Library and information science education: Preparing librarians for a multicultural society

Abstract

For more than a decade, the demographic prognosticators have been saying that the racial, ethnic, and cultural makeup of the United States is on the verge of a major shift; and that not long after the turn of the new century, segments of the population that had previously been in the minority will collectively become the majority, with Hispanics being the largest minority group. The implications of such an unprecedented event have prompted private-and public-sector institutions to question whether they will be equipped to work with their "new" constituencies. Schools of library and information science (LIS) are not exempt from such self-examination and must make every effort to prepare all their graduates to work in larger multicultural environments. However, such preparation may mean altering several courses in a school's curriculum. These kinds of changes are likely to meet with greater success when all parties involved, both inside and outside the classroom, hold a committed and vested interest in the reorganization efforts. This article discusses issues of diversity in LIS education programs and how these efforts can be addressed positively to better serve students and their future users.