UW Textual Studies Alums Continue to MLIS Programs and MA in the History of the Book
Join us in congratulating recent UW Textual Studies alums, Aries Chen, Jules Lockett, Steven Haker, Emily Backstrom, Malika Brown, and Riley Hull who have been accepted to Master’s programs in Library and Information Sciences and the History of the Book. In this blog, we celebrate the achievement of these former TXTDS students, dig into the basics of an MLIS program, and cover Textual Studies courses that focus on libraries, archives, and their resources.
What is a Master’s of Library and Information Science?
The MLIS is an advanced program of study that is designed to prepare students for careers in a variety of organizations and fields. It focuses on an interdisciplinary approach to the collection, organization, storage, and dissemination of information in a variety of forms, including physical collections management, such as in libraries’ rare book holdings, and digital management, such as in data-driven information systems and the collection and preservation of digital materials. These are just a few examples of the wide range of fields and industries for which the MLIS is designed to prepare students. The degree path focuses on a broad approach to the information lifecycle, helping its students learn how information is gathered, organized, stored, searched and accessed across formats and within a range of institutional and communal settings.
Did you know that the MLIS program at the UW iSchool was recently ranked #1 by the U.S. News & World Report? It has been accredited by the American Library Association, and is nationally recognized as a premiere institution for those interested in careers in libraries and archives, records and data management, digital librarianship, and more.
TXTDS Minors Continue to Master’s Program at University of Washington and University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Aries Chen, Emily Backstrom, and Steven Haker Begin MLIS at UW iSchool
TXTDS alums, Aries Chen, Emily Backstrom, and Steven Haker have begun their inaugural year in the MLIS program at the UW iSchool. Building upon their foundations in Textual Studies, which brings students in contact with library resources, humanities data science courses, and digitally-focused coursework, this program helps train students to pursue careers in librarianship, archives, data and information management, and more.
“My work in the Textual Studies minor is what got me interested in library and information sciences in the first place. Every course I took in the minor encouraged students to engage in library resources, and my interest in libraries developed while making use of those resources. Also, the knowledge I picked up from coursework and research helped me show in my application that I was serious about wanting to study library sciences and that I had an idea of what I wanted out of an MLIS. I hope to work in instruction or academic librarianship, and I look forward to learning more about libraries in my program!”
– Aries Chen, TXTDS ’25
Malika Brown Accepted to Maters in LIS at Simmons University
Another TXTDS alum, Malika Brown, has also begun advanced study in Library and Information Science in the MS program at Simmons University. During her time in the TXTDS minor, Malika undertook a digitally-focused Capstone project that gathered and presented information on the development of fiction written for girls from the 18th century to the present in UW Special Collections. Building upon this experience, Malika’s work in the MS program will further develop her experience and expertise in managing, preserving, and sharing cultural artifacts.
Jules Lockett Accepted to MS in Library Science at UNC-Chapel Hill
Jules Lockett, who is currently enrolled at a Master’s program in the History of the Book at the University of London, has been accepted to the MS in Library Science program at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Jules was inspired to attend her current MA program after taking courses in the TXTDS minor and handling items in UW Special Collection as part of the TXTDS 402: Book Arts: Proseminar in Special Collections, Bibliography, and Letterpress Printing. These courses helped her find her interests in the broad study of the book, which she plans to integrate with her future coursework in library and information science, preparing for a future career in rare books librarianship.
Riley Hull Enrolled in MA Program in the History of the Book at the University of London
While TXTDS courses prepare students for advanced study in the field of library and information science, it also prepares students for the pursuit of advanced study in other fields, such as the history of the book and print. Riley Hull, TXTDS ’25, just started her own academic journey in advanced book studies at the University of London. Like fellow TXTDS alum, Jules Lockett, Riley was inspired to apply to this graduate program after undertaking Textual Studies coursework which brought her in direct contact with the rare books and manuscripts collections of the UW libraries. Her time in TXTDS 402: Book Arts: Proseminar in Special Collections, Bibliography, and Letterpress Printing sparked her interest in the history of the book and the industrialization of print, which she will continue to explore in the MA before going on to future studies either in an MLIS or PhD program.
“My time in the TXTDS minor was the most unexpected but rewarding part of my time at the UW. It led me to connect with incredible professors and like-minded talented peers who have become close friends, while also introducing me to an entire academic world I didn’t previously know existed but am now endlessly fascinated by and invested in.”
– Riley Hull, TXTDS ’25
UW Textual Studies Courses in Libraries and Archives
The Textual Studies Program’s focus on hands-on and experiential learning translate to its course offerings, which include classes focused on library collections and archival studies, such as TXTDS 403: Archives, Data and Databases. A recent session of the course, “The Records Lifecycle and Archival Operations,” taught by TXTDS alum and archivist at Seattle’s National Archives, Eric Flores, concentrated on the archival process from the fundamentals of planning and organizing the preservation of historical documents to archives’ functions, constitution, and continued preservation in physical and digital environments. Another session, “Digital Methods for East Asian Studies,” taught by Professor Gian Rominger of the Department of Asian Languages & Literature, took a cross-disciplinary approach to archival science, applying its methodologies to research in East Asian studies. This course focused on the integration of digital methods in the analysis of textual sources written in Classical and Modern Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, offering students experience with digital tools and projects, such as corpus creation, OCR, text mining, and network analysis.
The program also houses core courses which facilitate students’ interaction with library collections and rare historical materials. TXTDS 402 Book Arts: Proseminar in Printing, Bibliography and Special Collections is a small seminar held in UW Libraries’ Special Collections, which gives TXTDS minors the chance to work hands-on with manuscripts, early print specimens, and other documents held in the collections.
If you’d like to find out more about opportunities for undergraduate students in UW Textual Studies, our upcoming courses, or the undergraduate minor program and its requirements, you can explore our website or email text@uw.edu.
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