Bachelor of Library and Information Studies

When you graduate from this qualification you will be a confident, culturally competent, and collaborative practitioner.

You will be able to empower and inspire people, communities and organisations to reach their potential. You will provide access to information and knowledge resources. You will also gain knowledge to  apply evidence-based practice to the collection, organisation and management of physical and digital media.

Bachelor of Library and Information Studies FAQs

Career opportunities

This qualification will ready you to work in a range of roles, including:

• librarian, such as reference, heritage resources, children and teens, digital services
• records manager
• information manager
• archivist. 

What you will learn

When you achieve this qualification, you will be able to

• provide culturally responsive library and information services and collections, recognising and applying the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, understanding Te Ao  Māori and other indigenous knowledge paradigms 
• provide culturally relevant library and information services and collections to enhance the lives of Pasifika and other cultural groups in New Zealand 
• analyse individual, organisational and community needs to design and deliver appropriate library and information services
• provide access to information in support of life-long learning
• facilitate the creation, organisation and dissemination of new knowledge 
• search for, critically evaluate, contextualise and use information in diverse formats and locations 
• develop leadership and management strategies to advocate for and promote ethical and effective evidence-based information solutions within communities and organisations, for open, equitable access to information. 

Practical learning activities

Some courses in the BLIS programme include supervised practice learning activities. These will take place within an organisation or community setting. The courses are:

• LIS504: Te Ao  Māori in the Information Environment. This course includes attendance at a noho marae (or an alternative learning activity). Until further notice an alternative learning activity will be used.
• LIS604 Cultural Competencies in the Information Environment. This course  includes a practice learning activity.
• LIS704: Library and Information Service Professional Practice. For this course you will undertake a period of workplace practice of up to 100 hours. This can be done in your current workplace or another suitable Library and Information Services context. 

Credit recognition

If you have already completed some of our Information and Library Studies courses you can cross credit the courses listed below to the Bachelor of Library and Information Studies:

• 71255 is equivalent to LIS608 Principles of Information Management
• 72142 is equivalent to LIS502 Navigating and Using Information
• 72170 is equivalent to LIS501 The Information Environment
• 72171 is equivalent to LIS506 Collection Management in Libraries
• 72175 is equivalent to LIS507 Principles of Record Management
• 72251 is equivalent to LIS604 Cultural Competencies in the Information Environment
• 72270 is equivalent to LIS603 Knowledge Organisation Systems
• 72271 is equivalent to LIS601 Empowering People and Communities
• 72272 is equivalent to LIS611 Cataloguing and Classification
• 72274 is equivalent to LIS610 Archives Management
• 72275 is equivalent to LIS609 Digital Asset Management
• 72276 is equivalent to LIS606 Reader Development
• 72277 is equivalent to LIS607 Services and Collections for Children and Teens
• 72370 is equivalent to LIS701 Critical Perspectives for Library and Information Professionals
• 72371 is equivalent to LIS702 Strategy and Planning in Information Organisations.

Study pathways

We offer a New Zealand Diploma in Library and Information Studies (Level 5), which will lead to this degree.

Learn more about the New Zealand Diploma in Library and Information Studies (Level 5)

You can also gain specialist skills by studying:

New Zealand Certificate in Library and Information Services for Children and Teens (Level 6)

New Zealand Diploma in Records and Information Management (Level 6)

Graduate Certificate in Library and Information Leadership

Maximum Programme Completion Time

To be awarded the qualification, the programme must be completed in no more than 9 years of first enrolment, unless there are exceptional circumstances.