LIS competencies in the digital LIS competencies in the digital age: the US and the EU: two age: the US and the EU: two

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Terry WeechTerry WeechGraduate School of Library and Information Science Graduate School of Library and Information Science

at the University of Illinois. USAat the University of Illinois. USAPresented at Bobcatsss 2010 – January 26, 2010. Presented at Bobcatsss 2010 – January 26, 2010.

Parma, ItalyParma, Italy

LIS Competences in the U.S. And LIS Competences in the U.S. And CanadaCanada

Whether a list of competences Whether a list of competences needed by graduates of LIS needed by graduates of LIS Schools in North America is Schools in North America is appropriate is controversial.appropriate is controversial.

LIS Competences in the U.S. And LIS Competences in the U.S. And CanadaCanada

Many Practitioners and Many Practitioners and Employers favor a list of Employers favor a list of competences for the first competences for the first

professional degree.professional degree.

LIS Competences in the U.S. And LIS Competences in the U.S. And CanadaCanada

It has been argued that a list of It has been argued that a list of competences will provide a competences will provide a

standard and consistency in what standard and consistency in what employers and the profession can employers and the profession can

expect of recent graduates.expect of recent graduates.

LIS Competences in the U.S. And LIS Competences in the U.S. And CanadaCanada

Many Library Educators are Many Library Educators are opposed to a list of opposed to a list of

competences for the first competences for the first professional degree.professional degree.

LIS Competences in the U.S. And LIS Competences in the U.S. And CanadaCanada

Many Library Educators are Many Library Educators are concerned that a list of concerned that a list of

competences will micro-manage competences will micro-manage the curricula of LIS schools and the curricula of LIS schools and discourage innovative programs.discourage innovative programs.

LIS Competences in the U.S.LIS Competences in the U.S.American Library Association American Library Association

““Core Competences of Librarianship”Core Competences of Librarianship”Approved January, 2009Approved January, 2009

Defines the basic knowledge by all who graduate from Defines the basic knowledge by all who graduate from an ALA accredited master’s program. Librarians an ALA accredited master’s program. Librarians working in school, academic, public, special, working in school, academic, public, special, governmental and other contexts may need more governmental and other contexts may need more specialized knowledge beyond that outlined in the specialized knowledge beyond that outlined in the Core CompetencesCore Competences. . http://www.ala.org/ala/educationcareers/careers/corecomp/corecompetences/finalcorecompstat09.pdfhttp://www.ala.org/ala/educationcareers/careers/corecomp/corecompetences/finalcorecompstat09.pdf

LIS Competences in the U.S.LIS Competences in the U.S.Eight Categories of Competences:Eight Categories of Competences:

1. Foundations of the Profession1. Foundations of the Profession2. Information Resources2. Information Resources3. Organization of Recorded Knowledge and Information3. Organization of Recorded Knowledge and Information4. Technological Knowledge and Skills4. Technological Knowledge and Skills5. Reference and User Services5. Reference and User Services6. Research6. Research7. Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning7. Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning8. Administration and Management8. Administration and Management

LIS Competences in the U.S.LIS Competences in the U.S.Note additional competences:Note additional competences:

Over fifteen competences lists by other Over fifteen competences lists by other organizations related to LIS.organizations related to LIS.

http://www.ala.org/ala/educationcareers/careers/corecomp/corecompspecial/knowledgecompetencies.cfm

LIS Competences in the E.U.LIS Competences in the E.U.EUCLIDEUCLID

European Curriculum Reflections on Library European Curriculum Reflections on Library and Information Science Education and Information Science Education

Royal School of Librarianship and Information Science Royal School of Librarianship and Information Science 20052005

LIS Competences in the E.U.LIS Competences in the E.U.Among Eight Long Term Objectives or the Among Eight Long Term Objectives or the

Reflections Reflections document, Two are especially document, Two are especially relevant to competences:relevant to competences:

