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Designed for Georgia's 21st century information environment

The Department of Library and Information Studies at Valdosta State University educates a diverse community of online learners in the core competencies and values of the library and information professions, provides students with learning opportunities in traditional and emerging information environments, and prepares graduates to serve in a rapidly changing information society.

The Program offers:

• A 39-hour non-thesis program
• Professors dedicated to distance education methods
• Flexible scheduling and Web-based instruction
• Employability within Georgia and the United States
• Affordable tuition and fees
• Options for students who cannot leave jobs and families to return to a single campus for extended periods

The MLIS Program accepts applications for admission in Fall and Spring semesters.

• All applications are made through the VSU Graduate School.
• The deadline for Fall admissions is March 15
• The deadline for Spring admissions is October 15

The MLIS Program at Valdosta State University is fully accredited under the American Library Association Standards for Accreditation of Master’s Programs in Library and Information Studies. Accreditation was granted in 2007. To maintain this accreditation the MLIS Program underwent a comprehensive review visit on November 10-12, 2013.  On January 26, 2014 ALA COA informed The MLIS Program that COA voted to grant continued accreditation status to the program leading to the degree of Master of Library and Information Science at Valdosta State University.

 

 

MLIS Department News 

February 22, 2021. VSU MLIS alumni and faculty are among the founding members of the Georgia Library Association’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) taskforce, established in Fall 2020. Alumni Chaun Campos (Georgia State University) and Robert Taylor (Valdosta State University) are the co-chairs. MLIS faculty member Dr. Nicole Alemanne and current student Sarah Rodgers (Oglethorpe University) are among the members of the taskforce. The EDI task force’s initial charge is to make specific recommendations for GLA and its units to address issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion in the organization, in libraries in the state, and in the profession.  Read about the group’s work at https://gla.georgialibraries.org/gla-initiative-an-edi-task-force/ and see the roster at https://gla.georgialibraries.org/about/edi_task_force/

February 2, 2021. Talia Chaves and Sarah Rodgers, students in the VSU Master of Library and Information Science Program, are among the 20 students recently awarded Spectrum Scholarships, The American Library Association announced: http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2021/01/twenty-additional-2020-2021-spectrum-scholarships-funded-anonymous-donor

Spectrum Scholarships are typically awarded over the summer, but the ALA received a $170,000 gift from an anonymous donor to provide additional scholarships to the 2020-21 cohort.

Chavez and Rodgers join one other MLIS student, Charles Pratt IV, an AASL  Inspire Scholar, who was awarded a Spectrum Scholarship in July 2020 http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2020/07/ala-awards-spectrum-scholarships-2020

“Through the Spectrum Scholarship program http://www.ala.org/advocacy/spectrum, the American Library Association seeks to encourage the broadest participation of new generations of racially and ethnically diverse librarians. The Spectrum Scholarship Program annually recruits and provides scholarships to American Indian/Native, Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Middle Eastern and North African, and/or Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander students to assist with obtaining a graduate degree and leadership positions within the profession and ALA.”

Previous VSU MLIS recipients of ALA Spectrum Scholarships
2019 Amanie Mahmood
2018 Jungwon DeVone
2016 Yolanda Bergstrom-Lynch (ACRL Scholar)
2015 Lynnette Kendrick
2012 Amanda Davis (AASL Spectrum Scholar)

 

June 3, 2020. The American Library Association Committee on Accreditation (ALA COA) has made the decision to offer a one year delay of scheduled visit date to accredited program in light of the COVID-19 pandemic disruption and its impacts on institutions and travel. The VSU MLIS program was scheduled for our comprehensive review visit in October of 2020 so will now have our accreditation continued through 2021, with our comprehensive review visit now scheduled for October 2021. Please see the ALA Office of Accreditation homepage at http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/accreditation  and their Schedule of Comprehensive Reviews for confirmation of the date of the VSU MLIS Comprehensive Review visit. Please see the Office for Accreditation’s Prism Newsletter – linked from the same page - for more details on their response to the COVID-19 pandemic disruptions.

