Established in 1961, UBC School of Information has a long history of providing an exemplary educational experience to our students through programs and services. We are a pioneering information school in North America as the first school to offer an Archival Studies program and one of the only schools to offer an Indigenous information-focused specialization (First Nations Curriculum Concentration). Our programs, specifically the Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) and the (discontinued) Bachelor of Library Science have been continually accredited by the American Library Association (ALA).
1961: School of Librarianship formed
In response to a growing need for professional librarians in Western Canada, a School of Librarianship was established at the University of British Columbia in 1961 as a professional school within the Faculty of Arts and Science.. The School offered a one-year Bachelor of Library Science program.
1971: Development of a two-year Master of Library Science program
To incorporate new technologies into the program of studies and prepare students better for careers as information specialists, the school replaced the one-year bachelor’s degree program with a two-year Master of Library Science degree.
1981: Archival Studies program develops
In conjunction with the Department of History, the school inaugurated a two-year program leading to a Master of Archival Studies (MAS), the first graduate program in archival studies in North America.
1984: The School of Library, Archival and Information Studies
The school’s name was changed to the School of Library, Archival and Information Studies to better recognize the programs offered by the school.
1990: Transition to Master of Library and Information Studies degree
UBC’s Faculty of Graduate Studies re-named and revised the degree programs. In 1995, the school graduated the first students to receive the newly re-named Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) degree.
1998: Development of additional degrees
The school initiated a joint MAS/MLIS program,and part-time studies in the MLIS program.
1998: First Nations Curriculum Concentration
The First Nations Curriculum Concentration was established as a formal specialization in the MLIS and MAS programs. It continues to be one of the only specializations in North America that allows students to focus on Indigenous information initiatives and systems.
1999: Master of Arts in Children’s Literature program
The Master of Arts in Children’s Literature (MACL) program was created to provide a multidisplinary approach to the study of children’s and young adult literature and media. It is jointly offered by the Department of English Language and Literatures, Department of Language and Literacy Education, School of Creative Writing, and School of Information,
2002: iSchool Co-op Education Program
The iSchool Co-op Education Program is established, providing career training and paid professional work for students during their degrees.
2003: PhD program
The school developed a PhD in library, archival and information studies. Graduates of the school’s doctoral program are now teaching and conducting research in universities and other institutions in North America and internationally.
2011: International iSchools Organization
The school celebrates its 50th anniversary and becomes a member of the international iSchools Organization.
2014: Development of Bachelor of Media Studies program
The school became a partner in the newly developed Bachelor of Media Studies program offered by the Faculty of Arts.
2019 and 2020: QS University Rankings by Subject
UBC School of Information was ranked first in the world for Library and Information Management graduate programs by the QS University Rankings for two consecutive years.
2020: The School of Information
The school’s name was changed to the School of Information in response to the evolution of the information professions and changes within the disciplinary areas of library, archival and information studies.
2021: Minor in Informatics
The school launched a new interdisciplinary minor in informatics to provide an opportunity for undergraduate students to study the field of information and understand how data and technology are reshaping our world.
References
Forty Years of Library Education: The School of Library, Archival & Information Studies, The University of British Columbia — 1961-2001