What's Wrong With Graduate Education?

I just finished reading Mark Taylor's op-ed in the New York Times End the University as We Know It. It is well worth a read and I recommend checking it out.

He makes a compelling argument as to why graduate programs need to be seriously revised in order to help make them relevant to the modern world. I have to say that, by and large, I agree with his argument. I do, however, think that it is somewhat different when it comes to library programs, such as the one here at UW-Madison. The focus of our program is professional; it's objective is to produce competent and knowledgeable individuals practicing what they have learned in the field. In many other programs, though, it seems that there is a an over-abundance of supply to demand. One example to that springs to mind is someone I know with a PhD in English who works where I used to delivering library books. Now, there is nothing wrong with delivering books for a living. I did it for a 2.5 years. But it is not what he wants to do.

The more experience I get with the university the more I think that a few shakeups in the basic structure of education wouldn't hurt. And while library programs could probably be shaken up themselves, I think that many programs could learn something from us and the way we have adapted to current needs.

Public Library Association Workshop on Serving Diverse Populations

Because demographics in the United States are increasingly changing PLA is offering a two-day intensive workshop in Houston to help librarians learn how to better serve diverse populations. Read more about it here.