The attitude of LIS chairs toward the iSchools movement in China: a contemporary grounded theory analysis

Authors:
Chuanfu Chen;Ping Wang;Yaqi Liu;Dan Wu;Gang Wu;Haoqin Ma
Affiliations:
Wuhan University, China;Wuhan University, China;Wuhan University, China;Wuhan University, China;Wuhan University, China;Wuhan University, China
Venue:
Proceedings of the 2011 iConference
Year:
2011

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Abstract

The goal of this paper is to study the attitude of the deans and the department chairs of Library and Information Science (LIS) programs in Chinese universities toward the iSchools movement. We collected data from 36 deans and chairs using an open questionnaire and utilized grounded theory to analyze the results. Our study shows that most deans and chairs approve of the iSchool values of interdisciplinary study, information technology, and leadership, but they also expressed uncertainty regarding the future of iSchools. For the process of adopting the values of iSchools and joining the iSchools movement, the main obstacles to progress come from within the LIS discipline. The consensus among the deans and chairs is that the LIS education should reserve its traditional core values, at the same time it also should adopt iSchools values and expand into a wider area in the information profession.