Library and Information Science in the USA and Iran

In the context of the global mobility of skilled professionals, this is a comparative study of library science education and librarianship in the USA and Iran. The study attempts to determine how education and professional skills may transfer from one country to another. Historically, the USA and Iran are two various significant centers of development of knowledge, science and technology, and culture. Each of these two countries developed its general education and library science education system and professional practice. This study investigates the definition of the librarian profession, historical perspectives, types of librarians and librarian-related positions, the initial academic training of librarian (schools, duration, curriculum, and accreditation), daily activities of librarians, continuing education, and opportunities and challenges of the profession in each country.

The qualitative research method was selected to conduct this study using benchmarking.

This investigation led to a comparative analysis pointing out similarities and differences in this scope. The comparative investigation of the LIS profession and education was conducted for the first time. The first part of this presented historical perspectives for library science education and librarianship. The second part of the paper demonstrated contemporary library science education and librarianship in each country. The last part contained a comparative critical discussion of both systems.

The present study concludes that, even though both systems are different, with the globalization of knowledge, education, and communications, under certain circumstances, one could consider a librarian “qualified” to practice across the border.