International and Comparative Librarianship

Learning Contents Summary

The contents of International and Comparative Librarianship as a learning resource is to expose librarians and library students to the concept of International Librarianship and Comparative Librarianship and its Objectives, differences. This course material serves as an avenue for learners from diverse academic disciplines to acquire knowledge on how libraries and Libraries and Librarians understand the concept, International and comparative Librarianship.

Goals

At the end of this study, learners should be able to:

• understand the concepts of International and comparative Librarianship,
• Identify the Objectives of International and comparative Librarianship; and
• Identify the differences between comparative and International Librarianship,
• Identify Institutions Engaged in International Librarianship.

Concept of International Librarianship

International Librarianship is describes as activities carried out among or between Government or non-governmental institutions, organizations, groups or individuals of two or more nations, to promote, establish, develop, maintain and evaluate library, documentation and allied services and librarianship and library profession generally in any part of the world. Its is a guide to global knowledge access. international Librarianship has created a world of librarianship with abstraction linking the status of the profession in all part of the world at a specific period of time and scientific investigation which is called world study in librarianship. In another definition, International Librarianship is collaboration, cooperation of library services across the world.

Objectives of International Librarianship

The followings are objectives of international Librarianship around the glob:

• To link different libraries and countries so that information resources can be shared.
• To Broaden the amount of information available to library researchers all over the world.
• To be proficient as librarians we need to look beyond our locality and get more valuable insights about what is happening around the world.
• To build a global Economic with information

Concept of Comparative Librarianship

Comparative Librarianship is the study or comparison of library theory, practices in all the different countries of the world for the purpose of broadening and deepening the understanding of professional problems and solutions. It is clearly international comparisons with countries of the world. its is scholarly ways of investigation which indicates the systemic analysis of library development in the context of historical, geographic, political, economic, social and other factors. Comparative librarianship is views as the analysis of libraries, library systems, some aspects of librarianship, or library problems in two or more national, cultural, or societal environments, in terms of socio - political, economic, cultural, ideological and historical contexts. this study is concerned the happenings of other libraries be it locally or globally with communication system need to be both global and regional in nature.

Objectives of Comparative Librarianship

Below are major Objectives of comparative librarianship:

• To bring about understanding of different practices that hopefully will allow the development of the best practices.
• To open up opportunities for individuals and whole culture learn, appreciate and understand cultural differences and similarities, which will help counter ethnocentrism, validate perspectives and inform persons interested in one's own culture and country.
• To bring better understanding of libraries problems by offering an opportunity to look at theories and practices of librarianship in different countries in the world.
• To improve quality of services through organization of resources, collection development, resource sharing, funding challenges, growth of information technology, user education etc.

Institutions Engaged in International Librarianship

• Carnegie Corporation of New - york
• Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
• The Contribution to Librarianship in the developing world (COMLA)
• UNESCO: United National Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

Difference between Comparative and International Librarianship

The teams International and comparative Librarianship are regarded as having different meanings but both are of importance in understanding world librarianship. International librarianship is limited strictly to those activities that involve librarianship and all its aspects across national boundaries. It would thereby exclude comparative analysis but include such activities as exchange of librarians, books, ideas and the study of library systems in different countries while comparative librarianship should lean on the tradition of comparative studies found in other fields such as political, government and legal studies. Comparative Librarianship may be conducted at both national and international levels while international librarianship must be conducted across nations.