Abstract:

The paper investigates the name and its alteration of 77 members of iSchools Caucus and analyzes core curriculum of 20 representative iSchools. The content analysis method based on word frequency statistic is also used in this paper to conduct quantitative analysis of academic papers and research projects of these 20 iSchools which are published and posted on the website from 2011 to 2015. The study concludes that there are obvious tendency to “Delibrarization” among name, course setting and scientific research of iSchools, and we should be alert to it. The author believes that the “Delibrarization” does not conform to the purpose of iSchools Movement which aims at integration of subject education and research resources, and will cause iSchools to lose its interdisciplinary characteristics and advantages. The “Delibrarization” will inevitably lead the “library” to fade away in the information profession and information science, and finally dispels development opportunities of library and information science. In the meantime, it is not conducive to the iSchools for a wide range of information occupation.

Keywords: iSchools movement, Delibrarization, LIS education