Library Media Specialist (MSLIS with LMS)

A Collaborative Teacher Education Program with Pratt's Department of Art and Design Education.

Earn an MSLIS with New York State Teacher Certification in LMS. Become a School librarian versed in using new media and digital tools creatively, and in teaching literacy and learning in the digital age to P-12 school children.

What we do

The Library Media Specialist program prepares students for New York State teacher certification in the area of Library Media Specialist (LMS). While we focus on preparing school librarians to work in the New York City public schools, our graduates are placed in a variety of educational settings. Many SILS LMS alums are working as school librarians in both public and private schools in the New York metropolitan area and across the Tri-State Area, in public libraries serving children and youth, in educational publishing, and curriculum design and development.

Who we are

Library Media Specialists are at the forefront of nurturing student learning and information literacy. The LMS manages the library program, which we view as a hub for the school learning community where P-12 pupils can find resources to support research, pleasure reading, technology use, and inquiry toward lifelong learning. LMS are instructional partners, teachers, information specialists, and program administrators. Our LMS Program explores a variety of literacies, from reading and writing skills to technological savvy, and our students create lesson plans and programs that support P-12 pupils to develop 21st century skills.

Student options for certification:
Students matriculated in the MSLIS degree program can apply to participate in the LMS Program as their 36-credit degree. Students who have already completed their MSLIS degree and wish to complete the LMS track can apply for the Advanced Certificate in LMS. Please note that any SILS student may register for most LMS Courses if they have met the necessary pre-requisites.

Library Media Specialist Concentration Requirements

* 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. Applicants will be required to compose a writing sample at the time of interview. If there are questions about an applicant's academic achievement, the GRE or a state exam related to teacher certification my be required for admission.

• 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 undergradute level coursework at a certified institution of higher education and present transcripts of successful completion to fulfill this requirement (see below).
• Required coursework (see below)
• Required field hours and student teaching (see below)
• Workshop in Child Abuse Identification
• Workshop in Life Safety and Violence Prevention
• Fingerprinting
• 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 in LMS (CST)

Required Coursework For Completion of MSLIS LMS Track

Core Courses in LIS

• LIS 651 - Introduction to Information Professions (includes 3 hours of field observation in a school library media center) - 3 credits
• LIS 652 - Information Services and Resources (includes 6 hours of field observation in a school library media center) - 3 credits
• LIS 653 - Knowledge Organization (includes 3 hours of field observation in a school library media center) - 3 credits
• LIS 654 - Information Technologies (includes 3 hours of field observation in a school library media center) - 3 credits

Required Courses in Library Media Specialist

• LIS 648 - Library Media Centers (includes approximately 21.25 hrs. field observation in a school library media center)
• 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 NYC)
• LIS 692 - Student Teaching II - Grades 7-12 (20 full days in NYC)

2 electives - 3 credits each/total 6 credits
TOTAL 36 credits in Library and Information Science coursework

Required Field Observations and Student Teaching

100 hours of field observation in school library media centers plus 40 full days of student teaching are required (20 elementary and 20 secondary). Student teaching is conducted in the fall or spring terms in New York City under the supervision of certified school library media specialists. At least 15 hours of fieldwork must be conducted in a school library that serves students with special needs. Field hours and student teaching must be completed, documented, and submitted to the Coordinator in order to graduate.

Liberal Arts and Science

NYS 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 credits 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.

Pedagogical Core

NYS requires a pedagogical core of education courses. The following required courses are offered at Pratt Institute, in collaboration with Art and Design Education.

Required courses

• ED 608 The Roots of Urban Education - 3 credits
• ED 610 Child and Adolescent Development - 3 credits

If you have completed a previous teaching certification, you may be eligible to waive these two courses. Please see the LMS Program Coordinator for details.

New in Spring 2013: LIS 697 Serving Children and Youth with Special Needs - 3 credits

In response to NYSED requirements, SILS will offer this new course on working with young people with special needs in library settings in Spring 2013. This course is open to all SILS students, but is required for LMS Students who enter the program in Fall 2011 or later.

Contact Us

Students interested in a Library Media Specialist concentration should contact
Professor Jessica Hochman, PhD
Coordinator of the Library Media Specialist Programs
School of Information & Library Science
Pratt Institute
144 West 14th Street
New York, NY 10011
email: jhochman@pratt.edu

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