McGill School of Library and Information Studies, 1904–2004

By Peter McNally

Notable Events

1897-1904	An apprenticeship-training program was provided in Redpath Library.
1904	The School began - under the jurisdiction of the University Library Committee - as the first formal library education program in Canada, and one of the first university programs in librarianship outside the United States.
1904-1942	With certain breaks, particularly during World War I, an annual summer course was given.
1927	The summer course was accredited under the American Library Association`s Minimum Standards for Summer Courses in Library Science Type IV (1926)
1927-1930	With the aid of a grant from the Carnegie Corporation a sessional Diploma program began. The entrance requirement was senior matriculation.
1929	The Diploma program was accredited under the American Library Association`s Minimum Standards for Library Schools, junior undergraduate category, (1925).
1930-1965	The Diploma program was transformed into a sessional, graduate Bachelor of Library Science program, the first in Canada, with the entrance requirement being a Bachelor's degree.
1931	The BLS program was accredited under the American Library Association`s Graduate School Category (1925).
1934	The BLS program was accredited under the American Library Association`s Minimum Requirements for Library Schools (1933) in its Type II category.
1956-1965	A Master of Library Science degree with thesis under the jurisdiction of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research was offered with the Bachelor of Library Science as pre-requisite.
1957	The BLS program was accredited under the American Library Association`s Standards of Accreditation (1951).
1965	A two year Master of Library Science program without thesis replaced the one year BLS and the thesis MLS. This program provided a new pattern for library education - one which has become the Canadian norm and has been adopted by many schools in the United States and other countries. The School changed its name to the Graduate School of Library Science and was placed entirely under the jurisdiction of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research.
1975	The MLS program was accredited under the American Library Association's Standards of Accreditation (1972).
1980	The MLS program received conditional accreditation for two years under the American Library Association's Standards of Accreditation (1972).
1981	The MLS program was restored to full accreditation through 1987.
1985	The name of the School was changed to Graduate School of Library and Information Studies.
1986	The master's degree was changed to Master of Library and Information Studies.
1987	The MLIS program was accredited under the American Library Association's Standards of Accreditation (1972).
1991	A PhD program was introduced, under the ad hoc provisions of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research.
1994	Closing of the Library and Information Studies Library.
1996	A post-master's Graduate Diploma in Library and Information Studies was introduced.
1996	The School became a unit under the jurisdiction of the Faculty of Education.
1998	The “CN-Pratt-Grinstad Chair in Library and Information Studies” was established as the first named chair in Library and Information Studies in Canada, with Professor J. Andrew Large as the first incumbent.
2001	A post-master's Graduate Certificate in Library and Information Studies was introduced.
2003	The MLIS program was accredited under the American Library Association's Standards of Accreditation (1992).
2004	Celebration of the Centenary of the School, and Canadian Library Education
2005	Introduction of MLIS Specializations in: (i) Archival Studies, (ii) Knowledge Management, and (iii) Librarianship

Directors

1904-1919	Charles H. Gould, BA (McGill) University Librarian
1920-1948	Gerhard Lomer, BA, MA (McGill) PhD (Columbia) University Librarian
*1948-1949	Richard Pennington, BA (Birmingham) Dip Lib (London) University Librarian
1949-1966	Vernon Ross, BA, MA (McGill) BS in LS (Columbia)
1966-1970	Virginia E. Murray, BA, BLS (McGill) MA, EdD (Columbia)
1970-1972	Violet Coughlin, BSc, BLS (McGill) MA, DLS (Columbia)
1972-1976	Effie C. Astbury, BA, BLS (McGill) MLS (Toronto)
1976-1981	Vivian S. Sessions, AB, MA (Michigan) MS in LS (Columbia)
1981-1984	Hans MÃ¶ller, PhD (Copenhagen)
1984-1989	Helen Howard, BA (Queen`s) BLS, MLS (McGill) PhD (Rutgers)
1989-1998	J. Andrew Large, BSc (London) PhD (Glasgow) Dip Lib (London)
*1996-1997	Diane Mittermeyer, BA, BLS (MontrÃ©al) MLS, PhD (Toronto)
1998-2004	Jamshid Beheshti, BA (Simon Fraser) MLS, PhD (Western Ontario)
*2000-2001	Peter F. McNally, BA (Western Ontario) BLS, MLS, MA (McGill)
2004-	France Bouthillier, BEd (UQAM) MBSI (MontrÃ©al) PhD (Toronto)

* Acting Directors

Quarters since 1927

1927-1953	Redpath Library, basement
1953-1966	Redpath Library, top floor
1966-1969	Hallward Mansion, North-east corner, McGregor/Penfield Ave. and Mountain St.
1969-	McLennan Library, street level