Designing the MLIS: How Design Thinking Can Prepare Information Professionals

Abstract

In recent years, the library profession has embraced the value of design thinking for designing services, serving users, and organizing physical spaces. This paper describes the developments that led to the incorporation of design thinking in a Masters in Library and Information Science program at the University of Pittsburgh. Through a three-course Design Methods Sequence (DMS), students engage in sustained partnerships with organizations in the local community. This paper provides insights from a pilot instructional year, highlighting ways in which the DMS may serve as a model for MLIS programs that aim to build experiential learning opportunities for students.