SLIS Digital libraries and resources track

The purpose of the Digital Library and Resources Track is to produce well rounded librarians, archivists or information specialists with solid understandings of digital information and its related technologies, standards, work practices, and policies and its management and use in libraries, archives and other information agencies. The track is also appropriate for students who wish to develop specialized knowledge of information systems or information infrastructure tools in the library, archives or information agency environments. These students often take independent study credits or courses outside of SLIS to further develop their specialized knowledge.

Digital Library and Resources Track Courses at SLIS

  • LIS 644 Digital tools, trends and debates
  • LIS 751 Database design for libraries and information management
  • LIS 828 Online reference and information services
  • LIS 861 Information architecture
  • LIS 879 Digital libraries
  • Metadata (no permanent number - usually a summer course)
  • Managing licensed digital resources (no permanent number)
  • Human computer interaction (no permanent number)
  • Document structures and metadata for digital information (includes more XML than the Metadata class - no permanent number)
  • Digital preservation (no permanent number - usually summer course)

Note: it takes several years to get a permanent number for new courses; therefore, many of the tech track courses are listed with temporary or "special topics" numbers although they are taught regularly.

All students choosing the Digital Library and Resources Track should complete a public services sub-specialization that focuses on either instruction or reference.

Instruction Sub-specialization:

  • LIS 639 Information Literacy Pedagogy
  • LIS 826 Field Project in Library and Information Literacy Instruction
Reference Sub-specialization:
  • LIS 635 Reference and Information Service
  • LIS 620 Select a practicum project focusing on reference work

Recommended courses outside of SLIS

With advisor's consent SLIS students may take electives outside of SLIS which will help them meet their career goals. These courses are not managed by SLIS, so interested students should contact the other department to determine when courses will be offered and if it is possible to enroll as a non-major.

Coding and Applications Development - For those interested in developing more skills to build web applications and develop machine processing tools for information agency environments, courses from Computer Sciences may be helpful.

  • CS 302 Introduction to programming
  • CS 367 Introduction to data structures
  • CS 369 Web Programming
  • CS 540 Intoduction to artificial intelligence
  • CS 576 Introduction to bioinformatics

Usability and Human Factors - For those interested in developing more skills related to human factors testing and design for usability, courses from Industrial Engineering may be helpful.

  • ISyE 349: Introduction to Human Factors
  • ISyE 552 Human Factors Engineering Design and Evaluation
  • ISyE 549 Human Factors Engineering
  • ISyE 652 Sociotechnical Systems
  • ISyE 692 TOPIC: Sociotechnical Systems

Digital communications/information design - For those interested in focusing on digital information production, classes from Life Sciences Communication may be helpful.

  • L Sc Com 532 Web Design for the Sciences
  • L Sc Com 530 Print and Electronic Media Design
  • L Sc Com 861 Environmental Information and Education Programs
  • L Sc Com 616 Mass Media and Youth

Top