Curriculum development in LIS Education in USA, UK, Europe and India

Curriculum development in LIS Education in USA, UK, Europe and IndiaBy Shazia KhanDLIS, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh

A curriculum is a fundamental part of any education or training programmes largely because it provides not only a list of courses or modules offered in a programme, but it also gives information on content, purpose, method, time / duration, trainers and location or situation of a programme or course all of which are essential in a successful dispensation of manpower training and education.(Ocholla, 2003) In Edegbo, W.O.(2011). Curriculum development in Library & Information Science Education in Nigerian Universities: Issues and Challenges. Retrieved July, 22, from http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/~mbolin/edegbo.pdf

According to Singh (n.d.) librarianship today has arrived at the information age where the role of information is increasingly emphasized as an economic resource, a marketable commodity and as a social wealth. In this content, the roles of librarians are of much importance. He / she will have to act as a facilitator, advisor, consultant, instructor, navigator, searcher, researcher, evaluator, organiser, preserver, promoter, communicator, technical expert, as well as a manager, leader, entrepreneur and visionary. And for the success library and information centers as effective communication system, the development of manpower to do such work is vital. One of the important aspects of manpower development in this connection is improved education system for library and information science.In Edegbo, W.O.(2011). Curriculum development in Library & Information Science Education in Nigerian Universities: Issues and Challenges. Retrieved July, 22, from http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/~mbolin/edegbo.pdfThe education and training of LIS professionals has to be such that it empowers them to unleash their potential as they endeavour to offer relevant and efficient services within the current levels of technological sophistication (Minishi Majanja,2007)In Edegbo, W.O.(2011). Curriculum development in Library & Information Science Education in Nigerian Universities: Issues and Challenges. Retrieved July, 22, from http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/~mbolin/edegbo.pdf

Since Dewey founded the first library school Dewey in 1887, the nature and content of LIS education has received considerable criticism in scholarly literature, particularly core course requirements and corresponding emerging trends. Furthermore, with the advent of the world wide web, the content and the nature of the curricula as well as the mode of course delivery have been challenged.Retrieved July 8, 2015, from https://www.asis.org/asist2012/proceedings/Submissions/55.pdf) With the advancement of technology the LIS education has developed more in developed countries like USA, UK and Europe

The courses offered in USA Universities and colleges in LIS Undergraduate/Postgraduate degree/Certificate programme mainly named as:Library and information studiesCommunication and Information StudiesInformation Science

Library Science studies changed to Information studies (technical jargon has changed with times to introduce courses in library Science)More emphasize on teaching and offering expertise to ICT applications in Libraries along with artifacts and cultures in librarianship (one of the paper to teach basics and historical background of library science) e.g.University of Illinois offers:200 And 300 level courses as Social aspects of Information Technology and The Design of Usable Information Interfaces, Special topics in Information Studies respectively.

400 level courses as Systems Analysis and Management Info Storage and Retrieval using computers Introduction to databases. 500 level course as : Reference and Info Services Administration & Management of Libraries and Information Centers] etcSimilarly University of Michigan offers courses in LIS as:Bachelor of Science in Information StudiesMaster of Science in Information StudiesMasters of Health Informatics100 level courses Introduction to Information Studies200 level courses Web development300 level course Graphic design, special topics in information, Data Manipulation etc400 level course Online Communities: Analysis and Design of Online Interaction (to develop online interaction with others)

Likewise The Catholic University of America offersUG course in Library & Information SciencePG course in Library & Information Science500 level course as Digital Content Creation and Management, Actionable Intelligence, organization of information etc600 level course as Digital Curation, some basic papers such as 603 level course Technical Services 606 Cataloguing and Classifications 616 Indexing, AbstractingThe University also offering various other aspects in its integrated MLIS programme such as 641 collection Development 644 Information literacy and Instructional Design 646 Archives Management, etc. 670 History of Books

700 level course is media integration in the curriculum and its various aspects800 level course various types and other aspects of libraries such as legal literature, rare book, music librarianship, health informatics, etc

Educational accreditationis a type ofquality assuranceprocess under which services and operations of educational institutions or programs are evaluated by an external body to determine if applicable standards are met. If standards are met, accredited status is granted by the appropriate agency.(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Educational_accreditation)

The American Library Association (ALA) accredits masters programs in library and informationstudiesacross the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Accreditation is achieved through a review process conducted by an external review panel of practitioners and academics that verifies thatthe program meets theStandards for Accreditation of Masters Programs in Library and Information Studies.(http://www.ala.org/accreditedprograms/)

CILIPaccreditsdegree programmes inlibrary and information scienceatuniversities in the UK, includingAberystwyth University,City University, London,Loughborough University, theManchester Metropolitan University, theRobert Gordon University, theUniversity of SheffieldandUniversity College London. (http://www.cilip.org.uk/)It is to be noted that As of April 2012 there are 63American Library Association-accreditedLibrary science programs in Canada and the United Statesand as of July 2014, 16 UK institutions offeringCILIP-accredited programmes(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Library_Science_schools)One can search the directory of ALA Accredited program on http://www.ala.org/accreditedprograms/directory

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CILIP has a reciprocal agreement with the American Library Association (ALA) and the Australian Library and Information Association which means academic qualifications accredited by those bodies are accepted in the UK. Masters degrees accredited by CILIP will be recognised in the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

As UK is the land of Museums and Archives, hence here more focus to Archives Management, preservation and conservation of Archives specially digital preservation and Digital Curation along with information studies and basics of Librarianship. Besides regular degree programs some institutes also run distance learning online mode programsUniversity of Glasgow offers doctoral and masters program in the following areas: Archive, Records and Information ManagementInformation SciencesDigital CurationDigital HeritageTechnology and Phenomenological Research

