[Prodev] What programs would you like to see in library schools

[Creighton Miller]

Hi all,

I agree with Bryan about the need for more classes on legal topics. 
In particular, I'd like to see library schools offer classes on topics 
like copyright, speech issues, licensing, etc. taght by lawyers or 
legally trained librarians. I got my MLIS from LSU in 1998 after 
getting a law degree, and I found that too much of the "legal" 
information presented in library school was simplistic and 
categorical, with little or no appreciation for the changing nature 
and indeterminacy of law. For instance, copyright guidelines were 
generally presented as "law", and the library profession's position 
on first amendment issues was often treated as set constitutional 
doctrine.  

I don't really think this was my professors' fault, it's just typical of a 
non-lawyer's understanding of law. Unfortunately, I think it left a lot of 
students without a nuanced understanding of the legal environment 
for their future career. Librarians' need that kind of nuanced 
understanding if they are going to keep up with and appreciate the 
implications of constant changes in areas like digital copyright law.  

Another thing I'd like to see, though it doesn't exactly relate to new 
classes, is a renewed focus on the practice of librarianship in 
library schools. By this I don't mean a focus on "practical" learning 
over "theoretical" information, but a focus on how the concepts 
students study in class actually relate to real world practice.  

I had a graduate assistantship at the LSU main library's reference 
department while I was in library school. I usually found that my 
greatest learning happened when we covered a concept or a 
source in class and I then immediately got to use it or see it in 
action at the reference desk. I think that this argues for some kind of 
requirement that students pursue an internship, assistantship, or 
other library job while in library school. This wouldn't necessarily 
have to be a long term or full time position--after all a lot of students 
are going to library school AND working already. It could be a one- 
or two- week requirement, but I really think something like this would 
be helpful.  

Just my thoughts, 

Creighton J. Miller, Jr.
-------------------------------------------------------
Assistant Law Librarian/Reference
Bounds Law Library
University of Alabama School of Law
Tuscaloosa, AL
(205)348-2373
cmiller@law.ua.edu
-------------------------------------------------------
http://www.library.law.ua.edu/
-------------------------------------------------------

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On 11 Mar 03, at 12:02, Bryan Carson wrote:

> I agree that management, budgeting, and personnel administrating are very
> important. {Stepping up onto soapbox} IMHO, the most important topic that
> library schools don't teach is legal issues. Librarians face many types of
> legal issues in their day-to-day lives, but these are not covered in the
> curriculum. You can't get an MBA without taking a class in business law, but I
> am not aware of any library schools that teach librarians how to deal with
> contracts, intellectual property issues, licensing agreements, etc. I believe
> that this is the most important class that needs to be taught but isn't.
> {Stepping down from soapbox}
> 
> --Bryan
> 
> "Fullerton, Barbara" wrote:
> 
> >
> >
> > There has been some great discussion about the library school programs. What
> > are your opinions about the topics taught in library schools? What topics do
> > you think would have benefited your  library education, but were not taught
> > in the traditional classes? IMHO, I would have liked to see more business
> > topics (for budgeting and managing) and negotiations.
> >
> > Barbara Fullerton
> 
> --
> Bryan M. Carson, J.D., M.I.L.S.
> Assistant Professor
> Coordinator of Reference & Instructional Services
> Associated Faculty--Library Media Education Program
> Western Kentucky University Libraries
> 1 Big Red Way
> Bowling Green, Kentucky  42101
> Phone: 270-745-5007
> Fax: 270-745-2275
> bryan.carson@wku.edu
> 
> All original content copyright 2003 Bryan M. Carson
> 
> 



Creighton J. Miller, Jr.
-------------------------------------------------------
Assistant Law Librarian/Reference
Bounds Law Library
University of Alabama School of Law
Tuscaloosa, AL
(205)348-2373
cmiller@law.ua.edu
-------------------------------------------------------
http://www.library.law.ua.edu/
-------------------------------------------------------

*******************************************************
This email is intended only for the person to whom 
it is addressed. Any review or other use of this 
information by persons or entities other than the 
intended recipient or any retransmission without 
the consent of the sender is prohibited. The views
or opinions expressed by the sender of this email 
are not necessarily those of the institution.
*******************************************************