Library Informatics

About

Bachelor of Science in Library Informatics Degree at Northern Kentucky University

Description

The management and effective use of information has growing importance in every professional field. A bachelor's degree in Library Informatics responds to this broad-based need for professionals by producing graduates with the following skills:

Organizing information
Courses focus on utilizing appropriate systems and technology to manage more information more effectively. Examples of specific topical study would be the range of classification systems, information policy, information entrepreneurship, preservation of materials, and the unique organizational demands of multiple media materials.
Accessing information
Courses guide students to analyze research strategies and develop meta-cognitive understanding of effective and efficient information-seeking behavior. Examples of specific topical studies would be using reference tools to streamline information seeking; studies of publication and dissemination cycles; understanding information "types" and the relative values of those groups of resources; and ethical and legal issues in using information.
Assessing information
Course content centers upon evaluating usability, reliability, and sufficiency of information sources. Specific topical studies include the application of critical thinking skills in the analysis of resources, the coordination of information sources to specific audience needs, and the examination of information sources as evidence in decision-making processes.

There are diverse job opportunities for Library Informatics majors. Careers in information can be found in private industries, public and academic libraries, and non-profit organizations. A degree in Library Informatics differs from related degrees in management and computer science due to the emphasis on information in all its forms (words, numbers, pictures, sounds) and on applying information technology to help people and organizations solve important problems.