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DEGREES & PROGRAMS

The Prague Summer Seminar is now closed. However, the Oxford Seminar still has a few openings. To learn more or to register, click here

SILS and Charles University in Prague invite you on a journey to the heart of the Czech Republic. The 2008 program will be offered May 25 - June 7, 2008.

International programs are open to all students and professionals, not just students at UNC Chapel Hill. Librarians at all stages of their careers have participated and enjoyed these programs in the past and are welcome to participate.

This two-week summer seminar for library science students and professionals features lectures and tours relating to librarianship in the Czech Republic, which lies in the heart of Europe, neighboring with Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Poland.

See the libraries and facilities at Central Europe's oldest university, Charles University, which was founded in 1348. Free time will be allotted so travelers may tour the city and Bohemian countryside.

Co-sponsored by Charles University, the seminar is available for academic credit through UNC at Chapel Hill. The seminar has been offered since 2002. Participants may earn three hours of graduate credit for attending.

“The seminar was one of the most interesting and fun experiences of my career as a librarian. We saw so many amazing libraries, met so many interesting people, learned a great deal of beneficial information, and the group was a lot of fun. I highly recommend this to any library science student or professional librarian. I graduated five years ago and found this very beneficial. Prague and the Czech Republic are beautiful, the professors and students of Charles University are wonderful, and it was a
great way to continue my education with regard to librarianship, while learning about another culture and enjoying a bit of vacation in a beautiful place."

"Our gracious hosts from Charles University created an amazing program, and we were all indebted to their generosity when the seminar ended. Friendships were forged with fellow library students nationally and internationally. Visiting Prague’s libraries is a terrific opportunity that anyone who is interested should not let pass by.”

“The summer seminar in Prague was amazing! Our Czech hosts were knowledgeable and incredibly gracious. The tours, presentations and discussions were informative to me not only as a future librarian also as someone wanting to learn more about Czech history and culture. Not to discredit any of my past, present or future professors but I feel confident that the Prague summer seminar will be my fondest memory from library school.”

—past Prague participants

Activities

The series of presentations is supplemented by

For an example of a past schedule (this year's program will not be exactly the same and is subject to change), please see this sample schedule [PDF].

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Cost & registration

The registration fee for participants covers housing, instruction and a few meals. Most meals and airfare to and from the seminar are not included.

Cost: The price for this seminar is:

If you intend to take this course for credit, the UNC Cashier's Office will bill you separately for approximately $250.

A guest is defined as someone who accompanies you on the trip (usually a spouse) but does not participate in any of the instructional sessions and most tours. Room and board is included in the guest registration fee.

Payment: Acceptable forms of payment include credit card (Visa or Mastercard only) and check. Full payment at the time of registration is required to reserve your spot.

Cancellation policy: A monetary penalty will be charged to those cancelling their registrations
• Cancellation requests received on or before March 1 – $50 cancellation fee.
• Requests received March 2 – March 31 – 30% penalty.
• Requests received April 1 – May 15 – 60% penalty.
• Requests received after May 15 – no refund.

REGISTRATION FOR PRAGUE IS NOW CLOSED. REGISTRATION FOR THE OXFORD PROGRAM IS STILL OPEN. To learn more about Oxford, please go to: http://sils.unc.edu/programs/international/oxford.html

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Accommodations

Accomodations are in the City Centre Hotel, located in the heart of the city, only a few minutes walk from Prague's main boulevard, Wenceslas Square, and the Old Town.

The hotel is located across from the metro station at Nam Republiky and very close to a number of restaurants and stores.

SILS will take care of lodging arrangements. Students do not need to make separate reservations unless they want arrive early or stay in Prague before or after the seminar.

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Academic credit

The seminar is available for 3.0 hours of graduate credit from SILS. Participants are asked to attend all class sessions and complete a research paper after the seminar ends. Participants determine the topic of their papers in consultation with the academic advisor.

Participants see firsthand how the democratization of the Czech Republic, formerly a communist state, has affected the accessibility of information, in both print and electronic forms.

Please indicate your wish to enroll for credit on your registration form. The UNC at Chapel Hill Cashier's Office will bill you approximately $250. Contact the SILS program coordinator if your institution requires further information about the course.

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