School of Library and Information Studies

Website: http://www.twu.edu/slis/

Director: Gretchen Hoffman, Professor
Location: SH 404
Phone: 940-898-2602
Fax: 940-898-2611
E-mail: slis@twu.edu

Graduate Degrees Offered

Texas Woman’s University School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS) educates students to become effective professionals in evidence-based practice and research in the field of library and information services; inspires intellectual curiosity, innovation, scholarship, and research to expand knowledge in library and information studies; and, develops leaders who advocate for social justice by providing excellent inclusive services in libraries and diverse communities.

The School of Library and Information Studies recruits and prepares a diverse body of students for professional and leadership roles and responsibilities in library and information services who:

Cultivate and embody professional competencies that reflect an appropriate balance between theory and practice.
Engage diverse communities to develop and promote high-quality services that are innovative, inclusive, and responsive to their needs.
Use technological advances to meet the changing information needs of a knowledge society.
Advance and disseminate knowledge in the library and information studies field.
Advocate for the profession of librarianship and the dynamic responsibilities of libraries in increasingly diverse and networked communities.

The programs of study leading to the degrees of Master of Library Science and Master of Arts in Library Science are accredited by the American Library Association. The master’s degree programs are designed to prepare information professionals who will:

Apply professional ethics and competencies in acquiring, organizing, delivering, and preserving information and knowledge;
Demonstrate evidence-based practice in professional decision-making;
Deliver community-embedded services to promote equity and social justice, and meet the needs of diverse constituencies;
Utilize technologies to meet information needs in a variety of contexts;
Disseminate professional knowledge through venues such as teaching, research, publication, and service activities;
Plan for and engage in continuous, career-long professional development.

Master of Science in Data Science and Informatics

Data Science and Informatics is the study and application of information, computer, cognitive, and organizational sciences to the arts, sciences, and professions. The Master of Science in Data Science and Informatics program at TWU provides students with an adaptable, inter-professional, and interdisciplinary approach to the study of Informatics in a hybrid learning environment. The program will provide students with the skills needed for success in high-demand professions and careers in the areas of Clinical Informatics, Data Science/Data Analytics, Cybersecurity, Health Studies, Sports Informatics, and Community Informatics. The program is delivered collaboratively by academic components, including Computer Science, Nursing, Health Studies, Kinesiology, and Library and Information Studies.

Minors

The requirements for a minor in Library Science on the graduate level vary according to the student’s degree program and are subject to agreement between the student’s advisory committee and the appropriate faculty member(s) in the School of Library and Information Studies.

Master’s level: A minor is commonly defined as six to twelve semester credit hours.

Doctoral level: Twelve to eighteen semester credit hours is common.

Faculty

*BECKER, KRISTEN, Assistant Professor of Library and Information Studies, B.A., Kansas Wesleyan University; M.L.S., Emporia State University; Ed.D., University of the Cumberlands

*ELKINS, AARON, Associate Professor of Library and Information Studies, B.S., University of South Florida; M.A., University of South Florida; Ph.D., Florida State University

*HARROD, KEROL, Assistant Clinical Professor of Library and Information Studies, B.A., University of North Texas; M.A., University of North Texas; M.L.S., Texas Woman's University

*HOFFMAN, GRETCHEN L., Professor of Library and Information Studies; Director of the School of Library and Information Studies, B.A., University of Nevada, Reno; M.L.S., Emporia State University; Ph.D., Emporia State University

*JENG, LING HWEY, Professor of Library and Information Studies, B.A., National Taiwan University; M.L.I.S., University of Texas at Austin; Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin

*KIZHAKKETHIL, PRIYA, Assistant Professor of Library and Information Studies, M.S., University of North Texas; Ph.D., University of North Texas

*LANIER, AMY, Assistant Clinical Professor of Library and Information Studies, B.A., Texas Woman's University; M.L.S., Texas Woman's University

*LEE, HYUK-JIN, Associate Professor of Library and Information Studies, B.A., Yonsei University; M.S., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Ph.D., Rutgers University

*LOOMIS, KATHRYN, Assistant Professor of Library and Information Studies, B.A., Centenary College of Louisiana; M.Ed., Louisiana State University-Shreveport; M.A.T., Centenary College of Louisiana; Ph.D., University of North Texas

*TMAVA, AHMET (METI), Assistant Professor of Library and Information Studies, B.S., Texas Woman's University; M.S., University of North Texas; Ph.D., University of North Texas

*ZAVALIN, VYACHESLAV, Assistant Professor of Library and Information Studies, M.E.Q.U., University of North Texas; Ph.D., University of North Texas

*ZIMMERMAN, TARA, Assistant Professor of Library and Information Studies, B.A., University of Arkansas; M.L.I.S., University of Oklahoma; Ph.D., University of North Texas

Courses

Contact hours identified in the course descriptions are based on a 15-week term. Students who enroll in Summer or mini-terms are expected to meet the same total number of contact hours as a 15-week term.

