Information Technology Program of Study
Fall Term of Entry only.
Today, information technology influences almost every aspect of library management and services. Librarians must become proficient in using systems for a wide variety of tasks including circulation, acquisitions, cataloging, serial management, digitization, information storage and retrieval, and remote access for patrons. Given how quickly technology advances, it is critical to understand the concepts of such systems as well as how to use the current versions of software and hardware products.
The Information Technology area of interest will enable graduates to assess, organize, and manage the various electronic systems that support library services. Courses will cover contemporary systems for tasks ranging from acquiring materials to managing patron records to providing reference support in online settings. Faculty will explore the theoretical underpinnings of such systems as well as provide a thorough understanding of their functions. This will prepare students to participate in the design -- and to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness -- of future systems. The program will emphasize database design and implementation, information architecture, and information visualization. Other courses will address digital preservation and managing digital collections, of extreme importance given the prevalence of digital materials in library systems.
This area of interest will prepare students for such positions as Technical Services Librarian, Systems Librarian, Digital Assets Manager, and Digital Curators. These types of positions are most often available in academic, public, and special libraries.
Students will take the four required courses in the MLIS degree program.
- LIS 2000 Understanding Information (must be taken in the first term)
- LIS 2005 Organizing and Retrieving Information
- LIS 2600 Introduction to Information Technologies (must be taken in the first term)
- LIS 2700 Managing and Leading Information Services
You should carefully consult with your advisor about the most optimal sequence of required and elective courses.
Students will take eight elective courses, designing a course of study that will best meet career goals. Some suggested electives include (but are not limited to):
- LIS 2407 Metadata
- LIS 2610 Library and Archival Computing
- LIS 2630 Human Information Interaction
- LIS 2633 Technology in the Lives of Children and Youth
- LIS 2635 Information Architecture
- LIS 2658 Advanced Information Storage and Retrieval
- LIS 2670 Digital Libraries
- LIS 2674 Preserving Digital Culture
- LIS 2680 Database Design and Applications
- LIS 2690 Information Visualization
- LIS 2921 Field Experience
To view the term in which a class is offered, please see the Projected Course Offerings.
Click here for the current plan of study.
Lead Faculty
Christinger Tomer, Lead Faculty
Research Interests:
Open source computing, scientometrics, digital libraries.
Research Interests:
Information retrieval and interactive retrieval-system design; user-modeling and adaptive Web-search system design and analysis; computational-linguistics and natural-language processing.
For more information about this area of interest, please contact our Student Recruitment Coordinator at lisinq@sis.pitt.edu or 412-624-3988.
