St. John’s Division of Library & Information Science is funding 40 full scholarships for students interested in earning their MLS with an emphasis on engaging underserved children and their families in using public libraries, school media centers, and museums.
Partnership for Underserved Urban Children and Families:
Connecting LIS Education, Libraries, and Museums!
St. John’s University, in partnership with the Queens Borough Public Library, the Office of School Library Services of the New York City Education Department, and the New York Hall of Science in Flushing, Queens will improve literacy and academic performance of youth in underserved metropolitan areas by recruiting and educating forty very committed students for future employment in public libraries, school library media centers, and museums in the New York City metropolitan area. This exciting degree program that focuses on families, literacy, and education has many benefits.
Tuition Benefit:
- Full tuition for 40 students; first cohort of 20 starts Spring 2008 and second cohort of 20 starts Summer 2008
Technology Benefits:
- Practical hands-on instruction (for areas where individuals and groups of students need improvement as well as updates in the latest software)
- A wireless laptop for each cohort member including specialized software packages of importance to students in the MLS program
- Access to the four fully wireless campuses in the metropolitan area (Queens, Staten Island, Manhattan, and Oakdale)
- On-campus and remote access to over 180 library databases
- Access to the University’s Information Technology support
- Workshops conducted by experts on blogs, wikis, web page design, digital libraries, virtual reference, and gamers/gaming and how these technologies can be applied in curriculum and used in libraries
Additional Benefits:
· Access to the University’s Institute for Writing Studies, an endowed program, which focuses on improving writing capabilities for students at every level
· Access to presentations by outstanding leaders in the field
· Interaction with leaders in the field
· Formal mentoring by professionals
· Membership in professional associations
· Funding for travel to conferences, such as American Library Association (ALA), the Public Library Association (PLA), the New York Library Association (NYLA), and the American Association of School Librarians (AASL)
· Funding for participation in workshops
· Internships
· Hands-on service learning projects impacting children and families in the New York City metropolitan area.
Post-MLS Commitment:
· Service to the library or museum field in the NYC metropolitan area for a minimum of three years
· Active engagement in the DLIS electronic community of St. John’s Central, which will focus on mentoring and sharing of information about trends and opportunities
· Active participation in professional organizations
St. John’s University, Division of Library and Information Science is accredited by the American Library Association and approved and registered by the New York State Department of Education for the certification of school library media specialists (K-12).
A St. John's education offers a strong theoretical foundation coupled with the practical experience necessary for success in today's work world. Through a mixture of service learning courses, special projects, field trips and internships, you will be exposed to the rich and extensive library and museum resources that only New York can offer. All of this happens in a supportive environment with world-renowned faculty and small class sizes. Classes are online and face-to-face in the afternoon, evenings, and/or weekends.
Interested in being a part of this exciting program?
Email Dr. Stacy Creel at creels@stjohns.edu for an application and more information