Welcome to the School of Library and Information Science at Kent State University

Our school, which is one of the largest accredited programs in the United States, is dedicated to excellence.  We are deeply committed to our role as the primary educator of librarians and information professionals in Ohio, and are proud of our more than 50 - year tradition of library and information science education.

The world that new librarians and information professionals face is an exciting and challenging one.  Our curriculum and faculty have changed dramatically over the years to accommodate the many changes in the information marketplace.  The new information technologies have changed the way people seek and find information. We, in turn, have incorporated new technologies and information seeking strategies to ensure that our graduates will be both competitive in the marketplace and highly productive as information professionals. 

At the same time we have not lost sight of our roots – of the important values and traditions that have been part of our profession for many years. Our faculty is committed to intellectual freedom and to the First Amendment rights of our citizens.  We hope to instill these values in the next generation of library and information professionals.

The school is proud of its faculty and alumni, many of whom have achieved state, national and international prominence. We are also proud of our ability and commitment in serving the entire state.  With programs on the Kent campus and in Columbus, as well as in the four corners of the state through interactive video distance learning programs, Ohioans who wish to obtain a master’s degree in library and information science have many options from which to choose.

So welcome—welcome to a profession that takes as its goal the educational, cultural, and informational enrichment of all – welcome to SLIS. 

Richard Rubin

Director