A comparative case study of graduate courses in library and information studies in the UK, USA, India and Iran: lessons for Iranian LIS professionals

Abstract

The Iranian Library and Information Science curriculum has not kept pace with even the domestic market demand. A study in comparative librarianship education was carried out for curricula revamping. The most significant features of library and information science graduate programmes were: diversity of courses offered; university independence; diversity of degrees offered; ease and flexibility of the higher education system; updated course programmes; emphasis on research; course and curricula development. There seems to be a direct correlation between the efficiency of the courses offered with the state of information industry in the countries studied. There is a widening chasm between LIS education in developing countries and those in developed countries. Without any significant restructuring, the LIS programme in Iran will provide little in the way of riding out the rapid transition that the field is currently experiencing.