For students pursuing their Master of Library and Information Science at the University of South Carolina, hands-on experience and practice-based teaching significantly enhance their education—and their job prospects. University of South Carolina Libraries provides that real-world experience to MLIS students in a variety of ways. From current USC librarians teaching classes to various departments providing skills training through internships, University Libraries has long partnered with the iSchool to take students’ MLIS education beyond the classroom.
Librarianship, notes Dr. Lyda McCartin, the Director of the School of Information Science, is a practice-based field. Therefore, it is important that the Master of Library Science curriculum is based in up-to-date, current and best practices in the field. However, there is no way to teach all of what a job in libraries can entail in just a few semesters of coursework. Particularly with the rise of A.I. and digital scholarship, it is important to Dr. McCartin that current practitioners have a place in the program’s classrooms.
“We work with practitioners to make sure that the curriculum is as up-to-date as it can be so that we can graduate the best possible graduates we can, understanding that various things are constantly and rapidly changing the field,” says McCartin.
That’s why a number of USC’s librarians also teach in the MLIS program. Putting current library practitioners in the classroom offers students a tangible connection to the most current practices that are being used every day. It also offers them a chance to learn from someone who is actively dealing with the ever-changing world of librarianship and information science.
Amie Freeman, Assistant Head of Acquisitions and Scholarly Communication at University Libraries, is currently teaching a course entitled “Design and Management of Digital Image Collections,” which gives students an introduction to the creation, manipulation, and implementation of visual collections in various online environments – a skill set that is only becoming more important as libraries continue to turn to digital resources. Through her teaching in the iSchool, Freeman has been able to bring her knowledge on current best practices into the classroom.
“I find great joy in teaching graduate students in the iSchool. Working with motivated future librarians who bring such enthusiasm to the profession is inspiring,” says Freeman. “Over the past few years, I have taught ISCI 725: Digital Libraries and ISCI 777: Design and Management of Digital Image Collections. These courses closely align with my professional expertise. I value the opportunity to share the practical, hands-on knowledge I’ve gained in the field, and I find that the learning process is reciprocal. I often learn as much from my students as they do from me!”
Not only do Library professionals bring their expertise into the classroom, they also provide students with hands-on experiences through internships at University Libraries. Being able to get students into library spaces for work experience is vital when it comes to the job market, according to McCartin.
“There are so many people who want to have those jobs, especially in Instruction, that if you don’t have some kind of experience, even in an internship, you are not as competitive as those who do. For me, that is a crucial experience,” says McCartin. “University Libraries helps a lot with getting students in and making sure they get that hands-on experience.”
Jen Vance, a second year MLIS student, is currently interning in the Irvin Department of Rare Books and Special Collections. She works on cataloging items in the Rare Books Collection, mostly mystery and detective fiction, so that they can be searchable in the Libraries’ catalog as well as accessed by researchers. Even though Vance took a cataloging class in the Spring of 2025, she had a hard time understanding how these skills would translate into actual library work. Thanks to this internship, she has gained knowledge about the practical uses of cataloging, as well as a love for rare books.
“This experience solidified that I do want to work in a special collection, while also letting me dive into the world of cataloguers to see if that part of special collections is for me. Cataloguing is a skill that can transfer into all library spaces and is necessary to have accurate holdings in our libraries,” says Vance. “I am very thankful for the Rare Books collection and for the experience that I have gained from this opportunity.”
Vance, like McCartin, believes that obtaining an internship is a valuable opportunity to explore what their future career might look like on a day-to-day basis.
“If you aren't sure where you want your career to go, I would suggest getting an internship to help make the decision. You will see their daily operations and if it's the right fit for you. Not all libraries or places are the same, but it can give you an overview of how the job or career could translate for you in the field,” says Vance.
That, says Libraries Dean David Banush, is why the Libraries’ partnership with the MLIS program is so worthwhile both for MLIS students and for the Libraries itself. After all, Banush notes, “Many of our librarians and staff are alumni of the program. Others are valued instructors, earning teaching awards on several occasions. We are pleased to play such a strong role in the training of future professionals in the field.”