March 19, 2020. VSU MLIS was recently listed as the second most affordable online library science program in 2020 by ONLINEU.  Please see 2020 Most Affordable Online Master's Library Science Degrees: #2 for more information about this ranking. 

January 10, 2020. Georgia Public Library Awards for 2019 Honor VSU MLIS Alumni and Instructor

Alumnus Stephen Houser (MLIS 2012), Director of the Twin Lakes Library System, has been named Georgia Public Librarian of the Year for 2019 by the Georgia Public Library Service, for his efforts to lead his library system through a very public and political local funding crisis, as well as launch innovative and nationally recognized programs. https://georgialibraries.org/georgia-public-library-awards-honor-states-first-black-public-library-director-the-okefenokee-regional-library-system-and-more/

Georgia’s Library Champion of the Year is Dr. Gordon Baker, former library trustee and library board chair for Henry County Public Library, Dean Emeritus of the Clayton State Libraries, and currently part-time instructor for the MLIS program. Dr. Baker also established the Baker Family Scholarship for deserving MLIS students who reside in Georgia. Dr. Baker and his family have a deep connection to the City of Valdosta and to Valdosta State University and the former Valdosta State College for Women. In addition to his current work with the MLIS Program, Dr. Baker has volunteered to serve on the Board of trustees for the Live Oak Public Libraries in his new home in Savannah.

 

January 7, 2020, Alumna Amanda Roper (MLIS 2018) has been named one of 50 American Library Association Emerging Leaders for 2020: https://rusaupdate.org/2020/01/amanda-roper-has-been-selected-as-our-2020-emerging-leader/

Amanda is the Night/Weekend/Tennessee Reconnect Librarian at Chattanooga State Community College in Tennessee, where she focuses in infusing creativity into library outreach and instruction.  She is sponsored and supported by the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), a division of the American Library Association. RUSA serves all types of libraries in reference, user services, adult readers advisory and collection development as well as resource sharing, genealogy and archives, business reference and reference technology.

The ALA Emerging Leaders program is designed to enable library staff and information workers with the opportunity to participate in project planning work groups, network with peers, gain an inside look into ALA structure, and have an opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity early in their careers http://www.ala.org/educationcareers/leadership/emergingleaders

May 1, 2019. Alumna Kathryn (Kat) Greer (MLIS 2013) has been named an American Library Association Emerging Leader for 2019: https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/0519-al.pdf

Kat is the Systems and Digital Content Librarian at Georgia Gwinnett College. She is sponsored and supported by the Library and Information Technology Association (LITA), a division of the American Library Association.  LITA empowers libraries through technology. ALA’s Emerging Leaders program enables newer library workers to participate in problem-solving work groups, network with peers, gain an inside look into ALA structure, and have an opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity. Please see:  http://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2018/12/kathryn-greer-named-2019-lita-emerging-leader  for more information about Kat’s background, experience, and goals for participating in the Emerging Leaders program.

October 12, 2018 Valdosta State University is ranked in the 2019 Most Affordable Online Colleges for Library Science for the Master of Library and Information Science program by SR Education Group. These rankings represent online schools across the nation that are making an effort to provide economical options for students. SR Education Group manually researched the tuition of every college offering fully online degrees to determine and rank the most affordable choices. Valdosta State University made the rankings at 1st for Master's Degrees in Library Science! The full list is available here:https://www.onlineu.org/most-affordable-colleges/library-science-masters-degrees

 

February 1, 2018 Valdosta State University was ranked #8 overall in the mastersprogramsguide.com published ranking of the top 50 institutions for online Master of Library Science degree programs of 2018 https://www.mastersprogramsguide.com/rankings/best-online-masters-library-science/. Master’s Programs Guide’s rankings are designed to help students find the best Master’s degree programs to meet their goals. Schools and programs were evaluated based on publicly available information about affordability, accreditation, student services, specializations, and accessibility.

 

Janurary 2, 2018. MLIS student Danielle Valenzano is recognized in the January/February 2018 issue ofAmerican Libraries.  Danielle recently received the Hartford Library Association’s Caroline M. Hewlins Scholarship. The $4,000 scholarship is given to an individual who plans to specialize inlibrary work with children.  Please see http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=466b25a1-b340-4e6b-99a0-0c9daed5ec64 for the full text of the announcement.

