Library and Information Services Management (Distance Learning)

Core modules:

Personal and Professional Development Portfolio (distance learning)

This module aims to support students in their personal and professional development and career planning. They will develop skills in reflective practice, and understand how to assess and evaluate their own strengths and weaknesses, skills and attributes as they move to the next stage of their careers. They will be able to evaluate the professional environment, and the contributions they make within that professional context. Students will be encouraged to develop personal and professional goals for the future. Topics will include reflective practice, career planning, and professional awareness.

15 credits

Information Organisation

This core module explores the organisational principles to facilitate the effective storage, search and retrieval of information and knowledge to meet users needs and domain requirements. Beginning with the challenges faced by those tasked with organising, the module considers the fundamental concepts, processes and issues that relate to the identification, organisation, maintenance and disposal of information and knowledge within various domains including libraries, museums, archives, computing, business, databases and the Web. A critical, evaluative and theoretical approach is adopted to ensure the modules learning outcomes transfer to students future studies and careers.

15 credits

Information and Knowledge Management (Distance Learning)

This module will examine principles and practices of information and knowledge management in the health sector. It will identify the different types of information and knowledge resources typically found in healthcare organisations and investigate methods used to generate, organise and exploit these assets. Real-world case studies will be used to illustrate and critique contemporary approaches to the design and implementation of information and knowledge audits, policies, strategies, products and services.

15 credits

Leadership, Strategy and Change

This module aims to support students in the development of a range of leadership skills. Students will develop an understanding of different leadership and wider management theories and techniques, and will be able to evaluate their application and usefulness in a library and information services management context, in a variety of organisational settings. Topics will include leadership, strategic management and change management.

15 credits

Information Literacy

The module aims to enable students to understand the concepts of information literacy and information behaviour from both theoretical and practical perspectives. Students will develop their own information literacy and their approach to teaching information literacy, and gain insight into developments internationally. They will learn about changes in the information environment, including the impact of new media. Learning will take place through online discussion and interaction, through viewing and reading learning materials and through assessments which develop students understanding and capabilities.

15 credits

Libraries, Information and Society

This module provides an overview of the role of library and information services (LIS) in contemporary society and introduces students to public policy issues and their implications for the provision of LIS. Students are introduced to current practices and contemporary concerns in academic, national, public and special/workplace libraries and encouraged to develop an awareness of the social, economic, political and cultural environment in which LIS operate. It examines the importance of users in the design and management of LIS, explores ethical issues and aims to develop a critical awareness of the role of LIS in contemporary society.

15 credits

Dissertation (distance learning)

This module enables students to carry out an extended piece of work on an approved information management topic, so that they can explore an area of specialist interest to them in greater depth. Students will be supported through tutorials with a project supervisor, will apply research methods appropriate to their topic, and implement their work-plan to produce an individual project report. Students will already have identified a suitable topic and designed a project plan in the pre-requisite unit Research Methods and Dissertation Preparation.

45 credits

Optional modules - two from:

Academic and Workplace Library, Information and Knowledge Services

This module introduces students to the purposes, functions and practices of a range of academic, research and other specialist library, information and knowledge services in the public and private sectors. It considers the challenges of developing and delivering services in a demanding, fast-moving and complex environment. Lectures are combined with sector-based case studies presented by visiting speakers drawn from diverse backgrounds giving extensive opportunities for interaction with specialist practitioners. Key issues covered include information resource management, open-access publishing and dissemination, research data management, information literacy teaching and specialist information services (in the legal, business and health sectors).

15 credits

Database Design and Data Management

Effective data management is key to any organisation, particularly with the increasing availability of large and heterogeneous datasets (e.g. transactional, multimedia and geo-spatial data). A database is an organised collection of data, typically describing the activities of one or more organisations and a core component of modern information systems. A Database Management System (DBMS) is software designed to assist in maintaining and utilising large collections of data and becoming a necessity for all organisations. This module provides an introduction to the area of databases and database management, relational database design and a flavour of some advanced topics in current database research that deal with different kinds of data often found within an organisational context. Lectures are structured into three main areas: (1) an introduction to databases, (2) the process of designing relational databases, and (3) advanced topics (e.g. data warehouses and non-relational databases). The course includes a series of practical sessions aimed at providing you with the skills required to implement a database in Oracle and extract information using the Structured Query Language (SQL).

15 credits

Information Governance and Ethics

The purpose of this module is to investigate topics related to the handling and governance of digital information and data in organizational and networked contexts. This will include an exploration of a) substantive issues and concerns e.g. accountability, decision-making, freedom, identity, intellectual property, openness, privacy, risk, security, and surveillance; b) the design and use of relevant technologies e.g. Internet, DPI, digital rights, open source, P2P, social media and c) systematic approaches and frameworks used in the regulation, governance and use of information in organizational and networked contexts e.g. copyright/left, data protection, freedom of information etc. Examples from business, government, health, law, and technology illustrate the topics investigated.

15 credits

Public and School Library Services

This module will enable students to understand and critically evaluate key elements of the principles, functions, practice, value and impact of school and public library services. The course will present the roles of these services, and the extent to which they support the educational, recreational, information and social needs of all members of society. There will be an exploration of key issues affecting school, public and prison library services today, and the extent to which they work independently and together to support the educational, recreational and social needs of the users. Recent and ongoing research will underpin the entire unit.

15 credits

Other courses:

Postgraduate Certificate requires a total of 60 credits
Postgraduate Diploma requires a total of 120 credits