Hocbigg - Library and Information Studies
Contents
Summary
The Library and Information Studies curriculum is a complete education in Library and Information Studies using online materials.
The field of LIS encompasses the organization, access, preservation, and ethical management of information in diverse formats and contexts, blending theory from information science with practical applications in libraries, archives, and digital environments.
The program is divided into phases with logical progression: prerequisites build foundational skills, core subjects provide essential knowledge, advanced electives allow specialization, and a capstone synthesizes learning.
Organization
This repository is organized into 2 main components:
- Core Curriculum (this page): the foundational knowledge of the field;
- Advanced Topics: focused study in specific areas;
Process: Learners may work through the curriculum independently or collaboratively, and either sequentially or selectively.
- For simplicity, courses in the Core Curriculum are ordered according to their prerequisites.
- The Core Curriculum provides a shared foundation and is intended to be completed in full.
- Advanced Topics are optional; learners are encouraged to select one area of focus and complete all courses within that topic.
Note: When there are courses or books that don't fit into the curriculum but are otherwise of high quality, they belong in extras/courses, extras/readings.
Communities
- Subreddits:
- You can also interact through GitHub issues. If there is a problem with a course, or a change needs to be made to the curriculum, this is the place to start the conversation. Read more here.
-
Join our Discord server (for discussions around this and other curricula):
Curriculum
How to use this curriculum
Core Sections
These four sections form the essential foundation of the discipline. Study them in this exact order:
-
Foundations of Library and Information Studies
Start here. This section introduces the basic ideas, history, and professional identity of the field. -
Information, Users, and Society
Next, learn how people actually interact with information in real life and the societal issues connected to it. -
Knowledge Organization and Discovery
Then move to the methods and systems used to describe, organize, and find information – a central skill in LIS. -
Library Services and Collections
Finally, understand the practical, public-facing work of libraries: helping users and building collections.
Foundations of Library and Information Studies
Core concepts, history, values, and professional identity.
| Subject | Book | Online Course / Resource |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to LIS | Foundations of Library and Information Science – Richard E. Rubin | Introduction to Library and Information Science (Alison) |
| History of Libraries and Knowledge Institutions | Libraries and Information in the Ancient World – Lionel Casson (Archive.org) | Library History Round Table Resources (ALA) |
| LIS as a Profession | Foundations of Library and Information Science – Rubin | Same as above |
Information, Users, and Society
How people seek, use, and are shaped by information.
| Subject | Book | Online Course / Resource |
|---|---|---|
| Information Behavior | Looking for Information – Case & Given | Information Behavior Lectures (UNC SILS, YouTube) |
| Information Literacy | Information Literacy Instruction Handbook – Cox & Lindsay | Information & Digital Literacy for University Success (Coursera) |
| Information Ethics & Society | Rubin (relevant chapters) | ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom |
Knowledge Organization and Discovery
Describing, structuring, and retrieving information.
| Subject | Book | Online Course / Resource |
|---|---|---|
| Organization of Information | Organization of Information – Taylor & Joudrey | Catalogers Learning Workshop (LC) |
| Metadata & Knowledge Representation | Metadata – Zeng & Qin | Same as above |
| Information Retrieval | Introduction to Information Retrieval – Manning et al. (free online) | Stanford IR online text |
Library Services and Collections
Public-facing and collection-centered work.
| Subject | Book | Online Course / Resource |
|---|---|---|
| Reference & Information Services | Reference and Information Services – Wong & Saunders | RUSA Guidelines (ALA) |
| Collection Development | Developing Library and Information Center Collections – Evans & Saponaro | Collection Development Policies (IFLA) |
| User Services Assessment | Connaway & Powell (selected chapters) | IMLS Evaluation Resources |
Congratulations
After completing the requirements of the curriculum above, you will have completed the equivalent of a full bachelor's degree in Library and Information Studies. Congratulations!