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MLIS Program
2004 Randolph Avenue
Mailstop #4125
St. Paul, MN 55105

Email: imdept-at-stkate.edu
Phone: 651-690-6802

Mission Statement

The Master of Library and Information Science program at
St. Catherine University educates students in the principles, practices, and ethics of library and information science, imbues them with a sense of service to diverse populations, and prepares them to be life-long learners and active leaders in a rapidly changing information society.

Guiding Principles

We, the faculty of the Master of Library and Information Science Program at St. Catherine University:

• Believe that information is an invaluable resource that must be collected, organized, preserved, and disseminated so that all people-regardless of age, gender, race, color, creed, ethnicity, socio-economic status, political persuasion, or sexual orientation-have equal access to the information they seek.
• Maintain that intellectual freedom is vital to a democratic society. We uphold the right of all individuals to create and use resources representing diverse points of view, and we are prepared to defend those rights.
• Support the principles of our profession's codes of ethics and strive to instill in our students the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct.
• Are dedicated to teaching the theories, knowledge, and skills students need to be proficient practitioners capable of preserving the records of the past, managing current resources, and transforming the future through appropriate use of technology.
• Challenge students to become critical thinkers, active learners, and creative scholars who can and will draw upon interdisciplinary studies to contribute to the body of knowledge in our field.
• Actively encourage students to lead "from where they are," in preparation for leadership positions at their place of employment, in the profession, and in the global information society.
• Believe the interests of our profession, our communities, our nation, and our world are best served through faculty/student teaching, scholarship, and service.
• Use systematic and continuous review and evaluation processes to assure quality education, both curricular and pedagogic, and to allocate human, financial, physical, and technological resources appropriately.

Goals

To achieve our Mission, we are committed to the following:

• Recruiting and retaining a highly-qualified, diverse student body.
• Providing a rigorous curriculum that ensures general competencies and specializations in the field of library and information science.
• Maintaining a talented, dedicated and diverse faculty who are scholars and active participants in the library profession.
• Providing innovative learning opportunities, strongly grounded in practice and technology, to ensure that our students are fully prepared to meet the needs of their chosen profession.
• Being inclusive by ensuring that all stakeholders in the MLIS program participate in the policy making process to ensure the highest quality educational experience.

Student Learning Outcomes

The outcomes of the MLIS degree program are to develop information literate, reflective practitioners who have the ability to:

1. Identify and analyze information needs and opportunities of individuals and organizations.
2. Demonstrate critical thinking by integrating relevant models, theories, research and practices.
3. Demonstrate management, interpersonal and organizational skills.
4. Demonstrate leadership and advocacy skills.
5. Communicate knowledge from library and information studies and related disciplines.
6. Demonstrate information technology fluency.
7. Demonstrate understanding of the selection, acquisition, licensing, organization, preservation, retrieval, and use of recorded knowledge and information resources.
8. Promote and model the professional values of ethical responsibility, intellectual freedom, and universal access to information.
9. Demonstrate awareness of diverse groups and how to serve them effectively.
10. Teach others to identify, analyze, organize, and use information.
11. Articulate a philosophy of service that demonstrates an understanding of the history, philosophy, principles, policies, and ethics of library and information science and technology.
12. Participate in ongoing professional development.

St. Catherine University is an equal opportunity educator and employer.