Equivalency and Reciprocity of Qualifications for LIS Professionals in a Web 2.0 Environment

Abstract

In the age of Web 2.0 and globalization of information, the challenge of information professionals included the determination of equivalent educational experiences as professionals move more freely in the international information environment. Reciprocity of degrees among recognized LIS education program is one possible solution, but the establishment of an international program of reciprocity has been difficult up to this time. The authors discuss the background of efforts over a 30 year period to develop acceptable guidelines for international equivalency and reciprocity of qualifications for LIS professionals by IFLA and other library interests. The challenges of the latest IFLA effort our detailed and options provided in a 2.0 web environment are explored. The possibility that applying the principles of interactivity of the web in the 21st Century to provide a solution to the equivalency and reciprocity problem are analyzed and specific proposal are presented for discussion. The results of surveys of library education professionals are presented and specific proposal for the future are outlined.