Development of a Graduate Certificate in Archives & Special Collections at Southern Miss SLIS

Teresa S. Welsh, Ph.D.teresa.welsh@usm.edu

Karen M. Rowell, M.L.I.Skaren.rowell@usm.edu

The University of Southern Mississippi Accredited by SACS

Carnegie Doctoral/Research-Extensive Institution

Carnegie Community Engagement Classification

Ranked as one of nation’s most environmentally responsible universities (Princeton Review, 2010)

Ranked in top 20 most popular national universities (U.S. News and World Report, 2011)

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Some History of School of LIS (SLIS) Library science courses

first offered in1926

First M.S. degree in library science awarded in 1965

First M.L.S. degree in 1977

Re-named School of Library & Information Science in 1993 - degree became M.L.I.S.

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Cook Library, 1940’s, USM McCain Archive

SLIS Mission, VisionMission: to prepare qualified individuals for professional roles in libraries and other information environments with appropriate knowledge and skills to serve the information needs of their communities.Vision: Excellent teaching Innovative research Distinguished service.

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SLIS MLIS Program Accredited by American Library Association

since 1980; only ALA-accredited program in Mississippi

Accredited by National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)

Assigned LIS leadership status by Board of Trustees of State Institution of Higher Learning

Offers comprehensive, diverse program educating librarians, archivists,

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SLIS – de Grummond Collaboration

SLIS & de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection, an internationally-recognized collection of primary-source materials related to children’s literature

Co-sponsors of Kay B. Kaigler Children’s Book Festival each spring.

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http://www.usm.edu/bookfest/

SLIS Online 1993 – IVN classes in Hattiesburg, Long

Beach

1995 – 1st computer-enhanced hybrid course

2002 – M.L.I.S. degree all online with Blackboard, online text chat

2007 – Web CT with WIMBA for interactive audio classes

2011 – Blackboard 9.1, WIMBA, more multimedia, Web 2.0 apps such as blogs, wikis, social media.

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http://www.usm.edu/slis/

Why Offer a Certificate in Archives Special Collections?1. Increased interest in archival-related courses:

In summer 2008, a graduate elective archival-related course, LIS 647: Introduction to Archival Organization, offered online

About 10-12 students were expected, but 22 students enrolled in the course

Increased enrollment in electives such as LIS 631: History of Libraries, LIS 646: Archives and Special Collections, seminar courses on metadata and on organization of materials related to digital libraries.

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Why Offer a Certificate in Archives Special Collections?2. Increased number of graduates as archivists:

Graduates working as archivists in universities, museums, state archives, military archives, special libraries, as well as national archives (NARA)

Graduates working on archival projects in public libraries, special libraries

Graduates completing dual master’s degrees in history/LIS, anthropology/LIS

Student currently completing internship at Library of Congress.

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What was the approval process? Early 2009, Certificate proposal developed

by SLIS faculty: 18-credit hours of online coursework related to

archival history, theory, methods, organization, ethics; archival practicum; 2500-word paper on archival-related topic.

Late 2009, the certificate approved by: SLIS Curriculum Committee & Director College Curriculum Committee University Graduate Council University Provost State Institute for Higher Learning.

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http://www.usm.edu/slis/ASCCertificate.php

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LIS 648: Archival Practicum Syllabus: http://ocean.otr.usm.edu/~

w146169/648syllabus.htm

Archival practicum site examples: Birmingham Museum of Art Katrina Research Center Great Plains Black History Museum Archival P

roject McCain Special Collections Ohio State University Archives

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Optional: British Studies

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St. Paul’s Cathedral Library

Barbican Library Museum of London British Museum & Archive British Library Greenwich Caird Library London Library Stratford-upon-Avon National Art

Library @ V&A Oxford, Bodleian Library Central Library, Edinburg

h National

Archives, Scotland Dunfermline Carnegie

Library 15

British Studies Glog

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Glogster.com

1-page poster

Images with links

Podcasts audacity.sou

rceforge.net/

Videos Youtube.com http://www.usm.edu/slis/BSPglog.htm

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Student Archivists Association Affiliated with SMA

Began in fall 2010 at request of SMA officers Shugana Williams, Heather Weeden

Approved in spring 2011 as official Southern Miss Student Group

In process of approval as official SAA student group.

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Student Archivists Association

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www.facebook.com

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Recommended Resources

Norton, M.J., “The University of Southern Mississippi School of Library and Information Science Distance Education History and Programs,” in Barron, Daniel D., ed., Benchmarks in Distance Education: The LIS Experience. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2003.

SAA Career Center, http://www2.archivists.org/careers

SAA Standards and Best Practices, http://www2.archivists.org/standards

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Thank you for your attention.

Questions?

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