• • To develop a common conceptual framework for To develop a common conceptual framework for defining core elements within the LIS curriculum as defining core elements within the LIS curriculum as a basis for enhancing mobility flows and accelerating a basis for enhancing mobility flows and accelerating the Bologna Process the Bologna Process

• • To work towards greater flexibility, transparency and To work towards greater flexibility, transparency and comparability of curricula comparability of curricula

LIS Competences in the E.U.LIS Competences in the E.U.Thirteen chapters, Twelve have potential competences.Thirteen chapters, Twelve have potential competences.1) LIS curriculum in a European Perspective1) LIS curriculum in a European Perspective2) Digitisation of the cultural heritage, 2) Digitisation of the cultural heritage, 3) Information literacy and learning, 3) Information literacy and learning, 4) Information seeking and information retrieval, 4) Information seeking and information retrieval, 5) The information society: Barriers to the free access to information.5) The information society: Barriers to the free access to information.6) Knowledge Management/Information Management.6) Knowledge Management/Information Management.7) Knowledge Organization, 7) Knowledge Organization, 8) The Library in the Multi-Cultural Information Society, 8) The Library in the Multi-Cultural Information Society, 9) ) Information and libraries in an historical perspective, , 9) ) Information and libraries in an historical perspective, , 10) Mediation of culture in a European context,10) Mediation of culture in a European context,11) Practice and theory11) Practice and theory12) Library management.12) Library management.

LIS Competences in the U.S.LIS Competences in the U.S.Related Issues:Related Issues:

Need for increased enrollments in LIS Need for increased enrollments in LIS programs.programs.

Alternative Careers for LIS GraduatesAlternative Careers for LIS Graduates

iSchool movement with focus on iSchool movement with focus on research and broader scope of research and broader scope of education. education.

LIS Competences in the U.S.LIS Competences in the U.S.

Other Issues: Other Issues:

Competences vs. AccreditationCompetences vs. Accreditation

Practitioners vs. LIS facultyPractitioners vs. LIS faculty

Students vs. LIS FacultyStudents vs. LIS Faculty

North America & EuropeNorth America & EuropeNorth America tradition of Professional North America tradition of Professional

Organizations such as ALA involved in Organizations such as ALA involved in quality control of LIS Professional quality control of LIS Professional education programseducation programs

Europe with Bologna Process may be Europe with Bologna Process may be more directed toward having the more directed toward having the educational programs or governments educational programs or governments responsible for quality control. responsible for quality control.

North America & EuropeNorth America & EuropeWithin the IFLA Section on Education Within the IFLA Section on Education

and Training, various options for and Training, various options for quality control have been discussed.quality control have been discussed.

Within North America, some LIS Within North America, some LIS accredited programs have considered accredited programs have considered leaving ALA accreditation program.leaving ALA accreditation program.

North America & EuropeNorth America & EuropeWith the focus of the iSchool group on With the focus of the iSchool group on

research and a broader base of research and a broader base of education than professional degrees, education than professional degrees, will the iSchools will stimulate more will the iSchools will stimulate more examination of the relevance of the examination of the relevance of the professional LIS degree?professional LIS degree?

North America & EuropeNorth America & EuropeIt is possible that the coming years It is possible that the coming years

under the Bologna Process will under the Bologna Process will determine the future of LIS education determine the future of LIS education in Europe. in Europe.

Economic factors will undoubtedly Economic factors will undoubtedly determine the direction of all LIS determine the direction of all LIS education as well as the iSchools.education as well as the iSchools.

North America & EuropeNorth America & EuropePerhaps the only thing we can be sure of Perhaps the only thing we can be sure of

that in both North America and in that in both North America and in Europe we will be living in interesting Europe we will be living in interesting and challenging times in the coming and challenging times in the coming decade.decade.

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Terry WeechTerry Weech e-mail: e-mail: weech@illinois.eduweech@illinois.edu

Thank Thank yyouou for your for your attention. attention.