University of Illinois

Field experience has long been recognized as a critical component of Library and Information Science (LIS) education. While on-the-ground experience and anecdotal evidence about the strengths and weaknesses of field experience programs abound, the LIS field lacks the research found in complementary fields such as education and nursing that is required to identify and promote “best practices” for this important component of LIS education. Field Strength, a project to be led by the University Library at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in collaboration with the Graduate School of Library and Information Science, will begin to identify best practices in field experience in LIS education.