As a SISLT student, you may take any graduate-level SISLT course that is approved by your adviser. On this page, you can learn more about the content and tentative course offerings of those courses.

• Tentative Course Rotation (This rotation is for LIS classes offered by MU faculty. Courses for Springfield may be on a different schedule.)
• Brief Course Descriptions for All SISLT Classes including Learning Technologies classes.
• Searchable Schedule for All SISLT Courses

Extended Course Description for LIS Classess

Here are some extended descripitons for some of the courses offered by the LIS faculty. For questions about other courses, please contact the Student Coordinator.

ISLT 7301, Introduction to Information Technology (3 credits)

The objectives of this required introductory IT course are:

• To more effectively use information products and services by:
• Understanding the marketplaces associated with accessing bibliographic sources and services in a networked environment.
• Interacting with local and networked information collections.
• To further student understanding regarding the creation of content, access to information in a digital environment, and the role of information technologies in professional settings.
• To introduce topics representing selective related coursework offered by the School of Information Science and Learning Technologies (SISLT) as electives within the various professional degree programs, including Integrated Library Systems, online Databases, Digital Libraries and related topics.

The course delivery mode includes a combination of on site lab work (web page creation), face-to-face classroom presentations, and distributed learning environments supported by Blackboard.

ISLT 7305, Foundations of Library and Information Science (1 credit)

Development of the library as an institution; role of the library and librarians in 21st century; background, contexts, organizations and key issues related to library & information science, and the information professions. 7305 is self-paced. Course content covers basic information in library and information science that MU’s LIS faculty regards as foundational knowledge for all students entering the program. In addition, the course content and structure provide basic information about the program and an introduction to the faculty. This course also fulfills the Introductory Seminar requirement for school library certification students. Requirements include guided reading in the field and successful completion of related assessments.

ISLT 7312, Principles of Cataloging & Classification (3 credits)

How are materials organized in a modern information center? How do description and access support users in their efforts to find and retrieve these materials? What standards and technologies help in storing, sharing, and making findable the records for these materials? Principles of Cataloging and Classification explores both the theory and practice of the creation of library metadata using current standards and tools. Principles that guide the work, recent developments in the field, and future trends in cataloging and access are highlighted in this class.

ISLT 7313, Managing Collections & Access (3 credits)

This course covers many aspects of the management and development of collections for libraries and information agencies. Topics include the selection of print and online materials, formats of materials, collection development policies, acquisitions of materials and approval plans, cooperative collection development, collecting for particular communities of users, intellectual property, intellectual freedom and censorship, diversity of information, licensing, digital rights management and access issues with information resources, the role of government information in collections, publishing and e-publishing, and the evaluation of collections.

ISLT 7314, Reference Sources and Services (3 credits)

One of the primary tasks of librarianship is locating information and making it available to people who are seeking that information. This course gives you experience using some of the principle tools for seeking information and the criteria necessary to evaluate those tools: printed reference books, fee-based databases, and the “free” Web. You’ll learn about the reference interview and how to seek information from library users, search strategies to use with reference tools, “library use instruction,” or teaching people how to use the library themselves, and how reference services are being reorganized in these modern times.This course is required of all students. It focuses on reference service, a public service; however, students seeking careers in technical services will benefit from learning about information-seeking strategies and design of reference tools.

ISLT 7315, Management of Information Agencies (3 credits)

This course focuses on management principles and theories related to the practice of librarianship in academic, public, school, and special libraries. However, often non-library information systems are brought into the discussion (e.g., museums, publishing houses, web developers, mass media producers, e-government). This class will help you assemble a toolbox of management tools and models for you to use when you find yourself in management and leadership positions. Topics in this class include the role of power in leadership, bureaucracies, organizational vision, public policy, decision-making, evaluation of programs, services, and organizations, budgeting, human resources, conflict, communication, organizational culture and change.

