A public library is a nonprofit library created for the general public and funded with taxes generated by the government. Public libraries offer programs and media which meet the specific needs of their community.

iSchool Courses

Suggested

• LIS 521 – Principles of Information Services (4)
• LIS 522 – Collection Development (3)
• LIS 524 – Adult Reader Services in the Public Library (3)
• LIS 540 – Technology Fundamentals for Library and Information Science Professionals (4)
• LIS 551 – Intellectual Freedom in Libraries (3)
• LIS 582 – Community Engagement Strategies in Information Science (3)
• LIS 583 – Cross Cultural Approaches to Leadership (3)
• LIS 586 – Public Libraries and Advocacy (3)
• LIS 587 – Systems Librarianship (4)

Also consider...

• LIS 512 – Community Analysis (4)
• LIS 526 – Government Information: Production and Access (3)
• LIS 543 – Relational Database Management Systems (4)
• LIS 584 – Trauma-Informed Care in Public Libraries (3)
• LIS 598 – Search & Discovery (4)
• If working with children/teens, look at Digital Youth courses.

**Note that LIS 598 courses are special topics. You will not find the course descriptions in the LIS course catalog; instead reference the special topics descriptions.

Professional Organizations

• American Indian Library Association
• American Library Association
• Asian Pacific American Librarians Association
• ALA Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures
• Pacific Northwest Library Association
• Public Library Association
• Washington Library Association

Sample Job Titles

• Adult Reader Services Librarian
• Branch Manager
• Cataloging Librarian
• Children and Youth Services Librarian
• Collection Development Librarian
• Digital Initiatives Librarian
• Head of Reference and Information Literacy
• Librarian 1
• Library Development Officers
• Library Director
• Library Learning Resource Center Director
• Metadata Librarian