Information & Library Studies MSc

Why this course?

You'll receive the highest quality teaching from one of the leading information science schools in the UK. You'll also receive unmatched professional engagement via our partnership with one of the largest cultural consortiums in Europe.

It's the only course in the UK that in semester 1 or 2 will provide a weekly, one-day placement in a Central Scotland library and information service. Current partners include Glasgow Life, Glasgow Caledonian University, Scottish Enterprise, the BBC, and the Scottish Government. You'll be exposed to the latest developments in library and information practice to learn in practice alongside the theory you learn in lectures and labs. You'll also receive guest lectures from leading library professionals, and the option to undertake your MSc thesis research in the professional context.

We're a member of the iSchools group, a partnership of the world's leading information schools, and our courses are professionally accredited by CILIP, incorporating international reciprocal agreements.

We're members of the two national Doctoral Training Consortiums, the Scottish Graduate School for the Arts and Humanities and the Scottish Graduate School for Social Sciences.

Our staff are regular contributors to the leading international Information Science Index (ISI) ranked library and information science journals.

We have been a leading school of library and information science teaching and research for 70 years.

You’ll study

Working across a vast spectrum of information resources, spanning special collections and digital services, you'll learn up-to-date theory and practice in:

• strategic planning
• information law and ethics
• information seeking behaviour
• information literacy
• organisation and classification of information
• information retrieval

You'll also be provided with a thorough understanding of the various information and library sectors, including public, academic, law, health, and government libraries through a range of leading guest speakers drawn from the wider profession.

Compulsory classes

• Organisation of Knowledge
• Information Retrieval & Access
• Information Law
• Library Technology & Systems
• Managing Information Services
• Libraries, Information & Society
• Research Methods

Dissertation

This is an individual research project of up to 20,000 words on an approved topic. It allows you to pursue an area of specific interest, providing scope for original thought, research and presentation.

Work placement

Our Masters students are provided with real-world practical experience via a first or second-semester placement with one of our placement partners, which include public, university, and special libraries in Central Scotland. Partners currently include Glasgow Life, Glasgow Caledonian University, Scottish Enterprise, the BBC, and the Scottish Government

Accreditation and engagement

Our postgraduate courses are internationally recognised, accredited by the Chartered Institute of Library & Information Professionals (CILIP), incorporating international reciprocal agreements with other professional bodies, including:

• ALA (United States)
• ALIA (Australia)
• LIANZA (New Zealand)

CILIP accreditation also allows graduates the eligibility to become Chartered members of the body after following an approved professional development programme.

Our faculty are engaged with the work of professional bodies and are closely linked with the profession generally in terms of cutting edge research with professional partners. Departmental staff regularly present at professional conference worldwide, including:

• IFLA (2014, 2015)
• ASIST (2015)
• CoLIS (2014)
• ISIC (2014)
• CILIP Cymru (2015)
• CILIPS (2015)

Learning & teaching

Teaching methods include lectures, tutorials and practical laboratories. Dissertation is by supervision.

Assessment

Coursework assignments involve:

• individual work
• group projects
• exams
• practical work in computer laboratories

For the award of the MSc, you’ll be required to complete an individual project under supervision. This should contain an element of original research.

Careers

Graduates of our MSc Information & Library Studies have a wide range of career options open to them, spanning across a range of sectors, including public, academic, school and health libraries, as well as government information services, law libraries, media libraries and corporate information services. Our graduates have professional careers in a range of roles including:

• information analysts
• information governance
• knowledge manager (government departments)
• librarian (academic)
• librarian (health information)
• knowledge managers (corporate sector)
• librarian (public and school)

Visit the Information & Library Studies MSc page on the University of Strathclyde website for more details!