The author began working by asking a question: how well are library schools preparing students for future participation in the library profession? She thought that one year is not long enough for students to gain what they need to become a library and information science professional. She suggested library schools to undertake a major restructuring of their programs and recommended a two-year M.L.S. program.

It is generally acknowledged that university graduates in library and information science are generally expected to hold management positions at some point in their career. It is also understood that a key role managers play is that of leader and in particular, visionary. But current LIS programs in the Asia Pacific region tend to place little emphasis on leadership education. And the field in general suffers a handicap in this regard, due both to the negative stereotypes, real and perceived, that surround the profession. Librarians are perceived to be timid, bookish and retiring. Recently of course, librarianship has evolved to encompass a wide range of potential occupational roles under the all-encompassing label information professional. Nevertheless, information professionals still find themselves obscured by other more ap-parently alluring domains (computer science, life science, business administration). In this paper, we argue that a powerful means to inspire a visionary approach in LIS students, which will create capabilities for successful leadership and expose students to a more empowering view of the profession, is to consciously develop role models from the past and use them as teaching exemplars. We set ourselves the task of arguing the potential and value of infusing biographies of these figures into the curriculum. However, before moving to those tasks, we present some evidence to support our views as to the validity of our approach.

The importance of Information and Communication Technologies in distance learning has been acknowledged as an essential component of strengthening LIS education in the remote areas of the north eastern states of India. (Rath). The same could be said of the use of ICT for LIS education in remote areas of Australia, South Asia and in America. A global infrastructure of physical, human and financial resources will continue to attract students to the LIS profession and add dimension to the concept of information literacy for all as a universal concern. Beyond ICT and distance platforms, LIS education can also be strengthened by faculty knowledge of cultural differences experienced by their students and the impact of the digital divide. With knowledge comes sensitivity. This reflective essay was based on a literature review of barriers in LIS international education. In 1999, Robert Stueart wrote of the challenge to information access in Asia: “One of the most important activities is information society is to maintain a cadre of qualified information professionals”. How can India maintain a cadre of qualified information professionals? Library education in India dates back to 1911. Dr Ranganathan was the major force in the introduction of librarianship courses at the University of Madras, Bombay, Banaras, and Delhi. This essay concludes that information professionals themselves are the channel of globalization of LIS education because they see the need for standards in computerisation initiatives and are sensitive to the benefit of promoting communities of practice within and without their own country of origin. Students everywhere may have overcome great difficulties and personal sacrifice to pursue their education. Universities need to develop students who possess not only discipline knowledge but a high level of personal and interpersonal skills The subject of information ethics can be part of the library and information science curriculum in developed and developing countries worldwide. This subject forms a common boundary which is open to student interpretation.

This paper provides a brief overview of the present status and problems of Library and Information Science (LIS) education in Indian universities with an emphasis on the need for its internal quality assurance and accreditation by an external agency. The University Grants Commissionâ s (UGC) efforts for the improvement of quality of LIS education have also been highlighted. A set of objective indicators has been developed on the basis of an understanding of the global developments in the activities and services of libraries and information centers, the national environment, the outcome of National As-sessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and the observations and recommendations arising from different national level seminars and workshops to facilitate the assessment and accreditation of LIS education.

As a part of LIPER research, a questionnaire survey was administered to Library & Information Science instructors in Japanese universities. In quantitative terms, this research revealed the characteristics and teaching goals of LIS instructors, the similarities of librarian certification courses, and the overlap with instructors of those courses. Also, an analysis of freeform question responses about LIS education revealed the instructorsâ varied thoughts on LIS education and also revealed awareness of problems related to profession and curriculum issues and education goals.

