Library and Information Science

Master’s course curriculum was revised and became effective in April 1972, in concert with that of undergraduate course. This was the first of the kind since its opening in 1967. New addition is the course called “Information Media” which discusses various media of scientific communication aiming at the dynamics of information flow. “Seminar in Information Science and Technology” covers research methodology in this subject area. Library and information science cannot advance independently of the actual conditions of library and information service in this country. Public libraries remained underdeveloped in comparison with those of other categories, but there is a sign of phenomenal growth in certain districts, for which we should be prepared. The balance of theoretical and experimental approaches in information science constitutes another problem. It is relatively difficult to have enough equipments and staff due to chronic financial difficulties prevailing among Japanese universities and colleges. Yet we have to shape, or at least to draft, library and information science on sound basis, viable in future society, while we are executing the new curriculum.