LS 5003. Collection Development and Management. Introduction to collection development and management including policies, material types, selection criteria and tools, acquisition methods, and preservation. Community needs, developing diverse collections, standards, assessment, and censorship. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5023. Information Organization. Introduction to the organization of information and the tools used to represent and provide access to information in libraries and information agencies. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5043. Information and Communication Technology. Concept and management of information technology related to library and information work; databases, networking, web technologies, and social and ethical aspects of information and communication technology applied to libraries and information agencies. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5053. Information Retrieval. Introduction to online retrieval of information, information retrieval theories and models, and evaluation of information retrieval systems used to retrieve and provide access to information in libraries and information agencies. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5063. School Library Collections. Introduction to school library collection development and management, including policies, material types, selection criteria and tools, defense of intellectual freedom, assessment of stakeholder needs, development of diverse collections, and alignment with curricular standards. Prerequisite: LS 5233. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5083. Foundations of Library and Information Studies. Purposes, challenges, and principles of library and information studies; its organization and operations as a profession. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5103. Cataloging and Classification. Theories, standards, and practices of library cataloging and classification; practice in descriptive and subject cataloging of library materials; use of online cataloging tools and databases. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5133. Indexing and Abstracting. Theory and techniques of indexing journal literature, books, and newspapers; database production; survey of commercially available products; theory and techniques of preparation of abstracts, annotations, and other condensed versions of documents. Prerequisite: LS 5023 or LS 5103. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5163. Assessment in Practice. Assessment concepts and processes. Evaluation of services, programs, and user needs; use of assessment tools to demonstrate organizational values to stakeholders and communities. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5173. Community-Based Project Design. Social innovation through concepts in informatics and design theory; the role of libraries and nonprofits as community anchors in society; and applications of information and communications technology to facilitate positive changes in communities. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5183. Grant Writing and Management. Concepts and techniques for developing grant proposals and managing grant-funded projects in libraries and information agencies. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5193. Data Communications for Information Professions. Communications and storytelling using data analysis and visualization tools to develop data dashboards and other interactive presentations for purposeful reporting, publicity, marketing, and advocacy in libraries and information agencies. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5203. Instructional Librarianship. Development, planning, and administration of instructional programs for adults: development of budgets, program objectives, assessments, marketing plans, community assessments, and needs surveys. Creation, delivery, and assessment of instructional programming. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5213. Information Sources in Business. Study of literature, information sources and services, and bibliographical aids in various fields of business such as marketing, advertising, finance, banking, management, accounting, insurance, and corporate statistics; consideration of business library operations. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5233. School Library Technology. Integration and evaluation of existing and emerging information communication technologies with emphasis on problem-solving; coding; fostering technology-related literacies; information ethics; and learners, librarians, and teachers in the digital age. Prerequisite or Co-requisite: LS 5083. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5263. Information Sources and Services. Survey of print and electronic reference tools; terminology, techniques, and concepts of modern reference service; question-negotiation and formulation of effective search strategies; evaluation of information sources and services. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5303. The Public Library. Background of modern American public library; organization and administration; philosophy; services for types of patrons with special needs; performance measures; regional and state development; federal and state aid programs; current trends. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5313. The College and University Library. Administrative principles and practices as applied to college and university libraries; standards, services, materials, personnel, budget, quarters, reports, and statistics. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5323. The Special Library. History and theory of special library management; organization; management of special materials; relationship of librarian to staff, clientele, and upper management; standards of special librarianship. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5333. School Library Management. Evidence-based practice in school library management with emphasis on planning, leadership and advocacy, stakeholder relationships, programming and services, access, collections, and library program evaluation. Prerequisite: LS 5233. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5343. Youth Programs. History, philosophy, and objectives of library service to youth; organization and administration; emphasis on programming and service with special attention to multicultural needs of today's youth; techniques of booktalking and storytelling. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5363. Health Sciences Information Services Management. Health science library management, including needs assessment; stakeholder identification; program, project, and service planning; and outcome evaluation within a framework of evidence-based practice. Three seminar hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5383. Library Management. Administrative theory, organizational planning, leadership styles, decision-making, problem solving, and other aspects of the management process applied to libraries. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5403. Library Technology Systems. Planning, selection, migration, implementation, and assessment of library-related issues and trends involving library systems, including software, hardware, metadata, library and technology industry standards and trends. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5413. Systems Analysis and Design for Libraries. Systems concepts: analysis of libraries as systems; systems analysis tools; functional models; information flow models; project and process management models. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5443. School Library Collaborations. Collaboration in school libraries with emphasis on the role of the school librarian as a teaching partner in resource-based learning within the curriculum and as a partner in the school and larger community. Prerequisite: LS 5233. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5473. Health Reference Services and Resources. Health care reference resources, tools, techniques, and services in library and health care settings. Evidence-based practice, reference service models, resources and their advanced use, ethics in health information provision, and trends and issues in health reference services. Three seminar hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5483. Patient and Consumer Health Information. Concepts and trends in consumer and patient health information services, including consumer health literacy, informatics, and e-health, with consideration of research on social determinants of health and health disparities. Three seminar hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5493. Information Sources and Services in Humanities and Social Sciences. Survey of print and electronic tools and services in the humanities and the social sciences; terminology, techniques, information needs, and seeking behavior of researchers, practitioners, and general public. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5513. Advanced Information Retrieval. Information behavior theories; advanced retrieval techniques and resources including grey literature and data sources; documentation of processes, scholarly communication, and critical assessment of research. Prerequisite: LS 5053 or permission of instructor. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5523. Equity and Inclusion in the Information Professions. Investigation and application of core concepts from critical theory and scholarship regarding diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice to the information professions. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5573. Web Development for the Information Professions. Techniques, concepts, and principles and techniques associated with learning (X)HTML and CSS coding for user-friendly website development. Identifying, using, and evaluating Internet information resources. Learning the history of the Internet. Understanding current Internet issues and trends. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5603. Materials for Children and Young Adults. Survey of materials for children and young adults. Emphasis on reading interests, professional evaluation, educational uses, and readers' advisory. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5623. Advanced Materials for Children and Young Adults. Critical selection and evaluation of materials meeting interests, needs, and abilities of children and young adults in a contemporary, pluralistic society; with an emphasis on current issues. Prerequisite: LS 5603. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5633. Art of Storytelling. Examination of folk literature of world cultures as a source of materials for storytelling; storytelling techniques including selection of materials, preparation, and presentation; planning story hours and other folk literature based programs. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5643. Literacy Programs in Libraries. Role of libraries in promoting literacy. Particular emphasis upon public library family literacy programs, the emergent literacy process, government programs, workplace literacy, ESL literacy programs, and cultural literacy. Planning and proposal development for literacy programs, including needs assessment, goal setting, and evaluative methods. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5653. Multicultural Literature for Children and Young Adults. Literature for children and young adults which reflects the culture and experiences of African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, and Native Americans; selection guidelines, evaluation of literary quality, cultural authenticity, and educational uses. Prerequisite: LS 5603. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5663. Poetry for Children and Young Adults. Major poets, titles, and anthologies of contemporary poetry published for children and young adults; reading and responding to poetry for young people; sharing poetry with children; understanding poetic forms and formats, incorporating multicultural poetry, making curricular connections, and fostering children's responses to poetry. Prerequisite: LS 5603. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5713. Scholarly Communication. Creation, organization, dissemination, evaluation, and preservation of scholarly works including the principles, history, and challenges of various modes of traditional and open access publishing. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5723. Advanced Cataloging and Classification. Advanced theory and practice in library cataloging and classification in a wide variety of formats and subjects; study of current trends and issues. Prerequisite: LS 5103 or equivalent. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5753. Research Methods. Methods and techniques of research applicable to problems in library and information studies. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5823. Library Marketing and Advocacy. Customer service, publicity, use of technology for publicity, public relations, networking, professionalism, and other aspects of marketing and advocacy applied to public, school, academic, and special libraries. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5833. Information Ethics. History of ethics and ethical issues librarians will encounter as information professionals; framework in which to analyze ethical concerns. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5841. Practicum. Professionally supervised work experience in approved school, public, academic, or special libraries. One-hundred and twenty hours of work experience; students seeking School Librarian Certification admitted to MLS program complete one-hundred and sixty hours of work experience. Three practicum hours a week. Credit: One hour.

