Class Update

Next semester, I will take 9 hours of class credit. At the end of the semester, I will have 22 of 36 credit hours required for my MSLIS. It’s exciting to be over halfway through my degree program, and even though I don’t feel like I have learned a great deal, when I actually think about it and reflect upon it, I have learned so much. My classes so far, for the most part, have been great. So, let’s recap, shall we - as of December, here are the classes I have completed:

IST 601 - Introduction to the Library and Information Profession: A broad overview of the field and an orientation to the School of Information Studies. Describes the past, present, and future of information studies.
IST 511 - Information and Information Environments: Key components of the field and its relationship to other fields and professions. General structure, issues and problems, research, and literature.
IST 605 - Information Resources, Users, and Services: The discovery and use of print and electronic resources and delivery of services in libraries to meet information needs of varied patron communities in a broad range of contexts.
IST 600 - Library Budgeting
IST 600 - Library Marketing
IST 600 - Library Fundraising
IST 618 - Survey of Telecommunications and Information Policy - Public policy issues of the digital environment, including freedom of expression, intellectual property, economic regulations, privacy, security, access, standards, and dissemination of public information. Application of economic, legal, and political science concepts to policy analysis.

All in all, that’s 14 credit hours so far. Next semester, I will be taking:

IST 613 - Library Planning, Marketing, and Assessment: User-focused planning, marketing, and assessment of activities that support core functions of libraries, such as collection development, systems, and public services.
IST 616 - Information Resources: Organization & Access: Introduction to theories, tools, and standards for information organization and access, including cataloging rules and formats, content analysis, indexing, classification, and fundamentals of information retrieval systems.
IST 604 - Cataloging of Information Resources: Cataloging rules, standards, and metadata schemes; bibliographic utilities; formats of print and nonprint materials; cataloging software; management issues.

I am thrilled about what I am going to learn next semester. In my work at the Amon Carter Museum Library, I have already done some assessment, as well as cataloging - two areas (especially cataloging) that interest me very much. 604 means I get to become very familiar with two things - MARC, and AACR2. I’ll explain more about these standards soon, so stay tuned.