Philadelphia Area  - Free Library of Philadelphia and Cheyney Urban Site (Mellon Independent Center)

Introduction

The Department of Library Science continues its efforts to address the growing shortage of librarians throughout the commonwealth and the nation by offering its accredited Master of Science in Library Science (M.S.L.S.) program in the Philadelphia area. This program is fully accredited by the American Library Association, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, and the Pennsylvania Department of Education. While courses will be offered in all areas of librarianship, particular attention will be paid to preparing school library media specialists and urban public librarians. The department will offer most core courses through on-site instruction in the Philadelphia area. Additional courses will be offered via the World Wide Web. Courses are scheduled on weekends and evenings to accommodate the needs of returning adult students.

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Venue

Courses are offered at either the Free Library of Philadelphia or the Mellon Independent Center.  The Free Library of Philadelphia's Central Library,1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 (telephone 215-686-5322). On Saturdays, students should use the library's Wood Street entrance between 19th and 20th streets. The Free Library is a world-class research facility and is open to the public free of charge. There is a handicapped accessible entrance on Wood Street, which is directly behind the library and runs parallel to Vine Street. Since Wood Street is one-way, you must enter from 19th Street.  The Mellon Independent Center is at 701 Market Street #333, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106 (telephone: 215-560-3891).   Students should enter the building using the 8th Street entrance and park at the Central Parking System at 8th and Market.

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Eligibility

Enrollment in the department's graduate library science courses is restricted to individuals who have been admitted to graduate studies at Clarion University and who are in good academic standing. Students may be admitted to the M.S.L.S. program or to the Certificate of Advanced Studies program; they may also take courses on a non-degree basis.

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Enrollment Limits

Enrollment for on-site courses is limited to thirty students per core course and twenty-five students per elective course. Enrollment limits Web-based courses is twenty.  Enrollment is typically on a first-come, first-served basis. Enrollment in some courses requires permission of the instructor and/or the completion of prerequisites.

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Tuition and Fees

Current tuition and fees is available at www.clarion.edu/admisisons..

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Registration and Payment of Tuition and Fees

Students must register for all courses using Web for Students  Before registering, each student must consult with her/his advisor, who will then request that a computer "hold flag" be removed from the student's records. The university's printed Schedule of Classes and the university registrar's home page list the times for early registration. The last day to register for classes is the first day of classes for the term in question; not the first meeting of a particular course. Tuition may be paid using Web for Students.  Deferred payment may be possible for students whose employer is paying all or part of the tuition, or by special arrangement with Student Accounts. Students desiring a deferment should contact the university's Student Accounts office at 814-393-2253 as soon as possible. Students with loans or third-party billing will have tuition and fees deducted from their loan or third-party check.

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From the north, via I-95 | From the south via I-95 | From New Jersey via the Ben Franklin Bridge | From New Jersey via the Walt Whitman Bridge | From New Jersey via the New Jersey Turnpike | From the west via the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76) | From the west via Schuylkill Expressway | From the east via the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76) | Public transportation

The following is adapted from information on the Free Library of Philadelphia's home page.

From the north, via I-95:

1. After Girard Avenue, exit and keep to the right.
2. I-95 will split (stay in the second lane from the right).
3. Take the right-hand fork for I-95 Central Philadelphia.
4. Shortly after, it splits again; take the left fork for Rt. 676 West/ Central Philadelphia/ Route 30.
5. In about a mile, take the Broad Street exit.
6. After exiting, turn right at the first light onto Vine Street.
7. Proceed to 19th Street.
8. The Central Library is on the right, on Vine Street, between 19th and 20th Streets.

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From the south via I-95:

1. Take Exit 17, Route 676 West/Central Philadelphia. This is a left exit.
2. Bear left for Route 676 West/Central Philadelphia/Route 30.
3. Get back to the right.
4. In about a mile, take Broad Street Exit.
5. After exiting, turn right at the first light onto Vine Street.
6. Proceed to 19th Street.
7. The Central Library is on the right, on Vine Street between 19th and 20th Streets.

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From New Jersey via the Ben Franklin Bridge:

1. At the end of the toll bridge, stay in the middle lanes.
2. Take lanes for Route 676 West/Central Philadelphia.
3. In about a mile, take Broad Street exit.
4. The curving ramp brings you to 15th Street heading south.
5. Turn right at the first light onto Vine Street, proceed to 19th Street.
6. The Library is on the right on Vine Street between 19 and 20th Streets.