UG course in Digital Media and Information studiesMA in Digital Media and Information StudiesMSc/PgDip Information Management and PreservationMSc/PgDip Museum StudiesMSc/PgDip Information Technology(provided by Computing Science)MLitt/PgDip Collecting and Collections (provided by History of Art)On the contrary University of Sheffield (http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/is) offers courses as below at MA and MSc level

Likewise University of Glasgow, City University London (www.city.ac.uk) offers courses asMSc Information ScienceCourse structureLibrary & information science foundation, Digital information technologies & architecture, Information resources organization, Web applications development, etcMSc/MA Library ScienceCourse structure: 8 modulesLibrary & information science foundation, Digital libraries, Libraries and publishing in the information society, etc. Along with Some elective course such as Information law and policy*Some Universities offer Information law, Intellectual Property Rights, Digital Rights Courses as elective optionsPhD/MPhil Library and Information Science

Kings College London offers following courses http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/ddh/study/pgt/madamm/index.aspxMA digital CurationMA in Digital Asset and Media ManagementTotal modules are to teach digital media management:

Like USA, In European continent the more emphasis is on the ICT Applications in LIS.Specially the focus is to teach customer oriented services with the help of ICTAs in Berlin School of Library and Information Science (http://www.ibi.hu-berlin.de/de/studium)Bachelor combination degreein Library and Information Science in core subject, minor subject and minor subject -certified-recognized ALAMono BachelorInformation Management & Information TechnologyMaster's Programin Library and Information Science -accredited-recognized ALAJoint Study Profiles "Information Science and Cultural Communication"together with the Royal School of Library and Information Science (RSLIS), Copenhagen (Master's program)Joint Study Profile "Digital Curation"in cooperation with King's College, London (Master's program)Continuing Education Master's degree program in distance learning-certified -recognized ALA

Modules studied like E-Publishing, ICT publications in Libraries, Digital Curation, etc

Cologne University of Applied SciencesGermany (https://www.fh-koeln.de/en/homepage_26.php)OffersMasters Degree in Library and Information ScienceBachelors Degree in Library b& Information ScienceCourse contentCustomer-oriented development and mediation of information resourcesLong-term storage and provision of media and informationApplication-oriented information retrievalDevelopment, design and evaluation of user-oriented information servicesManagement of smaller information facilities or individual function areas within larger facilitiesAppropriate use of information technologies in librariesHandling all media forms, from print media to digital online publications

India is also having strong curriculum of LIS studiesAlso more emphasis to Information Technology in LibrariesWith the efforts of UGC, excellent change has been taken place in imparting LIS education in IndiaPrograms offered MainlyBachelor Degree in Library and Information Science Master Degree in Library and Information ScienceMphil/PhD. In Library and Information ScienceUGC recently in 2014 has changed the nomenclature of Degree programs as B.L & I.Sc.M.L & I.Sc.

University of Delhi (www.du.ac.in) Offering B.L.I.Sc. in LISM.L.I.Sc. in LISMphil/PhD. ProgramMain Focus is to impart knowledge of ICT applications in Libraries along with basics of Librarianship and library services.

Aligarh Muslim University (www.amu.ac.in) providesB.L& I. Sc. (one year program 2 SEM)M.L & I. Sc.(one year 2 SEM)MA Lib. Sc. (Subsidiary level)Course content: There is a semester system now approved by UGC all over India at graduate and postgraduate levelBasics of Librarianship such as fundamentals of Library & Info. Science, Library Classification, Cataloguing, Management etc are taught in I-SEM of Bachelor degree programIntroduction to ICT is being taught at SEM-IIMaters program is somewhat advance and hands on training on certain Library automation software packages such as LIBSYS, SOUL, Alice for Windows and GSDL digital Library software is given.Online Searching and various databases are also taught.MLS program is quite advance.

Banaras Hindu University (http://www.bhu.ac.in/arts/lis/)Courses offered in BHU areMLIS (2 years program)MA in Manuscriptology and Paleography (2 years): The course aims to provide education & training of handling Manuscripts its storage, preservation, conservation, study & use.PhD.The curriculum has been thoroughly revised and all the modern tools and techniques are adopted in the curriculum of the Department. A balance between traditional and modern librarianship can be seen through the newly designed curricula of Department.

The Curriculum development in USA and Europe is more advanced . Here more emphases to teach use of ICT in Library resources and servicesThe curricula in UK is more focused to Archive Management and Digital Curation.ALA and CILIP has standardised the LIS courses in USA and UK respectively.It is obvious that there are serious concerns for the curricula of library and information science education to meet the present digital society with respect to library and information serviceIn this vein, the library and information science curricula in India has been revisited and reviewed by the various bodies concern. It has been found that the curricula of Indian University Library and information science schools are reasonably adequate in the provision of ICT courses. However, the contents of library and information science curricula are generally lacking in the application of ICT

Also the curricula is good but there are a number of limitations as observed to the implementation to make the curriculum meaningful and produce the needed results.The content of each course should include the application of ICT to its services. This must be given both theoretical and practical emphasis.ICT application is a key factor to relevance in the scheme of things in the 21st century. For India to fit properly in the digital age the library and information science institutes whose code is to produce the right caliber of professionals must revisited.Our curricula must be renovated drastically if we want to retain our identity in a rapidly developing information society. Along with the development of LIS curricula the faculty should also be developed.

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