Advice about Library Science or similar distance learning graduate classes/degrees?

I'm very interested in learning more about finding & organizing information and improving my research skills. Although I don't know if I would ever want to be employed as a librarian myself, I am extremely envious of librarians and their ability to find information. I want to learn how to find information as well as a librarian can -- so now I'm thinking perhaps pursuing the same sort of formal education a librarian has would help me.

My background: I have a BA in Economics from Western Washington University. My GPA is not so good (2.85) but I test well so I expect I would do well on the GRE. I live in Costa Rica so I am only interested in programs that can be completed entirely via distance learning or require a VERY short residency.

Ideally I'd like to find a cutting-edge program that covers modern electronic resources very well. Should I only be looking into distance learning Masters of Library Science programs, or are there other related degree programs I should investigate as well?

I used the Search function and I found one really helpful thread on MLS programs:
http://www.degreeinfo.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19763&highlight=library+AND+science

Are there any other previous discussions on this forum that I should know about?

Thanks!!!

 

Hi. Based on what you've written, I strongly suspect that a master's degree in library science will satisfy your needs. Be sure to choose a program that is accredited by the American Library Association: http://www.ala.org/ala/accreditationb/LISDIR2006.pdf

Of the ALA-accredited programs, several appear to be available entirely through distance learning:

Clarion University of Pennsylvania
Drexel University
Florida State University
North Carolina Central University
Rutgers
Southern Connecticut State University
Texas Woman's University
University of Alabama
University of Puerto Rico
University of Southern Mississippi
University of Tennessee
University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.

Of these, Drexel and Rutgers are arguably a cut above the rest. There is not a strong hierarchy of perceived quality among MLS programs, however, so any ALA-accredited program is likely to provide a good background for a career in librarianship.

 

There should be many more library science threads than that. Degreeinfo changes servers back in May 2005 and (for a time) THE SEARCH FUNCTION WAS NOT WORKING (!!!) Well, the search function, having once upon a time not been working, was fixed, but only somewhat. I am at a library computer, because I am having problems with my internet connection. When I get home, I will go look up one of my .doc files on my computer desktop, which is a list, with weblinks, of some old (pre-February 2005) threads that I thought might be of interest to me someday. I compiled a bunch of old library science threads as part of that list. So, I'll go dig that up and see what I can find.

 

U Washington-Seattle has one.

 

I should have clarified: the list I posted includes only those MLS programs that can be completed entirely at a distance, with no residency requirement. There are several others that can be completed partly or almost entirely through distance learning.

Things have changed dramatically in recent years. Not too long ago, ALA accreditation requirements allowed NO distance learning courses.

 

Other library science threads include:

http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=17647
http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10296
http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9488