New LIS Education Programs Map advances IFLA Strategy – Contributions Welcome! Join the May 3, 2023 Webinar!

Building Strong Library and Information Science Education (BSLISE), a working group of IFLA, has launched the Library and Information Science Education Programs Map and invites contributions. The BSLISE is an initiative of the IFLA Education and Training Section (SET), Library Theory and Research Section (LTR), and LIS Education in Developing Countries Special Interest Group (LISEDC SIG). It was established in 2016 to strengthen the international quality of library and information science education (LIS), and as a result, the excellence of LIS professional practice. This map project is a response to the findings and recommendation of the IFLA BSLISE White Paper (2018), specifically the recommendation to “Develop an international resource that identifies local structures”. This resource aligns with IFLA’s Key Initiative 2.1: Produce, communicate and distribute key resources and materials that inspire the profession.

The BSLISE working group is collaborating with the Brazilian Institute of Information Science and Technology (IBICT), in this global initiative. The initial data of LIS schools and programs was gathered from an international survey that requested data on contact information, degrees available, certifications offered as well as languages available within the program, and qualification for professional practice. The data is being mapped using IBICT’s GIS application, Visão, which is openly available to the global community from the Visão website or through the BSLISE website.

This project is the first international crowd-based map of LIS schools and programs and which  makes the data openly available. It supports students in making informed decisions on their education options locally, nationally and internationally, as well as assists in establishing relationships between LIS education institutions and their faculty in order to promote greater levels of collaboration and cooperation in education and research. Users can browse the map and search for programs and related information using a set of categories, including location and degree. The BSLISE working group is currently working on enhancing browsability as well as creating a directory.

The digital format of the map enables it to be continuously updated, with current data and new LIS schools. It has captured the data of many LIS institutions and continues to add to the number on a monthly basis. We encourage institutions to add and/or update their data through the online form. The IFLA LIS Education in Developing Countries Special Interest Group has identified as its 2022 key initiative to contribute to expanding the map, and strengthening underrepresented areas of the map.

Interested in learning more about or assisting with the map project? Join us for our free webinar.

Wednesday, May 3, 2023; 10-11 am ET (New York) [check your local time]

Register

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Fatih Oguz via email at f_oguz@uncg.edu. Read more about the Map Project at the BSLISE website. Learn about the IFLA Strategy 2019-2024.