Drexel Online Now Offers School Library, Youth Services Focus

By SLJ Staff -- School Library Journal, 6/9/2008 9:00:00 AM

Here’s some news for aspiring young adult librarians and media specialists: Drexel University Online, which offers an MLS via distance learning, has added those two new areas of concentration for those obtaining a master's in library and information science.

“For those who wish to work in k-12 school library programs in both public and private schools, the school library media concentration is available, and the youth services concentration are for those who are planning to lead a career within the public libraries and focus on youth populations,” says the university. “These innovative online concentrations will increase the educational opportunities for library and information professionals.”

According to the U.S. Department of Labor and Statistics, many schools, colleges, and universities prefer to hire those with a graduate degree in library science and note that the higher level of education prepares candidates for higher level job positions.
“The job market for those with an advanced library and information science degree is strong because of the high rate of job growth and the number of librarians who are predicted to retire in upcoming years,” the university says.

U.S.News & World Report ranked Drexel University online master's in library and information science 11th in the nation in its "America's Best Graduate Schools 2007" and also said had one of the 10 largest online graduate library science programs in the country.

Applications for Drexel's online master's in library and information science are now being accepted for the fall term. For more information about the program, email info@drexel.com or call (877) 215-0009.