How Do Student Experiences Differ in Online LIS Programs with and without a Residency?

Abstract

As more librarians earn master’s degrees online, it is important to understand how their educational experiences affect their professional practice. A crucial aspect of online learning is the residency: the time distance learners spend on campus, bonding together and with their educational institutions. Residencies are not practical or preferable for everyone. Some library practitioners would find it difficult to serve their constituents consistently if they left their posts for even brief residencies. Comparing student experiences in two online LIS programs, one with and one without a residency requirement, provides insights into the differences between them. Students in the program without a residency had less sense of community, found group work less successful, and built fewer friendships among their student colleagues; they built professional and support networks among local professional colleagues. Programs without a residency offer benefits for students and communities, for example, by providing th...