Illinois State University offers coursework in school librarianship designed especially for teachers seeking endorsement as Library Information Specialists. Certified teachers may complete the 24 credit hours in library science required by the Illinois State Board of Education as part of the endorsement process (the other part consists of passing the content-area exam). Taught by experienced practitioners and University faculty, the courses have been carefully mapped to the Illinois content area standards.
Courses are taught each semester and scheduled at times convenient for working teachers. Spring and fall semester classes generally meet during the evenings, summer classes during both afternoons and evenings. Currently, one course is offered online. However, we expect to offer additional online courses (as well as combined online and on campus courses) sometime during the 2007-2008 school year.
The Courses
The following core courses are taught on a regular basis. They do not need to be completed in any particular order. Course descriptions may be found in the Illinois State University Graduate Catalog listed under the Department of Curriculum and Instruction (http://www.ilstu.edu/home/catalog/pdf/grad.pdf#ci).
Fall Semester
C&I 442: Organization and Access to Information in the School Library
C&I 444: Reference and Information Services
Spring Semester
C&I 401: Instructional Media and Technology
C&I 445: Information Literacy Instruction for School Libraries
C&I 449: Selection and Use of Materials for the Elementary School Library
Summer Semester
C&I 440: Management of School Library Media Programs
C&I 454: Selection and Use of Materials in the Secondary School Library
Prerequisites
Most of the students enrolling in these courses are certified teachers, though there are some exceptions. Prerequisites for all of the courses are: “Certified teachers or consent of instructor.”
Admission and Registration
Prospective students should first be admitted to the Graduate School as a "student-at-large." The admissions form can be found at http://www.admissions.ilstu.edu/. The form is straightforward and easy to complete. And it doesn’t require test scores or transcripts. There is a $30 application fee. Upon admission, students receive a University I.D. number that will permit them to register. Registration is also easy and completed online.
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program in School Librarianship
The courses currently offered should soon be incorporated into a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program, which will provide a University “home” for students taking courses in school librarianship. With the approval of the program (hopefully this fall), students will be admitted as graduate students in the Post Baccalaureate Program rather than as graduate students at-large. The Program will more formally establish the school library curriculum as consisting of six core courses and two electives for a total of 24 credit hours. In addition, the program will ensure certain threads of continuity throughout the curriculum.
Other Future Developments
As noted above, we anticipate offering additional courses in an online and mixed online and on campus format during the next school year. We also expect to incorporate this coursework into a Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in school librarianship. I should also point out that we do not plan to create a Masters degree program in library science.
Contact Us
For more information about school librarianship at Illinois State University, please contact:
Dane Ward
Associate Dean for Public Services
Milner Library, Campus Box 8900
Illinois State University
Normal, Illinois 61790
Email: dmward@ilstu.edu
