美国伊利诺伊大学图书馆与信息科学研究生学院（University of Illinois: Graduate School of Library and Information Science）

The University of Illinois Graduate School of Library and Information Science (GSLIS) is recognized as a premier institution, consistently named the top LIS school in the nation. GSLIS has earned its reputation by creating pioneering and innovative educational opportunities, including the oldest extant LIS doctoral program in the country (1948), our award-winning online education program, LEEP (1996), and an advanced degree in digital libraries (2005).

Today, GSLIS is a charter member of the iSchools Project, a community of schools interested in the relationship between information, technology, and people and committed to increasing the visibility of the field of library and information science. Founded in 1893, GSLIS helped establish and develop the methods used in the field of LIS. Today we continue this tradition by translating the core principles of library science—information organization, access, use, and preservation—to meet the needs of our information society. This natural integration of library science and information science allows for opportunities to enhance and strengthen learning, teaching, and research: at GSLIS, we understand that fluency with current technologies is important to all information professionals, from librarians, archivists, and museum curators to information architects, Web developers, and data managers.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is considered one of the finest universities in the world. With a wealth of resources and highly ranked departments, Illinois long has been recognized for accomplishments in research and graduate education.

Mission

People use information for analysis, inquiry, collaboration, and play—and in so doing, change the world. The Graduate School of Library and Information Science is dedicated to shaping the future of information through research, education, and engagement, both public and professional. Our mission is to lead the way in understanding the use of information in science, culture, society, commerce, and the diverse activities of our daily lives.

National Reputation for Teaching and Research

In the 2013 U.S. News and World Report ranking of graduate professional schools of library and information science, GSLIS was once again selected as number one, a position held since the publication first started ranking library and information studies programs. GSLIS also ranked highly in a number of specialty groups, including first place in Services for Children and Youth; second place in Digital Librarianship; and placement in the top ten for Archives and Preservation, Health Librarianship, Information Systems, and School Library Media.

In past surveys, library educators ranked Illinois first overall among schools of library and information science in providing the highest quality education at the master’s and doctoral levels and for faculty members who contribute most significantly to the advancement of the profession through research, publication, and leadership.

GSLIS researchers partner with many organizations and have a number of research collaborators, both on campus and around the world. Major funders include the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Library of Congress, Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the National Science Foundation.

Comprehensive Educational Offerings

Students may pursue MS and PhD degrees and a Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) with the opportunity to specialize through such programs as the MS in Bioinformatics and the CAS in Digital Libraries.

Many master’s students and recent graduates cite the opportunity to design their own programs of study as a major advantage at Illinois. Areas of emphasis include:

information organization and knowledge representation (including a Specialization in Data Curation)

information resources, uses, and users

information systems

history, economics, and policy

management and evaluation

social, community, and organizational informatics (including the Certificate in Community Informatics)

youth literature and services (including K-12 Library Information Specialist Licensure)

A master's degree candidate with a full-time load can complete the 40-hour program in two semesters and one summer, though many students choose to continue in the program for an additional semester or two.

Students have flexible scheduling options for MS and CAS degree course work: students may pursue their degrees either full time or part time and can take courses on-campus, through the LEEP online education option, or a combination of both. The LEEP online education option brings students to campus only for brief periods of study; remaining course work is completed remotely, using varied formats that include Internet-based courses with real-time audio and visuals.

Generous Financial Assistance

Generous financial assistance is available in the form of fellowships, graduate assistantships, and student loans. All fellowships and assistantships include both a stipend and a tuition and service fee waiver of at least the in-state cost. Graduate assistantships are the primary source of financial aid, and are awarded by the School, the University Library, and a variety of other campus units. The great majority of on-campus students receive financial support; assistantships generally are available only to regular on-campus students, but all students may be eligible for student loans.

Facilities, Services, and Resources

The GSLIS building, a former university fraternity house, was first renovated for occupation by the School in 1992 and then doubled in size by a construction project—begun in 1999 and completed in 2001—that added 29,000 square feet to the building. Take a virtual tour of the GSLIS building, thanks to a site produced and developed by doctoral student Kalev Leetaru.

In addition to the University’s vast network of computer labs and facilities, the School has two large computer laboratories of its own: one is available to members of the GSLIS community 24 hours per day, 7 days per week; the other is used primarily as a teaching facility. GSLIS also has UIUCnet Wireless Access throughout the building.

Research is overseen by the GSLIS Research Services and further supported by several School resources: the Center for Informatics Research in Science and Scholarship, which conducts research on the use and impacts of information resources and tools in scientific and scholarly inquiry; The Center for Children's Books, home of a 16,000-book examination collection; the Communications Office, producer of Library Trends and The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books and other LIS-related publications; and the Center for Digital Inclusion (CDI), which fosters inclusive and sustainable societies through research, teaching, and public engagement about information and communication technologies (ICT) and their impacts on communities, organizations, and governments.

Illinois has one of the largest public university collections in the world, which includes the Library and Information Science Virtual Library. The University Library's Mortenson Center for International Library Programs fosters international tolerance and peace and ensures access to information by strengthening ties among the world's libraries. The University hosts the National Center for Supercomputing Applications.

All of the above resources provide research opportunities as well as student employment.

After Graduation

We equip students with the theories and practices of library and information science through the study of the foundations, principles, and ideas of the discipline and the status and expectations of the profession. We maintain an online list of job openings and help students and alumni locate position listings. Staff assist students in preparing resumes and mastering job interview techniques and also provide advice on job-hunting strategies.

Recent master’s graduates have accepted posts in all types of libraries and in a variety of other organizations, including consulting firms, library vendors, and technology companies.

The PhD program is research-oriented and designed to prepare outstanding scholars in library and information science. Almost all PhD graduates assume academic faculty, research, and administrative positions.