Accredited master library science program is no longer

Monica Zielinski – Special to the Southern News

Free from orthopedic shoes, hair buns and glasses, a new age of future librarians is emerging, but the recent decision by the American Library Association to withdraw accreditation from the master of library science program at Southern and the comments made by the department’s chairman, Dr. Hak Joon Kim, Ph.D., could mean the building isn’t the only thing under construction.

Kim said the department will re-apply for ALA accreditation once the process of reorganizing and rebuilding the program is complete, but it may take a few years.

“While we are disappointed that ALA could not extend the conditional status a few more years,” said Kim, “we have a great respect for the accreditation process and for the External Review Panel that visited us this past spring. The panel’s written comments as well as their discussions with the faculty during their visit were helpful in terms of helping to refine our

reorganizing and rebuilding.”

Connecticut no longer offers an accredited master in library science program in any college or university, according to the ALA website, but Kim said the department is working towards regaining accreditation.

“Notwithstanding the COA’s decision to withdraw accreditation,” said Kim, “we are quite proud of our program’s accomplishments and our students’ achievements over the years. We are nearing the halfway mark in our plan to address the issues raised by ALA and we believe we are on track to accomplish that by the original date we set.”

Accreditation assures that programs meet certain ALA standards and some states require an ALA-accredited degree to work as a professional librarian in public or school libraries, according to the ALA website.

Students already enrolled in the program have 24 months to complete the program to earn a degree from an ALA-accredited program, according to the Southern’s MLS website.

Sarah Mallory, who is nearly finished with the master’s program, said it’s important for universities to strive for the highest standards of excellence.

“It ensures that the next generation of professionals—in this case, librarians—are fully prepared for the workforce,” said Mallory. “I believe I have received an education that meets these standards. My professors have challenged me to think creatively and to try new things and I have grown as a student and as a professional.”

She said the future is uncertain if Southern isn’t available to train the next generation of librarians and many people are not aware of the credentials needed to go into the field.

“People don’t know you need a master’s to be a librarian,” said Mallory, “so a lot of people are surprised that I’m going to school to be a librarian. They say, ‘Oh, you have to go to school for that?’ So I say, ‘Yeah, I take a whole class in ‘Shhhh!’”

Cindy Schofield, a librarian at Southern for 26 years, said anyone who is interested in technology and getting knowledge out there, would be a great candidate to be a librarian.

“It’s all about empowering people,” said Schofield, “so when people have information and access to information, they’re empowered.”

Kim said although the program lost accreditation, the faculty and consultant constituents are “excited, energized, and moving the program toward its new future.”

Now as she looks forward to completing her degree, Mallory said she came to library science out of a love of books and a desire to impart that enthusiasm onto the next generation.

“I cannot help but hope,” said Mallory, “that there is still a future for the Information and Library Science program at Southern—the world needs good librarians.”