About Information and Library Management, MA - at Department of Information Science, Loughborough University
The Department offers a choice of programmes to suit individuals from backgrounds in a wide range of disciplines or work experience, which need not necessarily be information based. Whether you are looking for advancement within your existing information environment or a career change, our flexible programmes provide the professional foundation you need.
Our Highly Regarded Professional Programme!The
Postgraduate Programme in Information and Library Management is a conversion course and is essentially vocational and practical. Nevertheless, it gives students the theoretical knowledge necessary to underpin any aspect of library and information work, building on ICT experience gained in undergraduate study or during pre-programme employment. Graduates will have a variety of career options, and the programme ensures that there is a balance between library studies and the emerging information markets that graduates will be able to enter. The programme inculcates a flexible attitude towards problems, thus preparing students not only for a first professional post, but also, with appropriate continuing education, for a career leading to the highest levels of management.
Brochure ContentsThese pages contain basic information about the academic programme and entry qualifications. Other information that provides answers to frequently asked questions about funding, part-time study, assessment etc. is on the coloured insert.
Further information about the University and campus life can be found in the Postgraduate Prospectus. As programmes are developed and updated, the information may be subject to change.
Programme DetailsThree awards are available to successful students: the MA or MSc, or the Loughborough Postgraduate Diploma (LPD). Full time candidates for a Masters degree (180 credits) undertake the programme for twelve months; full time candidates for the LPD (120 credits) undertake the programme for nine months. The programme is also available part-time, but not in distance learning mode. The award of an MA or MSc largely depends on the nature of the dissertation completed by the student.
Programme DetailsPart 1 of the Masters programme (120 credits) consists of taught modules, running from October to mid-May.
7 core (compulsory) modules
2 optional modules
Part 2 of the Masters programme is the Dissertation (60 credits).
The core modules are:
Information Law, Policy and Society
Information Needs and Use
Information Organisation and Retrieval
Web Design & Web Analytics
Research Management
Management in Information Services
Collection Management and Preservation
The
optional modules are chosen from:
Semester 1
The Child and the Book
Information and Knowledge Management in the NHS
Information Services and Libraries
Interaction Design
Principles of Knowledge Management
Semester 2
Consumer Health Information
Culture and Change Management
Digital Preservation
E-publishing: Marketing and Business Issues
Markup Languages for the Web
Please note: Options will not normally be offered to classes of fewer then ten students, and the Department reserves the right not to offer all the options in any one year.
Brief Module DescriptionsThe following brief descriptions are provided as an introduction to the programme. Full module specifications, including a short reading list and indication of assessed coursework, can be accessed at:
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/dis/studying/pg-ilmph.html
Core ModulesInformation Law, Policy and Society takes place at the beginning of Semester 1 and provides the underlying contextual framework for the rest of the programme. The aim is to encourage a critical understanding of the social, ethical, legal and public policy contexts that affect the provision, supply, management and consumption of information services in an information and knowledge society.
Information Needs and Use runs across both semesters. The aims of this module are to enable students to select and evaluate appropriate information sources, to monitor and understand the information behaviour and needs of people in different environments and to support them through the design and delivery of human-centred information services and training. Information needs in health, business, industry, academic and schools will be covered as will theories of learning and models of information behaviour.
Information Organisation and Retrieval is a Semester 1 module concerned with the role of metadata and metadata standards in various contexts. The subject role of metadata, including ontologies, classifications, taxonomies, thesauri and other indexes in various information environments is also included. This module will enable students to appreciate the need for information organisation policies and to know how to develop and implement policies.
Web Design & Web Analytics is a Semester 1 module. The aim is for students to understand the history of, and basic concepts associated with, web design. Students will be introduced to two commonly used software packages for Web design and web analytics. The module should enable students to design a website and publish it and to analyse usage of the site.
Research Management runs at the end of Semester 1 (January). This module prepares the students for the dissertation, but also provides them with the knowledge and skills to undertake research in the workplace. The module provides and overview of different types of research and the research process; an introduction to research methods and data analysis; research ethics and writing up research findings. This modules aims to enable students to identify research problems, design, undertake and manage simple projects.
Management in Information Services this Semester 2 module provides a basic grounding in the basic principles of good management practices. The aim is for students to become familiar with theories and practical techniques of management and organisation behaviour with an emphasis on the information and knowledge environment; to understanding marketing theory relating to products and services in the public and private sectors, the be aware of the strategic significance of managements in the information and knowledge environment in these sectors.
