The paper describes a recent review of Library and Information Management courses offered by the School of Information Studies at Charles Sturt University, and the resulting program of curriculum renewal and expansion. This program aimed to address concerns over the long-term sustainability of the courses and respond to an increasingly converging…

The Editor of "ALJ" has invited me to comment on my 2001 article "Losing the quality battle in Australian education for librarianship" (Harvey 2001). The article was prompted by a period I spent as a visiting professor in the Department of Information Studies at UCLA (the University of California Los Angeles) and was written while I was there.…

Mentorship is often considered one of the best ways to develop leadership potential in new library and information professionals. Mentors act as teacher, role model, and cheerleader, but there are potentially serious aspects to mentorships that will negatively impact the protege. Such negatives include mentors sabotaging or taking credit for a…

The author asserts that something is wrong with university-based education for librarianship in Australia. Librarianship does not have a clear disciplinary identity in universities. The lack of differentiation between the roles of technicians and professionals clouds the issue. For these and other reasons, education for librarianship in Australia…

This paper looks at the challenges presented for the Australian Library and Information Association by its role as the professional association responsible for ensuring the quality of Australian library technician graduates. There is a particular focus on the issue of course recognition, where the Association's role is complicated by the need to…

As the importance of information literacy has gained increased recognition, so too have academic library professionals intensified their efforts to champion, activate, and advance these capabilities in others. To date, however, little attention has focused on advancing these essential competencies amongst practitioner advocates. This paper helps…

Through an analysis of the results of a survey of Australian employers of Library and Information Studies (LIS) graduates, this paper explores the current demand and future need for undergraduate LIS education in Australia. In the context of recent calls for adopting a purely postgraduate level of entry to the profession, the overwhelming majority…

This paper considers the possibility of practicums in graduate programs for information management students. The benefits of such practicums are identified and explored and possible drawbacks discussed.

The development of technical programs since 1970 and the guidelines for future consideration proposed at a national workshop in 1976 are described. The adequacy of present courses and the need for standardization are discussed, tasks are outlined for which the technician should be responsible. (JAB)

Discussion of problems in education and training of librarians considers the advantages and disadvantages of internal and external continuing education programs. (JAB)

The role of the library technician and the appropriate training requirements for this position are discussed. (RAO)

The problem considered is the apparent imbalance between the demand and supply of library employees. Data compiled from present known job openings and library training program enrollments are not conclusive in predicting future library manpower needs. (Author/JAB)

Discusses trends in library education and suggests a program directed toward the theoretical foundation of all the arts, crafts, occupations, or professions concerned with recorded communication, which would form an essential basis for post-graduate study for professional qualification and provide for the needs of the information society. (Author/…

This article acknowledges and celebrates the contribution of Margaret Trask to education for beginning professionals in library and information work. It identifies four concepts or themes which underpinned the award courses developed and taught under Margaret's leadership, and examines how these themes have evolved over thirty years. Margaret…

Charles Sturt University School of Information Studies undertook a graduate destination survey of students who had completed library and information management courses, both undergraduate and postgraduate, in 2003-2004. One hundred and twenty-three responses (from a total of 256 sent out--48 per cent) were received and from these it was found that…