The faculty, staff, and students are committed to reflecting the diverse nature of a global society. Pratt-SILS emphasizes excellence in teaching, learning, scholarship, and service and enriches its academic programs through strong partnerships within Pratt and with related external organizations. SILS offers the M.S. in Library and Information Science, which is accredited by the American Library Association; M.S. LIS/ M.S. Art History dual degree program in library science and art history; the joint M.S. LIS/JD program with Brooklyn Law School; and the post-masters Advanced Certificate in Library and Information Studies. A course of study leading to New York state certification as Library Media Specialist is available within the MS in LIS program.


Objectives of the M.S. in Library and Information Science

Graduates of the program should be able to:
A. Organize and manage library and information resources:
1. Select, develop, and maintain library and information resources in the context of institutional environments and prevailing professional standards.
2. Evaluate and identify methods and systems that organize and preserve recorded knowledge and apply them to meet institutional and user needs.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the principles and processes that support the creation, communication, identification, selection, acquisition, organization and description, storage and retrieval, preservation, analysis, interpretation, evaluation, synthesis and dissemination of information.
4. Demonstrate proficiency in online services and sources
to meet the information needs of users.
5. Demonstrate an understanding of information technologies
and their applications to library services and collections.
6. Use effective communication skills for the provision of information, both face-to-face and online.
7. Use management methods and techniques that support teamwork and participation and promote positive growth and development of an organization.

B. Provide services to users:
1. Identify and use appropriate resources to meet information needs of users.
2. Plan and deliver information services and programs that reflect users and their communities.
3. Apply the principles of information science in human information behavior and human computer interaction to information services.

C. Perform within professional contexts:
1. Carry out professional practice reflective of a free and democratic society.
2. Work within the field’s professional code of ethics.
3. Incorporate broad educational, social and cultural values of diversity, global reach, access to information, equality and individual rights.
4. Conduct research and publish findings to contribute to the advancement of the field.
5. Evaluate research literature related to LIS and apply findings to the improvement of services.
6. Evaluate issues related to LIS in terms of their impact, past and present, and implications for the future.
7. Apply knowledge of legal ramifications of legislation and policies that effect libraries and information services.
8. Participate in professional organizations that support the information fields.


LIS and Art History (MS in Library and Information Science and MS in History of Art Dual-degree Program)


This program is especially designed for students who wish to pursue careers in arts related fields—where art, information, and technology converge. Students will be prepared to work in any number of settings from academic libraries and museums, to galleries and auction houses as well as other cultural settings. The program requires 30 credits in LIS and 30 credits in History of Art, for a total of 60 credits. Students must apply to and be accepted as matriculated in both programs. Application may be made initially to the dual-degree program, or to one of the two programs, with later application to the other, provided that the student has not yet graduated from the first program entered.


LIS and Law (MS in LIS and JD Joint-degree Program with Brooklyn Law School)

In affiliation with Brooklyn Law School, SILS offers a joint-degree program leading to an MS in LIS and a Juris Doctor degree. The program prepares students for careers in law librarianship and related fields. Serving both law firms and academe, today, employers often give preference to law librarians holding a JD as well an MS in LIS. The joint-degree requires completion of 86 credits for the law degree and 36 credits for the MS in LIS degree; nine of the 36 LIS credits can be taken at Brooklyn Law School, subject to the approval of the Dean of SILS.

highlighted courses

• LIS-667 Art Librarianship
• LIS-648 Library Media Centers
• LIS-665 Projects in Digital Archives
• LIS-669 Mgt of Electronic Records
• LIS-696 Special Collections Institutes
• LIS-629 Museums & Library Research
• LIS-632 Conservation and Preservation
• LIS-613 Government Info Sources
• LIS-627 Online Databases: Business
• LIS-662 Adv Cataloging/Classification
• LIS-673 Library Use Instruction
• LIS-685 Medical Librarianship

 

• full course search

• Master of Science in Information and Library Science

36 total credits required


• Combined Master of Science in Information and Library Science and Master of Science in Theory, Criticism, and History of Art, Design, and Architecture

60 total credits required


• Master of Science in Information and Library Science (Media Specialist)

36 total credits required

pratt sils
pratt manhattan center
144 w. 14th street
6th floor
new york, ny
10011-7301
tel: 212-647-7682
infosils@pratt.edu

Pratt-SILS located at
Pratt Manhattan Center

144 West 14th Street, 6th floor
New York, New York 10011
212-647-4682

Museums & Library Research

LIS-629

Working with the Watson Library and other units of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, students learn how works of art communicate meaning, ideas, and information from a research and cross-cultural perspective. Literature, exhibitions, digital collections, databases in the arts, programs and events, films and other media are examined from the point-of-view of access, organization, and management of museum collections.

3.00 credits

Conservation and Preservation

LIS-632

An introduction to the preservation of library and archival materials using a comprehensive approach that includes theoretical, technical, and practical aspects of preservation. It covers the historical development of preservation in libraries and archives, including concepts of permanence and durability, ideas that support preservation of cultural material and preservation methods such as conservation treatments, preservation microfilming, digitization, and other types of reformatting. Students also examine holdings maintenance and rehousing techniques, preservation selection, conditions and needs of assessment surveys, handling and storage techniques, environmental controls and disaster planning and salvage methods.

