School Program More Info
Syracuse University Online MS in Library and Information Science
ALA Accredited ALA-accredited. Multiple professional pathways or specializations available. No GRE required to apply. Complete in as little as 18 months.
University of Denver Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS)
ALA Accredited ALA-Accredited, No GRE Required. Complete in as few as 21 months.
St. John's University Online M.S. in Library and Information Science
ALA Accredited ALA Accredited, 24 months to complete. 4 specializations and 2 certificate options.
i sponsored

Click to view more featured accredited online library science programs that are currently taking applications for 2024!

Two universities, St. Catherine University and Minnesota State University in Mankato, feature Master's degrees in library science. St. Catherine University features accreditation from the American Library Association (ALA) and American Association of School Librarians (AASL). While online education opportunities are available, these institutions are located in St. Paul and Mankato.

St. Paul connects to Minneapolis to create a large metropolitan area in the state of Minnesota. By itself, St. Paul has over 310,000 residents, but combined, these locations have over 749,000 residents, which is significantly higher than any other city in Minnesota. Well over half of librarian employment is in this area.

Are There Online Library Science Degrees in Minnesota?

Yes, both of the universities offering library science education have programs available online. Minnesota State University's program is available 100 percent online without any requirements to meet on campus. St. Catherine University offers some courses fully online, but students will need to complete the program at the St. Paul campus.

Universities will utilize a learning management system (LMS) to distribute coursework and allow contact with other faculty members and students. This may be accessible through a desktop or laptop computer, or have limited capabilities with a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet. It is recommended that students have high-speed internet access and a web browser compatible with the LMS, with Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox as the better options.

If the school offers both an on-campus and online version of the program, these are often identical to each other. The same faculty members may hold a live lecture session and/or record them for on-demand use at a later time. In some cases, students may blend their education between online and on-campus courses.

List of the best campus-based and online CAEP, AASL, or ALA-Accredited library science degree programs in Minnesota

University Degree Program Accreditation Format

Minnesota State University, Mankato

Master's in School Library and Information Studies CAEP Campus

St. Catherine University

Master of Library and Information Science ALA Campus

Consider a Sponsored Online Library Program Taking Applications

School Level Program
Syracuse University
Website
Master Online MS in Library and Information Science
ALA-accredited. No GRE required to apply. School Media Specialization available.
University of Denver
Website
Master Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS)
ALA-Accredited, No GRE Required.
St. John's University
Website
Master Online M.S. in Library and Information Science
ALA Accredited. Complete in as little as 2 years.
University of West Alabama
Website
Master Online Master of Education in Library Media
Develop knowledge and skills in school library media with our online library media specialist degree.
University of West Alabama
Website
Doctorate Online Ed.D. Rural Education: Library Media
Explore the essential role of library media within rural schools and districts.
i sponsored

In Depth Review of Top Minnesota MLIS Programs Updated for 2023

St. Catherine University's Master of Library and Information Science

The Master's degree at this university features a licensing pathway for the School Library Media Specialist. Specializations are offered in various categories, such as youth collection management, and digital libraries. In addition, there is a Certificate of Special Study that adds latest innovations and other skills to those already holding a Master's degree in an education or library discipline.

This program is designed for students to take outside of regular daytime hours. People that have commitments to professional work at this time can complete their coursework at different periods of the day. Course distribution features online coursework and some course times during the evening and weekend hours. Start times are available in the fall, spring, and summer semesters, and and students often complete the program in two years.

Minnesota State University-Mankato's Master of Science in School Library and Information Studies

Courses explored in this program include library materials for children to young adults, technology through elementary ages, and literacy development. Students with a teaching license complete a 40-hour practicum that provides experience in an educational setting. This program is recognized by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the AASL.

Students can earn the Minnesota School Library Media licensure in two to three years with the completion of this degree. Admission requirements include having a Bachelor's degree with a 3.0 GPA or higher and two letters of recommendation. Start times begin in the fall, spring, and summer semester.

Licensing and ALA accreditation

A teaching license is required to become a school librarian in the state of Minnesota. Those interested in becoming school librarians should look at schools with accreditation from the ALA or American Association of School Librarians (AASL). Passing of the Praxis II Library Media Content Test and Minnesota Teacher Licensing Exams is required.

Holding ALA or AASL accreditation means that the graduate program has gone through proper review by an established organization. This validates the faculty members teaching education toward positions requiring further skills, including leadership and communication. Programs with this accreditation have established specific career goals for their students and a track record of success.

Minnesota Career Options in Library Media

According to the latest employment numbers from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, librarians and media specialists account for around 2,400 workers in the state of Minnesota. This is on par or higher with a number of states nearby, including Wisconsin, Iowa, and both North Dakota and South Dakota. Most positions are located in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area.

Some librarian positions require a Master’s degree from an ALA or AASL-accredited program. For example, jobs that focus on a specialty service, such as research or media organization, frequently hold this requirement. Job listings requiring advanced education often indicate what level and type of education is needed for the position.

Minneapolis Public Library

Over 3.1 million items are in circulation within the Minneapolis Public Library system for the Central Library and 14 branch locations. Many of these branches have received renovations or expansions throughout the 21st century. A newer Central Library location is in downtown Minneapolis as of 2006.

Minnesota Digital Library

The University of Minnesota houses the Minnesota Digital Library, which has digital archives of history across the state of Minnesota. This includes items from various libraries, historical documents, and photography. Beginning in 2003, the digital library has received submissions from hundreds of different organizations.

Minnesota Library Association

Established in 1891, the Minnesota Library Association (MLA) has an emphasis to improve educational access and legislation to help improve communities across the state. Annual conferences are held for members to improve understanding of the librarian field and networking opportunities. Webinars for skill building are available to members, along with discounts and awards.

In addition, members will participate in volunteer opportunities to improve job prospects and employers can post jobs without any fees to the community. Members can also support in lobbying for legislation and they support intellectual freedom. Annual fees for membership is based on individual or affiliate status and salary made at their job.

Salary Estimates in Minnesota

Similar to library positions when compared to other states, Minnesota provides higher salary averages. Across the state, the annual mean wage is estimated at $64,700, which is around the country-wide average all according to the BLS. This is slightly higher in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area and the surrounding southern portion of the state.

Higher salaries for the 10 percent of earners is estimated above $93,000 for the top 10 percent of earners in Minneapolis. This is reserved to more advanced positions, including library directors at a university or collection organization and management at a public library branch.

Careers, Top Employers, Salary Information

Recent job postings for Library Science degree holders in Minnesota

  • Library Supervisor for League of Minnesota Cities – salary ranges from $22.60 to $25.64 per hour
  • Temporary Archivist for Laboratory Staffing – salary ranges from $16 to $22 per hour
  • Part-time Librarian/Media Specialist for Rochester Catholic Schools – no salary listed
  • CTEP at Minneapolis Central Library for AmeriCorps – no salary listed
  • Associate Library Director: Access, Instruction, and Research for Macalester College – no salary listed
  • Library/Media Services Assistant/Support/Specialist for Anoka – Hennepin School District -salary $15.90 per hour
  • Documentation Specialist I for Takeda Pharmaceuticals – no salary listed
  • Part-time Document Coordinator/ Quality Record Management/GMP Document Specialist for Infotree Services Inc. – no salary listed
  • Major Incident Management Analyst (Internal Hennepin County applicants only) – salary ranges from $57,869 to $86,803 per year and eligible for a cash merit as much as $1736.06 annually based on performance