Master’s Course in International Librarianship – Summer 2019

Posted December 11, 2018

International Librarianship – with optional study abroad in Costa Rica – Summer 2019 – ONLINE

Session I (J): Tuesday, May 28 – Friday, July 5, 2019 (6 weeks)

Instructor: Mr. Chris Hollister

This 3-credit course, offered by the Department of Library and Information Studies at the University at Buffalo, SUNY, will be taught online. The course will provide students with a broad and comparative understanding of international libraries and their practices in public, community, school, academic, and special libraries in non-North American settings. The course will also feature an optional experiential learning opportunity for students to travel to and explore libraries in non-North American countries; details and international travel destinations will vary by semester. In summer 2019, the travel destination is Costa Rica. Travel dates are July 13 – July 20, 2019. The expected cost to participate in this travel opportunity will be $2,400, which includes all lodging, breakfasts, and lunches; select dinners; airport pickup and drop-off (San Jose, airport code SJO); Institute for Central American Development Studies (ICADS) coordination, logistics, translating, and accompaniment; use of ICADS facilities; honorariums for lectures and site visits; and all in-country transportation.  

 

Course content will introduce students to the state of libraries and librarianship in local and regional contexts, and the influences of social, cultural, political, and economic factors. Emphasis will be given to the informational, educational, and recreational needs and interests of the diversity of library users and communities in different areas of the world. The course will also illuminate the impact of technology on internationalization and the free flow of information, and the emerging role of international information agencies.

 

• Registration for LIS 503 will open in March, 2019.
• Registration for the optional experiential learning trip to Costa Rica will open in January, 2019. Please email Chris Hollister ([email protected]) to request that link.
• Taking the LIS 503 course is not required to participate in the experiential learning trip to Costa Rica. However, the trip is limited to 10 students, and priority will be given to those who take the course.

 

For more information, please contact Chris Hollister ([email protected]).