Starting this fall, the Information School of the University of Washington will offer an online Master¹s degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS). The UW Information School is the only American Library Association accredited institution in the Northwest, making this the first such degree by a school in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and Nevada.

³After years of slowly building up our staff and programs, we are ready to help the voices in the region that have been crying out for library and information science education,² said Mike Eisenberg, dean of the Information School. ³It is a dream come true, to be able to offer this.²

The degree comes at an opportune time for libraries in the Northwest. Many libraries expect to lose experienced librarians soon, as Baby Boomers enter retirement age. And a distance degree would allow younger, inexperienced librarians to earn the skills and credentials to replace those retiring.

³We know we will see many people leave the workforce in libraries in the next decade,² said Jim Scheppke, state librarian at the Oregon State Library. In the next few years, younger librarians with master degrees ³can look forward to advancing very rapidly into well-paying positions,² he said.

The distance-learning format is convenient for working professionals who don¹t have the luxury of time and mobility to pursue an education. But the UW¹s use of short campus sessions also gives students the opportunity to meet their instructors and to network with other students, maintaining the benefits of an on-site degree. The 63-credit degree will take students about three years to complete.

³We have a number of staff who¹d love to get a degree in library science, but they are working full time, they are unable to pick up and move to Seattle for a couple of years,² said Michael Wirt, library director, Spokane County Library District. ³I think this is a wonderful opportunity.²

³We have a cohort of library directors and staff members that would be interested in a distance program at the UW,² said Karen Strege, Montana state librarian. ³I think that distance education, combined with on-campus study, is an absolute necessity to ensure that Montana citizens are served by quality library professionals.²

The MLIS is not only useful for aspiring librarians, but also for a range of professions in information technology, business and academia. In fact, about 13 percent of librarians don¹t work in traditional libraries, according to the Special Libraries Association.

The program will pay for its costs through student fees and other non-state funding, joining the growing rank of self-sustaining degrees at the UW that include new degrees in digital media and construction engineering.

To apply, candidates need a bachelor's degree with a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 and a GRE score. A TOEFL score is required for international students. The Information School requires a personal statement, transcripts, and three letters of recommendation. The application deadline is March 15, 2002.

For application materials, please call 206-543-2320 or 1-800-543-2320, or e-mail requests@ese.washington.edu .