Information and Library Technologies

 

This is Québec’s only English-language program in the field. Information and Library Technologies offers hands-on experience in information management, including specialized records management, archives and library-related courses. The focus is on information storage, information management software and advanced research techniques. Transferable skills such as communication strategies and analytical skills are highlighted.

 

Two-year intensive option
Students who already have a DEC (or all of their general education requirements) may complete the program in two years. The workload is very heavy in this case and applicants should discuss workload issues with the Chairperson either before applying or upon registration.

Program

WHAT DISTINGUISHES THE ILT PROGRAM

The ILT program is offered as both a regular three-year program and as a two-year intensive program. It integrates a personalized approach to scheduling and learning, supported with small classes, a dedicated computer classroom and a drop-in learning centre/lab. Students complete two fieldwork placements.

Picture taken April 2017
Courtesy of André Garneau

THE PROGRAM EMPHASIZES:

  • basic information management procedures
  • research skills
  • analytical skills
  • communication and teaching skills
  • computer skills

Students in Information and Library Technologies acquire hands-on experience using the latest in office softwares, including Word, Excel and Windows.

In addition, students become proficient using specialized information management databases, integrated library systems and electronic document management.

THIS PROGRAM IS FOR YOU IF…

  • You are naturally curious.
  • You possess good people skills.
  • You are versatile and adaptable.
  • You are meticulous and comfortable with detail.
  • You like creating order.
  • You are comfortable with technological change.

STAGE/INTERNSHIP

You can submit your job stage/internship offers for this program through the following link: click here

For complete list of courses, please view the Courses by program.

What Will You Learn

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?

Since all courses in the ILT program are required, students graduate with a range of skills that gives them great flexibility in finding employment. Courses in the program fall into the following types:

ILT computer lab

ILT computer lab

Knowledge & skills applicable to a range of information management settings:

• Automation & Documentation I & II (Word, Windows, Excel)
• Communication & Teamwork
• Computerization & Documentation (Access, Integrated library systems)
• Document formatting (document layout, html, advanced PowerPoint)
• Documents & Their Producers (publishing industry; government documents)
• Indexing & Abstracting
• Information Sources & Services I-IV (research techniques)
• Principles of Classification (knowledge organization)
• Profession of Documentation (introduction to the range of professions)
• Public Relations

Library and documentation centre services:

  • Acquisitions (purchasing processes)
  • Cataloguing I & II
  • Circulation
  • Collection Development
  • Dewey Decimal Classification
  • Document Centre (management of specialized libraries)
  • Library of Congress Classification
  • Subject headings
  • Working Environment II (fieldwork placement of 105 hrs)
    Fieldtrip to the Canadian War Museum Archives, Ottawa

    Fieldtrip to the Canadian War Museum Archives, Ottawa

Records management and archives services:

  • Introduction to Records Management & Archives
  • Records management
  • Archives
  • Working Environment I (fieldwork placement of 105 hrs)
Fieldtrip to the Gatineau Preservation Centre, Library and Archives Canada

Fieldtrip to the Gatineau Preservation Centre, Library and Archives Canada

Employment

WHERE ILT CAN TAKE YOU

Employment opportunities are varied; some involve working directly with the public, others are more technically oriented. Organizations such as web companies, corporate archives and document centres, schools, government departments, public libraries, and hospitals, amongst many, are delighted to hire versatile, highly-trained individuals able to manage the information that these organizations depend upon and to use the variety of software required. Graduates who choose to pursue a university education have the prerequisites for a general arts degree. This is a broad career path with many options upon graduation. Mature students find that their previous education and experience are advantages in the job market.

WE’RE CONNECTED WITH EMPLOYERS!

Fieldwork placements
Every year we organize 30-40 fieldwork placements with businesses, libraries, hospitals, archives, etc. Two fieldwork placements allow you to integrate the skills you have learned, to make professional contacts in your future field(s), and to make more informed choices about the types of jobs in which you might be interested. In addition, the feedback from fieldwork supervisors is very important in keeping the curriculum up to date. Among our fieldwork placements in the past few years:

  • McGill University Archives
  • Canadian Centre for Architecture
  • Pointe-Claire Public Library
  • National Film Board of Canada
  • PwC Management Services LP
  • GE Capital
  • Forensic Technology
  • English Montreal School Board
  • West Island Health & Social Service Centre
  • MUHC Art & Heritage Centre

We also have a fieldwork partnership with the Canadian Security & Intelligence Agency (CSIS) for which students may apply.

Advisory Board
The program’s Advisory Board consists of practitioners from a variety of settings, as well as the director of the McGill School of Information Studies. Their help is invaluable in keeping the program abreast of changes and trends in the various sectors.

