About this course
- Entry year: 2012/13
- Course code: GP5112
- Applications: University
- Level: Postgraduate
- Department: Computer Science and Creative Technologies
- Campus: Frenchay
- Duration: One year full-time, two to three years part-time.
- Delivery: Full-time, Part-time day release
- Study Abroad: No
- Programme leader: Dr Paul Matthews
Introduction
The MSc Information and Library Management was established in 1995 at Bristol University and transferred to UWE in 2005. It is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP). The teaching team is drawn from information systems staff in the Faculty of Environment and Technology, staff from UWE Library Services, and senior information professionals from a range of library and information services throughout the region.
The programme is vocational, geared to practising librarians and information managers seeking a professional qualification. The curriculum combines material from the information science and the information systems disciplines. Since the advent of the web in particular, information has rapidly grown in volume, and has become more accessible, especially in digital form. The two disciplines have been converging towards a common focus on information discovery, organisation, and management. The significant contribution of external experts into the teaching of the programme helps keep it topical and oriented towards practice.
Information management is increasingly recognised as an important role and skill set not only in libraries but in other workplaces, such as business, legal, financial, media and publishing organisations. Graduates from the MSc Information and Library Management course will continue to follow a career in libraries in the South West region and beyond, but we expect the employment pattern to diversify in the years ahead.
The programme is led by Dr Paul Matthews (Paul2.Matthews@uwe.ac.uk) a Senior Lecturer of the Department of Computer Systems and Creative Technologies in the Faculty of Environment and Technology.
Structure
Content
The programme combines three elements of professional education in information and library management:
- Coverage of major topics, developments and areas of practice in the field, achieved through teaching and learning in a range of modules, including core material and a choice of options
- Integration of theory and practice, achieved by orienting the programme of studies toward practical experience
- A dissertation of the student's choice which provides an opportunity to carry out a sustained enquiry in an area of professional interest
The programme seeks to equip students with the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to manage a library or information service effectively. The dissertation will, in addition, extend knowledge in a specific area and develop skills in carrying out independent research.
A range of teaching and learning methods will be used, including lectures, discussions, small group work, tutorials, practical exercises and independent reading. Teaching and learning will be supported by an online virtual learning environment, which students will be able to use to communicate with fellow students and with teaching staff, to obtain administrative details about the module and to access course materials. Teaching for the programme is undertaken by staff from library and information services departments in the region, as well as by staff in the Faculty of Environment and Technology and Library Services at UWE. Specialist tutors are invited to contribute to teaching particular modules as appropriate.
The educational aims of the programme are:
- to provide an intellectual experience of advanced study, underpinned by staff expertise, research, and experience
- to enable you to further and deepen your knowledge, understanding and analytical abilities in a stimulating and challenging academic environment
- to prepare you for further professional development in your chosen field
- to develop your ability to conduct research in your chosen field
- to offer postgraduate opportunities for part-time students in employment
At the end of the programme, you should:
- have a flexible and critical attitude to innovation and change and be prepared for changing and varied employments
- understand the significance of the dynamic role of information and library work in the development of modern society
- be able to analyse, synthesise and provide for the acquisition of appropriate skills in order that these may be applied in future employment
- understand, and be able to use and exploit, relevant modern information systems
- have management and communication skills relevant to the activities involved in information and library work
- have an awareness of the social and organisational contexts in which information and library services operate
- have a firm foundation on which to build future professional development
- be able to carry out independent supervised research within the information world through the application of relevant methodical and analytical approaches
Please see our website for further information on the structure of this course, including more detailed information on the modules available.
Please note:
The content of programmes may change from year to year. Therefore you might find some variation between that shown here and the final version of your course. Although the option choices for this programme have been devised to meet anticipated interest, it may not be possible to run every option in a particular year if uptake is too low on particular modules or other resource constraints apply. As the programme develops, the option sets are also likely to evolve, so that the current combinations and sequences may be modified.
