Introduction to Library Science High School Curriculum
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I like to use high school electives to either teach life skills, follow interests, or prepare my kids for future careers. My daughter has recently decided that she would like to become a librarian, so I was on the search for a great introduction to library science curriculum.
I could not find a single high school curriculum for library science! I noticed that our local public high school does offer a class for what they call introduction to libary science, but on further discovery that is just what they call their library helpers. Shelving books is helpful, but being a librarian is so much more than book organization!
A thorough introduction to library science curriculum covers topics such as:
- History of libraries
- Technology and its uses
- Types of libraries
- Library orientation
- Dewey decimal system
- Reference material
- Digital citizenship
- How to evaluate resources
- Media literacy
- How to create infographics and/or presentations
- Intellectual property and ethics
- Banned books
- The educational path to MLIS
- True stories from real librarians
After many hours of research, I finally compiled a plethora of resources to create a solid introduction to library science high school curriculum.
Introduction to Library Science High School Curriculum
Library Science Books
Foundations of Library and Information Science
Last update on 2026-09-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
I couldn’t find any high school library science curricula, but I did find a relevant college textbook. This book will be used as the spine of the curriculum. Rather than read the book straight through, I have assigned various chapters in a way that flows with the other resources I gathered.
Last update on 2026-09-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This book shows a forgotten side of a librarian’s job – dealing with public policy problems as citizens visit the library. Librarians deal with homelessness, the opioid crisis, and class inequalities more often than the general public would expect. Of course, specific issues will vary, but I want my daughter to go into her chosen career with her eyes wide open to the realities of the job.
So You Want to Be a Librarian by Lauren Pressley
Last update on 2026-09-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
So You Want to Be a Librarian is an obvious book choice for anyone considering this profession. The author explains some of the issues pertaining to this career field. It covers topics such as the education required, types of libraries, and typical library services.
Librarian Tales by William Otten
- Amazon Kindle Edition
Last update on 2026-09-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This quick read tells some of the strange and funny experiences librarians encounter. Any job where people work with the general public is bound to have some interesting stories!
This Book is Overdue by Marilyn Johnson
- Amazon Kindle Edition
Last update on 2026-09-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This book explores the topic of librarians as community helpers. Librarians help people find needed resources, protect open access to information, and fight for literary privacy.
- Hardcover Book
Last update on 2026-09-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
I’m impatiently awaiting this book’s release at the end of August 2022. This book dives into the rationale behind banning books. Books all around the world are banned for political, social climate, or legal reasons.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
Last update on 2026-09-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
I’m excited for my daughter to read this book because it offers opposing viewpoints on topics concerning banned books. The viewpoints are written by people who hold those views, which is an excellent practice in reading (or listening) for understanding. Many viewpoints have nuance, which can be missed when describing someone else’s views.
The Badass Librarians of Timbuktu by Joshua Hammer
Last update on 2026-09-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This book shows the impact that librarians can have on document preservation and the future. A librarian journeyed around the Sahara Desert and Niger River in an attempt to gather and protect important texts. The job took a turn when al-Qaeda came looking for the documents. A secret network of librarians quietly worked together to protect these manuscripts.
Library Science Lesson Plans
Week 1
- Read Foundations of Library and Information Science Chapter 2
- Watch Pack Horse Librarians of Appalachia on PBS
Week 2
Read Overdue chapters 1 – 6
Week 3
Read Overdue chapters 7 – 12
Week 4
- Read Foundations of Library and Information Science Chapter 4
- Write about the types of technology our library uses and what technology would be useful to implement
Week 5
Read Foundations of Library and Information Science Chapter 3
Week 6
- Read Foundations of Library and Information Science pages 10 – 15
- Read So You Want to Be a Librarian – Types of Libraries Chapter
- Read Librarian Tales chapters 1 – 2
Week 7
Read Librarian Tales Chapters 3 – 10
Week 8
Read Librarian Tales Chapters 11- 18
Week 9
- Read Foundations of Library and Information Science Chapter 6
- Library orientation worksheet (This will need to be customized)
Week 15
Week 18
- Reading Engagement 1 (identifying persona)
- Reading Engagement 2 (book speed dating)
- Reading Engagement 3 (book talks)
Week 19
Create book recommendations for 3 – 4 people (preferably a variety of ages and interests)
Week 20
Create an infographic for the topic of your choice
Week 21
Create a Google Slides presentation on the library topic of your choice (how to use the library for patrons, suggested activity/community engagement for fellow librarians)
Week 22
- Read Foundations of Library and Information Science Chapter 10
- Read So You Want to Be a Librarian chapter: Professional Issues
Week 23
Read This Book is Overdue! Chapters 1 – 6
Week 24
Read This Book is Overdue! Chapters 7 – 12
Week 25
- Watch Crash Course Intellectual Property 1 – 3
- Watch Google and the World Brain, if available (It stopped streaming immediately after I wrote the lesson plans for my daughter. Hopefully it is back before we reach week 25.)
Week 26
Read Foundations of Library and Information Science Chapter 9
Week 27
Read the first half of Banned Books by DK
Week 28
Read the rest of Banned Books by DK
Week 29
Read Banned Books by Cynthia Biley
Week 30
- Research the Library Awareness Program
- Write an opinion piece about banning books. Are there any topics that should be banned? Who should decide?
Week 31
- Read So You Want to Be a Librarian, Getting the MLIS chapter
- Research a minimum of 3 colleges to obtain an undergraduate degree and 3 colleges to obtain a master’s degree
Week 32
- Read Foundations of Library and Information Science Chapter 5
- Read So You Want to Be a Librarian, Types of Jobs chapter
Week 33
Read The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu chapters prologue – 6
Week 34
Read The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu chapters 7 – 15
Week 35
Read The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu chapters 16 – Epilogue
Week 36
Research various librarian jobs in areas you would consider living in – look at pay, work schedule, and job requirements
Introduction to Library Science High School Curriculum FAQs
Are there any course prerequisites?
No, this class can be taken at any point in high school.
How many credit hours is this course worth?
Introduction to Library Science is worth 1 elective credit.
A book/website/worksheet/activity/movie in the lesson plans is no longer available. What should I do?
Feel free to substitute anything that seems to fit the course. You are the official administrator of your high school, so you can definitely make lesson plan changes as you see fit.
Do you have a printable lesson plan for this curriculum?
I didn’t make a printable lesson plan for this curriculum because there are so many links included. I suggest bookmarking this page and coming back to it each week when you are putting together your lesson plans.
I hope this introduction to library science curriculum is helpful for anyone interested in becoming a librarian.
Keep reading . . .
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- Homeschool Curriculum Reviews
- How to Create a Free Official Homeschool Transcript
- Homeschooling High School Resources, Curriculum, and Tips
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