ISLT 7334, Library Information Systems (3 credits)

Focus on the collection of Library Information Systems, from the Library Systems marketplace, to the Online Database Industry, and beyond to sources such as Digital Libraries and e-Books and E-journals. Explores integrated online library systems from the system, functional, and end user perspectives. Includes management approaches for procurement and operation of such systems.This course is delivered asynchronously using Blackboard.

ISLT 7380, School Library Practicum (1-3 credits)

Directed, inquiry-based experiences in school libraries; pre-service action research supports continuous evolution as an LMS. Admission to MA, initial certification or 24 LIS credit hours taken at MU; instructor permission required.7380 School Library Practicum consists of a minimum of 12 full school days on site under the direct supervision of a qualified Library Media Specialist mentor (LMS). The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) requires a minimum of two credit hours of practicum in the content area for advanced and initial certification. Practicum may be divided and taken in 1 credit hour segments over two successive semesters. Initial certification students are encouraged to enroll in one credit hour of practicum during the first fall semester after being admitted to the Initial Certification Program.

ISLT 9401, Libraries in School Communities (3 credits)

Learning theory & styles; information literacy standards for K-12 learners; guided inquiry. Action research as reflective practice, inquiry and evalution/action. Mircopolitics, diversity in school communities.Required for K-12 Library Media Specialist Certification in Missouri. Recommended as the first course taken in the certification sequence; usually offered in fall semesters. Learn about school libraries as third space where students’ out-of-school knowledge and experiences intersect with curricular, content oriented ways of knowing. Students become versed in the theory and process of backwards instructional design (Understanding by Design), and explore principles of problem-solving and action research as approaches to evidence-based practice in school libraries. Course content also looks at the culture of schools and schooling, and the micropolitics of library work in the school community.

ISLT 9404, School Library Administration (3 credits)

Program development, budget process, planning cycle, evaluation; resources and services for diverse school constituencies. Effects of national, state, district guidelines, standards and policies on K-12 school libraries.Required for K-12 Library Media Specialist Certification in Missouri. This course fulfills the core adminsitration requirement for master’s degree students. Welcome to the nuts and bolts of managing a school library and its programs. Learn about budgets, policies, procedures, planning, integrated administration and electronic catalog systems, dealing with vendors, creating an inviting space for students, professional organizations – and that’s just the beginning. Offered in summer; great companion course for 9406.

ISLT 9406, Curriculum & School Libraries (3 credits)

Focuses on integrating school library program resources with curriculum to support student achievement. Inquiry learning/information problem-solving, student learning styles, evidence-based practice; negotiating teaching partnerships.Required for K-12 Library Media Specialist Certification in Missouri. Explore the principles and processes of guided inquiry learning in school libraries. Expand your understanding of backwards instructional design in the context of inquiry-based teaching/learning, and discover similarities and differences in different information problem-solving models. Learn ways school librarians can collaborate and support school-wide learning goals through curriculum mapping, outreach and negotiating teaching partnerships. Offered in summer; great companion course for 9404.

ISLT 9409, Digital Libraries (3 credits)

This course is supported by an online learning environment that combines instructor-prepared content and threaded asynchronous discussions on selected topics relating to the design, development, and implementation of practical digital libraries. Research directives within the broad domain of digital library development are also covered. This course is delivered asynchronously using Blackboard.

ISLT 9412, Information Storage and Retrieval (3 credits)

Introduces students to concepts and terminology associated with the storage and retrieval of bibliographic information. Emphasizes design of applied database management systems. One portion of the course is offered in a “lab mode” where students tackle the concepts and skills associated with developing an actual set of routines using the MySQL database development environment. This course is delivered asynchronously using Blackboard.

ISLT 9413, Management of Electronic Resources (3 credits)

This course is a good follow-up to 7313 Managing Collections and Access. Electronic resources are a growing part of library materials in all types of libraries. Course content explores the management of library electronic resources with particular focus on subscription resources such as databases, e-books and e-serials. The course follows the lifecycle of e-resources beginning with selection, acquisition, vendor relations, negotiation, licensing, work flow, librarian – technician relations, administrative modules, underlying technologies including OpenURL and federated searching, evaluation, statistics, preserving access and presentation of e-resources to users. All librarians benefit from a better understanding of the complications and challenges presented by electronic resources.

