Specializations within Masters Degrees

Rare Books and Manuscripts Librarianship Specialization and Master of Library Science

Candidates in this Specialization will receive the MLS degree and the Rare Books and Manuscripts Librarianship Specialization which will be noted on the transcript. Students in this Specialization will complete the following requirements:

1. 1. Prerequisite and Requirements

   Prerequisite:
   (3 undergraduate credit hours)
   Must be fulfilled before completion of 9 credit hours
   S401 - Computer-Based Information Tools

   MLS Foundation:
   (Each course is 3 credit hours, for a total of 15 hours)

   Choose one course from each area:

   Assist and Educate Users

   • S501 - Reference

   Develop and Manage Collections of Information Resources

   • S502 - Collection Development and Management

   Represent and Organize Information Resources

   • S503 - Representation and Organization
   • S504 - Cataloging

   Manage and Lead Libraries and Other Information Organizations

   • S551 - Library Management
   • S552 - Academic Library Management
   • S553 - Public Library Management
   • S671 - School Media

   Use Research Effectively

   • S506 - Introduction to Research
   • S519 - Evaluation of Information Systems
   • S505 - Evaluation of Resources and Services

2. 2. Required
   Specialization courses (6 credit hours)
   • S583 - Rare Book Librarianship
   • S605 Internship in Library and Information Science (3 cr.) related to rare books and manuscripts
3. 3. Electives
   Specialization courses (12 credit hours)

   Courses may selected from the following list.

   • S580 - History of Libraries
   • S582 - Preservation
   • S584 - Manuscripts
   • S629 - Topics in Information Sources and Services
   • S652 - Digital Libraries
   • S680 - The Book to 1450
   • S681 - The Book 1450 to the Present
   • S684 - Descriptive Bibliography
   • Other courses with the approval of the specialization advisor.

4. 4. Electives
   SLIS courses (3 credit hours)
5. 5. Specialization Advisor
   Joel Silver, Librarian and Curator of Books, Lilly Library, is the specialization advisor (silverj@indiana.edu).

Related notes:
There are limited openings in this highly competitive specialization, which is available only on the Bloomington campus. Some classes have limited enrollment and require faculty authorization.

Additonal Links:

• IU Lilly Library (Rare Books and Manuscripts)
• ALA Rare Books and Manuscripts Section