Education for Librarians

In 2017, there were 26 universities, TAFEs (technical and further education colleges) and private training providers delivering 39 ALIA accredited courses around Australia. There were 4,877 students enrolled in Library and Information Science (LIS) courses in 2015 — down from 5,144 students in 2014 — with 41% in higher education and 59% in vocational education and training. Of these 4,877 students, 3,588 were enrolled in ALIA accredited courses leading to professional membership of the Association. The most popular qualifications were the Master's degree in higher education and the Diploma in the VET sector.

In Bolivia, the only programme in Library and Information Sciences is offered at the University of San Andres (Universidad Mayor de San Andres). It is possible to acquire an academic degree at Bachelor and Master levels as well as a technical degree at medium and superior levels.

There are three universities in Bulgaria currently providing university degree education in Library and Information Science (LIS):

• Sofia University. Faculty of Philosophy (bachelor, master and PhD degrees),
• University of Library Studies and Information technologies. Faculty of Library Studies and Cultural Heritage, and the Faculty of Library Management (bachelor, master and PhD degrees),
• Veliko Turnovo University. Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics (bachelor and master degrees).

The National High School of Polygraphy and Photography (a professional secondary school in Sofia) is offers professional education for acquiring library profession (qualification – professional librarian). The Public Libraries Act (2009) introduced the vocational education and training (VET) for librarians after upper secondary education. This level education is provided by Centers for Professional Education licensed by the National Agency for Vocational Education and Training. Before 2009, there has been no VET for people with secondary education. The introduction of the VET program "Librarian" responded to the needs of, mostly, the small public libraries in rural areas, where library staff has only secondary education. This type of training is appropriate also for technicians in the big research and academic libraries. The programs feature theory classes as well as in-service training. Programs and textbooks for the different modules has been developed by experts of the Bulgarian Library and Information Association.

Canada has a strong system for professional education and training in the Library and Information Science (LIS) sector, which is generally administered through graduate-level programs, however some undergraduate and continuing education certification programs do exist. LIS education prepares students for careers in libraries, archives, museums, and information management. Graduate programs: The primary path to professional LIS education is through master’s programs. Seven universities have library or information schools offering master’s degrees; these programs are ALA-accredited:

• Dalhousie University
• McGill University
• Western University
• University of Alberta
• University of British Columbia
• University of Montreal
• University of Ottawa
• University of Toronto

Continuing education: Most universities with LIS schools offer continuing education courses and certifications/diplomas. Other library organizations, such as the Education Institute (EI) from the Partnership (Provincial and Territorial Library Associations of Canada) offer continuing education for the library community.

The level of training in Library and Information Science in Colombia is mainly bachelor; there are technical, technological and professional training programs. At the graduate level there is a specialization and a master's degree. Bachelor programs are taught by the universities Javeriana, La Salle, Antioquia, Quindío and INPAHU. The National Apprenticeship System SENA offers technical training and INPAHU has a technological program. Postgraduate studies are taught by the Javeriana University and the University of Antioquia.

The Costa Rican librarianship training is in the hands of three public universities: The University of Costa Rica (Universidad de Costa Rica), the National University (Universidad Nacional), and the State Distance University (La Universidad Estatal a Distancia). There is also the Autonomous University of Central America (Universidad Autónoma de Centro América, which is private. These four universities offer different aspects of librarianship: Library Science and Information Science with emphasis on school libraries; Library and Documentation; Librarianship and Information and Communication Technologies with emphasis on school libraries and resource centres for learning. The private university offers it at the bachelor level. The preparation of librarians in Costa Rica is at the excellent level, given that the academic offer fits the labour and educational requirements demanded by the Costa Rican society.

In Cuba there are 4 levels of professional training that are Technical Level Professional, Bachelor of Information Sciences, Master of Library Science and Information Sciences and Doctorate in Information Sciences. The average level is offered at the municipal polytechnic schools, and the degree is offered at the Universities of Havana, Las Villas, Holguín and Camagüey. The master's degree and the doctorate exclusively at the University of Havana, but all those interested in the country have access to it.

There are three Universities in the Czech Republic currently providing university degree education in Libraries and Information Science:

• Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Arts, Institute of Information Science and Librarianship,
• Masaryk University in Brno, Faculty of Arts, Department of Information and Library Studies,
• Silesian University, Faculty of Philosophy and Science in Opava, Institute of the Czech Language and Library Science, and Institute of Informatics.

Higher vocational education is offered by two high schools.  High Vocational School in Information Studies in Prague and Business Academy and Secondary Vocational School and Higher Vocational School in Brno. The vocational qualification can be also obtained by validation of non-formal and informal learning.  Vocational qualifications are awarded according to the act 179/2006 by authorized bodies in accordance with the relevant evaluation standards. There are currently four authorized organization: National Library CR, Moravian Library, Jiří Mahen Library and Moravian-Silesian Research Library in Ostrava. The system of education of librarians is complemented with training courses organized through library associations or large libraries.

INET: Located in Strasbourg, the National Institute for Territorial Studies ABF: The Association of French Librarian offer a training with delivery of a diploma for people, employees or volunteers, who work in libraries without any academic qualifications or training for the title of assistant librarian. BnF: The national library of France offers the associated libraries various training courses in support of description and digital projects, as well as training courses enabling librarians to acquire skills in the field of conservation. CNAM-INTD (National Institute of Documentary Science and Technology): Its objective is to train information professionals. INTD trains information specialists from Bac+3 to Bac+5 level (bachelor/master’s degrees), in close connection with the professional fields. EBD: EBD is a private higher education institution located on the ICP campus. It offers several professional training courses in the information and documentation professions: Information and Digital Mediator / Information Manager / Digital Information Manager. Ecole des chartes: Since its creation in 1849, the diploma of “archiviste paléographe” offered a training to prepare students for careers as curators in the field of written, graphic and monumental heritage. Enssib: National Higher School for Information Sciences and Libraries, Enssib is both a "grande école", responsible for training state library executives, curators and librarians, recruited by competitive examination, and a specialized university establishment, delivering four master's degrees in libraries and documentation fields. The school also offers lifelong training courses, validation of acquired experience. It has been training and supporting current and future senior executives of local authorities since 1997. It provides initial and continuing training for library curators. Universities: There are many diplomas in

The professional qualification levels still vary for librarians, many of them have two-year bachelor level diploma, some of them are from other professions with master diploma re-educated as librarians by learning by practice. Contemporary librarianship needs support for the improvement of library education.

The Department of Information Studies (formerly Department of Library and Archival Studies) of University of Ghana was the sole formal institution training librarians and archivist at the post graduate level and beyond. From about 2010 it has started offering first degree programmes. Other universities since then also have started training applicants for the Diploma, First Degree, Masters (M.A. and M.Phil. and Ph.D levels). Some are by the normal regular attendance as others are by sandwish and others distance. Some of the main institutions are University of Ghana, University of Ghana - Distance Education, Kumasi Technical University, Ho Technical University.

There are three Universities that offer Bachelor, Msc and Phd studies in Libraries and Information Science. The Department of Archives, Library Science and Information Systems at the University of West Attica, the Department of Archives, Library Science and Information Systems at the International Hellenic University and the Department of Archives, Library Science and Museology at the Ionian University.