Library and Information Science

The goals of library and information science education are to improve the quality of information services and the quality of library and information science education. Another obvious goal is the assurance of an adequate supply of professionals, a central purpose of professional education.

Because schools of library and information science are preparing those who will practice a profession, their curricula have to encompass elements of both education and training, which is often expressed 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 historical background and the current trends of library and information science education in the United States of America, Japan and Korea will be studied from various angles.

In addition, curriculum of the various types 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 and information science education system will be pointed out, and its future tasks and prospect will be examined.