Challenges in LIS Education in China and the United States

摘要

For decades, library and information science (LIS) education has been producing LIS professionals to serve people in all walks of life. But there are challenges to LIS education as society advances. This study performed quantitative and qualitative content analyses of datacollected about LIS education in China and the United States. Four categories of challengesin LIS education are identified: (1) identity and accreditation, (2) survival and thriving, (3) curriculum update and enhancement, and (4) course delivery format and content. The challenges that each country encounters in LIS, as expected, are not the same, althoughsome appear similar. All the challenges are discussed and contrasted in the context ofeach country’s traditions and practices in LIS education. Some suggestions are also made regarding how to successfully meet the challenges this study has explored. The findings ofthis study can help all constituencies (i.e., educators, practitioners, and students) to betterunderstand the challenges of LIS education in China and the United States so that feasiblemeasures can be developed to meet them. In addition, each country can benefit from thisstudy by learning from what its counterpart has done in LIS education with regard to barriers and challenges.