LS 5842. Practicum. Professionally supervised work experience in approved school, public, academic, or special libraries. One-hundred and twenty hours of work experience; students seeking School Librarian Certification admitted to MLS program complete one-hundred and sixty hours of work experience. Five practicum hours a week. Credit: Two hours.

LS 5843. Practicum. Professionally supervised work experience in approved school, public, academic, or special libraries. One-hundred and twenty hours of work experience; students seeking School Librarian Certification admitted to MLS program complete one-hundred and sixty hours of work experience. Eight practicum hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5901. Special Topics. An organized class for the study of a particular area or subject not offered in another scheduled course. May be repeated for credit when the specific topic of investigation varies. One lecture hour a week. Credit: One hour.

LS 5903. Special Topics. Investigation under faculty direction of special topics of particular interest to the individual student. May be repeated for credit when the specific topic of investigation varies. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5911. Independent Study. Individual study of topics in librarianship, research, or information science selected in accordance with student's interests and needs. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Credit: One hour.

LS 5913. Independent Study. Individual study of topics in librarianship, research, or information science selected in accordance with student's interests and needs. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5923. Capstone in Informatics. Culminating organization and/or community-based interdisciplinary/interprofessional project supported through informatics and technology and applied to a specific domain to demonstrate knowledge and skills acquired in the informatics program. Immersive, investigative, and reflective opportunity for deep study on a selected area of practice/application domain. Prerequisite: Completion of 24 semester credit hours. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5983. Thesis. Credit: Three hours.

LS 5993. Thesis. Prerequisite: LS 5983. Credit: Three hours.