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Program Description
The UNC School of Information and Library Science offers two MSLS programs for those interested in seeking a career working with children and young adults.
School Library Media Coordinator Program
Whether you’re making a career change or just starting out, school librarianship is one of the most rewarding careers that a person can choose if you enjoy children, learning, sharing your enthusiasm about learning, reading and technology. Today’s school library media specialist is a leader who works within the school community to support and foster lifelong learning and the love of reading. Working collaboratively with teachers, school library media specialists contribute to advanced learning by guiding and encouraging individual inquiry and engaging students to think critically about the world around them.
Job opportunities are plentiful, with trends indicating that a large number of school librarians will reach retirement age over the next ten years. Individuals interested in seeking a MSLS specializing in school librarianship from the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Information and Library Science will find:
- Intellectually rigorous courses emphasizing skills in curriculum development, management, technology integration and leadership
- Exceptional faculty
- Dedicated community of peers
- Instruction in emerging technologies used in today’s schools
- Hands-on experience in public school settings
- Personalized mentoring by licensed school library media coordinators and SILS faculty
- Preparation for the NC 076 school library media coordinator license
It is our number one priority that graduates of this program leave with a clear understanding of the diverse learner, how the act of learning occurs, and best practice and emerging trends in teaching and instruction. We strive to prepare our graduates to enter the workforce ready to positively engage and support students, teachers, and administrators and create a school library media program that reaches beyond its four walls.
More information can be found on the School Library Media Coordinator Program’s home page.
Children and Young Adult Library Services
In a time where our world is changing so fast and information is overwhelmingly abundant, children and young adult librarians are in a pivotal position to help young people learn to navigate, make sense of, and take positive action in the world around them. The UNC School of Information and Library Science Children and Young Adult Library Program maintains a long history of commitment to the preparation of graduates to serve and advocate for these unique library patrons.
Guided by a comprehensive knowledge and applied understanding of theory, practice, and emerging trends in librarianship, graduates of our program go on to become leaders in the field of children and young adult library services and play an influential role in the shaping of 21st century libraries.
Individuals interested in obtaining a MSLS specializing in children and young adult librarianship will find:
- Intellectually rigorous coursework, emphasizing children and young adult literature, reference services, collection development, library management, technology integration and leadership
- Instruction and hands-on application of emerging technologies
- Exceptional faculty
- Dedicated community of peers
- Practicum opportunities serving children and young adults in the public library setting
- Personalized mentorship by professionals in the field of children and youth services and by SILS faculty
More information can be found on the Children and Young Adult Services webpage.