Library Science

The curriculum for the School Libraries track reflects those courses appropriate and necessary for Media Coordinator licensure (076) in the state of North Carolina and meets the requirements for American Association of School Librarians (AASL) National Recognition.  

Required Courses for the 465B School Libraries Program of Study:

• LIB 5000: Foundations of Library Science
• LIB 5010 Collection Development
• LIB 5030 Organization of Information
• LIB 5040 Strategic Administration of School Media Resources and Services
• LIB 5070 Integrating Media and Literature into Instruction
• LIB 5080 Collaborative Media Program Planning and Evaluation
• LIB 5195 Critical Issues in Literature and Media
• LIB 5900 Internship or LIB 5910 Applications of Librarianship Standards
• LIB 5520 Capstone
• RES 5000 Research
• Technology Elective
• Elective

Note: Elective courses can be taken from other programs, depending on the individual student’s professional interests.  Please consult with your advisor.  Please understand that the scheduling and requirements of course offerings delivered by other programs are outside of our control.  Your advisor will assist you in registering for courses to the best of their ability.  The current list of elective courses from other programs can be found here.

Those students who do not have a teaching license and wish to pursue a career in school librarianship are required to complete 12 additional hours of coursework to receive their M Level Licensure, which will allow them to teach in K-12 schools. These courses will be offered online only. For a complete course list, please email Dr. Robin Moeller.

Media, Technology, and Learning Design (MTL) offers an add-on licensure option for those students working toward their Masters of Library Science (MLS). Those students who wish to receive the Technology Facilitator Endorsement (077) are required to take 18 additional hours of coursework from the ITC online program. Those students who are working toward ITC Add-On Licensure are allowed to substitute one ITC course for the Technology Elective.

For information on the required MCL/ITC courses, please contact Dr. Patrick O'Shea.

We have two course options available for you to take in order to acquire the real world experiences that are an important part of your learning:

LIB 5910: Applications of Librarianship Standards provides a relevant field experience for those already working in a school or library setting. The course builds upon the students current knowledge and understanding of the dynamics of the field location and builds on this knowledge through the direct application of professional standards of librarianship.

LIB 5900: Internship/Practicum provides students unfamiliar and/or inexperienced with the day to day working operations of a school or public library setting. These students are not employed in a school or public library setting and are therefore expected to use this internship experience to gain familiarity with the roles and responsibilities of the profession within the setting.

If you are unsure about which educational experience is right for you, please contact your advisor. All of your internship hours (120) must be completed in one semester and at a school library.

If you are planning to take LIB 5910: Applications of Librarianship Standards:

1. You will need to register for LIB5910 Applications of Librarianship Standards. When it becomes available, you should be able to find a section of the course for your cohort.
2. Please download and have your employer sign this letter, titled Acknowledgment of Employee Involvement in a Graduate Program at Appalachian State University (DOCX, 66 KB).
3. Mail, or scan and email the letter to your course instructor. The signed letter has to be returned to your instructor by the first week of class.

If you are planning to take LIB 5900: Internship/Practicum:

1. You will need to register for LIB 5900 Internship/Practicum.
2. Please go to the following survey link and fill in the information requested. You will need to determine the location of your internship before you can complete the form. You cannot be registered for the internship until we receive this information. Once we receive the information we will send you the internship contract that has to be signed and returned.
   1. Link to LIB 5900 Survey
   2. Please email both Ronda Eldreth and Dr. Moeller once you have completed this survey. Your paperwork will not be processed until you have contacted both Ronda and Dr. Moeller.
3. You will receive a copy of an internship contract that you will have to get signed by your site supervisor. The signed internship contract has to be returned to us quickly in order for us to get all of the approvals to be able to enroll you in the internship.
4. If you are going to be doing an internship in a school and you are not employed by the school district then you also need to have a criminal background check if you have not already done so. Please follow these directions:
   1. Login to Banner Self Service – bannerweb.appstate.edu
   2. Go to the "Student" tab
   3. Click the "RCOE Student Services" link
   4. Click the "Criminal Background Check Request" link
   5. Complete the information. Complete all required fields
   6. Click Submit

After clicking submit you will automatically receive an email to your Appstate email account with instructions on how to complete the online portion of the background check process. Please pay strict attention to those directions or the process will not work.