A considerable amount of research has been done into studentsâ first year experiences at university: their transition from school to university studies and their social needs and experiences. The work described in the literature has concentrated on students who attend school on campus. If on-campus students are experiencing problems with feeling isolated, a lack of identity and feeling part of a community, then how do distance students deal with these same issues? A research project conducted at Edith Cowan University in 2004-2005 sought to discover the issues affecting first year students and the problems they experienced when beginning studies in online professional education programs for librarians, library technicians, teacher librarians, archivists and records managers. Many of these students in the School of Computer and Information Science (SCIS) study by distance education and are wholly dependent on elearning. There are others who attend on campus but undertake a significant proportion of their studies through elearning. Communication and IT skills and preparedness must be added to the list of major first year experience issues for this group. Two separate studies were initiated to find out how the online environment differs from the on-campus experience, how students feel about studying online and what needs to be included to facilitate a more supportive experience at university. The results of these two studies - First experiences of online university study and Using discussion forums to create an online learning community - are reported here.

This is the original Japanese language instrument (an english language translation is also available in dLIST: http://dlist.sir.arizona.edu/1308/) used in the study reported in Tsuji, Keita and Yoshida, Yuko and Miwa, Makiko and Takeuchi, Hiroya and Muranushi, Tomohide and Shibata, Masami (2006) Survey on Faculty of Library and Information Science Education in Japan. In Proceedings The Asia-Pacific Conference on Library & Information Education & Practice 2006 (A-LIEP), pages pp. 269-278, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (URL: http://dlist.sir.arizona.edu/1271/). It is a questionnaire to survey the current status of the library and information education in Japan. The print form of this were sent to 835 full and part time instructors who led Shisho certification courses in universities and colleges in 2004. 397 responses were received. The results are as follows: (1) Many of them are male and only a half have Master's degree, (2) Relatively large number of instructors are aged and have not worked as instructors for many years, (3) About 40% had work experience as university librarian and one fourth had no library work experience, (4) Instructors with work experience emphasize practical side such as bibliography and English language in their classes while those with no experience emphasize library's objectives such as preservation of materials, (5) Instructors have strong dissatisfaction toward universities which tries to increase the number of students rather than improve the quality of education, insufficient faculty, and student abilities and motivation.

This paper reviews a paradigm shift in library science education in the 1950s and advocates another change in the future. This potential change is a response to the advances of information technologies and will be reflected in the curricula of LIS programs. According to the author, such paradigm shifts should happen at different levels, i.e., at the levels of undergraduate degrees, the Masterâ s degree, the PhD, and continuing professional education.

The paper discusses competencies for new age information professionals. Emphasis has been on the changes within LIS market during the last 2-3 decades, with a particular emphasis on the new roles LIS professionals have to assume in information and knowledge management positions in the corporate world. Management and functional competencies have also been explored, that would make LIS professionals relevant in the emerging market.

This is an English language translation of Japanese instrument which can be found in http://dlist.sir.arizona.edu/1276/. The original Japanese instrument was used in the study reported in (Tsuji, Keita and Yoshida, Yuko and Miwa, Makiko and Takeuchi, Hiroya and Muranushi, Tomohide and Shibata, Masami (2006) Survey on Faculty of Library and Information Science Education in Japan. In Proceedings The Asia-Pacific Conference on Library & Information Education & Practice 2006 (A-LIEP), pages pp. 269-278, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (URL: http://dlist.sir.arizona.edu/1271/)). It is a questionnaire to survey the current status of the library and information education in Japan. The print form of this were sent to 835 full and part time instructors who led Shisho certification courses in universities and colleges in 2004. 397 responses were received. The results are as follows: (1) Many of them are male and only a half have Master's degree, (2) Relatively large number of instructors are aged and have not worked as instructors for many years, (3) About 40% had work experience as university librarian and one fourth had no library work experience, (4) Instructors with work experience emphasize practical side such as bibliography and English language in their classes while those with no experience emphasize library's objectives such as preservation of materials, (5) Instructors have strong dissatisfaction toward universities which tries to increase the number of students rather than improve the quality of education, insufficient faculty, and student abilities and motivation.