Kent State SLIS offers two study-abroad courses (with more in development) to give students an international perspective on the ever-changing information profession. Both courses are scheduled for summer 2016. (Registration information will be posted in early 2016.)
Museum Origins: Florence, Italy
While the collecting of objects can be found as far back as ancient times in various parts of the world, the birth of the modern museum finds its roots in Europe, especially in Italy. In the context of today’s world, students “go back in time” to understand the origins of Western museums and the meaning of publicly shared collections through a series of competing dualisms in knowledge creation and organization.
This course is part of a museum studies specialization, led by Assistant Professor Kiersten F. Latham, Ph.D., within the M.L.I.S. degree program in SLIS. Latham is co-author of Objects of Experience: Transforming Visitor-Object Encounters in Museums (2013), which was named the Best Museum Education Book of 2014 by the Museum Education Monitor (MEM).
International Children’s Literature and Librarianship: Denmark
In this academically rigorous course on international cultural production for children, Denmark serves as a case study, providing students with hands-on perspectives on international children’s literature, librarianship and museums, and a view on how different cultures construct “childhood.” This class addresses questions such as: What does it mean to be a child in other countries compared to the U.S., and as a result, what sorts of issues face professionals working in cultural production for young people — from museums and libraries to media industries such as publishing and film? How do those issues compare to issues faced by professionals in the United States?
This course, which is part of the youth services specialization within the M.L.I.S. degree program in SLIS, is taught by SLIS Assistant Professor Marianne Martens, Ph.D., who publishes and presents internationally on the subject of children’s literature and librarianship, as well as matters related to “digital youth.”
