Change And Challenge In Library And Information Science Education

Caught between university administrators and a vocal profession, library schools are in the position of having to satisfy two sets of expectations that have become increasingly incompatible.

This book explores the development, trends and research of library and information sciences (LIS) in the digital age. Inside, readers will find research and case studies written by LIS experts, educators and theorists, most of whom have visited China, delivered presentations there and drafted their articles based on feedback they received. As a result, readers will discover the LIS issues and concerns that China and the international community have in common. The book first introduces the opportunities and challenges faced by the library and information literacy profession and discusses the key role of librarians in the future of information literacy education. Next, it covers trends in LIS education by examining the vision of the iSchool movement and detailing its practice in Syracuse University. The book then covers issues in information seeking and retrieval by showing how visual data mining technology can be used to detect the relationship and pattern between terms on the Q&A of a social media site. It also includes a case study regarding tracing information seeking behavior and usage on a multimedia website. Next, the book stresses the importance of building an academic accreditation framework for scientific datasets, explores the relationship between bibliometrics and university rankings, and details the birth and development of East Asian Libraries in North America. Overall, the book offers readers insight into the changing nature of LIS, including the electronic dissemination of information, the impact of the Internet on libraries, the changing responsibilities of library professionals, the new paradigm for evaluating information, and characteristics and functions of today's library personnel.

The current digital age is impacting the contents and delivery of instructional service in many ways. Instructional sessions not only describe various features of a resource, but these sessions also bring issues like the ethical use of information, copyrights, and the value of open knowledge to light. Librarians are required to help users to learn use these tools. Changing the Scope of Library Instruction in the Digital Age provides emerging information on data visualization tools, creating effective instructions, and instructional design in library sciences. While highlighting the challenges of effectively training new and seasoned librarians in these various aspects of data technology and teaching methods, readers will learn the importance of giving librarians the tools they need to complete their new responsibilities. This book is an important resource for entry level and seasoned librarians, researchers, and instructional design specialists seeking current research on up to date library instruction in the modern technology age.

Reale's book is a valuable springboard for reflection that will help academic librarians understand the complexity of the challenges they face and then forge a path forward.

In The Management of Library and Information Studies Education, leading educators discuss the management and various components of library and information education as they pertain to accreditation standards for library and information schools. It brings together valuable information on library accreditation essential to all library professionals concerned with the goals of professional education for library and information studies. Deans, professors, librarians, and students at library schools will find valuable insights into the management of library and information studies education and its applications to the components that accompany the structure of their profession. This informative volume addresses the rationales, strategies, and trends in library science, as well as the influences from other disciplines, that impact the management of library education. Contributors identify topics that look to the future to help readers with long-range planning and management for library education. This comprehensive book is divided into seven sections, each covering a different area of the management of library education, such as: the timetable for the revision of the 1972 Standards for Accreditation the mission, goals, and objectives of library and information science educational institutions generally, with an examination of the philosophies and availability of various programs around the country the traditional curricula in the library and information science school and its enhancement and expansion challenges in faculty management--setting priorities between the demands to teach and advise, to conduct research, and to contribute to the university generally examination of the management of students and analysis of demographic characteristics, diversification, admission standards, and recruitment patterns financial support and funding for library and information science schools assessment of the management of an evaluation; accreditation policies and procedures and the activities involved before, during, and after an on site visit Educators in library and information studies programs, university administrators, and those interested in libraries will find The Management of Library and Information Studies Education to be required reading. Those interested in accreditation issues and evaluation practices as well as management in general will find this book to be of lasting value in setting goals and manageable objectives for a wide variety of institutions and organizations.

At the 1989 annual meeting of the American Library Association (ALA), the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) used a think tank as a dynamic mechanism for exploring future directions both in the discipline of library user education and for the Bibliographic Instruction (BI) Section of ACRL. Discussion centered on the following issues: primary user groups and how have they changed during the past decade; how the curricular reform movement affects the content of bibliographic instruction programs; the appropriateness of information literacy as a phrase to characterize BI librarians' instructional programs for the upcoming decade; and how professional education programs in library and information science can respond to changes. The four discussion issues suggested necessary change or transition, particularly for BI, but more broadly affecting reference and public service, library missions and goals, and the educational focus of the library and information science profession. The eight papers included in the collection are: (1) "Bridging the Gap between the Think Tanks" (Donald Kenney); (2) "The Think Tank Papers: Are We in the Ball Park?" (Elizabeth Frick); (3) "Changing Users: Bibliographic Instruction for Whom?" (Lizabeth A. Wilson); (4) "The Changing User and the Future of Bibliographic Instruction: A Perspective from the Health Sciences Library" (James Shedlock); (5) "Curriculum Reform: The Role of Academic Libraries" (Maureen Pastine and Linda Wilson); (6) "Information Literacy: One Response to the New Decade" (Hannelore Rader and William Coons); (7) "Education for the Second Generation of Bibliographic Instruction Librarians" (Martha L. Hale); and (8) "The Future of Bibliographic Instruction and Information Literacy for the Academic Librarian" (William Miller). "Educational Roles of Academic Libraries: State of the Art and an Agenda for the Future" (Randall Hensley and Beth Sandore), a summary document from the conference, is appended. (JLB)

To determine the current and future competencies required by librarians and information professionals, a project was undertaken to meet the following objectives: set forth an idealized framework to be used by the librarian and information professional community; determine a first set of competencies which are validated in the workplace to some extent; establish initial education and training requirements; initiate a process for communication among the principal librarians and information professional participants which can be continued after project completion; and describe steps that can be taken in the future to ensure continuation of the competency achievement cycle. To meet these objectives, substantial input was obtained from a large number of organizations, educators, employers, professional societies, and individual professionals. The study results are presented in a six-chapter report and five appendices. Report chapters comprise: Overview of the Project; A Framework for Describing Librarian and Information Professional Competencies; Methods; Information Workers and Librarians and Information Professionals; Librarian and Information Professional Competencies; and Educational Requirements and Implications. Appendices include a literature review; secondary analyses (including analyses of information professional and librarian vacancy announcements); an example of the relationships between competencies, performance, effectiveness, and value in three special libraries; a bibliography; and an annotated bibliography. Twelve supplementary volumes provide detailed descriptions of competencies for the following positions: (1) Academic Librarian; (2) Public Librarian; (3) School Librarian; (4) Special Librarian; (5) Database Producer; (6) Database Distributor/Service; (7) Information Center/Clearinghouse; (8) Records and Information Manager; (9) Archivist/Museum; (10) Information Analysis Center; (11) Information Service Company; and (12) Library System Supplier. (THC)