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Department of Library and Information Studies


History of the Department of Library
and Information Studies at UNCG

by Prof. James V. Carmichael , Jr.

Although informal courses in library use were offered at UNCG as early as 1904 by librarian Annie Petty, and credit courses as early as 1921 by librarian Charles B. Shaw, not until 1927, when southern library educator Charles Stone was appointed librarian, was formalized library education integrated into the mission of the state women's college to train teachers. A Training School library was established in 1927, and by 1928 Stone had organized a Department of Library Science. He had already established such a course at Peabody Institute, and, with Louis Round Wilson (librarian of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) had secured approval for standards for High School Libraries by the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. The latter had important implications for the quality of high school libraries, foremost of which was the appointment of librarians with formal qualifications. The Board of Education for Librarianship of the American Library Association had begun formal accreditation of library school programs in 1925, and by 1928, granted Type II (senior undergraduate) accreditation to Stone's program. It thus became the first accredited program in North Carolina, and the second in the southern states.

With the Great Depression and state retrenchment, however, (which included the removal of many librarians in the North Carolina schools) the state decided to consolidate library education at Chapel Hill, where the backing of the Carnegie Corporation for a generalized program catering mainly to academic and public libraries decided the fate of the Greensboro program by 1931, and ALA endorsement of the state reorganization scheme seemed assured when Chapel Hill's program was accredited in that year. Ironically, because Chapel Hill did not give credit for successive summers of work, the new program effectively excluded working school librarians. After Stone's departure from the university in 1935, summer school courses geared towards school libraries were offered regularly, albeit on an unaccredited basis for part-time teacher-librarians.

Formalized library education was re-activated in 1962-63 for school media specialists on the graduate level, and the master's program in library science was approved in 1965, though it did not become operational until 1978 when the first Master of Library Science degree was conferred. The reactivation was due in part to increased federal support for libraries through specific legislation and through fellowship programs. The program was enhanced by enterprising leadership: under the direction of Mrs. Mary Frances Kennon Johnson (1962-1979; Chair, 1978-79) and Cora Paul Bomar (1969-1979; Interim Chair, 1986-87) microcomputers were made an integral part of the vision of the future for school media services; Dr. Kieth Wright (Chair, 1980-86),broadened the scope of the program through hiring of new faculty with different areas of expertise, and created partnerships with public, academic and special libraries through practicum experiences, association activities, and utilization of local practioners in workshops and adjunct teaching slots. These efforts strengthened the department's reputation as a leader in the school media field. The program operated under the aegis of the School of Education as The Department of Library Science and Educational Technology. In 1989, the name of the Department changed to The Department of Library and Information Studies offering a general program of library studies serving both the state and the region. The program was accredited in 1982 by the American Library Association Committee on Accreditation, and was re-accredited most recently in 2005.

Under Chair Marilyn L. Miller (1987-1995), several new initiatives were launched, most notably a distance education program which was the first program approved by the University system's General Administration to offer its entire Master's program via satellite. Distance sites include Asheville, Charlotte and Winston-Salem. One cohort graduated from Virginia sites at Charlottesville, Roanoke, Emory and Henry, and Blacksburg in 1995, and the Virginia program was assumed thereafter by The University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Miller also developed advanced opportunities for certification in media supervision, and a doctorate in Curriculum and Teaching with an emphasis in school librarianship.

Please address comments and suggestions to Jim_Carmichael@uncg.edu

Page updated: 22 - October - 2007
Webmaster: Katherine Sun

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Department of Library and Information Studies, UNCG
349 Curry Building, PO Box 26170
Greensboro, NC 27402-6170
Tel: (336)334-3477
FAX (336)334-5060
EMAIL cpfelts@uncg.edu