Kent State School of Library and Information Science Advances in U.S. News & World Report Rankings

The School of Library and Information Science at Kent State University has moved up in the rankings of the nation’s top schools of library and information studies, according to the latest edition (2014) of U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Graduate Schools.”

Kent State’s School of Library and Information Science is now ranked overall at number 18, up from number 20. The school’s Services for Children and Youth program now ranks in the top 10, up from number 13.

“This is wonderful news for Kent State,” said Tomas Lipinski, J.D., LL.M., Ph.D., director of Kent State’s School of Library and Information Science. “It proves that the school is headed in the right direction. It also testifies to the excellence of our faculty and staff, as well as the success of our alumni and students.”

Lipinski became director of the School of Library and Information Science this past January.

U.S. News ranked 51 master’s degree programs in library and information studies in the United States that are accredited by the American Library Association. The rankings are based solely on the results of a fall 2012 survey sent to the dean, program director and a senior faculty member in each program, asking them to choose top programs noted for excellence in each specialty area. The rankings will be featured in the “Best Graduate Schools 2014” edition, available on April 9.

Kent State’s School of Library and Information Science has Ohio’s only accredited Master of Library and Information Science degree program, offering courses in Kent, Columbus (State Library of Ohio) and through a fully online option. The school also offers a Master of Science in information architecture and knowledge management and participates in an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in the College of Communication and Information. It is one of the largest library schools in the country, with more than 650 students.

For more information, visit www.kent.edu/slis.

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Photo Caption:
A Kent State University student in youth services librarianship delivers a presentation in the Reinberger Children’s Library Center, one of the unique teaching facilities in the School of Library and Information Science at Kent State.

Media Contacts:
Flo Cunningham, fcunning@kent.edu, 330-672-0003
Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595