Getting a Job

There is no guarantee of jobs, of course, but the program includes practice in developing resumés, and organizes mock interview days during which real employers donate their time to interview you and give feedback on your job hunting skills; we also maintain a job posting site. This is all in addition to the help available through the College Employment Centre. Most students who are job hunting find positions within 6 months of graduation; salaries vary considerably by type of employer and level of experience. Among jobs posted in 2016 were:

Union des municipalités du Québec – UMQ (Préposé aux prêts – direction de la bibliothèque)
Temps partiel, Permanent
$21.30 – $27.12 / hr
November 2016

McGill University (Document Technician)
Full time / Permanent
$24.75 – $33.89 hr.
December 2016

Concordia University Library (Assistant – Collection Development project)
$27.36 – 32.32 hr.
November 2016

Aimcroit (Technicien(ne) en bibliothèque)
Variable schedule
$22.16 hr.
November 2016

Parc Olympique (Technicien(ne) en archivistique)
Temps plein
$17.94 – $26.90 hr.
December 2016

Commission scolaire de Laval- CSDL – (Technicien(ne) en documentation)
Contrat, temps plein / temps partial
$18.86 – 28.01 hr.
November 2016

McGill University (Library Supervisor)
Full time : $41, 200 – $51,500 / yr.
December 2016

Bedard Resource (Technicien(ne) en documentation)
Temps plein / temporaire avec possibilité de permanence
$35,000 – $40,000 / yr.
December 2016

L’institut Canadien de Québec (coordinatrice ou coordinateur de bibliothèque, technicien(ne) en documentation)
Full time
$46,034 – $70, 869 / yr
October 2016

Télé Université (technicien(ne) en documentation)
Full time / temporary
$21.11 – 35.26 hr.
October 2016

Conservatoire de Musique et d’art dramatique de Québec
28 hr /semaine
43,300 – $49,602 / yr.
Spring 2016

SNC Lavalin (Spécialiste de la gestion documentaire)
Temps plein
Salaire à discuter
May 2016

Algorithme Pharma Laval (technicien(ne) en documentation)
Temps plein
Salaire à discuterMay 2016

La Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec (Technicien(ne) en documentation)
Full time / temporary – until January 2018
$48,000 – $58,000 / yr.
March 2016

Other Organizations (no salary info)
BAnQ
HEC
L’École de technologie supérieure
UQAM
Jewish General Hospital Libraries
Lockheed Martin
École nationale de cirque
Société de gestion de la banque de titre de langue français
Ville de Dollard-des-Ormeaux
Ville de Rosemère
Ville de Pointe Claire
Ville de Laval

Student for a Day Program

We welcome and encourage interested students to be a Student for a Day.
Follow this link to begin this process: Student for a Day Program

FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Information and Library Technologies

