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Course of Study
Community Services Librarianship
Today’s librarians are reaching out to engage with their communities in new ways, offer new services, and play new roles. They work in public libraries, academic libraries, and all types of specialized libraries.
The Community Services Librarianship course of study prepares students for this type of outreach and engagement with members of a community or organization. Students will gain knowledge of how to understand the community’s life and culture, identify the goals and needs of its members, and work alongside them to improve their situation and their outcomes. Community librarians excel at connecting the community with the resources and services of the library, and shaping the library’s work to meet the community’s needs.
Representative position titles related to this course of study include: Instruction Librarian, Reference and Instruction Librarian, Instruction and Outreach Librarian, Liaison Librarian, Marketing and Outreach Librarian, and Community Services Librarian.
Within the Community Services specialization, students can concentrate on any of the following by selecting different courses:
- Public Libraries
- Academic Libraries
- Specialized Libraries
Course Selection
Required Courses (4 courses: 12 credits)
- LSC 551: Organization of Information
- LSC 553: Information Sources and Services
- LSC 555: Information Systems in Libraries and Information Centers
- LSC 557: The Information Professions in Society
Recommended Common Electives
- LSC 635: Human Information Behavior
- LSC 672: Management
- LSC 772: Marketing Libraries and Information Services
- LSC 695: Practicum
Specialized Recommended Electives:
Public Library Specialization | Academic Library Specialization | Specialized Library Specialization | |
Highly Recommended | LSC 889: The Public Library | LSC 881: The College and University Library | LSC 887 or CLSC 887: Institute on Federal Library Resources LSC 888: The Special Library/Information Center |
Recommended specialized electives | LSC 631: Storytelling LSC 641: Collection Development and Management LSC 643: Oral History LSC 644: Information Literacy Instruction LSC 752: Design and Production of Multimedia LSC 843: Public Programs, Outreach and Digital Exhibits LSC 848: Media for Children LSC 849: Media for Young Adults |
LSC 527: Introduction to Data Science |
LSC 527: Introduction to Data Science |
Publications of Interest
- Reference and User Services Quarterly
- Public Services Quarterly
- Library Leadership & Management
Adopted November 2017
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