Education for librarianship

Education for librarianship is the term for the educational preparation for professional librarians. This varies widely in different countries. In the United States and Canada, it generally consists of a one- or two-year Masters degree program in library science. This program is taken following an undergraduate degree, although there are programs leading directly to the bachelor's degree (or the associate degree or the certificate) in library science which are used for formal training of paraprofessional library associates, library technicians, and clerks (though such training is not required for such positions)--and also as preparation for graduate study in library science.

Historical development

Until the 19th century, the librarian in charge of a scholarly library was normally a scholar, often a university professor with a special interest in the library. There was no training program, and the new librarian was expected to follow the practices of other similar libraries. (Popular libraries in the modern sense had not yet developed.) In the 19th century, although some librarians followed this older pattern, others prepared as apprentices under the direction of established librarians. For further discussion, see: History of library and information science

Philippines

In 1914, the University of the Philippines offered the first courses in Library education in the country. The University would later establish the first separate library school in the country in 1961; the Institute of Library Science, a former department of the now defunct College of Liberal Arts. Librarians usually have a four-year bachelor's degree in library and information studies, or a master's degree in LIS or one a with concentration in Library Science. It is also not uncommon for librarians to possess a degree in Education, with a specialization or major in Library Science. With passage of the Republic Act No. 6966 (Repealed in 2003 with the passing of R.A. 9246 or "The Philippine Librarianship Act of 2003") in 1990, graduates of library and information science are required to take the licensure examinations for librarians in order to practice librarianship in the Philippines or countries which have reciprocity as regards the practice of the field. [1]

Library school

A library school is an institution of higher learning specializing in the professional training of librarians. The first library school was established by Melvil Dewey (the originator of the Dewey decimal system) in 1887 at Columbia University. Since then many library schools have been founded in the United States and Canada. The development of library schools in other countries began in 1915, when librarians' schools were founded at Leipzig and Barcelona (currently, as a faculty of the Universitat de Barcelona, the latter is the oldest library school in Europe). Many others were founded during World War II. The University of Chicago became the first library school to confer a master's degree in library science, which is now the standard professional degree, and later became the first to give a doctoral degree in the field. Three other prominent American library schools are located at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Most library schools in North America offer graduate programs only. Accreditation of these programs is granted by the American Library Association. The bachelor's degree in Library Science (or Library Economics as it was called in early days) was, for the most part, phased out several decades ago. Librarians in North America typically earn a master's degree, either the MLS (Master of Library Science) or the MLIS (Master of Library and Information Science). This degree allows one to work as a practicing librarian in public libraries, academic libraries, school library media centers, and special libraries, while many individuals with the MLS title work with major library vendors. The degree is also applicable to related sectors such as publishing.

Master of Library Science programs are typically structured to offer a mixture of required and elective courses in library science and information science. The required courses focus on core library skills such as cataloging, reference, collection development as well as related areas such as the philosophy underlying the profession, information technology and management. Elective courses may include information management, children's literature, genealogy and archives as well as specialized courses related to different types of libraries.

In recent decades, many library schools have changed their names to reflect the shift from print media to electronic media, and to information contained outside of traditional libraries. Some call themselves schools of library and information science (abbreviated to "SLIS", hence the term "SLISters" for their students), while others, such as the University of Washington's Information School, have dropped the word "library" entirely: see List of I-Schools.

Degree programs

The normal preparation for a faculty member in a department of library science (or other name) is a Ph.D. in Library science or Information science. In some fields of librarianship, a Ph.D. in another related subject, such as archival studies, is the equivalent, and some faculty have doctorates in various subject fields, as well as an MLS (or similar) degree.

United States and Canada

In the United States and Canada, a librarian normally has a one or two-year master's degree in library and information science, library science or information science (called an MLS, MSLS, MIS, MS-LIS, MISt, MLIS, or MILS) from an accredited university. These degrees are accredited by the American Library Association(ALA) and can have specializations within fields such as archiving, records management, information architecture, public librarianship, medical librarianship, law librarianship, special librarianship, academic librarianship, or school (K-12) librarianship. School librarians often are required to have a teaching credential, as well as a library science degree. Master's degree programs for school library media specialist initial preparation are also accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), which ALA recognizes. Many, if not most, academic librarians also have a second, subject-based master's degree.

