Best institutions to study Children and Youth Library Services
A program that prepares individuals to provide library and information services and programming for children and young adults.
5 U.S. institutions graduated 38 Children and Youth Library Services students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 25.0102, a specialization of Library Science and Administration (CIP 25.01), and leads most directly to the Librarians and Media Collections Specialists occupation (BLS SOC 25-4022).
About Children and Youth Library Services programs
A program that prepares individuals to provide library and information services and programming for children and young adults. Includes instruction in information needs of children and young adults, resources and services for children and young adults, literature for youth, storytelling, multi-ethnic materials, library management, and information technology for librarians.
See also: 23.1405 - Children's and Adolescent Literature.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Children and Youth Library Services program, part of Library Science and Administration, prepares individuals to deliver library and information services tailored for children and young adults. This program focuses on understanding the unique information needs of youth, offering resources, literature, and programming that engage and support their development.
Students will gain essential skills in active listening, critical thinking, and communication, alongside knowledge in customer service, technology, and educational training. Coursework includes storytelling, library management, and the evaluation of multi-ethnic materials to effectively serve diverse youth populations.
Credentials awarded
What Children and Youth Library Services graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree21 graduates / yr · 1 institution55%
- Post-master's certificate11 graduates / yr · 2 institutions29%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate6 graduates / yr · 3 institutions16%
Graduates over time
Children and Youth Library Services completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 13 |
| 2016 | 26 |
| 2017 | 18 |
| 2018 | 36 |
| 2019 | 43 |
| 2020 | 36 |
| 2021 | 40 |
| 2022 | 36 |
| 2023 | 28 |
| 2024 | 34 |
| 2025 | 38 |
Top 5 institutions for Children and Youth Library Services, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Simmons University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sMaster's | 28 | 72% | $24,848 |
| 2 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Baton Rouge, LAPublicMaster's | 4 | 69% | — |
| 3 | Wayne State University Detroit, MIPublicPost-degree cert. | 4 | 58% | — |
| 4 | Emporia State University Emporia, KSPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 56% | — |
| 5 | Pratt Institute - Main Brooklyn, NYPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 1 | 74% | $49,088 |
Offered in 5 states
Where Children and Youth Library Services graduates come from. Each state links to all Library Science and Administration programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 1 | 28 | Simmons University28 / yr |
| Louisiana | 1 | 4 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College4 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 4 | Wayne State University4 / yr |
| Kansas | 1 | 1 | Emporia State University1 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 1 | Pratt Institute - Main1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 25-4022, Librarians and Media Collections Specialists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program typically pursue careers as Librarians and Media Collections Specialists, with a median wage of $64,320. The job outlook indicates little or no change, with an expected 13,500 annual openings in the field, primarily requiring a Master's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 25.0102
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Librarians and Media Collections Specialistsprimary SOC 25-4022 | $68,270 | +1.7% Little or no change | ~13,500 | Master's degree |
Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1082 | $80,340 | +3.0% About as fast as average | ~400 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Children and Youth Library Services programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Check books in and out of the library.
- Teach library patrons basic computer skills, such as searching computerized databases.
- Review and evaluate materials, using book reviews, catalogs, faculty recommendations, and current holdings to select and order print, audio-visual, and electronic resources.
- Search standard reference materials, including online sources and the Internet, to answer patrons' reference questions.
- Keep up-to-date records of circulation and materials, maintain inventory, and correct cataloging errors.
- Analyze patrons' requests to determine needed information and assist in furnishing or locating that information.
Tools and technology used
Other Library Science and Administration specializations
The 3 other 6-digit CIP codes under Library Science and Administration (CIP 25.01).
Common questions
What degrees are offered in this program?+
The program offers a Master's degree, a Post-master's certificate, and a Postbaccalaureate certificate.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 5 colleges in the U.S. that offer this program.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with 13,500 annual openings expected.
What is the CIP code for Children and Youth Library Services?+
Children and Youth Library Services is CIP 25.0102 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Library Science and Administration (CIP 25.01). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to provide library and information services and programming for children and young adults. Includes instruction in information needs of children and young adults, resources and services for children and young adults, literature for youth, storytelling, multi-ethnic materials, library management, and information technology for librarians.
How many institutions offer Children and Youth Library Services programs?+
5 U.S. institutions reported Children and Youth Library Services graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 5 states, awarding 38 credentials in the year. That is 0.6% of all Library Science and Administration graduates.
How much do Children and Youth Library Services graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Librarians and Media Collections Specialists occupation, which Children and Youth Library Services most directly leads to, pays a median of $68,270 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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