What is the Library Science Program?
The Library Science program at UW-Superior educates
students to be leaders in information services and the use of information
technology. UW-Superior develops competent, confident, and creative
professionals who enjoy the information field and can instill this
value in others. More specifically, the program:
* Prepares students for information age technology
* Prepares students in the application, politics,
and rhetoric of information technology
* Prepares students to be active participants
and leaders in the teaching and learning process
* Educates students to be leaders in information
services * Fosters an enjoyment of learning, research
and exploration in the information field
* Develops skills that lead to sharing this
enjoyment of learning, research, and exploration
in the information field with
others * Creates confident and curious students
* Contributes to an understanding of the information
profession by other academic programs
Courses in the Library Science curriculum will satisfy requirements for
the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) Initial Instructional
Library Media Specialist License (901), the DPI Instructional Library Media
Specialist License (902), and the Minnesota Media Generalist License. The
901 license and Minnesota Media Generalist license require the successful
completion of 24 semester hours of coursework, a professional experience,
and completion of an approved teacher preparation program. The DPI 902 license
requires completion of 15 hours of coursework beyond the baccalaureate degree,
or completion of a Master's Degree from an approved program. Licensed teachers
may earn a Master of Science in Education-Instruction at the same time they
complete requirements for their 902 licensure by completing 15 hours of
coursework in the Teacher Education Department, and 15 hours in the Library
Science Program. UW-Superior is one of the home campuses for the University
of Wisconsin System School Library Education Consortium (UWSSLEC). This
program offers courses at the graduate level for the 901 and 902 that are
primarily web-based.
What
will a Library Science Minor do for me?
While the emphasis of the Library Science program
is on preparing students for beginning positions in school library media
centers, competencies developed through successful completion of the program
will:
* Be useful in obtaining selected positions
in academic, specialized, and public libraries and media centers
* Develop research skills that will be useful
to you in any field you major in at both the
undergraduate and graduate levels
* Establish a foundation for graduate work
in the field of Library and Information Science
* Provide you with a basis for ongoing mastery
of information resources and technologies
* Provide K-12 teachers with an understanding
of the role of libraries and media centers in the
curriculum of the school
Do
I need any special background to study Library Science?
No. In general, if you are prepared to go to college you are prepared to
study Library Science.
What
are my chances of getting a job?
The
2006-2007 Occupational
Outlook Handbook, published by the U.S. Department of Labor, suggests
that most job opportunities in the library field will result from replacement
needs. However, they also report areas of librarian shortages and that openings
outside traditional library settings are expected to grow, particularly
in areas requiring a background in information science and library automation,
and in rural areas.
In Wisconsin and Minnesota, there have been recent shortages of school
library media specialists.
How
can I find out more about work in this professional field?
Here are some examples of professional organizations
in the library/media field. Visit their websites to learn more.
What
courses do I have to take?
The courses you will take provide you with practical and theoretical knowledge
and understanding of the field of librarianship. You will be asked to take
a number of required courses but an array of elective courses are also offered
to provide you with a balance in the curriculum. The latest edition of the
University
of Wisconsin - Superior Catalog
will provide you with a list and description of the required and elective
courses available in the Library Science Program. All required courses are
offered, on a rotation basis, during the evening and in summer school. Some
courses are also available through interactive distance education. The latest
UW-Superior class schedule will list the courses being offered for a particular
semester, the times that the courses meet, and the instructors.
Who
will be my instructors?
The faculty of the Library Science Program are primarily practicing librarians
and media specialists, though faculty in other disciplines also teach some
cross-listed and elective courses. The library faculty are:
-
Peter Nordgren, Assistant Professor
-
Debra Nordgren, Associate Professor
-
Ella Cross, Assistant Professor
-
Laura Jacobs, Assistant Professor
-
Assistant Professor, Vacant
How
do I get further information?
If you'd like additional information about the Library Science Program,
please write or call:
Deb Nordgren Chair, Department of Library Science Jim Dan Hill Library University of Wisconsin-Superior Belknap & Catlin, Box 2000 Superior, WI 54880 (715) 394-8512
You may also email
Library
Science
directly, or fill out our e-mail interest form at: http://library.uwsuper.edu/libraryscience/form.html |