(Kent, Ohio) - The State Library of Ohio and Kent State University School of Library and Information Science announce the relocation of the school’s Columbus program to the State Library of Ohio. Classes are scheduled to begin this summer in the newly renovated 6,100 square-foot space featuring state-of-the-art classroom facilities, conference and meeting areas, offices, and a technology laboratory.

The relocation is a historic event as it will be the first library science school within a state library since Melvil Dewey’s School of Library Economy at the State Library of New York opened in 1889. Dewey created the Dewey Decimal System, a classification system for library materials which remains in wide use today.

The SLIS Columbus program is moving from Ohio State University, bringing more than 150 students to the new location.  “The school’s relocation to the state library offers immense opportunities for our students and faculty,” says Richard Rubin, director, Kent State University’s School of Library and Information Science. “The collaborative possibilities for library education and service should have a very positive impact on library service in the central Ohio region.”

The State Library of Ohio has a strong history of collaboration with Kent State including use of classroom and video conference space and internship opportunities. “We look forward to an enhanced and mutually beneficial partnership with Kent State University. It’s possible that students will have an opportunity to participate in innovative and leading edge projects that we are undertaking here at the state library including digitization projects and open source solutions,” says State Librarian Jo Budler.

In the past 10 years, 590 students graduated with a Master of Library and Information Science degree from Kent State at the Ohio State University site. With three full-time faculty members, support and administrative staff, and more than 25 part-time adjunctinstructors from all areas of professional librarianship, Kent State’s SLIS degree program in Columbus provides access to a M.L.I.S. degree for students in central Ohio. As the only American Library Association accredited masters program in Ohio, library paraprofessionals and students new to the profession rely on Kent State University to provide a high quality, professional education.

The State Library of Ohio was established in 1817. Its mission is to lead and partner in the development of library services throughout Ohio; promote and enable resource sharing among libraries and library networks; provide access to information for Ohio's state government; and ensure that all Ohio residents, rich or poor, rural or urban, receive the best possible library service and are able to engage in lifelong learning which strengthens the economic health of Ohio.

Kent State University’s School of Library and Information Science is the largest single master’s program at the university. The school is ranked 19th nationally by a U.S. News and World Report survey and is the third largest master’s program in library and information science in the country, with more than 600 students. Classes are offered at the Kent campus, at various distance learning sites throughout the state including Columbus, and online.

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Media Contacts:
Ruth Smith, Public Relations Coordinator, Kent State School of Library and Information Science
330-672-0003 or Rsmith9@kent.edu

Marsha McDevitt-Stredney, Director, Marketing and Communications, State Library of Ohio
614-644-6875 or marshams@sloma.state.oh.us