LIBRARY AND INFORMATION-SCIENCE EDUCATION - TRENDS AND ISSUES

The goals of library and information science education are to improve the quality of information services and the quality of library and inf ormation science education. Another obvious goal is the assurance of a n adequate supply of professionals, a central purpose of professional education Because schools of library and information science are prepa ring those who will practice a profession, their curricula have to enc ompass elements of both education and training, which is often express ed as a contrast between theory and practice. Each is affected by the confluence of the social, economic and technological realities of the environment where the learning takes places. In this paper, the histor ical background and the current trends of library and information scie nce education in the United States of America, Japan and Korea will be studied from various angles. In addition, curriculum of the various t ypes provided in these countries, as well as teaching staff in charge of the education will be analyzed and the factors influencing library and information science education as well as library development will be identified. Finally, some of the present issues that face library a nd information science education system will be pointed out, and its f uture tasks and prospect will be examined.