Affiliations: School of Library and Information Management, Emporia State University, Emporia, KS, USA
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Brady D. Lund, School of Library and Information Management, 1 Kellogg Circle, Emporia, KS 66801, USA. Tel.: +1 620 341 5203; E-mail: [email protected].
Abstract: This article presents an overview of the popular rankings (US News and World Report, QS World Rankings) of U.S.-based library and information science (LIS) education programs and the shortcomings of each ranking. It calls for a new, more objective ranking of LIS programs that will more accurately assess quality and sustainability of these programs and provide more relevant information for future students in choosing a program. The uniqueness of the library and information professions is discussed as an impetus for producing more useful rankings and providing open data on student costs and outcomes in LIS programs. Statistics comparing relationships between the major LIS school rankings and factors identified from the literature as important for LIS student college choice are presented. New criteria for the creation of more representative rankings of LIS programs is presented.
Keywords: Library and Information science education, U.S. news and world report, QS world, university rankings, higher education, comparative analysis, marketing
