Overview

Prepare for a prestigious career as a leader in library and information science. For over 90 years, we’ve helped students develop superior skills for this dynamic and changing field. Learn how to collect, organize, store, and retrieve the world’s recorded knowledge. Develop not just theoretical knowledge, but the ability to apply theories in real-world situations.

This on-campus program allows students to form close relationships with peers and professors. Connect with members of our passionate alumni community in a wide range of industries and professions.

Customize Your Experience

Our highly flexible program allows students to customize their learning experience through options such as:

• A concentration in archives and records management
• An informal specialization or certificate
• A capstone experience consisting of either a research-based paper or a practicum project
• Preparation for school library media licensure

Gain Hands-On Experience in the Field

The SILS Field Experience Program enables students to gain 135 hours of professional experience in an information organization while receiving three hours of class credit. Field Experience can be completed during the fall, spring, or summer term. Students are mentored by both a supervising professional in the organization (site supervisor) and a full-time SILS faculty member (faculty supervisor). Students also engage in a course seminar.

Careers in Library Science

Graduates of this program find exciting careers around the world in a variety of settings, such as: academic institutions, government agencies, archives, public and special libraries, school library media centers, non-profits and cultural institutions, and other information agencies.

Upon graduation, our students have accepted positions such as:

• Archives Technician, National Archives and Records Administration
• Digital Assets Librarian, Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Garden, Washington, D.C.
• Electronic Resources Management Librarian, Duke University
• Natural Science and Mathematics Librarian, University of Houston
• Senior Developer, Analytics at Hearful
• User Experience Resident Librarian, University of Chicago Library
• Web Application Developer, Wildfire

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Students are prepared to apply critical thinking to a particular challenge that might be experienced in a professional setting. They will be able to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of particular solutions and use concrete examples to clarify the challenge and its possible solutions.
2. Students are prepared to apply standard professional tools to problem definition and solution. They will be aware of the classic and current tools and technologies available to information professionals and will be able to select and apply those tools and technologies to information problems.
3. Students are prepared to apply ideas, theories, and empirical evidence to solve problems that information professionals might face in the workplace.
4. Students are prepared to demonstrate a nuanced understanding of a particular information setting/context, including the needs of the users; the types of materials being collected; the realities of budget, management, and organizational structure; the types of challenges faced and ways to address those challenges; new/current professional and research developments pertinent to the setting/context; the influences of social and political milieu on the setting/context; and how quality may be defined and assessed within that setting/context.
5. Students are prepared to express their ideas clearly. They will be able to describe problems/challenges, situations, and solutions in an understandable way; synthesize ideas from multiple sources and engage with those ideas in depth; and develop an argument in a coherent and logical manner.

Questions?

Contact Lara Bailey
Graduate Programs Assistant Director
ljbailey@email.unc.edu or (919) 962-7601