The Concept of Distance-independent Learning
Technology will not eliminate or even diminish the need for appropriately trained professionals. The foundation of the ILS profession is a unique intersection between data-information-knowledge access, understanding of use and users of information, and enabling technology to connect users to access of data, information, and knowledge. This foundation will be even more critical in the future. The challenge is to modify the specifics of knowledge, practice, attitudes, and self-image rapidly enough as we move into the world of digital libraries, collaboratories, distance-independent learning, and other new environments for intellectual work and communication.
Academic libraries will harmonize with distributed computing, electronic publishing, and new methods for collaborative work at a distance. New, more effective methods for world-wide scholarly communication will emerge together with knowledge repositories to support distance-independent learning.
SILS will design a flexible, modular academic program that delivers key units of core knowledge and skills and is replicable by other schools of information and library science/studies, and that can be implemented in a variety of methods (via traditional courses, distance-independent education, continuing education, and so on).
