Education for librarianship
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Education for librarianship is the term for the educational preparation for professional librarians. This varies widely in different countries. In the United States and Canada, it generally consists of a one- or two-year Masters degree program in library science, called variously This program is taken following an undergraduate degree, although there are programs leading directly to a bachelor's degree.
[edit] Early history
Until the 19th century, the librarian in charge of a scholarly library was normally a scholar, often a university professor with a special interest in the library. There was no training program, and the new librarian was expected to follow the practices of other similar libraries. (Popular libraries in the modern sense had not yet developed.) In the 19th century, although some librarians followed this older pattern, others prepared as apprentices under the direction of established librarians. For further discussion, see: History of library and information science
[edit] Historical development in the United States and Canada
[edit] Present status in the United States and Canada
In the United States and Canada, a librarian normally has a one or two-year master's degree in library and information science, library science or information science (called an MLS, MSLS, MIS, MS-LIS, MISt, MLIS, or MILS) from an accredited university. These degrees are accredited by the American Library Association(ALA) and can have specializations within fields such as archiving, records management, information architecture, public librarianship, medical librarianship, law librarianship, special librarianship, academic librarianship, or school (K-12) librarianship. School librarians often are required to have a teaching credential, as well as a library science degree. Master's degree programs for school library media specialist initial preparation are also accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), which ALA recognizes. Many, if not most, academic librarians also have a second, subject-based master's degree.
[edit] Remote education
[edit] Preparation of teachers of library science
The normal preparation for a faculty member in a department of library science (or other name) is a Ph.D. in Library science or Information science. In some fields of librarianship, a Ph.D. in another related subject, such as archival studies, is the equivalent, and some faculty have doctorates in various subject fields, as well as a MLS (or similar) degree.
[edit] Historical development in the United Kingdom
[edit] Present status in the United Kingdom
In the U.K. and some other countries, a librarian can have a three- or four-year bachelor's degree in library and information studies or information science; separate master's degrees in librarianship, archive management, and records management are also available. In the United Kingdom, these degrees are accredited by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals and the Society of Archivists
[edit] Historical Development and present status in other European countries
In Germany and some other countries, the first step for an academic librarian is a Ph.D. in a subject field, followed by additional training in librarianship.
[edit] Current international developments
[edit] See also
Journal of Education for Library and Information Science the sole U.S. journal devoted to this topic.
