A comparative study of library and information science education at library and information science institutions of higher learning in contemporary China's Mainland and Taiwan

In order to have an in-depth understanding of the present education situation of library and information science(hereafter LIS for short)in China’s Mainland and Taiwan,this paper compares the educational situation from the aspects of the purpose of such professional training,subject areas of concentrations,curricular construction,qualifications of faculty and their provisions for continuing education.On the basis of our research analysis,we concluded that,at present,the overall education situation of LIS in China’s Mainland and Taiwan is in many ways similar in their responses to an evolving information environment largely due to the impact of the rapid advancement of information technologies.Such responses include but not limited to the adoption of a new name identity representing their disciplinary study area now undergoing dramatic transformation and an ongoing restructuring of its curriculum in response to the changing information needs and service demands of the contemporary societies on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.Being such is the case,there are also noticeable differences in a few other aspects between them,which are worthy of our attention in our academic pursuit.They include but not limited to their contextual background of education system,the dominant factors that drive their educational reforms and so on.We hope that this paper will make new contributions to a fuller understanding and sound development of LIS education on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.