School of Library & Information Science Plan
to meet LSU National Flagship Agenda
2003-2010

History

The School of Library & Information Science (SLIS) is a professional school offering only graduate degrees. SLIS offers the only accredited Master of Library and Information Science degree in the state, and is one of only 49 accredited programs in the United States. The first library science courses were offered at LSU in 1926, the Graduate School of Library Science was established in 1931, and the name was changed to School of Library & Information Science in 1981 to reflect a more diverse curriculum.

Faculty

The School has a faculty of eleven, and has been at that level for most of the past 25 years or more. The average size of library and information science programs nationally was about 11 until 1999, when many schools began to add new positions. The average number of faculty in 1998/99 was 11.4, in 1999/2000 was 11.8, in 2000/2001 was 12.6, and in 2001/2002 was 13.0. This rapid increase in the support from the parent institutions is due to expanded curricula and the increased demand for graduates of LIS programs. In 2000/2001, 24 of the 55 schools in the United States and Canada reported a total of 36 new faculty positions, while in 1999-2000 20 schools reported 34 new positions. SLIS has not kept up with this growth, and the new assistant professor position to be funded from salary savings in 2003-2004 will help us to be able to offer the variety of courses each year that are in demand by students and employers.

Campus Relationships

The School has well established multi-disciplinary relationships on campus. The joint degree in Systems Science is offered with the Department of Computer Science. A double master’s degree in archives is offered with the Department of History, and a similar double master’s degree has established with the Department of Foreign Languages & Literatures, with an emphasis on bi-lingual librarians who can meet the needs of the large Hispanic population in the United States. A cooperative agreement has been developed with Public Administration to permit their students to take major’s only courses in SLIS such as courses on Information Technology, and electives such as Networks for Information Centers and Information Policy. The School is represented on the Teacher Education Council and works with the College of Education on NCATE accreditation issues.

Curriculum

We offer the Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree and the Certificate of Advanced Study in Library and Information Science. In the past, the majority of our graduates have concentrated on careers in libraries, but we also have graduates who are working nationally as information managers in both the public and private sector. We added a concentration in archives three years ago, which has attracted students from other states.

Only two undergraduate courses are offered. LIS 1001, Library Research Methods and Materials, is taught by the LSU Libraries. LIS 2001, Introduction to Information Technologies, was added in F2001, at the request of the College of Arts & Sciences, to meet the needs of students who do not plan to purse a course of study in the Department of Computer Science or in ISDS. All LSU students need IT instruction to prepare them to function in a contemporary job market, whether they are business majors or philosophers or nurses. SLIS has taught three sections of this courses each semester, with support for one section coming from the Excellence Fee.

SLIS does not offer a Ph.D., but often receive requests from prospective students who expect that we have one. There are only 29 doctoral programs in LIS schools in the United States and Canada, and the demand for graduates to become LIS professors has been greater than the number of new Ph.D.s. The SLIS faculty have been very interested in adding a doctoral program for several years, and believe that this would be a very productive use of additional faculty lines.

Distance Education

SLIS has been a leader in distance education at LSU, in the state and nationally. We offered the first compressed video courses at LSU, and were the first degree to be offered entirely through distance courses. As the only accredited program in the state, it is important for us to meet the needs of Louisiana’s residents, even when they cannot relocate to Baton Rouge to be students. Eleven distance education courses are offered each year through the state’s compressed video network. Our courses are currently received at eight sites in Louisiana, in addition to our Baton Rouge classrooms. Having received a $500,000 grant from a federal agency, we are also leading a very innovative cooperative regional archives education effort, involving Auburn University, the University of Kentucky, and the University of South Carolina. These classes are offered using Internet-2 technology. In 2002, SLIS received the Program of Excellence Award from the University Continuing Education Association, Southern Chapter in recognition of our outstanding efforts in distance education.

Students

As the distance education program has grown, the number of part-time students has increased, and we have gone from being a predominantly full-time program to a predominantly part-time program. In 2000/2001, 65.6% of SLIS students were enrolled part-time. This is comparable to the national average of 71.4% in LIS programs. SLIS has been recognized nationally among library and information science education programs for the diversity of its students. In recent years the national average of African American students graduating from LIS programs was 4.9%, while SLIS had 13.5% minority graduates. The majority (88%) of SLIS students are Louisiana residents. National studies have shown that location is the most important determinant when students apply to LIS programs, with most students staying in their home state. Some students, especially those in states with no LIS program, do relocate. The national average for out-of-state enrollment in LIS programs is 16%, and SLIS would like to increase nonresident enrollment to reach the national average.


