Building Strong Library and Information Science Education: IFLA Working Group White Paper (Expert Review)

Abstract

The Building Strong Library and Information Science Education (BSLISE) Working Group of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) was formed in 2016 to develop an international quality assurance (QA) framework that will guide and promote international educational standards in LIS. The first phase of its efforts has been to conduct an international survey (by means of questionnaires) of qualifications for LIS professional practice inclusive of regional and national contexts. Key findings of the study along with recommendations appear in the Building Strong Library and Information Science Education: a Call to Global and Local Action White Paper published in August 2018. This review briefly outlines the White Paper’s content and comments on its main points. Based on the analysis, the BSLISE Working Group identified six key findings with recommended actions and change agents, and prioritized three actions for its next steps: to develop an international resource that identifies local structures; to develop an international framework for the assessment of quality standards in LIS education; to identify core and other competencies for transferability and reciprocity. The article concludes that there has been a longstanding need for comprehensive documentation of LIS education globally.