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From New Jersey via the Walt Whitman Bridge:

1. Take Route 76 west to Route 676 East/Central Philadelphia.
2. Exit at Ben Franklin Pkwy/23rd Street.
3. Approaching Center City, take exit 38, Route 676 East/Central Philadelphia. This is a left exit.
4. Immediately get into the right lane.
5. Take the first exit (it comes up very quickly), Benjamin Franklin Parkway/23rd Street.
6. Take 23rd Street south,
7. Turn left on Race Street
8. Proceed to 20th Street, turn left.
9. Cross Benjamin Franklin Parkway (very wide with many lanes).
10. The Central Library is on the right.

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From New Jersey via the New Jersey Turnpike:

1. Take Exit 4, Route 73 West.
2. Take the exit for the Betsy Ross Bridge (toll) into Pennsylvania.
3. Take I-95 South.
4. After Girard Avenue, exit and keep to the right.
5. I-95 will split (stay in the second lane from the right).
6. Take the right-hand fork for I-95 Central Philadelphia.
7. Shortly after, it splits again; take the left fork for Rt. 676 West/ Central Philadelphia/ Route 30.
8. In about a mile, take the Broad Street exit.
9. After exiting, turn right at the first light onto Vine Street.
10. Proceed to 19th Street.
11. The Central Library is on the right, on Vine Street, between 19th and 20th Streets.

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From the west via the Pennsylvania Turnpike:

1. Take exit 24, Route 76 East, Schuylkill Expressway.
2. Approaching Center City, take exit 38, Route 676 East/Central Philadelphia. This is a left exit.
3. Immediately get into the right lane.
4. Take the first exit (it comes up very quickly), Benjamin Franklin Parkway/23rd Street.
5. Take 23rd Street south,
6. Turn left on Race Street
7. Proceed to 20th Street, turn left.
8. Cross Benjamin Franklin Parkway (very wide with many lanes).
9. The Central Library is on the right.

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From the west via Schuylkill Expressway:

1. Approaching Center City, take exit 38, Route 676 East/Central Philadelphia. This is a left exit.
2. Immediately get into the right lane.
3. Take the first exit (it comes up very quickly), Benjamin Franklin Parkway/23rd Street.
4. Take 23rd Street south,
5. Turn left on Race Street
6. Proceed to 20th Street, turn left.
7. Cross Benjamin Franklin Parkway (very wide with many lanes).
8. The Central Library is on the right.

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From the east via the Pennsylvania Turnpike:

1. Take exit Exit 25, Route 476 South to Route 76 East, Schuylkill Expressway.
2. Approaching Center City, take exit 38, Route 676 East/Central Philadelphia. This is a left exit.
3. Immediately get into the right lane.
4. Take the first exit (it comes up very quickly), Benjamin Franklin Parkway/23rd Street.
5. Take 23rd Street south,
6. Turn left on Race Street
7. Proceed to 20th Street, turn left.
8. Cross Benjamin Franklin Parkway (very wide with many lanes).
9. The Central Library is on the right.

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Public transportation:

See the Free Library of Philadelphia home page for information on bus routes, etc.

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Parking

Students have several options for parking at the Free Library. Lots are identified by the streets that border them. Keep in mind that the library is at 1901 Vine Street.

Wood, Callowhill, 19th and 20th streets. This lot is behind the library. All-day parking is $7.00. There are metered spaces as well, but only a small number that can be filled for two or more hours at a time. Meters require quarters and vary in time per quarter, with 15 or 20 minutes the norm. From Vine St., enter at 18th Street or 20th Street (19th Street is one-way in the wrong direction).

18th and Vine streets. After 2:00 P.M. on Friday, the fee is $5.00. All-day parking is available on Saturday for $7.00.

16th and Vine streets. After 2:00 P.M. on Friday, the fee is $5.00. All-day parking is available on Saturday for $7.00.

19th Street and JFK Boulevard. All-day parking is $7.00 per day on Friday and Saturday.

17th and Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Parking on Friday after 5:00 P.M. is $8:00; Saturday all-day is $9.00.

Twelve-hour metered parking is available on Benjamin Franklin Parkway between 20th Street and 24th Street at the rate of $.25 per 15 or 20 minutes. Parking is occasionally prohibited at these meters due to city events, so you might want to check with the local police department (215-686-3090) before planning to park at these meters.

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Course Offerings

Courses are offered either on weekends or weekday evenings. Weekend courses typically meet three weekends per semester, usually Fridays, 6:00 P.M.-9:45 P.M., and Saturdays, 8:00 A.M.­6:00 P.M. Evening courses meet once a week, 6:00 P.M.­8:30 P.M.

The Philadelphia course cycle is designed to permit students to complete the M.S.L.S. degree in three years of part-time study involving a combination of on-site and Web-based instruction. In addition to the core courses, which normally will be offered on-site in the Philadelphia area, this cycle includes courses which the department plans to offer only via the Web and courses required for Pennsylvania School Library Media Certification. 

Course cycles may be found by clicking on Graduate Programs on the left (in orange).