3.00 credits

Government Info Sources

LIS-613

Publications of federal and certain state and local governments and their selection, acquisition, use and administration are discussed. Practical exercises in printed tools and electronic databases are required.

3.00 credits

Online Databases: Business

LIS-627

Familiarizes students with specific databases, the techniques used to search them and their application in a business library. Focus is on bibliographic, full-text, statistical and directory databases (both domestic and international in scope) which are common to all business libraries. The ultimate goal of the course is to foster the ability to search efficiently and accurately with an awareness of the special needs of the business environment.

3.00 credits

Special Collections Institutes

LIS-696

In collaboration with the New York Public Library (NYPL), students gain an understanding of research in the humanities and other disciplines reflected in research libraries. Use of primary sources and work with NYPL's distinguished librarians and curators ensure an appreciation of how traditional documents, digital libraries, and research methods combine to enrich knowledge and communicate meaningful ideas and information. Various sections of the course deal with general special collections, the arts, maps and other formats/subjects.

3.00 credits

Mgt of Electronic Records

LIS-669

This course includes the study of the organizational transitions and culture changes required for successful program implementation, multiple types of technology and their roles in the management of electronic records, current practices in the management of electronic records in business applications, e-mail, instant messaging. websites, and desktop computers and preservation of digital records. Also covered are electronic record system inventories and implementation of retention and disposition systems for documentation management repositories, databases, e-mail, and web content.

3.00 credits

Projects in Digital Archives

LIS-665

This class is a combination of theoretical, practical and hands-on approaches to digital library creation. Topics will include metadata creation,image capture,archival storage and web presentation. Students will learn about the theories behind the practices that they will implement,and will gain an understanding about the administrative issues associated with the successful implementation of a digitization project.

3.00 credits

Adv Cataloging/Classification

LIS-662

Students study advanced theory and practice in cataloging and classification with an emphasis on the Library of Congress classification schedules and cataloging of non-book media, and metadata for web-based sources.

3.00 credits

Art Librarianship

LIS-667

This course examines a wide range of information 417rces in the history of art, including printed and online resources. Course will explore the unique characteristics of art publications and the basics of art book publishing and the art book trade topics include overview of various kinds of art and design libraries and will include wide range of information resources relating to the history of art, including print and online resources.

3.00 credits

Library Media Centers

LIS-648

Topics include learning processes and classroom management, working with students with disabilities, curriculum planning and development, assessment, and the roles, programs, and services of media centers and library media specialists. The course introduces the relationship of the State Learning Standards to the schools' programs at various developmental levels. 85 hours of field experiences is required along with a weekly seminar.

3.00 credits

• semester 1
• semester 2
• semester 3
• semester 4

Medical Librarianship

LIS-685

An introduction to medical librarianship as a profession and the role of the medical library in health care institutions. Use and application of medical reference tools and modern access systems is studied. Analysis of medical literature, retrieval systems and centers and remote bibliographic sources through interactive terminals are studied.

3.00 credits

Library Use Instruction

LIS-673

Examines the processes involved in the planning and implementation of a library use instruction program. The course also analyzes problems involved in introducing, financing, promoting and maintaining programs of instruction. Specific methodologies are used in providing instruction in all types of libraries together with evaluation procedures are investigated.

3.00 credits

• semester 1
• semester 2
• semester 3
• semester 4

• semester 1
• semester 2
• semester 3
• semester 4
• semester 5
• semester 6

3 Information Professions LIS-651
3 Information Services & Sources LIS-652
3 Elective credits
9 CREDITS

3 Knowledge Organization LIS-653
3 Information Technologies LIS-654
3 Elective credits
9 CREDITS

9 Elective credits
9 CREDITS

9 Elective credits
9 CREDITS

3 Information Professions LIS-651
3 Information Services
& Sources LIS-652
3 Theory & Methodology HA-500
2 Art History elective
11 CREDITS

3 Knowledge Organization LIS-653
3 Information Technologies LIS-654
3 Materials, Techniques & Conservation HA-550
2 Art History elective
11 CREDITS

6 Art History elective
6 Library Science elective
12 CREDITS

6 Art History elective
6 Library Science elective
12 CREDITS

5 Art History elective
6 Library Science elective
11 CREDITS

3 Thesis HA-605
3 CREDITS

3 Student Teaching: 7-12 LIS-692
6 Elective redits
9 CREDITS

3 Literature & Literacy for Young Adults LIS-677
3 Instructional Technologies LIS-680
3 Student Teaching: 1-6 LIS-690
9 CREDITS

3 Knowledge Organization LIS-653
3 Information Technologies LIS-654
3 Literature & Literacy for Children LIS-676
9 CREDITS

3 Information Professions LIS-651
3 Information Services & Sources LIS-652
3 Library Media Centers LIS-648
9 CREDITS