Purpose

Today, in the 21st century, there is a strong need for cultural heritage information professionals who can work across the boundaries of libraries, archives, and museums to meet the information needs of all users--including library patrons, museum visitors, the general public, and other professionals--in all types of cultural heritage organizations. Educating individuals with the ability to meet these diverse information needs poses serious challenges to the nation's library and information science (LIS), museum studies, and archival studies programs.

The purpose of this workshop is to bring together approximately forty (40) attendees for two days in April 2008 to

  1. identify the educational goals that LIS, museum studies, and archival studies programs have in common;
  2. identify the information needs and challenges facing cultural heritage organizations in the 21st century;
  3. identify areas of convergence for educators and professionals working to meet the needs of the nation's cultural heritage organizations and the publics they serve; and
  4. develop concrete recommendations for innovative approaches designed to improve our ability to meet these needs and challenges as identified above.

This workshop will provide a valuable opportunity for the deans, directors, and faculty of LIS, museum studies, and archival studies programs to meet and share ideas with professionals from the nation's libraries, museums, archives and related organizations about the challenges facing cultural heritage information professionals as they work to meet the information needs of all users, including the general public. By bringing together these diverse communities, this workshop will improve the ability of educators and professionals to support information needs in cultural heritage organizations by encouraging a closer relationship between education and practice in LIS, museum studies, and archival studies programs.