Unfortunately, no. The Ministry requires that all courses must be completed in order for you to earn an ILT diploma. The bright side of this is that you will find that your learning curve is easier, and that the classroom experience will be more rewarding because you bring some practical knowledge to it.
Specific library courses may be taken for professional development purposes if the student already has a diploma or degree in library and information studies. Regular tuition fees apply since this qualifies as part-time study.
The department arranges fieldwork (stage) placements in consultation with students, to provide students with a range of experiences. Each student has two five-week fieldwork placements in the sixth semester, one in a library and one in an archives/records management setting.
Tuition fees: There are no tuition fees for full-time students from Quebec (see “What is a regular course load?” below). In cases where students choose to take fewer than 12 hours per week they are required to pay per-course tuition fees. The following types of fees are charged for Quebec residents: Full-time Part-time (under 12 hrs/wk) Application fees: Full-time $30 Part-time (under 12 hrs/wk) $30 Student Fees per semester: Full-time $162 Part-time (under 12 hrs/wk) $41/course Tuition fees: Full-time - 0 Part-time (under 12 hrs/wk) $2/credit hour (e.g. course given 3 hours/week over 15 weeks : 3 x 15 x $2 = $90) * All fees mentioned were in effect for the fall 2020 semester, and are subject to change without notice. Books and supplies: We usually suggest students should expect to pay $200-$400 per term depending on the number of courses and their requirements.
Any person who takes 12 hours of courses (usually 3- 4 courses) per week is considered a full-time student. However, 12 hours represents only part of the full program. A regular full-time course load in the Information & Library Technologies program is 7-8 courses per semester (up to 28 hours of classes per week). Many students choose to follow the minimum number of courses for a full-time status as they have work or family responsibilities. In these cases, course choices should be made in conjunction with the Chairperson and/or Academic Advising. We strongly suggest that students take all their first semester core courses if they possibly can, as it makes it easier to sequence the courses that follow, but it is not absolutely necessary. A lower course load means the program will take 4-5 years to complete.
Yes, you may. Tuition fees then apply, as noted above under “What will it cost me?”
Yes, you may. However, if you have a university degree, you should consider the two-year Masters programs offered at McGill University and Université de Montréal. The Masters programs are more theoretical and issues-oriented, with strong components of information science research and management. However, students with university degrees do choose to come to the ILT program, for a variety of reasons. They may prefer the hands-on, practical aspects of information management, or the location may be easier for them to attend. The lack of grade-point requirements and the low cost of cegep education may also be factors. See also information below concerning courses taken elsewhere.
If you have a previous DEC, or have finished all your gen.eds you should automatically be registered in the Intensive stream. Applicants who do not have a DEC but have other post-secondary education must have their diplomas/degrees analyzed by Academic Advising to verify that all or most of the general education courses are granted as equivalencies (you may have up to 3 gen.ed courses to complete).
If you wish to graduate in two years you must take the full course load. However, it is very heavy and many of our intensive stream students take 5 courses per semester which permits them to graduate in 3 years. They may also take fewer, but this stretches out the time to completion. These students all remain in the Intensive stream as it makes the course planning easier, but take a reduced course load. We recommend that students who have work or family obligations consider their workloads carefully in terms of quality of life and academic achievement (better to take 5 courses and perform well in your class work than to take 8 and achieve mediocre results). Course loads are adjustable at the beginning of every semester.
Yes, applications are accepted as long as there are places available in the program. Do not hesitate to contact the Admissions Dept. to find out if there is room
General education courses are the basic courses required of every cegep student: English, French, Humanities, Physical Education and complementaries (electives) from outside the Social science disciplines. Everyone is required to take them and the only way to be exempted from them is if you completed the requirements in a previous DEC or have other post-secondary equivalencies. Many mature students feel that they should be excused from Physical Education. However, it is a requirement that must be fulfilled unless there is a medical reason for substitution, and most people find that they are able to find courses that correspond to their interests and/or skill levels, such as general fitness, golf, walking, swimming and weight training.
The program has a very mixed student body. Career programs appeal to people who for one reason or another want to prepare themselves for the workplace. This includes young people who have finished a pre-university DEC, but who now feel the need for practical skills for the job market, as well as older people who have decided to return to the workplace after raising children or because they want a career change. Some of our students do come directly from high school, but there is always a large component of mature students and most consider that the mix is enjoyable. See also the information below concerning courses taken elsewhere.
Students are normally admitted for the session starting at the end of August. Applicants with previous courses in library or information studies may be considered for January entry. Applicants anxious to start their studies in the January session should consider speaking to an Academic advisor about applying to a pre-university program so that they can start with some of their general education courses. They would then be expected to transfer to the ILT program for the following August.
You will receive credit for any general education courses completed at the cegep level. If you have completed a DEC, you will probably have few if any courses to do outside of the ILT concentration. Some courses done at the university level that fit into the categories of English Literature, French, Humanities (history, religion, philosophy) or Science may also be credited. You would need to see an Academic advisor at the college with your transcripts to see what might be applicable, and then each applicable course would be considered for an equivalency. This can be done once you are accepted or after you start school. Courses in library or information studies completed elsewhere will be considered for credit on a case-by-case basis. Contact the program Chairperson for more information about this. Students who have completed all or most of their general education courses are admitted to the Intensive stream. This gives them the opportunity to finish their diplomas in 2 years rather than the standard 3 years. However, since the Intensive full course load is very heavy (8 courses) many students choose to reduce their workload to spread it over 3 years. This is a particularly interesting option for mature students who have work or family obligations.
We can never guarantee a job. However, based on the present statistics we can say that there is a good probability that you will find work in the field. Since 1996 most of our graduates have found work within 6 months of graduation. There is a good demand for information technicians. When you are considering your job prospects you need to think about your assets and the requirements that you meet. For example, bilingualism and teamwork abilities are big pluses. If you are not able to commute, or want a two-day-a-week job, you may have to wait for the opportunities.

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Information

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CEGEP ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

A Secondary School Diploma which includes:
Secondary 5 Language of Instruction, Secondary 5 Second Language, Secondary 4 Mathematics, Secondary 4 Science and Technology or Secondary 4 Applied Science and Technology, Secondary 4 History and Citizenship Education.

OR a Secondary School Vocational Diploma which includes:
Secondary 5 Language of Instruction, Secondary 5 Second Language, Secondary 4 Mathematics. 

OR Applicants who have not studied in Québec must have education deemed equivalent by the College.

PROGRAM PREREQUISITES

No specific prerequisites is required for this program.

HOW DO I APPLY:

John Abbott College is affiliated with the Service régional d’admission du Montréal métropolitain (SRAM) and uses its online application service.
The application deadline is March 1 (Fall semester). Warning: The documents and payment must be submitted by the deadline.

Program start: Fall

To apply:

  • Complete the online application at admission.sram.qc.ca
  • Select John Abbott and the program of your choice along with the corresponding SRAM program number: 393.A0
  • If applicable, mail in photocopies of all required documents and the application fee.

Students whose prerequisites are more than five years old should contact the Admissions office.

 

ADMISSIONS OFFICE
514-457-6610 x5361, 5355 & 5358
admissions@johnabbott.qc.ca

INFORMATION AND LIBRARY TECHNOLOGIES
514-457-6610 x5470
ilt@johnabbott.qc.ca