November 28, 2017. The Roaming Librarian, a new feature of the UW Tacoma library, has become the go-to resource for students to seek out research tips for classwork. The program was started by Erich Dewald, a graduate student from Voldosta State University. He graduated from the Master of Library and Information Science program at VSU as well as the Bachelor of Urban Studies from UWT, and has been working in libraries for over 10 years. The full article is available here

September 21, 2017. Valdosta State University is ranked in the 2018 Top Online Colleges for Master's in Library Science by SR Education Group! This ranking is based on value. SREducation analyzed accredited online schools across the nation, taking into consideration academic strength factors along with manually researched tuition rates in order to provide a list of colleges offering the best value to students. Inclusion on this list shows high academic standards and a commitment to affordability, two key factors important to prospective students. Valdosta State University made the ranking at 6th for Master's Degrees in Library Science! The full list is available here:http://www.guidetoonlineschools.com/degrees/library-science#best-value

August 18, 2017. MLIS students Heather Smith and Amanda Roper have won the 2017 Georgia Library Association Scholarships. Heather has received the Beard Scholarship and Amanda won the Hubbard scholarship.  These two awards are given annually by GLA to provide financial Assistance for students pursuing a master's degree in library science.  For more information please see http://glanews.blogspot.com/2017/08/2017-gla-scholarship-winners.html?m=1

April 7, 2017.  MLIS Associate Professor Dr. Colette Drouillard has been selected as one of six fellows who will participate in the American Library Association (ALA) and Google Inc. Phase II of the Libraries Ready to Code project, which launched in January 2017. The faculty cohort will develop graduate-level course models that equip Master of Library & Information Science (MLIS) students to deliver coding programs through public and school libraries. RtC Fellows will collaborate in redesigning select media/technology courses from their respective institutions to embed RtC concepts. After teaching the redesigned courses in Fall 2017, the RtC Fellows will share their revised syllabi and course models with colleagues across the LIS community and serve as ambassadors to encourage other LIS faculty to embed RtC concepts in their curricula. The project will be evaluated for impact and effectiveness, and findings will be broadly disseminated.    

Then link to this story: http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2017/04/ala-announces-libraries-ready-code-faculty-fellows 

August 3, 2016. Congratulations to VSU MLIS student Katie Mitchell!  Katie is this year’s Georgia Library Association C.S. Hubbard scholarship winner. Katie graduated from the University of Georgia with a B.S. in Psychology and the University of West Georgia with an M.Ed. in School Library Media.  She has worked in various library environments, including academic, public, and private libraries, and now serves as the Branch Manager at the Neva Lomason Memorial Library, part of the West Georgia Regional Library System. 

August 2, 2016. MLIS Department Head Dr. Linda Most was recently reappointed by Governor Nathan Deal to the Georgia State Board for the Certification of Librarians. The Board is responsible for ensuring that librarians who work for public libraries in the State of Georgia meet certain minimum education requirements and maintain their certification by completing the required number of continuing education hours.  Please see this link for more information about the Georgia Board of Librarians.

June 14, 2016. Attending ALA in Orlando? Please join VSU MLIS at the ALA MLIS Reunions event on Sunday, June 26th. Time & Location: 5:30 - 7:30 pm in the Hilton Orlando Room, Lake Eola A. This is a convocation of MLIS programs from across North America. Look for the Valdosta State University table to reunite with faculty, former classmates, and current students. Appetizers provided. Cash bar. Visit us at booth #1150 in the Library School & Instruction Pavilion. Get a VSU MLIS ribbon - add it to your badge—wear it with pride!

June 9, 2016. Two VSU MLIS representatives will be at the Master of Library Science Program Fair on Saturday June 18 from 2:00 – 4:00 pm in Atlanta at Oglethorpe University’s Turner Lynch Campus Center. To learn more please click here. 

August 18, 2014

VSU MLIS alumni are prominently featured in the Summer 2014 issue of the Georgia Library Quarterly, V. 51, Issue 3, available at http://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1814&context=glq 

Go to the MLIS Department News page for more details.
And please continue to check back for future updates and news.

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