ISLT 9420, Information in the Disciplines (3 credits)

Libraries are an essential part of academia. Librarians have assumed an increasingly important role as department liaisons in addition to or as an alternative to reference service. In order to provide this kind of service, librarians must have a better understanding of their academic counterparts. This course provides an understanding of how and why information is produced, stored, and communicated in the humanities, social science and science disciplines. Students will study how scholars look at their worlds, how the academic and national research entities impact knowledge creation, how research is disseminated, how careers are made, and how scholars deal with job pressures. Students will also learn about core resources in the disciplines. This course is more conceptual by design, providing a good foundation for any librarian entering the field.

ISLT 9428, History of Books and Printing (3 credits)

Course objectives include enabling students to: 1. Comprehend the distinctions between oral and written communication; 2. Understand the confluence of influences that led to the development of printing; 3. Critically examine the impact of printing on religion, science, and other human endeavors; 4. Understand how printing affected life in the United States; 5. Evaluate the current state of formal communication and how it extrapolates and/or departs from the past; and 6. Assess the history as it influences the processes of reading and reception of texts. The pre-history of printing is necessary so that a context is provided for examination of the study of writing and texts, especially as they differ from oral communication. The pre-history also presents some introduction to religious, social, economic, and other influences that contributed to the beginnings of printing. Printing itself is examined primarily as a social and cultural development, albeit a development with far-reaching implications. The impact of printing on the general tenor of the Renaissance, Reformation, and Enlightenment periods is highlighted and discussed in some depth. Effects on religion, politics, scholarship, and other aspects of life are investigated. The boom of printing in the nineteenth century and the spread of mass-market printing to the United States are studied as transformational events. The extension of the study books and printing to reading in general and of the growth of what can be called an information age sums up the historical analysis.

ISLT 9431, Children’s Library Materials (3 credits)

Critical analysis of library materials for young people birth-12. Emphasis on historical perspective, current trends, social context and popular culture as they affect materials for children. This course centers on children, their books, and their culture. It is designed for individuals who have youth services librarianship in a public or school library as a career goal. Course requirements include extensive reading of books written for very young children, elementary school age children and early ‘tweens. Offered in fall semester; uses a book discussion format.

ISLT 9433, Youth Services in Libraries (3 credits)

Children and teenagers are different from adults, with different reasons for and benefits from using the library. Child and adolescent development serves as the foundation for this course, and from that you will build developmentally-appropriate programs for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, elementary -age, and teenage library users. We will learn how to analyze the library’s community, strategies to reach out to the youth population and their caregivers, and tools to select materials for children.This course is appropriate for public librarians who will work with children or teenagers. It is also an approved elective for school library media candidates.

ISLT 9434, Teen Library Materials (3 credits)

Evaluation, selection of print, alternate formats for teens, 13-18 (Gr .7-12). Personal, social, popular culture contexts of teen readers and texts; emphasizes reader response; challenges common assumptions about teens and reading.Teen Lit centers on teen readers. The lens of teen culture and reader response to text are used to examine books, magazines, music, assorted formats and other materials of interest to teens. Students read an average of two-to-three novel length titles each week from a variety of genres and formats. The course follows a book discussion format. Offered in spring semester.

ISLT 9435, Adult Services in Libraries (3 credits)

Adults are the primary users of public and academic libraries, and this course focuses on the ways they use libraries and seek information. The course will focus on analyzing the community of library users and potential users, developing programs and outreach to attract those people, and looking at the role of reading for adults. The course will also look at particular population segments, including older adults, people with disabilities, and ethnically and racially diverse populations.This course is particularly appropriate for future public librarians, but people working toward academic or special librarianship will also benefit.

