12-12-12 M.L.I.S. DISTANCE DEGREE PROGRAM Celebrates FOURTH ANNIVERSARY

Ohio Libraries, Summer 2004 by Filipan, Rhonda S

Kent State University's School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) is indeed making a difference in the field of library education. With the development of the 12-12-12 M.L.I.S. Distance Degree Program, the school's distance learning initiative, a master's degree in library and information science is now an attainable goal for those in rural Ohio as well as those residing in areas outside of northeast Ohio.

This fall, the fourth anniversary of the 12-12-12 M.L.I.S. Distance Degree Program, courses will be offered in Kent and at the school's site in Columbus on the west campus of Ohio State as well as at six additional locations throughout Ohio:

Central Ohio:

Mansfield (North Central Ohio Computer Cooperative)

Northern Ohio:

Lorain (Lorain County Community College)

Northwest Ohio:

Toledo (Toledo and Lucas County Public Library)

Southeast Ohio:

Wellston (Ohio Valley Area Libraries-OVAL)

Southwest Ohio:

Cincinnati (Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County)

Franklin (Franklin Public Library)

Previous sites included Clermont County, Caldwell, and Bowling Green. Courses are offered via interactive video in a two-year program.

In year one, students take four required courses and earn 12 credits. These "core classes" are Foundations, Research, Access to Information, and Organization of Information. In year two, students can earn an additional 12 credits by enrolling in electives that have been selected by the faculty. These include courses in Reference, Cataloging, Management, and Selection and Acquisition.

Year one and year two of the program have another stellar feature: students can choose to take electives in school library media or youth services. Those students who choose to take school library media electives can earn K-12 school library media licensure in addition to their M.L.I.S. degree. This option, however, is available only to those who hold current, standard Ohio teaching credentials. In both year one and year two, students attend classes two evenings per week, allowing those in the 12-12-12 M.L.I.S Distance Degree Program to keep working at their day jobs.

To earn the final 12 credits for the 36-credit-hour degree, students are encouraged to enroll in Continuing Studies' workshops, to take online courses, to enroll in courses at Kent and Columbus, to take an individual investigation or practicum, or to transfer up to six hours of graduate credit from another university. In addition, all students are required to complete a Culminating Experience course (three credits) at the end of their studies in which they write a research paper, complete a research project, or do a practicum at a library or information center.

Of the students who enrolled in the distance learning program in fall 2001, more than 40 percent have completed the 12-12-12 M.L.I.S Distance Degree Program and have earned their master's degrees. Kent State's School of Library and Information Science has hopefully made a difference in the lives and in the careers of these students. It's our goal to continue to impact and shape library education in Ohio in years to come, meeting the needs of Ohio libraries.

To learn more about our program or to enroll, please visit us online at www.slis.kent.edu

BY RHONDA S. FILIPAN, M.A., M.L.S.

ACADEMIC PROGRAM COORDINATOR, KENT STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

Rhonda S. Filipan, M.A., M.L.S. is the academic program coordinator for Kent State University's School of Library and Information Science. She can be contacted at (330) 672-0013 or rfilipan@slis.kent.edu.