The L Word Versus the I Word :: Essays Papers

The L Word Versus the I WordOf the 49 ALA-accredited depository library learning programs in the United States, only when one - the School of Library Science at Clarion University - omits the reciprocation information from its name. The L word doesnt fare so well. Twenty-eight per centum of accredited library science programs have dropped the word library from their name. otherwise I word schools dont bother to work outk accreditation because they no longer see their mission as tailing librarians.The L word camp inevitably to accept the political realities facing LIS programs. Librarians condemn the loss of their beloved L word and have even demanded the ALA refuse to accredit schools that drop it. names are important. By its name, we recognize the character and purpose of an organization. A library science school has a clear, focused mission - to educate and train students to become librarians. By contrast, the mission of an information school is broader and whitethorn (or may not) include the basic training of librarians. Being precise by nature, librarians favour a name that is descriptive. More importantly, the L word signifies the rich cultural heritage that is librarianship.Happily, the majority of ALA-accredited schools use both the L and the I lyric poem to describe themselves. This is as it should be. The motivation for dropping the L word is furnish by a perceived lack of prestige and a depression that the word library limits the scope of education. While universities do look flock upon library science as a discipline lacking pedantic depth, a name change alone will not reanimate that opinion.There is a more serious issue at guess - that of possible action versus skills. Here, I depart from the L word camp and atomic number 49 closer to the side of information. The scope of an LIS education must be broader than the traditionalistic library science core. As Childers points out, its clear that information handling is larger than o ne institution - bigger than the library institution but including it... The science of information is a compelling and dynamic field not curb to librarians. Webmasters, programmers, information brokers, and, yes, librarians can all be taught under the same metaphysical umbrella. The interactions of students on different career tracks can be a supportive and energizing force within an LIS program.Librarians lament the lack of skills training, but theory is, and must remain, central to LIS. According to Fallis and Fricke, a librarian requires a supposed graduate-level education, in addition to specific skills.