The Purpose of this study is to improve the undergraduate curriculum of library and information science for the children's librarianship in public library.
This paper consists of the literature research, present status research, questionnaire survey, ...
The Purpose of this study is to improve the undergraduate curriculum of library and information science for the children's librarianship in public library.
This paper consists of the literature research, present status research, questionnaire survey, and case studies. The literature research included the definition, features and necessity of the children's service and children's librarianship. Types and needs factors of the Library and information science curriculum for the children's librarianship were also investigated. Undergraduate curriculum of Library and information science in Korea were the subjects of present status research. And questionnaire survey was grasped present needs of children's librarian and analysis of questionnaire survey gave a broader understanding of the education experience of children's librarian and needs of the curriculum of the library and information to survey is the methods of the children's librarian needs and recognition measurement. Curriculum of Library and information science in the United States and Canada were the subjects of case studies which focus on analyzing of curriculum of the library and information science related to the children's librarianship.
The followings are the finding from the present status research about proving subjects in curriculum of library and information science department in the Korea.
First, related to the reader's advisory subjects were provided for junior or senior and an elective courses. This subjects were consisted of theory and general ideas related to reader's advisory. And 23(71.8%) in undergraduate school, 7(31.6%) in graduate school were provided this subjects.
Second, related to the children's literature and material subjects also provided for junior or senior and elective courses. This subjects were consisted of general things about children's service. Only 10 undergraduate school were provided this subjects.
The questionnaire survey was conducted during April and May in 2006 to children's librarians in 60 public libraries and children's libraries. The followings are the findings from the survey about experience of children's librarians and providing curriculum of library and information science for training children's librarians.
First, Most of the children's librarian recognized their specialization of children's librarian. And specialization of children's librarians were needed not only working experience in the children's service area, but also curriculum of the library and information science.
Second, Many children's librarians were not experienced to the curriculum subjects about children's service and librarianship. Because of those subjects were not provided. Also most of the having a experienced librarians evaluated the subject which provided independent are the most effective methods.
Third, three subjects which are introduction to children's service, children's literature and material, and reader's advisory service were provided for the first to be a children's librarian. Specially, needs of the introduction to children's service were very high. Also children's service practice was included to curriculum of library and information science.
Based on the literature review, present status research, questionnaire survey and case studies the ways to improve and develop the curriculum of library and information science are suggested. And finally, curriculum model for to being children's librarian was suggested.
The curriculum should not only include theoretical and practice approaches to all functions of children's librarian, but also keep up with newly developing topics and fields. Developing of curriculum of library and information science for being children's librarian should take on the following characteristics.
First, development of subjects are needed, for this, introduction about children's service was provided at the first. And increasing the institutions which give a major a children's literature and material.
Second, the maintenance of name and contents of subjects related to children's librarianship is necessary. The name of the subjects is important, in order to having the relationship which is close with the scope and a contents of the subject which it provides from actual study.
Finally, the curriculum model of undergraduate curriculum of library and information science for children's librarianship was suggested to based on education aim, type, time and contents of three main subjects which are introduction of children's service, children's material, and reading advisory.