The Graduate Academic Certificate in Rural Library Management provides the student with advanced knowledge of concepts, theories and techniques in rural librarianship, skills to build collaboration among libraries and community units they serve, the development and use of online information services, as well as the planning, acquisition, development and installation of computer-based systems.

Students will develop knowledge of resources available to support and assist staff and managers working in small and rural libraries. They will learn how to: conduct outreach and marketing in a community-centered library; do online searches, client interviews, develop, promote and evaluate online services, and to plan and manage product and service procurement.

The Graduate Academic Certificate program is intended for two audiences:

 Library and Information Science Professionals: Master's degree library and information science professionals who want to develop expertise in management in rural and small libraries by taking additional graduate level courses to receive an academic credential.

Other Professionals: Bachelor's or Master's degree individuals who want to develop or enhance their knowledge of management in rural and small libraries to receive an academic credential.
 

Who needs this Certificate?

  • Potential librarians who foresee being in a management position in a small or rural library.
  • Practicing librarians who foresee being in a management position in a small or rural library.
     

Why is this Certificate so valuable? 

  • There is an impending wave of library director and/or manager retirements in small and rural libraries that will create thousands of open positions.
  • Few existing programs are aimed at preparing practitioners to move into management positions in small or rural libraries.
     

Prerequisites

No particular prerequisites for this GAC. However, courses listed under the GAC may have prerequisites that need to be satisfied. Students should consult the instructors prior to taking the individual courses.

Apply Today

  • Apply HERE with the UNT GradCAS (Centralized Application System)
  • International students must also review the International Admissions page for additional required documents.
  • Transcripts: Request transcripts from all colleges and universities attended through UNT GradCAS.

For transcript questions, please contact graduateschool@unt.edu

Note: Students who are awarded Graduate Academic Certificates and later apply for admission to the M.S. in Library or Information Science program or the M.S. in Data Science program will be required to submit any additional documents required by the specific program. 

UNT Graduate Students seeking Concurrent Enrollment

Students MUST be admitted to an academic certificate program in order for the certificate to be awarded.

If you are a current UNT student, email: ci-advising@unt.edu with your 8-digit ID number and the advising office will assist you with having the certificate set up.

If you do not complete this process - in having the certificate set up on your academic record, prior to your graduating semester, the Toulouse Graduate School will not accept your request to have the certificate awarded.

Once You Are Admitted

Once admitted, contact the advising office for assistance with enrollment in courses by emailing: ci-advising@unt.edu with your 8-digit ID number. 

Course Requirements:

Students who are interested in earning a graduate academic certificate in rural library management must take the following four courses (12 hours). These four courses must be successfully completed within a four-year time frame. 

INFO 5325 - Topics in Rural Libraries. 3 hours. Covers topics on concepts, theories and techniques in rural librarianship; resources available to support and assist staff and managers working in small and rural libraries; as well as real-world problems and advanced topics of rural public libraries.Prerequisite(s): None. 

INFO 5615 - Electronic Databases and Information Services. 3 hours. Development and use of online information services. Study of available databases in different fields. Conducting online searches; client interviews; developing, promoting and evaluating online services; current trends. Supervised practical experience. 

INFO 5350 - Library Partnership and Community Outreach. 3 hours. Covers basic skills to build collaboration among libraries and community units they serve; designed for students interested in outreach, marketing and community-centered library practice. Prerequisite(s): None.

Or

INFO 5310 - Marketing and Customer Relationships for Information Professionals. 3 hours Demonstrates marketing and customer relationship management and their importance for libraries and information centers, principles of marketing, public relations, and outreach. Marketing mix, development and implementation of marketing and customer relationship strategy, mission statement. Market segmentation, the role and characteristics of the users of information services, user needs, groups of users. Service concepts, principles and techniques in meeting users’ information needs. Evaluation of effectiveness in meeting customer service standards, assessment and measurement instruments in user analysis. Emphasis on the marketing and customer services in virtual environment with the use of social media and networking.
 
Choose one of the following:
 
INFO 5750 - Managing Library Automation Projects. 3 hours. Planning, acquisition, development and installation of computer-based systems in libraries of all types and sizes, oriented around activities necessary for effective library automation projects. Project planning; project approval and start-up; and planning and management of product and service procurement, development of system components, and system installation and maintenance. Prerequisite(s): None. 
 
INFO 5740- Introduction to Digital Libraries. 3 hours. Introduction to conceptual, practical and technical issues for developing and managing digital libraries. Theoretical foundations; technical infrastructures; digital objects (including born-digital objects and digitized objects); digital collection; organization and representation of information; user and service evaluation; and social, cultural and policy issues are discussed.
 
INFO 5745-Information Architecture. 3 hours. Introduction to the basic concepts and components of information architecture within the context of end-user and organizational needs. Provides the student with an understanding of the intellectual technologies necessary to design and implement effective and cost-efficient information systems such as digital libraries, database systems, and a range of other web-accessible resources, as well as collaborative computer systems in organizational environments. Students conduct a collaborative term project to design and implement a real-world system integrating the knowledge and skills learned on organization of information, visual design, human interface and usability issues.
 
INFO 5814-Web Content Development and Maintenance. 3 hours. Designed to meet the needs of government, education and industry for entry-level personnel capable of establishing a web site, composing text and graphic files for the site, identifying, writing and installing scripts for the site for interactive applications. Special attention is given to OSHA accessibility regulations.
 
INFO 5815- Topics in Digital Imaging for Information Professionals. 3 hours. Designed to provide each student in the digital image management program of study an opportunity to be involved with the production of digital images; the creation, maintenance and management of digital information databases; intellectual property and copyright issues; the use and management of advanced network and information technologies including web site design and maintenance; and the client markets of libraries, archives, information centers and museums.
 

Academic Certificate Completion Form and Request to Receive Your Certificate

Once you complete your course work, please submit the Request for Graduate Academic Certificate of Completion form to receive your certificate.


Contact Information:  

Title Contact E-mail
Coordinator Dr. Yunfei Du Yunfei.Du@unt.edu
Asst. Dir., Student Support Services Rachel Hall Ci-advising@unt.edu
Interim Department Chair Dr. Yunfei Du LIS-Chair@unt.edu
 

 

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