French model of higher education in library and information: cognitive and organizational features

Abstract

The article looks into the history of the French library and information higher education system's origin and its current state of functioning. The study pays attention to its place in the world system of library and information training, and determines the features of cognitive and organizational components. It is noted the French model of higher education in information traditionally to train specialists for libraries, archives and documentation centers within one specialty. The specifics of the librarian-documentary specialist's degree training in French universities is considered, as well as the profiles of their master's programs are characterized. The article analyses the current vectors of library and information specialists' training in the most authoritative specialized institution of higher education in France — the National School of Library and Information Sciences (ENSSIB — École nationale supérieure des sciences de l'information et des bibliothèques). The latter offers double degree programs focused on conjuncture specializations in demand in the information market. The study determines the peculiarities of the master educational programs' cognitive component and characterizes the key competencies that students acquire during their mastering. For Ukraine, the emphasis is placed on promising innovations of the French model of library and information specialists training, which should be implemented within a single integrated 029 "Information, Library and Archival Studies specialty".