Concentrations

There is no one path to degree completion in the program of library and information science at St. John’s.  W provide you with the opportunity to move into the world of information profession careers. What are these professions?  What follows is a sampling of career choices that you might pursue:

  • Law Librarian
  • Information Analyst
  • Public Librarian
  • School Librarian
  • Web Master

The MLS program requires six core courses (LIS 203, LIS 204, LIS 205, LIS 211 LIS 239 and LIS 240), the culminating comprehensive exam and e-portfolio for graduation.  Beyond these requirements, a student is free to select electives reflecting their individual interests and goals. 

ConcentrationAdvisor

Academic Librarianship

Dr. Rioux

Archives

Dr. Szylvian

Information Analyst

Dr. Shelfer & Dr. Vorbach

Law Librarianship

Ralph Monaco

Public Librarianship

Dr. Rioux

School LibrarianshipDr. Lee

Special Librarianship

Dr. Shelfer

Youth ServicesDr. Lee

Academic Librarianship
A concentration to prepare students for a career as an information specialist in academic environments (post-12th grade) whether in community and junior colleges, four-year liberal arts colleges or technical institutes, colleges and universities with a few graduate programs, or large-scale public and private research universities.
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Archives Librarianship
The primary task of the archivist is to establish and maintain control, both physical and intellectual, over records of enduring value. Archivists select records, a process that requires an understanding of the historical context in which the records were created, the uses for which they were intended, and their relationships to other sources. 
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Information Analyst
The Information Analyst specialization is designed to prepare students to acquire, synthesize, analyze and report information to support decision-makers when embedded into information-rich problem-solving work environments of all types. This specialization offers library generalists, topical/subject specialists and functional specialists the appropriate coursework to help them prepare for upwardly mobile careers as research managers, operations/project coordinators and library managers.
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Law Librarianship
Law librarians work in many different settings. They can be found in academic law libraries, in state- and county-level public law libraries, in court houses, government agencies, corporate legal departments, private law firms, and other environments. Their patrons range from the general public, to law students, to attorneys, and possibly judges.
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Public Librarianship
Public libraries vary widely in size of community served as well as size of library. Librarians may provide highly specialized assistance to users in large settings with large staffs. In small branch libraries or small city libraries, they may deal with all ages and kinds of patrons, run a bookmobile, or keep in touch with community organizations and schools.
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School Librarianship
The Master of Library Science (MLS) with a concentration in School Media is designed to prepare qualified professionals to teach, research, analyze, produce, and supervise the teaching/learning process of a school's library media program. In addition to the ALA-accreditation of the MLS degree, this concentration is approved and registered by the New York State Department of Education for the certification of school library media specialists (K-12).

In order to qualify for NYSED certification, students must also satisfy prerequisite coursework in pedagogy as well as the liberal arts and sciences (i.e., general education). Librarians possessing the MLS degree from a ALA-accredited institution who wish to become certified in school media must be accepted into the Advanced Certificate Program and meet all coursework, examination, and fieldwork/internship requirements.
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Special Librarianship
Special librarians are information resource experts dedicated to putting knowledge to work to attain the goals of their organizations. Their position titles are as varied as the environments in which these information professionals are employed. Today's special librarians do far more than locate and collect data for their clients.
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Youth Services
The Youth Librarianship specialization is designed to prepare students for positions as children's or YA librarians or library coordinators in public libraries, youth specialists on a regional or state level, or collection development librarians specializing in materials for youth, as well as offer library generalists appropriate coursework to help them prepare for serving a public that includes youth.
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