Special Librarianship
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
Special libraries, also called information centers or knowledge resources units, competitive intelligence units, intranet departments, knowledge resource centers, content management organizations, and others, are associated with particular industries or businesses or with specialized collections within research libraries or non-profits. Special libraries can be found in many different settings, including international organizations, advocacy organizations, government agencies, professional associations, corporations, medical and/or health institutions and hospitals, not-for-profit organizations, research centers, college campuses, and law firms (learn about careers in Law Librarianship.)
Special libraries often have a more specific clientele than libraries in educational or public settings, and deal with a specialized or particular type of information. They directly support the mission of their sponsoring organization, and their collections and services are targeted and specific to the needs of their clientele.
Employment Opportunities
Special librarians are information resource experts dedicated to putting knowledge to work to attain the goals of their organizations. Their position titles are as varied as the environments in which these information professionals are employed. A few examples of the diverse services that special librarians may perform include:
- Creating databases for organizations to access their internal information
- Developing and maintaining a portfolio of cost-effective, client-valued information services that are aligned with the strategic directions of the organization and client groups
- Evaluating and comparing information software and sources of data prior to purchase
- Gathering competitive intelligence
- Maintaining current awareness of emerging technologies
- Preparing research reports in response to staff requests for specific information
- Searching patents and trademarks
- Training other staff to efficiently and cost-effectively use online databases
- Verifying facts for external and internal reports and publications
Core Theory and Knowledge
The Special Library Association sees the core theory and knowledge as:
- Applying expertise in databases, indexing, metadata, and information analysis and synthesis to improve information retrieval and use in the organization
- Conducting market research of the information behaviors and problems of current and potential client groups to identify concepts for new or enhanced information solutions for these groups; and transforming these concepts into customized information products and services
- Managing primarily electronic information resources and records
- Managing the full life cycle of specialized information from its creation or acquisition through its destruction. This includes organizing, categorizing, cataloguing, classifying, disseminating, creating and managing taxonomies, intranet and extranet content, thesauri etc.
- Negotiating the purchase and licensing of needed information products and services
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:
- LIBR 210 Reference and Information Services
- LIBR 220 Resources and Information Services in Professions and Disciplines
Sections on science and technology, patents, maps and GIS - LIBR 220 Resources and Information Services in Professions and Disciplines
Students should select area of interest such as law, medical, business - LIBR 221 Government Information Sources
- LIBR 231 Issues in Special Libraries and Information Centers
- LIBR 240 Information Technology Tools and Applications
- LIBR 242 Database Management
- LIBR 244 Online Searching
- LIBR 245 Advanced Online Searching
- LIBR 246 Information Technology Tools and Applications: Advanced
Sections on Web 2.0, text/data mining, XML - LIBR 247 Vocabulary Design
- LIBR 282 Seminar in Library Management
Sections on using social media for competitive and company research; financial management, project management - LIBR 283 Marketing of Information Products and Services
- LIBR 284 Seminar in Archives and Records Management
Section on electronic records - LIBR 294 Professional Experience: Internships
Recommended Courses:
- LIBR 243 Systems Analysis
- LIBR 257 Records Management
- LIBR 281 Seminars in Contemporary Issues
Section on metadata
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.
Special Libraries Association
See the student SLA information page to learn about the SLA, benefits of membership, student membership rates, and local chapters.
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Phone: 408-924-2490
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