Skip Navigation | School of Education Home | UNCG Home
 
  1. About the Department
    1. History
    2. Mission
    3. Departmental Policies
  2. Admission and Financial Aid
  3. Alumni Page
  4. Courses & Programs
  5. Distance Education
  6. People
  7. Forms
  8. Frequently Asked Questions
  9. LISSA
  10. MLIS Jobs & Professional Development
  11. New Students
  12. Tech Info
  13. Site Map

Department of Library and Information Studies


POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MANUAL
TITLE: PRACTICUM : Policy Number: VII
Date: Revised: 8/94 Policy

LIS 601 Practicum in Library and Information Studies
Course Description: Supervised field or laboratory experiences in library/media center/information agency settings, with seminars. The practicum course serves as an elective for those students desiring more field or laboratory experiences in library settings. 3-6 s.h. Note: As per Graduate School policy, only 3 s.h. of practicum credit may count toward the Master's Degree in Library and Information Studies.

Prerequisites: Completion of LIS core requirements (LIS 600, 557, 640, 615 and 650), type of library course (LIS 653, 655, 656, or 657), and materials course (LIS 554, 556, 610, 611, 612, 613 or 614). Permission to take LIS 601 without completion of prerequisites must be obtained from practicum coordinator and student advisor.

Practicum Coordinator: Students register for Practicum with individual faculty members. The faculty member will coordinate the practicum experience with the student, and site supervisor. In some cases where there are a number of students in the same type of library setting, a faculty member may be assigned a group of students.

Objectives: To provide opportunities for students:

  1. To gain experience in actual library/information agency situations.
  2. To identify their areas of strength and areas for continuing improvement.
  3. To develop professional attitudes and effective interpersonal relationships in the work environment.

Grading:

Grades are reported as "S" (satisfactory) or "U" (unsatisfactory) "S" grade indicates completion of requirements and submission of documentation including:

  • Written schedule
  • Written activities log
  • Written objectives and plan for completion
  • Written report on objectives achievement
  • Evaluation form from supervising librarian
  • Self-evaluation form

Requirements

  1. The length of time in the library field assignment and course credit for practicum may vary with individual student needs and objectives. Minimum time in the field for three (3) s.h. is 90 clock hours or approximately 15 work days.
  2. Attendance at any scheduled seminars.
  3. Maintenance of communications with both the faculty supervisor and the supervising librarian.
  4. Development of a written date/time schedule for the required minimum time (see Proposed Time Schedule form). When possible, schedule should be submitted to the faculty supervisor and the supervising librarian at least one week prior to beginning assignment.
  5. Development of written objectives (see Objective Planning Form) to be achieved during the practicum experience. Objectives are to be selected by the student and may include 3-4 projects/activities which can be completed during the time arranged. When possible, objectives should be submitted to the faculty supervisor and the supervising librarian/media coordinator at least one week prior to beginning assignment for review and joint agreement.
  6. Written log to be kept by student. Entries should include a summary of activities, questions, reactions, observations, and analysis. Log entries are to be submitted to faculty supervisor on an agreed upon schedule.
  7. Student self-evaluation at the completion (see Practicum Evaluation Form). Self evaluation includes a written report on achievement of objectives and self-completion of evaluation form used by supervising librarians.
  8. Final conference with faculty supervisor.
  9. Evaluation by supervising librarian (see Practicum Evaluation Form).

Supervision of Practicum:

The supervising librarian on-site will direct and guide the activities of the student on a day-to-day basis. The faculty supervisor will maintain communications on an ongoing basis. Two visits will be scheduled both to provide opportunities to consult with the student and the supervising librarian and to provide the faculty supervisor an opportunity to observe the student working in the practicum setting.

Seminars:

Students will participate in any scheduled seminar classes. Two to four scheduled seminars will be held on selected topics or issues of concern to, and selected by the students enrolled. These sessions may be held at libraries, media centers, or other agencies related to the practicum experience.

Individual Conferences:

Students will meet or confer with their faculty supervisor when developing their time schedules and learning objectives, and for an exit interview. Students are encouraged to maintain ongoing communication with the faculty supervisor during the practicum experience.

