Germany: International Opportunities in Library and Information Studies

Dates for 2010 TBD

LBSC708S (3 credits)

Students will travel to Munich, Germany to study at the International Youth Library (IYL), which houses the largest collection of international children’s literature in the world. 

Since 1983, the IYL has been housed in Blutenburg Castle in the Obermenzing quarter of Munich.  The Castle, which dates from the 15th century, offers a place to work and study for visitors from around the world. The underground cellar beneath the Castle’s courtyard provides an extensive storage area for the unique book collection.  The Castle complex also is home to a number of small museums.  During their time at the Library, students will gain an understanding of the resources and services available in the IYL, and have the opportunity to conduct independent research, or work collaboratively with IYL staff members to complete a project that will support the Library’s mission and operations.  

In addition to working at the Library, students will visit the Bavarian State Library, one of the world’s leading research archives; meet with Bavarian library school students; travel to Chiemsee, Bavaria’s largest lake and site of King Ludwig II’s Palace of Herrenchiemee; visit Ludwig’s best known castle, Neuschwanstein; travel to Bad Tölz, a medieval spa town at the foot of the Alps; and explore Munich’s museums, galleries, parks, and markets. 

Accomodations

Students will be housed at the Adolph-Kolping-Ausbildungshotel in central Munich.  This facility is a training hotel that enables disadvantaged young people to learn skills that will enable them to be employed in the hospitality industry.  Breakfast will be provided daily and wireless internet access is available throughout the hotel.  Throughout their time in Germany, students will use the highly efficient public transport system, which includes inter-connected buses, trains, and trams both within Munich and throughout Bavaria.  

Faculty and Staff

Ann Carlson Weeks, Professor of the Practice and Coordinator of the School Library Media Specialization in the College of Information Studies, will teach the course. Dr. Weeks is the Director of Collection Development for the International Children’s Digital Library (ICDL), the largest collection of children’s books freely available on the Internet. She has had extensive international consulting and speaking experience and was a Research Scholar at the International Youth Library in 2005. Please contact Dr. Weeks for information about course content and itinerary.

For questions about the application, registration and pre-departure logistics, please contact the Study Abroad Office.