Course description
Introduction
The MSc Information and Library Management was established in 1995 at Bristol University and transferred to UWE in 2005. It is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP). The teaching team is drawn from information systems staff in the Bristol Institute of Technology, staff from UWE Library Services, and senior information professionals from a range of library and information services throughout the region.
The programme is vocational, geared to practising librarians and information managers seeking a professional qualification. The curriculum combines material from the information science and the information systems disciplines. Since the advent of the web in particular, information has rapidly grown in volume, and has become more accessible, especially in digital form. The two disciplines have been converging towards a common focus on information discovery, organisation, and management. The significant contribution of external experts into the teaching of the programme helps keep it topical and oriented towards practice.
Information management is increasingly recognised as an important role and skill set not only in libraries but in other workplaces, such as business, legal, financial, media and publishing organisations. Graduates from the MSc Information and Library Management course will continue to follow a career in libraries in the South West region and beyond, but we expect the employment pattern to diversify in the years ahead.
Content
The programme combines three elements of professional education in information and library management:
Coverage of major topics, developments and areas of practice in the field, achieved through teaching and learning in a range of modules, including core material and a choice of options
Integration of theory and practice, achieved by orienting the programme of studies toward practical experience
A dissertation of the student’s choice which provides an opportunity to carry out a sustained enquiry in an area of professional interest
The programme seeks to equip students with the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to manage a library or information service effectively. The dissertation will, in addition, extend knowledge in a specific area and develop skills in carrying out independent research.
A range of teaching and learning methods will be used, including lectures, discussions, small group work, tutorials, practical exercises and independent reading. Teaching and learning will be supported by an online virtual learning environment, which students will be able to use to communicate with fellow students and with teaching staff, to obtain administrative details about the module and to access course materials. Teaching for the programme is undertaken by staff from library and information services departments in the region, as well as by staff in CEMS Faculty and Library Services at UWE. Specialist tutors are invited to contribute to teaching particular modules as appropriate.
Teaching and learning
The taught part of the programme is taught by lectures, seminars, tutorials and lab work, with some sessions including talks from visiting speakers or visits to particular libraries or similar organisations. Group work will be included in many modules, and students will be encouraged to debate and critique theory and practice in librarianship and information management, often using case studies or real examples.
Study facilities
Bristol Institute of Technology hosts its own servers to provide Windows, Linux and Unix based operating systems. There are over 500 available workstations in our teaching laboratories, as well as a large open-access laboratory, providing PC and Unix based machines.The Bristol Institute of Technology has its own IT Helpdesk, staffed by students from within the Bristol Institute of Technology, and available for both students and staff to use. There are also 24 hour computer labs on campus available for student use.
The Bristol Institute of Technology operates an extensive pastoral care system that includes induction programmes and access to academic staff and student advisers for guidance and support throughout your time here as a student.
Study time
Each module in the programme carries 15 credits, except the dissertation, which is rated at 60 credits. Students will qualify for the awards MSc, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate by accumulating credits on completion of modules, as follows:
-The MSc in Information and Library Management requires 180 credits, achieved by successful completion of eight taught modules (six core modules and two options) and the dissertation
-The Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) in Information and Library Management requires 120 credits, achieved by successful completion of the taught part of the programme (but not the dissertation)
-The Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) in Information and Library Management requires 60 credits, achieved by successful completion of four taught modules
-Note that CILIP has only accredited the MSc, not the Certificate or Diploma.
To be awarded an MSc, it is necessary to pass eight modules from the taught course and then the dissertation. The taught course runs over one year for full-time students and two years for part-time students, with the dissertation taking a few further months. Modules will be taught over standard UWE twelve week teaching blocks.
Teaching normally takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons and evenings. Two modules are timetabled on each day. Full-time students attend on both days and study four modules in each teaching block over one year. Part-time students attend on one of these days and study two modules per teaching block over two years.
Part-time students in their first year of study would normally attend on Wednesday, and those in their second year of study would normally attend on Tuesday.
Assessment
Assessment in most modules is by a combination of written coursework and presentations. The dissertation will be assessed by the supervisor and second marker.
