In a global society that is increasingly diverse, culturally, linguistically, and technologically, library information professionals have many new opportunities to contribute to the lives of users, communities, and society at large. The Community Services Librarianship course of study prepares students for this type of outreach and engagement with members of a community or organization. Community services information professionals can work in public libraries, academic libraries, and all types of specialized libraries.
Students of this course of study will gain knowledge of how to understand the community’s life and culture, identify the goals and needs of its members, and work alongside them to improve their situation and their outcomes. Community services librarians excel at connecting the community with the resources and services of the library, design innovative programs to engage users, and advocate for the needs of the communities.
Representative position titles related to this course of study include Community Engagement Specialist, Outreach Specialist, Instruction Librarian, Reference and Instruction Librarian, Liaison Librarian, Marketing and Outreach Librarian, and Community Services Librarian.
Within the Community Services course of study, students can concentrate on any of the following information environments. For ease of reference, specialized recommended courses are listed for each of the three types of information environment. In addition, students interested in community archives should consult the Cultural Heritage Information Management Course of Study for additional relevant courses.
- Public Libraries
- Academic Libraries
- Specialized Libraries
Course Selection
Required Courses (4 courses: 12 credits):
- LSC 551: Organization of Information
- LSC 553: Information Sources and Services
- LSC 555: Information Systems in Libraries and Information Centers
- LSC 557: The Information Professions in Society
Recommended Common Electives:
- LSC 635: Human Information Behavior
- LSC 672: Management
- LSC 695: Practicum
Specialized Recommended Electives:
| Public Library Specialization | Academic Library Specialization | Specialized Library Specialization | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highly Recommended | LSC 889: The Public Library | LSC 881: The College and University Library | LSC 887: Institute on Federal Library Resources LSC 888: The Special Library/Information Center |
| Recommended specialized electives |
LSC 631: Storytelling |
LSC 527: Introduction to Data Science LSC 633: Information Retrieval and Analysis LSC 641: Collection Development and Management LSC 644: Information Literacy Instruction LSC 752: Design and Production of Multimedia LSC 843: Public Programs, Outreach and Digital Exhibits in Libraries, Archives, and Museums |
LSC 524: Actionable Intelligence LSC 527: Introduction to Data ScienceLSC563: Data Visualization LSC 633: Information Retrieval and AnalysisLSC637: Government Data and Information LSC 654: Database Management LSC 675: Research Methods in Library and Information Science |
Courses mapped to the areas of the DLIS Professional Competencies
| Information Organization | Resources/Services | Information Technology | Professional Identity/Management | |
| Required Courses | 551 | 553 | 555 | 557 |
| Recommended Common Electives | 635 | 672 695A |
||
|
Specialized Recommended |
524 637 |
631 |
527 |
674 881 887 888 889 |
Community Services Librarianship Checklist 05-2020 (.docx)
Publications of Interest
- Public Library Quarterly
- Internet Reference Services Quarterly
- Reference and User Services Quarterly
- Public Services Quarterly
- Library Leadership Management
Organizations of Interest
- ALA Public Policy and Advocacy http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/ppa
- Engagement Scholarship Consortium https://engagementscholarship.org
- National Council of Nonprofits https://www.councilofnonprofits.org
- Public Library Association http://www.ala.org/pla/
- Urban Library Council https://www.urbanlibraries.org
Adopted November 2017
Updated May 2020