This is the second of two articles that reports aspects of a study that was undertaken to assess the information industry and job market needs that the curriculum of the proposed programme must target. The first article specified the research problem and objectives, reviewed some key definitions and methodologies that were used, and the findings,…

Since librarianship is making available and exploiting information for the benefit of people, librarians must know about information resources, about people, and about systems for linking resources and people. They need (1) basic abilities--literacy and numeracy; (2) organizational qualities, including vision, a questioning approach, perspective,…

For many years now the Holiday season has been associated with the gathering of information professionals in west London for the annual Online Information Meeting. The Meeting currently is organized by VNU Exhibitions Europe (formerly Imark Communication), though for old-timers it will forever be associated with Learned Information, the…

This paper reports a study of the developing skills profile of information professionals, exploring the similarities and differences between library and information-based work in the light of the merger of the UK Library Association and the Institute of Information Scientists in April 2002. It examines areas of convergence such as the growing…

This paper examines the postgraduate student body studying by distance learning within the Department of Information Studies at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. The demands of both students and employers have been the chief influences on the evolution of the specialist postgraduate programmes and also the later generalist and further…

This study investigated the status of the emerging market for information professionals in Botswana. The respondents were the Masters graduates from the University of Botswana Library and Information Studies (LIS) program from 1996 to 2003 who are currently employed, and four employing organizations--the University of Botswana (UBL), Botswana…

As networked digital information proliferates and modern society's need to have access to information irrespective of location rises, the education needed for the digerati, defined loosely as the digital intelligentsia, the whole class of "expert" digital information professionals, becomes an important area about which all information…

Teaching methodologies and uses of competitive intelligence and competitive technical intelligence in countries where the culture and the technological level are very different from the western world cannot be implemented without a cultural understanding of the tacit local knowledge and cultural behavior of people. As an example of…

The paper presents some of the current issues in library and information science education in general and in Greece in particular. It examines the forming of professional identity of information scientists in Greece today. These issues are considered in the context of the framework set by the European Union agreements for convergence and…

Based on the concept of the NORDIC academic cooperation model (NorFa), in 1998-2000 Danish and international information scientists initiated a co-operative effort to build an education and research network among LIS institutions in South Africa. The paper reports the successful completion of the project, with 20 MA and Ph.D. students selected…

Preparation for entry into the information professions has always been through a combination of academic study and practical training. Broadly speaking there is probably general agreement about the knowledge and understanding which the new entrant to the profession needs to acquire. There is less clarity regarding the skills which are required if…

Reports findings from research that compared personal qualities demanded by employers with actual attributes of information and library studies (ILS) students in the United Kingdom. Discusses personality and ILS students and concludes that there is a gap between educators', students', and employers' views on whether students have the qualities…

Discusses the dynamics of changing demands for information professionals in Europe. Topics include emerging information industries; information as an organizational resource in the public and private sectors; information and citizenship, including consumer information and access to information; and future demands for information skills, including…

Considers the preparation of future professionals who know and understand the nature of information and how it is used and managed in the larger context of political, economic, social, and technological issues. Discusses curriculum for information studies; its interdisciplinarity; faculty; theory versus practice; distributed learning; continuing…

Discusses the findings of a recently completed British Library project which sought to enable information professionals to develop and enhance their careers by identifying a framework of transferable skills. Highlights include professional isolation; the Library Association Framework for Continuing Professional Development; mentors and learning…