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Deciding which college to attend can be a daunting task. For many, it will be the most important decision that they make in their lives. To make an informed decision, you have to consider a lot of variables, such as cost of attendance, financial aid, student/teacher ratio, academics, student life, and more. These factors will either positively or negatively impact the quality of education that you receive.
Do you want to acquire a bachelor’s in library science, but don’t know what institution you should attend? Well, if you are as ambitious as I was in my late teens, then you want to attend a top school, instead of an average or mediocre one. Fortunately, we have already done the legwork for you. To help you find the right school for your interests and goals, we’ve compiled a list of 2022’s best bachelor’s in library science programs.
What institution did we forget? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
- University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS
The University of Southern Mississippi’s primary campuses began to offer bachelor’s degrees in the 1920s. Today there are over 15,000 enrolled learners at USM, with the institution as a whole generating more than $600 million of annual economic impact.
A BS in library and information science will prepare learners to become future K-12 librarians and work in various other academic settings. This degree program is also available online. Some examples of classes you might take consist of:
- Cataloging Multimedia Objects
- History of the Book
- Web Design and Evaluation
Upon graduation, many learners will continue in the master’s degree program, which is sanctioned by the American Library Association.
- Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Clarion, PA
Clarion University of Pennsylvania is a beautiful scenic campus with about 4,800 enrolled learners. Students learn about information management and transfer through Clarion’s BS in liberal studies with a concentration in library and information studies degree. Upon completion of the degree program, learners can fully comprehend the principles of libraries and develop services for specific age groups. Some of the concentration’s required classes are:
- Informed Citizenry
- On the Money: Info for Fin Literature
- Organization of Information
Along with merit scholarships, Clarion has endowed scholarships, particularly for people studying library science. Interested learners should head over to the financial aid website.
- Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Kurtztown, PA
Kutztown University has a BS in education: library science and a BS in library science. Learners in this degree program are passionate about library technologies. While the BS in education is primarily for future teachers; the regular BS is for non-teachers. Program highlights:
- Ability to become certified as a professional library media specialist upon graduation
- A liberal arts degree program
- Sample concepts: video, maker spaces, library computers
This is the only degree program in the state of Pennsylvania where learners can earn the Library Media Specialist teaching licensure that is highly regarded within other states as well.
- Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, CT
Through the BS in information management and services degree, learners can comprehend the foundations of library science while taking other related electives. Learners will learn customer service skills, be able to identify information resources and supports, and learn the necessary methods for information storage. Popular classes consist of:
- Human-Computer Interactions
- Fundamentals of Data Mining
- Information Sources
There is a consortium in place where learners enrolled in three other Connecticut State Universities can enroll in this degree.
- University of Maine at Augusta, Augusta, ME
As the third-largest institution within the state, the University of Maine at Augusta is dedicated to transforming the lives of learners via higher education. Although its primary campus is in the city of Augusta, UMA also has a campus in Bangor, along with eight other centers and online. The bachelor’s in library science is offered entirely via its distance learning degree program, connecting learners with faculty via email and online video conferences. This is a great degree program for learners whose schedule may not fit with a traditional on-campus degree program.
UMA’s information and library science degree helps learners develop the skills necessary for the modern librarian. This online degree program is full of real-life learning, community involvement, and prepares learners for a future master’s degree. Here are some key features:
- Asynchronous (classwork can be finished in one’s own time)
- Supportive faculty
- Sample Classes: Web Page Design, Librarian as Teacher, Library Service for Teens
The ILS degree program and faculty are involved not just in their local community, but also around the country and the world. For instance, they helped to develop libraries in remote areas in the United States and India, and they help run adult reading programs in libraries.
