Library Media Specialist (within or post MSLIS)

Pratt's Library Media Specialist (LMS) Program with the MSLIS is accredited by New York State Regents and leads to New York State teacher certification in LMS.  The LMS program is also available post master's to students holding an MLS from an ALA accredited program.

Who is this program designed for?

For people who have already completed a Master of Library Science degree (MLS) and wish to return to school to complete the requirements for NYS teacher certification as Library Media Specialist (LMS).

Why participate in this program?

Through LMS program, you will earn New York State teacher certification in LMS. This training will allow you to legally work as a school librarian in New York Public Schools. This rigorous and exciting program prepares MLS’s to work with any population of learners, especially youth. You will have the opportunity to learn both in the graduate classroom and in hands-on P-12 classroom settings, first as an observer, and then as a student teacher.

Admission to the MSLIS/LMS Program requires:

Prior completion of a Master of Library Science degree from an ALA certified institute of higher education

Admission to Pratt Institute School of Information and Library Science; if you received your MLS at Pratt SILS, you must reapply.

Application, interview and approval by the Coordinator of the School Library Media Programs and the Dean. This application is separate and in addition to the application for admission to the Graduate School of Information and Library Science. GRE scores of 1150 are highly recommended (other evidence of eligibility may be substituted with the approval of the Dean and Coordinator). Applicants will be required to compose a writing sample at the time of interview. Since admission to Pratt SILS does not guarantee admission to the LMS track, applicants are urged to contact the Coordinator before beginning the application procedure.

Pedagogical Core in Education. Students who already hold NYS teacher certification or who hold a degree from a certified institute of higher education with a major in Education may already satisfy this requirement. Students who are deficit in this area may be provisionally accepted into the program and will be required to take a specified pedagogical core of Education courses. (see below)

Liberal Arts and Science Requirement as per NYSED. Students who are deficit in this area may be provisionally accepted into the program and will be required to take undergraduate-level coursework at a certified institution of higher education and present transcripts of successful completion to fulfill this requirement (see below).
 
Requirements for Completion of the MSLIS/LMS Program:

Full admission to program, as per requirements listed above
Required coursework (see below)
Required field hours and student teaching (see below)
Workshop in Child Abuse Identification
Workshop Fire and Violence Prevention
Fingerprinting, per New York City DOE and New York State
Passing scores on NYS Teacher Certification Examinations: Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST), the Assessment of Teaching Skills-Written (ATS-W), and the Content Specialty Test (CST)

For students beginning in the Fall 2012, a digital portfolio is required.

 Required LMS Courses

• LIS 648 - Library Media Centers (including 25 hrs. field observation)
• LIS 676 - Literature and Literacy for Children
• LIS 677 - Literature and Literacy for Young Adults
• LIS 680 - Instructional Technology
• LIS 690 - Student Teaching I - Grades 1-6 (20 full days in an approved New York City School Library) 
• LIS 692 - Student Teaching II - Grades 7-12 (20 full days an approved New York City School Library)
• Total 18 credits in Library Media Specialist coursework

Required Fieldwork and Student Teaching

Please note that 100 hours of field observation are required. Observation must be supervised by an LMS or other professional in a school library or professional development setting. At least 15 hours of observation must occur in school libraries that serve students with special needs.  Students are responsible for keeping a careful record of field observation hours and student teaching days.

Twenty full days of student teaching is required of all LMS students. Student teaching must take place in a school library with a cooperating LMS who has been certified as an LMS for at least three years. The LMS Coordinator must approve all student teaching placements.

Liberal Arts and Sciences

NY State requires a firm background in Liberal Arts and Sciences for all certified teachers. Upon application to the program, students must provide proof via transcripts of at least one three credit course in each of the following: Artistic Expression, Communication, History, Social Sciences, Humanities, Science, Mathematics, and Writing. Students must also provide proof via transcript of at least six credits in a language other than English.
*Students without these requirements may fulfill them during their program with permission from the Coordinator and the Dean.
 
Pedagogical Core of Education Courses

The pedagogical core is a crucial part of the LMS’s education. It is required by New York State, but crafted by the faculty at Pratt to be relevant, provocative and current for emerging educators. We believe that in the 21st century, all information professionals have an increasingly educative role, and the pedagogical core emphasizes a commitment to prioritizing this aspect of the LMS’s work.

The LMS’s role is equal parts teacher and information professional. Assisting both youth and fellow educators with their information gathering, research and literacy practices requires the LMS to have a strong sense of self understanding, as well as the language, tools and pedagogy to help others experience the library as a space of teaching and learning. The pedagogical core courses have been designed to pose questions that help the LMS consider her or his role as an educator in this unique environment.

Required courses:

• ED 608 The Roots of Urban Education – 3 credits
• ED 610 Child and Adolescent Development – 3 credits
• LIS 697-2 Serving Children and Youth With Special Needs - 3 credits (required for students beginning in Fall 2011-present)
• Total 9 credits pedagogical core courses

Students who have previous teaching certification may have partially fulfilled the pedagogical core requirement. See the LMS Coordinator for details.

For more information contact:

Professor Jessica Hochman, PhD
Assistant Professor
Coordinator of the Library Media Specialist Programs
Pratt Institute
School of Information and Library Science
144 West 14th Street
New York, N.Y.  10011
jhochman@pratt.edu

Additional information on the LMS program can be found at http://www.prattsils.org/lms.

Advanced Certificate Requirements

Applicants for advanced certificates must hold a master's degree in library science or in a closely related field. The latter students as well as students holding their library degrees from international universities may, at the discretion of the dean, be required to take additional courses on the master's level. A TOEFL score of 600 (250 computer, 100 internet) is required.