Library schools and information technology: A European overview

摘要

This paper summarizes the findings of a recent study, funded by the Commission of the European Communities, of the ways in which the training institutions for initial professional library training in the countries of the European Community (EC) have incorporated information technology into their curricula. Four stages of development are identified: 1. initial experiments; 2. introductory IT units added to the course; 3. permeation of IT into the whole course; and 4. new IT-oriented courses being developed. The countries of the EC vary greatly in stage of development, with the southern nations generally less advanced and the northern nations more. The U.K. is most advanced (stage 3, tending towards 4), whereas Italy is the least advanced, still in stage 1. It is suggested that library schools should cooperate more, both within and between countries, and that student and faculty exchanges should be used to facilitate technology transfer to the less advanced nations within the Community. The idea of a new European Library School to serve the entire EC is not supported.