Library & Information Science: What Is It? An Embodied Answer in 5 Minutes!

00:00—Welcome
00:06—What is Library and Information Science (LIS)?
00:26—On the One Hand: PUBLICATIONS
00:48—On the Other Hand: PEOPLE
01:15—MEDIATING ENTITIES: The Library, Librarianship, and Library and Information Science
01:29—Academic Concerns and Professional Practices of LIS
02:56—Three Kinds of Libraries
03:32—Is LIS the Career for You? (Shared Qualities of People in LIS)
04:10—The Question--What is LIS?--Answered and Restated
04:34—An Embodied Approach to LIS
04:45—Thank you! Subscribe to INFIDEOS! Please Like this Video!

I am still refining the Worksheet that supports this video; please check back soon for a copy. Educators in Library and Information Science programs could use this video and its Worksheet to introduce LIS to newcomers, especially at the start of any course or semester. I believe this video may also prove useful for students and devotees to share with their family and friends who have difficulty understanding the nature of our domain, and who reduce Library and Information Science to checking out (stamping) books or "shushing" loud patrons (!). (In fact, I will be sending this video to my own great parents, who still struggle to grasp my work.)

For the past 13 years, at the Faculty of Information (University of Toronto), I have "pitched" Library and Information Science to curious, potential students who attend information sessions about our program. Hence, again and again and again, I have considered, consolidated, crafted, and tested the narrative of Library and Information Science. This video draws from that ongoing and unfinished project to capture the essence, nature, purpose, and spirit of Library and Information Science.

P. S. Upon completing most of the videos on my channel, I have a sense of mastery, that is, the outcomes felt nearly perfect and complete (e.g. Giving Thanks to..., Information Science Road Trip, and Pictorial Metaphors for Information are examples). This video, differently, has NOT left me satisfied. Library and Information Science has too many tensions: between print and digital materials, various stakeholders, history and future, Library versus Information sides of the field, and other bifurcations or tensions. It ultimately felt impossible to visually represent and balance the dimensions. Faced with these conceptual and design challenges, the video at hand was put aside for weeks, hoping for clarity and resolution, that was never achieved. It seemed possible that I might never complete and publish a What Is Library and Information Science? video! It was only a sense of wanting to move onto the next project, that helped me press the "PUBLISH" button, despite a feeling of lingering shortcomings, both aesthetic and conceptual. Nevertheless, I hope you enjoy and share this video.

[lemondrops_fall]

I remember watching this video after rediscovering my old childhood dream to be a librarian. I was lost after I had to drop out of my studies in accountancy (mostly because of my mental health situation during that time), but after remembering the dream I had as a child, I felt hope. This video was the first one I came across in my research, and the one that gave me the first spark and the final push to move forward once again. Now, I'm enrolled at one of the top universities in our country as a BLIS student. Thank you so much 💓

[anandatissa]

Excellent presentation of LIS field and professional activities of profession.
Thanks
Ananda Tissa

[amrithaj]

Really glad to have found your channel Professor Hartel! I read your paper in my information communities class and incorporated the ideas to discuss and learn more information seeking and behaviors for a community of artists!

[irinamihalache]

So creative, informative, engaging. People and publications in harmonious relation!!!!

[Loganathan-slvu]

Wow, there is somebody talking about us. Great work.

[INFIDEOS]

Hey Students (of my course The Information Experience), I would LOVE to hear your reactions to this video! Please, please, help me get some commentary going.Thanks a bunch!

[aashankolhi]

Being a student of BS LiS i have found this video fruitful❤

[axelus]

Can I take library and information science even if I’m not a big book reader?

[cheptoongeny]

Am so happy for the information I wish to study my degree in Library and information science which university is suitable for this