The Sky is Not Falling! Opportunities Abound as Library Schools Become Information Schools
Mike Eisenberg
Professor and Dean Emeritus
The Information School of the University of Washington
Thursday,September 20, 2007
8:30-9:00 a.m.
Coffee & Pastries
9:00-10:30 a.m.
Presentation and Q&A
OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc.
Kilgour Building—Auditorium
6565 Kilgour Place (formerly Frantz Road)
Dublin, OH 43017-3395
This presentation is free and open to the public.
Speaker abstract
“There’s a crisis in library education. Library schools are
closing. There won’t be enough librarians to fill the ranks of those retiring.
Library schools aren’t teaching the fundamentals (such as cataloging and
children’s services). The very core of librarianship is in danger.”
These would be serious concerns if they were true; but they’re not.
Library and information science programs are thriving as never before. Schools
are expanding, with growing on-campus and distance library and information
science programs and new degrees in information-related areas. The new information
schools embrace, celebrate, and promote librarianship even as they move into
new information areas. And, there are more students graduating with ALA-accredited
degrees than ever before.
Mike Eisenberg, long-time library and information science educator and dean emeritus
of the Information School of the University of Washington, will set the record
straight regarding library education and the information school movement
Background information
Mike Eisenberg is the “founding dean” of the Information School
at the University of Washington. During his tenure from 1998 to 2006, Mike
transformed the unit from a single graduate degree into a broad-based information
school with a wide range of research and academic programs, including an undergraduate
degree in informatics, masters degrees in information management and library
and information science (adding a distance learning program and doubling enrollment),
and a doctorate degree in information science.
Mike is a frequent speaker, presenter, consultant, and recipient of several prestigious
awards. His current efforts focus on information literacy, the expanding role
of libraries, and information science education K-20.
Additional Information
Mike Eisenberg
http://projects.ischool.washington.edu/mbe/
Distinguished Seminar Series lectures are available online as PowerPoint and MP3 files shortly after the lecture at http://www.oclc.org/research/dss/. Additional information about the Distinguished Seminar Series can also be found there.
A printable version of this announcement is available at: http://www.oclc.org/research/dss/pdf/eisenberg.pdf (.pdf:
67KB/1 p.)
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