Teaching and learning
The taught part of the programme is taught by lectures, seminars, tutorials and lab work, with some sessions including talks from visiting speakers or visits to particular libraries or similar organisations. Group work will be included in many modules, and students will be encouraged to debate and critique theory and practice in librarianship and information management, often using case studies or real examples.
Study time
Each module in the programme carries 15 credits, except the dissertation, which carries 60 credits. Students will qualify for the awards MSc, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate by accumulating credits on completion of modules, as follows:
- The MSc in Information and Library Management requires 180 credits, achieved by successful completion of eight taught modules (six core modules and two options) and the dissertation
- The Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) in Information and Library Management requires 120 credits, achieved by successful completion of the taught part of the programme (but not the dissertation)
- The Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) in Information and Library Management requires 60 credits, achieved by successful completion of four taught modules
Note that CILIP has only accredited the MSc, not the Certificate or Diploma.
To be awarded an MSc, it is necessary to pass eight modules from the taught course and then the dissertation. The taught course runs over one year for full-time students and two years for part-time students, with the dissertation taking a few further months. Modules will be taught over standard UWE 12 week teaching blocks.
Teaching normally takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons and evenings. Two modules are timetabled on each day. Full-time students attend on both days and study four modules in each teaching block over one year. Part-time students attend on one of these days and study two modules per teaching block over two years.
Assessment
Assessment in most modules is by a combination of written coursework and presentations. The dissertation will be assessed by the supervisor and second marker.
Special Features
Professional accreditation
The MSc has been accredited by CILIP, the Chartered Institute of Library Information Professionals.
CILIP accreditation is internationally recognised. Completing this programme together with relevant work experience gained either in the UK or abroad, provides you with the best route to becoming a chartered professional in your field.
In the department all programmes that are determined as appropriate for accreditation and exemption are regularly inspected by the relevant institutions. However, due to the cyclical nature of accreditation visits, the status of individual programmes of study may vary from time to time. If you would like to check the current accreditation status of individual programmes, then please check the CILIP website www.cilip.org.uk.
Study facilities
We host our own servers to provide Windows, Linux and Unix based operating systems. There are over 500 available workstations in our teaching laboratories, as well as a large open-access laboratory, providing PC and Unix based machines. We have our own IT Helpdesk, staffed by students from within the fraculty, and available for both students and staff to use. There are also 24 hour computer labs on campus available for student use.
We operate an extensive pastoral care system that includes induction programmes and access to academic staff and student advisers for guidance and support throughout your time here as a student.
Careers/further study
Graduates from the MSc Information and Library Management typically proceed to management or other senior positions in information and library services throughout the South West of England and beyond.
Need more experience?
We regularly get passed details of volunteer and paid internship opportunities with local organisations. If you are interested in receiving details of these, please send a current CV to paul2.matthews@uwe.ac.uk
Entry
Entry requirements
General requirements
Applicants should be graduates with one or more years' recent experience of working in a library or related environment. Those without a first degree but with several years experience of working in a library at a suitable level might also be considered on a case by case basis. Students to this course are drawn from a wide range of academic backgrounds and ages and bring broad experience with them.
We welcome applicants without conventional entry requirements but who have substantial relevant work or other experience and who have the motivation and skills to succeed on the course.
International applicants (non UK and EU) should aim to apply by the end of June to allow time to arrange accommodation, finance and any visas.
English Language requirements
Please visit our website for information on English language requirements
Education and work experience
Typically, students enter the programme with a degree in a relevant area as well as one or more years’ experience of working in a library or related environment. More specifically you may:
- Be a UK student with a good honours degree in a range of subjects, or an international student with equivalent qualifications;
- Have a lower degree classification but be able to provide evidence that you are strongly motivated to study Information and Library Management. Such evidence is normally given as relevant work experience;
- Be a senior library professional but with none of the qualifications given above. For example, you may have been working at a senior level within a library environment for several years. In this case, you can expect to be invited to attend an interview where your suitability for this programme will be assessed.
Fees
For more information on our fees you can contact us or visit our money matters web page.
For further information
Page last updated 14 December 2011