Introduction to Library and Information Science

Library and Information Science (LIS) is the academic and professional study of how information and information carriers are produced, disseminated, discovered, evaluated, selected, acquired, used, organized, maintained, and managed. This book intends to introduce the reader to fundamental concerns and emerging conversations in the field of library and information science.

"Library shelves with the word 'Fakta' written on them"
A library full of facts

A secondary goal of this book is to introduce readers to prominent writers, articles, and books within the field of library science. The book originated as a collection of annotations of important LIS articles. Though these citations are being developed into a fuller text, we hope that this book remains firmly rooted in the literature of LIS and related fields, and helps direct readers toward important resources when a particular topic strikes their fancy.

This book is primarily intended to support introductory courses in graduate-level LIS programs, but it can also be used in Library Technician programs. When complete, this text will be aligned with the Foundations of library services competency set from the ALA-APA Library Support Staff Certification. Laypeople interested in the practical and theoretical considerations that information workers face will also enjoy this book.

If you want to get involved, or notice something in this book that you would like to add, you are encouraged to edit boldly. If you need ideas of how to start, check out our To Do List.

"A large concrete library building in an urban area"
Beit Ariela public libary, Tel Aviv, Israel

Chapters

  1. Contextualizing Libraries: Their History and Place in the Wider Information Infrastructure
  2. Ethics and Values in the Information Professions
  3. Information Policy
  4. Information Organization
  5. Information Seeking
  6. Re-contextualizing Libraries: Considering Libraries within Their Communities
  7. Technology and Libraries: Impacts and Implications
  8. Library Cooperation
  9. Transcending Boundaries: Global Issues and Trends
  10. Learning More: Free LIS Resources

About this book