ALA Reaccredits UK's Library Science Programs

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 10, 2011) — The University of Kentucky School of Library and Information Science, within the College of Communications and Information Studies, was recently granted continued accreditation status by the American Library Association (ALA). Both the master of the arts and master of science degrees in library science are accredited through 2018.
 

There are 63 ALA-accredited master's programs across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. ALA accreditation indicates that the program has undergone a self-evaluation process, has been externally reviewed and meets the Standards for Accreditation of Master’s Programs in Library and Information Studies, established by the ALA Committee on Accreditation and adopted by the ALA Council. The Committee on Accreditation evaluates each program for conformity to the Standards, which address mission, goals and objectives; curriculum; faculty; students; administration and financial support; and physical resources and facilities.

Most employers require an ALA-accredited master's degree for professional level positions, and some states require an ALA-accredited degree to work as a professional librarian in public or school libraries.

“Continued accreditation reflects the overall quality of the master’s programs as well as the strength of the School’s faculty and staff,” said Jeff Huber, director of the University of Kentucky's School of Library and Information Science.

Ranked one of "America's Best Graduate Schools" in the U.S. News & World Report, the School of Library and Information Science has graduated more than 80 percent of all master’s-level librarians in Kentucky. In addition to offering classes on campus, courses are offered in distance learning format.

For more information about the School of Library and Information Science, please visit the school's website at www.uky.edu/CommInfoStudies/SLIS.