賴鼎銘
From 1978 to 1990, fifteen library schools in the United States were closed. In the near future, more and more library schools are facing the same fate. Budget cut, increasing tuition and few student enrollments seem to the main reasons.
However, school administration and politics play a crucial role in this shut-down crisis. Many library school administrators do not communicate and coordinate well with school authorities and other departmental heads. When faced with budget cut on campus, the library school is always the first target. It is being criticized for its few alumni donations, insufficient interdisciplinary training, and poor academic performance. To maintain its academic status, the library school needs to improve its public image, enhance research quality, and develop professional service and interdisciplinary studies.
