A 1979 survey of Canadian librarians in 3 groups (librarians who were or had been executives of a library or library-related associations in Canada; library administrators and department heads in public or academic libraries located within 20 miles of a library school; and library school full-time faculty) concerning the interaction [no time period given] between the library field and library schools (survey size: 120 association librarians, 120 library administrators, and [65] library school faculty; responding: 78 or 65% association librarians, 90 or 75% library administra­tors, and 43 or 66% library school faculty) showed that the number of direct contact activities between library school students and both groups of library practitioners (interviews, observation visits, tours, guest lecturers in classes, field work supervisor, etc.) averaged 3.3 activities per practitioner with the following breakdown:

                 0 activities per practitioner                          10% practitioners

                1-2 activities per practitioner                         27% practitioners

                3-4 activities per practitioner                         31% practitioners

                5-8 activities per practitioner                         32% practitioners                       (Source)

         Ibid…. showed thatinteraction related to course preparation (e.g., what elements should be included in a course, course assignments, examples from experience, etc.) averaged .8 activities per both groups of practition­ers with the following breakdown:

                0 activities per practitioner                       54% practitioners

                1 activity per practitioner                         23% practitioners

                2 activities per practitioner                       15% practitioners

                3 activities per practitioner                         8% practitioners                       (Source)

        Ibid…. showed thatinteraction related to degree programs (e.g., serving on an accreditation team, curriculum committee, etc.) was as follows:

                54% of the practitioners had volunteered suggestions or recommended topics for the curriculum;

                11% had been asked to review a program;

                10% had sat on a curriculum or other library school committee;

                and 3 respondents had served as members of an accreditation team.                   (Source)

        Ibid…. showed thatinteraction related to research, publication, and association work was as follows:

                 20% of the practitioners reported interaction with library school faculty on research;

                14% of the practitioners reported interaction with the library school faculty in publications;

                56% of the practitioners reported interaction with the library school faculty in association work.                (Source)

        Ibid…. showed thatinteraction involving reciprocal activities (e.g., practitioners seeking information or assistance from library school faculty on an informal or formal basis, enrollment in continuing education courses, etc.) averaged 3.1 activities per practitioner with a breakdown as follows:

                 0 activities per practitioner                 7% practitioners

                1-2 activities per practitioner              36% practitioners

                3-4 activities per practitioner              33% practitioners

                5-7 activities per practitioner              24% practitioners                   (Source)

        Ibid…. showed thatinteraction with practitioners reported by library school faculty in terms of course planning and presentation was as follows:

                63% of the instructors consulted with practitioners concerning 3 elements: course elements, course assignments, and illustrations of theory;

                80% of the instructors consulted with practitioners concerning 2 of the 3 elements listed above.                   (Source)

        Ibid…. showed thatinteraction with practitioners reported by library school faculty in terms of association work was as follows: 93% of the faculty reported they were active on association committees, while 86% of the faculty reported they were active in working on association conferences and programs.                     (Source)

        Ibid…. showed that44% of the faculty members reported that practitioners had called upon them for information or advice 10 or more times in the past 3 years.                 (Source)

Dr. David Kohl

 "Libraries in the digital age are experiencing the most profound transformation since ancient Mesopotamian scribes first began gathering and organizing cuneiform tablets."

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