The purpose of this paper is to report a study designed to identify qualifications and skills that library and information science (LIS) students should have when they graduate.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to report a study designed to identify qualifications and skills that library and information science (LIS) students should have when they graduate.
Design/methodology/approach
The reported research examines the curriculum of 49 institutions in three countries which offer programs in LIS. Course descriptions are studied through the web and the module specifications presented there.
Findings
The study identifies 59 qualifications/skills that were central to graduation in the field of LIS.
Research limitations/implications
Course specifications have some limitations as they do not always include the detailed description that would be desirable.
Originality/value
The paper examines the orientation of institutions that provide LIS programs and, more importantly, the way that orientation is integrated into their programs of study.
Details
Keywords
Michalis Gerolimos, Afrodite Malliari and Pavlos Iakovidis
– The purpose of this paper is to create a profile of the modern American academic librarian through the content analysis method of job advertisements.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to create a profile of the modern American academic librarian through the content analysis method of job advertisements.
Design/methodology/approach
One hundred thirty-four advertisements were analyzed in various ways, e.g. salary, skills, qualifications, duties, followed by a multivariate analysis.
Findings
Most significant findings include the importance of communication skills for all academic librarians, the significance of the Library and Information Science (LIS) degree and that applicants should expect a salary of $40,000-60,000.
Originality/value
This paper builds on the previous studies in the field to verify that communication skills are among the most, if not the most, desired skills for a modern librarian, and that an LIS degree is still an asset.
Details
Keywords
Michalis Gerolimos and Rania Konsta
The aim of the research is to investigate the qualifications and the skills of the librarian's profession as they are impressed through the job ads.
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of the research is to investigate the qualifications and the skills of the librarian's profession as they are impressed through the job ads.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 200 job advertisements were studied from the UK, Canada, Australia and the USA in 2006 and 2007. The data were derived from known web sites.
Findings
Overall, 38 skills and qualifications were identified through the job ads. Their percentage of appearance was recorded and this constitutes the basic element for the final findings of this research.
Research limitations/implications
The research restricted in ads emanated from developed countries' web sites. This methodology records the ideal model of a librarian.
Originality/value
The research, like others, confirms the meaning of the traditional library science in the modern informational environment.
Details
Keywords
The purpose of this paper is to report the history of the Greek Library Science (LS) education, to document proposed and current programmes of study and to evaluate the current…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to report the history of the Greek Library Science (LS) education, to document proposed and current programmes of study and to evaluate the current under‐graduate and post‐graduate status of library studies in Greece.
Design/methodology/approach
The research methodology is based on bibliographic research of papers and articles and the documentation of programmes of study of Greek schools of LS.
Findings
The paper traces the history of library education in Greece with an emphasis on the suggested or implemented curricula over a period of five decades, documents the social conditions that affected the establishment of tertiary library education and proposes some changes to be implemented in schools of LS.
Originality/value
The paper records and evaluates the official library programmes of study over a period of time that covers all the course of formal library education in Greece. These programmes are not always documented in official records. Furthermore, statistical data regarding the library students of all Greek schools of LS are presented.