Social Services, Law, and Crisis Management Curriculum Offered in Library and Information Studies

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the trends in American Library Association (ALA)-accredited Library and Information Studies (LIS) master's program course offerings that facilitated societal interactions and support, specifically social services, law, soft skills, and crisis management. Results indicated that most respondents, who were LIS faculty and members of the Association of Library and Information Science Education (ALISE), believed that LIS coursework in social services, law, soft skills, and crisis management were important. Respondents also indicated how they or their departments addressed social issues (e.g., readings), and what kinds of crises a librarian should be equipped to handle (e.g., facilities management). Additionally, it was found that 41.9% of the respondents believed that a Masters and a Juris Doctorate were required to be a law librarian. Moreover, survey data limitations and implications for current and future practice are discussed.