ISLT 9437, Reader Advisory Services (3 credits)

Reading for enjoyment is a popular pastime, but finding a good book can be challenging. This course will help you help others who are seeking that good book. The major work of this course is reading novels from various genres and discussing them with your classmates. However, this discussion is based on reader advisory and book selection theories proposed by librarians, and is framed by the question, “What features stand out about this book, and what is its appeal?” Another major element is developing a plan to promote and market your collection of materials.This course is appropriate for public librarians anticipating working with an adult audience, but public librarians who work with youth and academic librarians may also benefit from the course.

ISLT 9443, The Academic Library (3 credits)

The course objectives include enabling the students to: 1. Understand the history and contemporary structure of higher education; 2. Appreciate the place of the library in higher education; 3. Have a grasp of the organization and functions of academic libraries; 4. Realize the challenges and opportunities facing higher education and academic libraries; 5. Glimpse the future of academic libraries; and 6. Understand the position of and the demands on the academic librarian. Beginning with some history of higher education and libraries, the course content progresses through the organizational cultures of higher education environments and to the scholarly communication system with which faculty work and libraries operate. Coverage of the management, operations, and governance of libraries helps to locate the library within the financial and organizational structure of colleges and universities. Specific concerns of libraries and librarians are also discussed in some depth; these topics include the funding of libraries, the collections and access mechanisms that provide college and university communities with resources, and the role of the academic librarian in support institutions’ missions. Some particular elements of support, such as providing for the information literacy of students and contributing to institutions’ general education programs are highlighted. Matters internal to the library, including meeting standards and conducting evaluation of all library operations, are included.

ISLT 9444, The Public Library (3 credits)

Tax-supported and open to all, the “free” public library balances its roles of education and entertainment in an attempt to attract more users, define a role within the community, and provide a safe place for expressing ideas. This course provides a basic overview of public libraries, including their history, missions, and societal roles. We’ll also look at how public libraries are funded, organized, and managed, with some focus on state library laws and the role of Library Trustees.This course is geared toward people who are planning to become public librarians.

ISLT 9449, Information Resources in Business (3 credits)

The course covers the basic concepts and resources of business information found in public, academic and special libraries. Students gain an understanding of the types of questions and information needs of business students and practitioners. Students learn the content and navigation of commonly used business resources; students conference with the best practitioners in the field; students examine library services to business information consumers at all levels from children through senior citizens, and students work on a case-based business development project. Students are assisted in learning business concepts through their translation in the library environment. Topics covered include company information, industry information, investment information, statistical information, marketing information, and GIS applications.

ISLT 9450, Introduction to Research in Library and Information Studies (3 credits)

Course objectives include enabling the student to: 1. Understand the nature and purpose of research in library and information science; 2. Be able to place research in the perspective of library and information science as a profession and as a discipline; 3. Understand the differences and uses of methodologies; 4. Select a methodology appropriate to a specific problem or question; 5. Apply some basic statistical measures and 6. Evaluate critically published research. The primary purpose of the course is to enable students to understand the purposes and practices of research, so greater attention is paid to the purposes of research than to specific methodologies. The nature of research in science and the social sciences is investigated and both similarities and differences are investigated. The importance of framing questions is emphasized, so the identification of sources of questions is covered in some depth. The questions relate to argument; the structure of logical progression from an initial question to hypotheses, expectations, and elements of problems is included. Some methodological practices are covered (with attention to purpose as well as to execution). Surveys, citation analysis, historical research, some introductory coverage of descriptive and inferential statistics (along with sampling), and qualitative research are some methodologies that may be covered. Research ethics, along with the practical mechanisms of publishing and presenting work, is also explored. Students will be asked to review published research in light of the conceptual and methodological foundations of the course.

