Judith A. Jablonski

School Of Library And Information Studies
University Of Wisconsin - Madison

“Just Who Do We Think We Are?
How LIS Faculty And LIS Practitioners conceptualize
The Field Of Library And Information Science"

Friday, February 18, 2005
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Room 501, IS Building

Abstract: The LIS literature suggests that LIS is experiencing what might be described as a problem with its identity or, as Ian Cornelius (1996) states, with theoretical disputes of what the field is. Primarily in response to developments in computer and communication technologies, the field has experienced a division into specializations that has affected any kind of agreement about a unified profession. Judith A. Jablonski reports on her study of the field conceptualization of Library and Information Studies (LIS) by LIS Faculty and LIS Practitioners in the United States. The study should be valuable to LIS school administrators, faculty, and practitioners with regard to institutional and disciplinary jurisdiction, curriculum decisions, LIS school names/identities, and policy making.