Collection Management and Preservation runs in Semester 2. This module is concerned with creating, maintaining and making accessible collections according to the organisation's objectives and, ultimately, user needs. Content includes the nature of collections and the nature of collection management and preservation, collection evaluation and collection management policy content and formulation. The role of cooperation in collection management is also covered.
Optional ModulesStudents select one optional module per semester.
Semester 1The Child and the Book The aim of this module is for the student: to demonstrate an appreciation and understanding of the roles of reading and information for the development of the child; to describe the historical development of reading material for children; to explore the options for the delivery of services and information to children of all ages and to critically assess the range of sources accessible to children. The module will cover the history of childhood and child development; history of children's literature; critical approaches; picture books; electronic books and other new media; media interpretations; genres of children's literature; library services, selection criteria and bibliographic sources; key stages in literacy and matching literature
Information and Knowledge Management in the NHS aims for the student to gain an overview of provision and use of all types of information within the NHS in England, and an understanding of the organisational structure within which such information is generated and used. Ethical and legal issues surrounding information management in healthcare services are covered, as are the politics of healthcare services.
Information Services and Libraries will enable students to understand the management, structure and governance of library and information services in the public, academic and special library sectors, while appreciating the social, economic, political and cultural environment within which the different services operate.
Interaction Design considers the cognitive, social and technological issues that affect the design and evaluation of electronic interactive systems. In this module, students will examine each stage of the design process, from understanding and conceptualising an interactive system to building and evaluating prototypes of the user interface.
Principles of Knowledge Management gives students a broad overview of the emerging discipline of knowledge management. The module provides an integrated approach to theory and practice, and brings together the different dimensions of systems, technologies, strategy, culture and organisation learning. By the end of the module, students should feel confident of the different facets and debates in this discipline.
Semester 2Consumer Health Information explains and analyses the provision and use of consumer health information in England. The module covers the politics of healthcare, consumerism, end-use searching in medicine, library and bibliographical services, local and national consumer health information services, and patients' medical records access, use and rights.
Culture and Change Management aims to enable students to discern the different perspectives related to the ambiguous concept of 'culture' and to develop their thinking of different approaches for management change in organisations. The module explores the contributions of psychology, sociology and anthropology to cultural studies literature and examines the effects of human resource interventions to real life situations.
Digital Preservation This module will enable students to understand the nature of digital information and media, digital preservation problems, strategies and the management of digital preservation. The module will cover the characteristics of digital media and digital information and their implications for longevity, the nature and application of digital preservation strategies, risk assessment and lifecycle management of digital information.
E-Publishing: Marketing and Business Issues considers the broad range of issues that e-publishers have to face, including the development of product for e-book forms, pricing structures for electronic formats, preservation of electronic information and the development of scholarly e-journals.
Markup Languages for the Web considers advanced markup languages (e.g. XML), and concentrates both on the principles underpinning them and their practical application. Students will be introduced to a range of applications, including XML, XHMTL, XSL and others, and will be expected to create and edit their own XML documents.
DissertationThe second part of the programme (for those students studying for the MA or MSc) consists of a unit on research methodology (taught during the last four weeks of Semester 1), and of individual research leading to the submission of a 15,000 word dissertation (60 credits). Research work normally begins in mid-May. The Postgraduate Dissertations Coordinator holds several briefing sessions on dissertation preparation, assistance is given in choosing a suitable topic and an individual supervisor is assigned to each student. Academic staff suggest a range of suitable topics for study, and students are also encouraged to discuss their own interests with potential supervisors.
Full-time students must submit the dissertation by 15 September in the appropriate year. Alternative arrangements for submission are available for part-time students.
Entry QualificationsA good first degree (min. 2:2) is the normal qualification for entry to this taught postgraduate programme. In addition 9-12 months of work experience in a library or other information related environment is required. Exceptionally, a minimum of 6 weeks' experience may be acceptable for mature applicants.
All applicants resident in the UK are invited for an Open Day and/or interview, which will give them the opportunity to become more familiar with the academic content of the programmes, meet current postgraduate students and staff, and tour the Department and campus.
Overseas applicants are also very welcome to visit the Department if they are in the UK and able to come to Loughborough. Please notify the Postgraduate Admissions team if you intend to visit.
Further InformationFor information on the following topics, please see the separate insert:
Teaching Methods
Assessment
Part-time Study
ICT Skills
Funding
