About the course

Special Libraries is an area of professional practice centered on serving the needs of institutions in settings such as corporations, medical schools, hospitals, law schools and law offices, business schools, research laboratories both public and private, and seminaries. Students will choose this area of emphasis if they enjoy being in a business or specialized information services setting, working with adult populations who are often experts in their field who need timely access to accurate, relevant research outside of the physical library itself. Special libraries range in size from the single, solo librarian to the librarian attached to a large academic/corporate organization.

　　While focusing on added value user services, professional practice in special librarianship also includes other areas of service including technical services and technology services. User services include but are not limited to reference/research work, organizational communication, and outreach to decision makers throughout the enterprise. Technical services practice includes but is not limited to cataloging, series management, and collection development. Technology services practice includes but is not limited to information technology management, such as the library web site, social media platforms, data collection and analysis, and management of institutional repositories.

　　Many special libraries require their librarians to publish professional and scholarly work as part of their professional duties. These institutions often prefer hiring applicants with demonstrated good writing capabilities and social media use. Core competencies for successful special librarians include both professional (knowledge of subject matter and customer requirements) and personal (ability to work with experts and be able to communicate effectively both orally and in writing) skills. Scholarships - View all scholarships Internships

　　

Start dates and prices

Course fees are indicative and should be used as a guide. Speak to a counsellor to get an accurate price.

　　Duration: 4 Semester(s)Fees: US$62,920

Intake	Location
Fall (August), 2024	Tuscaloosa
Fall (August), 2025	Tuscaloosa

　　

How to apply

Entry requirements for University of Alabama

An applicant whose credentials meet the following minimum requirements may be considered for regular admission:

　　A grade point average of at least 3.0 overall for the last 60 semester hours in a degree program, based on a 4.0 system AND

　　an acceptable score on one entrance examination (minimum test scores: 300 on the revised GRE test, or 1000 on the GRE general test, or a score at the 50th percentile on the MAT) OR

　　a prior graduate degree completed within the last five years OR

　　five years of demonstrated experience in the field

　　An application consists of the following items:

　　Application Form

　　Statement of Purpose

　　Application Fee

　　Transcripts

　　Admissions Test Scores

　　Three (3) letters of recommendation, for applicants who have been in school in the last 5 years, at least two (2) letters must be academic references.

　　Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): The minimum score for admission to a degree program or for non-degree admission is 550 on the paper-based TOEFL or 79 on the internet-based TOEFL (iBT). International English Language Testing System (IELTS): The minimum score for admission to a degree program or for non-degree admission is 6.5.

　　Each international application must hold the equivalent of a U.S. four-year bachelor’s degree from an accreditedinstitution to be eligible for graduate admission. The applicant must have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 overall.

　　

English language requirements

　　6.5

　　Overall IELTS band score

　　Book IELTS

　　About IELTS

　　Practice and prepare

　　TOEFL Internet based overall score: 79.0

　　The next application deadline is 15 December 2024

Further information

Career outcomesIf you aren’t eligible for the above entry requirements, you might want to explore pathway options at University of Alabama. If you want to find out more, please speak to our counsellors.

　　Pathway options to study at this institution

　　

Reviews and rankings

World ranking

　　601st / 1250

　　THE World ranking

　　

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