Objective 1: Increase research productivity in support of long-term economic development

SLIS Actions

1. Add two new faculty positions to SLIS, one assistant professor to be funded from SLIS salary savings in 2004-2005, and one associate professor from IT or other campus funds by 2005-2006.
2. Increase graduate assistantships on- and off-campus.
3. Work with other interested departments (Computer Science, Education, Music, Philosophy, Psychology), to develop a Human- Computer Interaction lab at LSU.

1. These additional members of the faculty will permit the School to offer a greater variety of MLIS courses to support concentrations in archives and in information, while not sacrificing the quality of the concentration in library science.
   
   SLIS will also be able to introduce a Ph.D. program when both new positions have been added.
   
   New faculty will be able to successfully apply for federal grants at $200,000 per year by 2008-2009.



2. 80% of full-time students who want an assistantship will have one by 2005-2006; 90% of full-time students who want an assistantship will have one by 2009-2010.


3. Space and funding for LSU HCI Lab will be identified in 2003-2004, and lab will open in 2004-2005.
   
   

1. Increase out-of-state enrollment in MLIS degree program
2. Continue to recruit a diverse student body
3. Increase course offerings to further develop archives concentration
4. Recruit students for double master’s degree with Spanish
5. Continue cooperative efforts with Public Administration
6. Increase course offering to further develop information concentration
7. Introduce a Ph.D. in Library and Information Science
8. Increase funding for part-time students and new doctoral students
9. Improve the quality of the curriculum and individual learning experiences through use of Assessment and Evaluation Plan [see attached Assessment and Evaluation Plan]

1. SLIS DE courses will be received on a regular bases in at least one location in Arkansas beginning in 2003-2004; enrollment by 2004-2005 will be 10 students and by 2005-2006 will be 15 students.
   
   Recruiting through GRE database will increase out-of-state enrollment to 13% by 2005-2006, and to 16% (the national average) by 2008-2009.



2. SLIS students will continue to represent a diverse population of competitive students.
3. A plan for an expanded archives concentration will be developed in 2003-2004, and will be implemented in 2004-2005.
   
   Number of students in archives concentration will continue to increase.



4. Four students from the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures will be enrolled in the MLIS degree program in 2004-2005.
5. A plan for an expanded information concentration will be developed in 2003-2004, and will be implemented over two years in 2004-2006 using 12th faculty line.
7. A plan for a Ph.D. program will be developed in 2003-2004; will be approved in 2004-2005, and students will be admitted in Fall 2006.
8. Financial aid will be available from scholarships and/or grants for 10% of part-time SLIS students by 2006-2007, and for 15% of part-time students by 2009-2010.
   
   Financial aid for Ph.D. students will be identified by 2004-2005.



9. Quality of courses and individual learning experiences will improve.

1. Students who are not business majors or technology majors will learn basic information technology competencies in order to be able to compete in the job market.
2. Develop additional undergraduate information courses to meet student needs.

1. 120 students will complete LIS 2001, Introduction to Information Technology, each year in sections funded by SLIS.
2. Up to 390 additional students will complete LIS 2001 if SLIS receives Excellence Fee funds to support 2-6 additional sections.

1. Increase ways for SLIS DE students to participate in the life of the School including representation on committees and leadership in student organizations.

1. At least 50% of MLIS DE students will feel that they have equal opportunities for communication with SLIS faculty and involvement on SLIS committees and in student organizations as do on-campus students by 2006-2007.

1. Make a concerted effort to nominate students, alumni and faculty for national awards.
2. Inform other LIS education programs and practitioners about scholarly and other accomplishments of students, alumni and faculty.

1. SLIS will increase the number of national scholarships received by students.
2. SLIS will receive national recognition for accomplishments in key publications.

1. Increase development efforts to increase funding of SLIS scholarships [see Development Initiatives report]
IMLS grant funds will be sought for recruiting efforts.