Re: Required? Degree

[MarjorieP@AOL.COM]

     The University of Northern Iowa offers an endorsement in either
elementary or secondary library science for students working on a Bachelor's
degree in Education.  Students leave the program with teaching credentials in
a major teaching field plus a minor program in library science.  This program
has been in place for many years but I do not know when it began.
     I agree there are many school library media specialists who
 successfully began their careers from this type of program not only in Iowa
but in other parts of the country [Note: I began my library career in this
manner].  However, in our program those students finish with only 20 semester
hours rather than the 36 required for a Masters degree and are therefore
missing courses I believe are important.  For example, our undergraduates do
not take the Automation or Information Skills courses.  We strongly encourage
our undergraduate students to return and complete a Masters degree and many
do that.
     One of my great concerns with school library programs is that they are
diminishing around the country.  Librarianship for children and young adults
(schools included) seem to be considered of lesser value and those programs
are being dropped from the university curricula.  I think this occurs
partially because these programs are smaller in the scheme of the broader
university curriculum and as we have gone through tight budgets in academia
small programs were cut.  This should be a lobbying (advocacy) concern of
school library media associations.  You do have a voice, which if raised
loudly enough, will be heard at the administrative level of colleges and
universities.
     About 6 years ago, UNI began offering their School Library Media Studies
program over the Iowa Communications Network, a fiber optic two-way audio and
video system.  This has revitalized our program and enabled students from
remote parts of Iowa (and the NW section of IL) to get degrees
(certification) as school library media specialists.  I would be interested
to know how many other states use a fiber optic network for this type of
program.

Marjorie Pappas
Coordinator, School Library Media Studies
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA  50614-0462
319-273-2578
marjorie.pappas@uni.edu
marjoriep@aol.com