Commitment to Multicultural Library and Information Science Education: Part 2 - A Model for Success

Welburn's (1994) persuasive case for including cultural diversity in the educational preparation of library and information science (LIS) professionals is based on the rationale that the foremost function of LIS educators is their involvement "in programs of study that are designed to prepare graduate students as professionals mediating between information and people" (p. 328). Although the words "cultural diversity" were not used, over 20 years ago Shera (1972) also regarded the environment of the clientele as the librarian's raison d'etre, which translates to the need for information professionals in the United States to be prepared to serve a multicultural, multiracial, and multilingual user population