The early history of education for librarians in the U.S. has been explored by Churchwell. ^[1].The University of Chicago studies in library science assessed the state of education for librarians in 1948. ^[2] The pivotal role of the first PhD at the University of Chicago, Graduate Library School from 1921-1951 has been analyzed by John Richardson in his study, The Spirit of Inquiry ^[3].

At the turn of the millennium (1999-2000) problems related to the graduate education of professional librarians, pervaded professional and academic discourse These were initially identified by the Council of the American Library Association as the growing elimination of the "L" word [Library] from the names of schools, the seeming lack of attention to core competencies [cataloguing was often mentioned], and the national shortage of professionals to work with particular groups [specifically young people in public libraries and disadvantaged populations] and in particular environments [such as schools]. The Final Report of the Steering Committee on the Congress for Professional Education provides an analysis of these issues. The Coalition on Reinventing Information Science, Technology, and Literary Education supported by the Kellogg Foundation provided additional analysis of future educational needs and direction. ^[4].

  Bernie Sloan compiled an extensive bibliography, Changes in LIS Education in 2004.[5]

Europe

In the UK and some other countries, a librarian can have a three- or four-year bachelor's degree in library and information studies or information science; separate master's degrees in librarianship, archive management, and records management are also available. In the United Kingdom, these degrees are accredited by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals and the Society of Archivists.

In Germany and some other countries, the first step for an academic librarian is a Ph.D. in a subject field, followed by additional training in librarianship.

In Denmark the first step to become a librarian is a 3-year long bachelor's degree in Library and Information Science (B.Sc.) at The Royal School of Library and Information Science. The students then have the choice between taking a half year long education for librarianship called Librarian D.B or take a 2-year master's degree called Master of Library and Information Science (M.L.I.Sc.). All the already mentioned courses takes place in danish but The Royal School of Library and Information Science also offers an English-speaking 2-year master's degree called Master of Library and Information Science (M.L.I.Sc.). Students who complete the bachelor's degree, the librarianship or one of the master's degrees offered get work as librarians, information employees or organization staff. The students can also obtain a Ph.D. in Library and Information Science at The Royal School of Library and Information Science (first awarded at The Royal School of Library and Information Science in 2004). The students can also obtain a doctorate in Library and Information Science at The Royal School of Library and Information Science (first awarded at The Royal School of Library and Information Science in 2006).

See also

• ISchool

References

1. ^ Churchwell, Charles D. 1975. The shaping of American library education. Chicago: American Library Association.
2. ^ Berelson, Bernard. 1949. Education for librarianship; papers presented at the Library Conference, University of Chicago, August 16-21, 1948. Chicago: American Library Association.
3. ^ Richardson, John V. 1982. The spirit of inquiry: the Graduate Library School at Chicago, 1921-51. Chicago: American Library Association.
4. ^ Drabenstott, K. M., et. al., The Kellogg CRISTAL-ED Project: creating a model program to support libraries in the digital age {Coalition on Reinventing Information Science, Technology, and Literary Education}. In: Advances in librarianship, v20. Academic Press, 1996
5. ^ Bernie Sloan, 2004. Changes in LIS Education. Web Archive. Changes in LIS Education

• Reitz, Joan M. (2004). Library School in ODLIS — Online Dictionary for Library and Information Science.

External links

• Jesse, the professional listserv discussion group for teachers of library science.
• StanleyK -"StanleyK" is an uncensored discussion list for those who teach in library and information science education programs and those interested in issues relating to the education of librarians. This list is not moderated. Named for Poet Laureate Stanley Kunitz whose writings in Wilson Library Bulletin were important to the passage of the Library Bill of Rights.
• Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE)
• Directory of currently ALA-accredited library schools
• List of Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) accredited library and information courses in the UK