History of the School

A Summary of Events

In 1968, the School of Library Science opened at the University of Alberta with Sarah Rebecca Reed as the Director. The first Bachelor of Library Science (BLS) degrees were awarded in 1969. In 1970, the BLS program was accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of the American Library Association and thus recognized by the American and Canadian Library Associations as meeting North American library education standards.

In 1971, the School initiated a Master of Library Science (MLS) program which required the BLS and some library experience for admission. The School of Library Science became the Faculty of Library Science in 1975. In 1976, in keeping with the Canadian pattern of education for librarianship, the BLS and the old MLS were discontinued and the two-year Master of Library Science (MLS) program was established with the first two year MLS graduates receiving their degrees in 1978. The program was re-accredited in 1979, 1986, 1992, 1999, 2006, 2013, and 2020.

In 1988, the School became the Faculty of Library and Information Studies. In 1991, the Faculty became the School of Library and Information Studies within the Faculty of Education. Since 1988, the School has offered the Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) degree. In 2013, the School launched its online MLIS program.

The 2020's saw the university and School embark on a period of challenge and transformation. March 2020 marked the unprecedented shift to entirely remote teaching and learning resulting from efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Building on the School's experience in delivering the online MLIS, the School successfully transitioned to an entirely remote environment. The School continued to operate largely remotely for the next two years.

In 2021 the University of Alberta began an ambitious institutional restructuring program: U of A for Tomorrow. The Faculty of Education, alongside the Faculties of Arts, Law, and the Alberta School of Business, were brought together under the newly-established College of Social Sciences and Humanities; one of three new colleges in the university. 

In 2022 the Faculty of Education transitioned to a de-departmentalized structure with the School remaining as a self-governing entity. Student services and administration moved to central units within the faculty and university.  

Find Out More About the School's History 

 Chronology 

1960's

  • 1964 – The Coburn Report explores the location of a library school at the University of Manitoba, the University of Saskatchewan, and the University of Alberta.
  • 1965 – The Board of Governors of the University of Alberta decides to establish a Library School; the Edmonton campus is designated.
  • 1967 – Sarah Rebecca Reed is appointed as the first Director of the new School.
  • 1968 – The School of Library Science offers a BLS as the first professional degree. The School's first quarters are in the Education Library.

1970's

  • 1970 – The School receives its first accreditation.
  • 1971
    • The School moves to permanent quarters in the Rutherford Library.
    • Sarah Rebecca Reed resigns, and Mary E. P. (Betty) Henderson succeeds her as Director.
    • The School offers an MLS as a second professional degree.
  • 1975 – The School becomes the Faculty of Library Science with Mary E.P. (Betty) Henderson as its first Dean.
  • 1976 – The BLS is replaced by a two-year MLS as the first professional degree.
  • 1979 – The School receives accreditation renewal.

1980's

  • 1986 – The School receives accreditation renewal.
  • 1988 – The School becomes the Faculty of Library and Information Studies.
  • 1989 – The Faculty undergoes a status review from the President's Advisory Committee on Campus Reviews (PACCR).

1990's

  • 1990 – The Faculty Mission Statement is approved.
  • 1991
    • The Faculty becomes the School of Library and Information Studies within the Faculty of Education. Dean Sheila Bertram continues as Director.
    • The School's Library-Laboratory is named Henderson Hall in honour of the School's first Dean.
    • The MLIS Goals and Objectives are approved.
    • The first PhD in Library and Information Studies is granted.
    • The program is reviewed by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research.
  • 1992 – The School receives accreditation renewal.
  • 1999 – The School receives accreditation renewal.

2000's

  • 2003 – The School receives approval to begin offering a combined Master's degree: an MLIS and an MA in Humanities Computing. Students are able to be admitted to this program as early as 2004.
  • 2006 – The School receives accreditation renewal.

2010's

  • 2013
    • The School receives accreditation renewal.
    • The School launches its fully online MLIS offering; the only one in Canada.
  • 2014
    • In partnership with the Alberta School of Business, SLIS begins offering a second combined Master's degree: an MLIS and an MBA.
    • The SLIS Director designation is transitioned to SLIS Chair.
    • The SLIS Graduate Coordinator designation is transitioned to SLIS Graduate Coordinator and Associate Chair.
  • 2015
    • In partnership with the University of Alberta Libraries, SLIS welcomes the inaugural Indigenous Internship Program.
  • 2018
    • The School celebrates its 50th Anniversary.
    • The School marks the 5th year of its fully online teaching and learning stream.
    • The School vacated the Rutherford South building and returned to its original roots in the Education Centre.
  • 2019
    • The School refreshed its Vision, Mission and Values Statement.
    • The School reduced the course-load of the MLIS course-based program from 48 to 39 required credits by reducing the number of required elective courses by 9 credits. Approved by Ministry of Advanced Education.
    • The School proposed to reduce the course-load of the MLIS thesis-based program from the current 39 credits of coursework to 30 credits, by reducing the number of required elective courses by 9 credits. Pending approval from the Ministry of Advanced Education.

2020's

  • 2020 – The School receives accreditation renewal for a total of eight years, comprised of the seven year renewal plus an additional year in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of reaccreditation, the University of Alberta exempted the School from the 2022-2023 Graduate Program Review.
  • 2020-2021/22 – The School continued to remotely deliver course instruction and programming during the prolonged shift to remote teaching and work resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. 
  • 2022
    • The Faculty of Education transitions to a new de-departmentalized structure with the School continuing as a self-governing entity. Student services and administration move to central units in the faculty and university. 
    • The SLIS Chair designation transitioned back to a Director