian wears. A job in today's public libraries offers a diverse and exciting range of responsibilities, projects, and opportunities. Jobs in public libraries vary greatly. There is no one list of daily responsibilities.
(Taken from: http://www.ala.org/pla/tools/careers )

Specific duties vary depending on the size and type of library, but will involve:

• Answering reference questions via telephone, email, and online chat as well as in person
• Building collections to respond to changing community needs or demands
• Developing programs (onsite and online) for library users of all ages and backgrounds
• Digitizing collections for online access
• Facilitating and promoting reading clubs both in person and online
• Introducing users to all types of online social media
• Managing access to electronic information resources
• Researching topics of interest for their constituencies
• Suggesting appropriate books ("readers' advisory") for children and adults of different reading levels, and recommending novels for recreational reading
• Writing grant proposals to gain funding for expanded program or collections

Employment Opportunities

Most public librarians in all but the main branch of a very large system are involved with:

• Administration
• Collection development and management
• Programming
• Outreach/Advocacy
• Reference
• User services for adults, teens and/or children
• Web and social media access

Core Theory and Knowledge

Qualities employers seek:

• Ability to interact effectively with library users from all walks of life both in person and online
• Ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations
• Ability to represent the library's services and resources to the public both in person and online
• Ability to understand, analyze, and solve problems
• Ability to work in teams
• Information technology skills, especially ability to use the World Wide Web effectively and to be current with social media
• Knowledge of collection development principles and practices
• Strong public service orientation

Recommended Coursework

Required Courses:

• LIBR 203 Online Social Networking: Technology and Tools
• LIBR 200 Information and Society
• LIBR 202 Information Retrieval
• LIBR 204 Information Organizations and Management
• LIBR 285 Research Methods in Library and Information Science
• LIBR 289 or LIBR 299 Culminating Experience

Foundation Courses:

Select the courses that reflect your interests – e.g. students wishing to be public children's librarians will enroll in the programming and materials courses for children.

• LIBR 210 Reference & Information Services
• LIBR 232 Issues in Public Libraries
• LIBR 246 Information Technology Tools & Applications: Advanced
  Sections on Web 2.0, virtual environments
• LIBR 260A Programming and Services for Children
• LIBR 261A Programming and Services for Young Adults
  
  Two of the following:
  • LIBR 262A Materials for Children Ages 0-4
  • LIBR 263 Materials for Children Ages 5-8
  • LIBR 264 Materials for Tweens
  • LIBR 265 Materials for Young Adults
    
    
• LIBR 266 Collection Management
• LIBR 275 Library Services for Racially & Ethnically Diverse Communities
• LIBR 281 Seminar in Contemporary Issues
  Sections on diversity issues in information environments and new perspectives on literacy
• LIBR 294 Professional Experience: Internships

Recommended Courses:

• LIBR 220 Resources and Information Science in Professions and Disciplines
  Students should select areas of interest such as film, music, readers' advisory, etc.
• LIBR 221 Government Information Sources
• LIBR 234 Intellectual Freedom
• LIBR 248 Beginning Cataloging and Classification
• LIBR 282 Seminar in Library Management
  Sections on financial management, grant writing, human resources management, managing electronic resources, managing change
• LIBR 283 Marketing of Information Products and Services
• LIBR 286 Interpersonal Communication Skills for Librarians

Effective leadership and management (of people and information) is critically important for all types of work environments and clients.

We recommend that students consider also selecting some courses from the Leadership and Management career path to complement or supplement core skills in other areas.

[Top of Page]