ISLT 9481, School Library Internship (4-8 credits)

Required for Initial Certification students only. 15 weeks (full days) of supervised practice in K-12 school libraries. Emphasizes effective professional skills, attitudes and dispositions essential to library work in a school community.9481 School Library Internship consists of a minimum of 15 weeks of full school days on-site under the direct supervision of an experienced LMS mentor. The internship may be divided and taken in 4 credit hour segments over two successive semesters. This is not an infrequent occurrence, particularly for students who work part-time jobs. Full school days for the School Library Internship are defined as active participation in the professional work of an LMS from the time the LMS mentor arrives on site until the LMS leaves at the end of the day. Many LMSs work extended hours. Students should be aware of this and plan accordingly.

ISLT 9410, Copyright & Libraries (3 credits)

An introductory and practical course covering the foundations of copyright as it applies to libraries, including fair use, library copying, reserves, interlibrary loan, the showing of movies and managing copyright in the public, academic and school environments. Also covers related laws including the DMCA and the TEACH Act.

ISLT 9410, Ethics and Information (3 credits)

Course objectives include enabling the student to: 1. Be familiar with the basic concepts of ethics; 2. Understand the particular ethical challenges in the context of information and its use; 3. Be able to apply ethical norms to the production, dissemination, and use of information; 4. Apply professional ethics in all relations with communities and individuals; and 5. Comprehend and apply ethical norms within librarianship and libraries (and all information agencies). It must be recognized that thought and theory about ethics and ethical action have long histories. Classical, medieval, Enlightenment, and modern ethical conceptions must be examined and evaluated. The application of ethics to information includes the production, dissemination, and use of informational artifacts and products. Such elements as research are examined with particular attention to ethical norms and the effects of violation of the norms. For librarians, the building and maintenance of collections and access mechanisms come under ethical scrutiny. Particular attention is paid to professional ethics, and the relation that librarians have with the members of their communities; thus relationship includes duties and responsibilities that librarians have. The responsibilities include careful scrutiny of statements that emanate from professional associations. Such elements as the practice of intellectual freedom are examined in the context of the communities served and the ways that informational products are produced. Services are also investigated, for example as accuracy and completeness of responses represent duties.

ISLT 9410, Intellectual Freedom and Its Discontents (3 credits)

Course objectives include enabling every student to: 1. Understand the philosophical background of intellectual freedom; 2. Identify any of the several foundations that are applied; 3. Critique the entirety of the thought on intellectual freedom in librarianship and beyond; 4. Realize the kinds of challenges that can arise and the reasons people give for them; and 5. Understand the position of and the demands on the librarian. One of the first, and most pressing, elements of examining (and applying) intellectual freedom is defining precisely what it is. The issue of freedom is one that philosophers, such as John Stuart Mill, have broached for some time. Their discussions must be examined seriously so that the background they provide can be assessed for adoption in librarianship. Professional associations, ALA in particular, have offered statements such as the Library Bill of Rights. The statements have to be read carefully and critically to determine the extent to which they can be applied or present difficulties for professional practice. Intellectual freedom has also been brought up in legal contexts, especially with regard to the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. There are many, and contested, opinions about legal groundings for freedom with that context of the First Amendment. More recent legislation and legal opinion complicates the task of defining freedom and arriving at library policies and practices that embrace intellectual freedom in a consistent and reasonable way. For example, people, including librarians, question whether adults and children can be treated in exactly the same ways. Further, the limits of freedom are addressed; questions relating to hate speech and pornography cannot be avoided. The complexity of intellectual freedom includes the role that truth might play in speech.

ISLT 9410, International & Comparative Librarianship (3 credits)

Libraries and information access are valued not just in the United States, but globally. This course looks at culture and its influences in library development. We focus on national libraries, museums, and LIS education in various countries, global and international information policies, paying particular comparative emphasis on developed and developing nations. Throughout the course, students research the library and information infrastructure in one particular country, sharing the results of their research with their classmates, who in turn share their results.This course is traditionally offered in a compressed eight-week format. It’s a fun course, but it’s still a lot of work. It is appropriate for anyone with international interests.