Mission and Goals
Mission
The mission of the LIS Program is to educate individuals for careers as librarians and information specialists and to undertake instruction, research and service programs that meet current and emerging library, information and technology needs. The Program supports the Department’s and University's missions by developing leadership in a diverse local, national and international population with an emphasis on Hawaii and the Asia-Pacific region.
Program Goals
The Program's first goal is for students to acquire the knowledge, skills, and values that are fundamental to professional competence and career-long professional growth in the library and information services field. The Program seeks to implement its primary goal through the Master of Library & Information Science Program. Its specific objectives for student achievement are:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the history, philosophy, principles, policies and ethics of library and information
science and technology;
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the development, organization, and communication of knowledge;
3. Apply basic competencies and knowledge that are essential for providing, managing, and designing information services
and programs in a variety of information environments;
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the development and interrelationship of librarianship and information science;
5. Demonstrate theoretical understanding of and basic competencies in evaluating, selecting and organizing information
sources;
6. Demonstrate theoretical understanding of and basic competencies in storage, retrieval, dissemination, utilization
and evaluation of information;
7. Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of administration applicable in libraries, archives, and information
centers;
8. Demonstrate basic competencies required for instructional program development in particular information environments;
9. Demonstrate an understanding of research techniques and methods of applying new knowledge as it becomes available;
10. Demonstrate the professional attitudes and the interpersonal and interdisciplinary skills needed to communicate and
collaborate with colleagues and information users;
11. Demonstrate basic competencies in the latest specialized information technologies;
12. Demonstrate an understanding of the above goals within the perspective of prevailing and emerging technologies.
With the attainment of these objectives, students are expected to be ready to interpret and apply the understanding gained to performance and leadership in the field.
The Program's second goal is to expand the knowledge base of the profession through research. To attain this, the Program has established these objectives:
1. Faculty engage in and publish their research in a range of scholarly and professional publications.
2. Faculty disseminate their research through local, national, and international conferences and proceedings and
through other professional forums.
3. Faculty achieve recognition for the quality of their research through receipt of awards, scholarly acknowledgement,
and grants.
4. Faculty participate in collaborative, multidisciplinary research efforts with colleagues at the local, national,
and international levels.
5. Faculty incorporate their research findings in the courses they teach.
6. Students and faculty engage in research that responds to community information needs.
7. Students engage in research through courses and independent study.
8. Students present and receive recognition for their research.
The Program's third goal is to share its resources by extending services, within Hawaii and beyond. This service component embraces the following objectives:
1. Faculty collaborate with colleagues within the department and with other academic units in the UH system to incorporate
aspects of library and information science in cross-disciplinary projects and programs.
2. Faculty and students conduct continuing education sessions for the professional community and general public that
are related to the program's areas of expertise.
3. Faculty participate in service activities and assume leadership roles at the local, national, and international levels.
4. Faculty and students collaborate with community and state organizations and agencies in providing consultative, research,
and instructional support for projects and programs.
5. Faculty and students collaborate with the K-12 educational community to promote information literacy in a range of
projects and programs.
6. Students develop and demonstrate professionalism through participation and leadership in professional and service
organizations.
7. Students volunteer their services to community, professional, university and state organizations and agencies.
Revised April 11, 2008