The iSchools movement: positioning LIS studies in the information age

The United States iSchools movement for reforming library and information science studies is analyzed as a contribution to the analysis and debate of the LIS education crisis in Spain and the proposal of action trends

Educating a New Generation of Library and Information Science Professionals: A United States Perspective

This article examines the U.S model of library and information science (LIS) education in light of the changes brought about by information and communication technology. The accepted model of professional preparation in the United States has emphasized graduate education on a Master’s level from LIS programs accredited by the American Library Association (ALA). The authors trace the historical development of this approach and provide an overview of the ALA accreditation process. Furthermore, they examine the strategies of LIS programs in adjusting to the changing information environment, present the debate about the iSchool movement, and discuss the evolution of the core curriculum. In addition, the article explores the relationship between LIS education and the field of practice and presents a practitioner’s perspective on educating library professionals. The authors conclude that the model of advanced professional preparation for librarianship is still relevant in the digital environment, but it requires greater flexibility and close cooperation with the field of practice

Educating the academic librarian as a blended professional : a review and case study

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Educating the academic librarian as a blended professional: a review and case study

Purpose This paper aims to explore the phenomenon of the hybrid information specialist in the academic library setting. It does this in relation to curriculum development for preparatory and continuing professional education for librarianship and makes particular reference to the contemporary iSchools movement. Design/methodology/approach The paper reviews trends and developments in academic information services and the information science academy in the context of continuing technological advances and educational change. It presents a case study of curriculum development and portfolio renewal, using the specialist roles of digital library manager and information literacy educator to show how the principles of interactive planning can be applied in articulating an academic strategy to meet the changing demands of educational institutions, professional bodies and employers. Findings There are significant parallels between professional education and professional practice in the shifting boundaries, expanded portfolios and challenged identities evident in the current information marketplace. A combination of continuous incremental development with periodic fundamental review enables professional educators to meet the changing mandates of different stakeholder groups. When combined with a strong professional focus, the breadth and depth of multidisciplinary expertise found in a researchled iSchool facilitates the design of specialised pathways and programmes for practitioners moving into blended roles. Practical implications Practitioners intent on careers in academic libraries should consider the opportunities and demands of hybrid blended roles when choosing educational programmes and pathways. Originality/value The paper provides a conceptual framework to illustrate the nature of emergent professional roles and current challenges facing professional educators. Ackoff's interactive planning theory is used to illuminate the problem of academic planning in complex pluralist contexts. © 2010, Emerald Group Publishing Limited. All rights reserved

Brian Vickery and the nature of information science

This paper examines B.C.Vickery's contributions to the development of information science, as an academic discipline and a field of professional practice

Report. The academic Information Schools network: Origins, evolution and future

The Information Schools (iSchools) are a prominent international academic network of information schools. Since its creation in 2005, about 80 universities have joined the network, through the respective faculties or departments thematically involved. The faculties or academic departments that are part of the iSchools study information, in close relationship with people and technology. We present a general overview of the iSchools that includes: the history of its origins and evolution, an updated review of its academic activity, and future trends. This overview is done through a critical review of a selection of existing literature on this academic movement. The review includes opinion and academic debate documents, scientific studies based on the collection and analysis of data from all the universities in the network or representative samples of them, and a look at the iConference, an annual world congress organized by this academic network

La Biblioteconomía y la Documentación española en la encrucijada

The situation of Library and Information Science teaching and academia in Spain is analyzed. The main trends analyzed are the labour market, the technological changes, the higher education reform, and the discipline definition problems. A preliminary diagnosis is an adjustment crisis to the employment market in a country with a very recent tradition in LIS education, which is proceeding in the context of the digital revolution and the process of globalization of the higher education. Some recommendations are cultivating the core employment fields, expanding with alliances the role in schools libraries and content management, developing a more realistic and effective model for technological education, resolving the dilemma between generalist and specialist education, reintegrating the human an social dimensions of the studies, emphasising the discursive and theoretical integration of the discipline, and improving the factual evidence that supports discussions about prospective trends and actions.Se analiza la crisis de la enseñanza de la Biblioteconomía y la Documentación en España y se intentan desentrañar algunas de las variables que puedan estar actuando: la evolución del empleo, el impacto de los cambios tecnológicos, la reforma de la educación superior y los problemas de definición de la disciplina como ciencia. El diagnóstico es un ajuste de crecimiento de un estudios casi sin tradición en España al mercado laboral, todo ello en el marco más amplio del espectacular avance en la automatización de la información y de la globalización de la educación superior. Se recomienda mantener la atención al núcleo de los yacimientos de empleo, expandir mediante alianzas la implicación en el mundo escolar y de la gestión de contenidos, desarrollar un modelo de enseñanza de las tecnologías más eficaz, resolver el dilema entre formación generalista y especializada, reintegrar las dimensiones sociales y humanistas, enfatizar la integración teórica y discursiva y mejorar la evidencia factual necesaria para una prospectiva eficaz

Assessment of the thematic evolution of Library and Information Science (LIS) research in Spanish in the LISA database using latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) (1978-2019)

The thematic evolution of LIS research in Spanish between 1978 and 2019 is analyzed within the international context. To this end, relevant bibliographic references were retrieved from the Library and Information Science Abstracts (LISA) database, and their titles and abstracts were treated using the latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) method, a statistical thematic modeling technique. Nineteen thematic sets were found and analyzed, labeled, and systematized in four main areas: processes, information technologies, libraries, and specialized documentations. Next, the results in Spanish were compared with international results obtained previously using the same methodology. In conclusion, LIS literature in Spanish mainly follows the international trends: during the last 50 years, the thematic focus of research has shifted from libraries and informational organizations to users and the development of specific systems and solutions. However, LIS research in Spanish also presents distinct characteristics: the importance of bibliometric research and biomedical documentation; research in the library area; and a certain delay in addressing technological, legal, and educational aspects. Although the selection of LISA articles depends on editorial decisions, the application of LDA to the peer-reviewed literature in Spanish provided results that are consistent with the international global trends, studies on other similar sources, and overall the state of the art