CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT FOR LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

Abstract

With the changing IT landscape and shifts in user needs, there is a massive need for a curriculum for education in library and information science that could stay updated and dynamic. This paper would try to propose a basic framework for curricula that would imbibe within its core competencies information management, digital literacy, and critical thinking, as well as house or embrace these emerging trends related to data science, artificial intelligence, and open access. The main emphasis areas are a mix of theoretical foundations and practical applications that may offer ample opportunities for hands-on learning through internships, community engagement, and collaborative projects in preparing graduates to serve diverse populations, advocate for information equity, and pay attention to the evolving roles of libraries in society. The development process of the curriculum involves stakeholders-the academic professional and the practitioner or expert, and the community members-ensuring that it will reflect and respond to the needs of the field. In so doing, by promoting a culture of lifelong learning and innovation, this curriculum should prepare future information professionals for the landscape of the future of library and information services. This approach, therefore, shall not only improve the education experience of LIS students but also add value to this evolving pattern wherein libraries shall be at the centre of knowledge, culture, and community endeavours