Evaluation:

The supervising librarian will assess student success according to the competencies included on the Practicum Evaluation Form or other criteria that may be agreed upon jointly. The student will also evaluate her/his own success using a copy of the Practicum Evaluation Form.

LIS 601 Practicum in Library and Information Studies: Practicum Responsibilities

The student will:

  1. Work with the LIS practicum coordinator in designing and developing a field experience program appropriate for the individual's needs.
  2. Develop specific objectives for the practicum experience.
  3. Follow the program and schedule that are developed to meet the objectives.
  4. Maintain regular communications with the faculty supervisor and the supervising librarian.
  5. Keep a log of practicum experiences to include entries for all time periods worked.
  6. Attend any planned seminars concerned with orientation, analysis, and evaluation of the practicum experience.
  7. Complete evaluation of the practicum experience.
  8. Be aware of and adhere to University and Departmental policies regarding practicum experiences.

The supervising librarian will:

  1. Work with the faculty supervisor in developing a program and schedule for the individual student.
  2. Orient the student to the general functions and goals of the library and policies and procedures that govern the program and its employees.
  3. Orient the student to the characteristics of the community and its users.
  4. Orient the student to the profession and provide opportunities for participation in professional activities and personal professional development.
  5. Provide the student with adequate space to work and store personal items.
  6. Develop an overall plan to direct and guide the activities of the student with relationship to the library program and the student's objectives.
  7. Confer with the student and the faculty supervisor.
  8. Participate in the evaluation of the student's performance and achievement of learning objectives.

The faculty supervisor will:

  1. Act as a liaison in acquainting the supervising librarian and other personnel with the nature and purpose of the practicum experience.
  2. Work with the student in designing a practicum experience appropriate to the student's needs.
  3. Assist in selecting the practicum site for the experience.
  4. Communicate schedules for seminars and/or additional experiences as necessary.
  5. Communicate to the student and the supervising librarian the expectations of the practicum experience.
  6. Communicate with practicum sites and visit with the student/ supervising librarian.
  7. Promote a satisfactory working relationship among the student, the practicum site, and the LIS program.
  8. Discuss evaluation of the practicum with the student and the supervising librarian.

GUIDELINES FOR DEVELOPING OBJECTIVES

  1. Objectives should be developed for professional tasks or responsibilities. While much of the activity in a library may be at the support staff level, this experience will be most valuable in your professional development if you concentrate your efforts on professional tasks.
  2. Use your previous library experience, LIS course work, conferences with your advisor or practicum coordinator as sources for ideas for setting objectives. Once identified, they should be discussed with the supervising librarian. She/he may have additional suggestions, revisions, or deletions to discuss.
  3. Use one copy of the Objective Planning Form for each objective. Total hours completed should equal a minimum of 90. It is recommended that you select between 3-5 objectives for each experience ... use this as a guide only, you may have more or fewer.
  4. As you are planning your objectives, think about opportunities for you faculty supervisor to either contact you or meet with you. Discuss these options with your supervisor.
  5. When advisable and possible, it is recommended to plan visits to other library/information center sites, including exemplary or successful programs, and other types of libraries. These visits will allow you broader opportunities to observe and discuss with other professionals.
  6. In the final narrative report on objectives, each objective should be summarized along with an analysis and discussion of progress made or achievement. Any problems or barriers should be included in the discussion.

NOTEBOOK RECORD

  1. Select a notebook for your keeping your log and other notes. The notebook should have:
    • copies of your Objective Planning Forms
    • a log of activities
    • a reflective summary
    • copy of final narrative report on achievement of objectives
    • copy of final self evaluation form Don't include plans, diagrams, handouts, etc. unless they are relevant to obtaining objectives.
  2. The notebook is to be shared with your faculty supervisor. It is not necessary that you share it with your library supervisor although you may wish to do so.
  3. Your log should be a narrative, possibly in outline form, of your daily activities at the practicum site. A description of what, who with, when, how long, why, etc.
  4. In your reflective summary you will want to comment on some (not necessarily all) of the activities in the log entries. What did you learn? What problems were encountered? How successful were you? What would you do differently?

Objective Planning Form
APPLICATION FOR LIS 601 Practicum
Return to Policies and Procedures Manual

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

Page Issues? LIS Web Master

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