Curriculum for social information science: Evaluation and application

This paper evaluates the success of a new specialization in library science, Social Information Science, developed by the author at Bar-Ilan University (Israel). The aim of Social Information is to expand the role of the library, to build new Social Information Banks, and to create a new profession, Social Information Scientist. The paper describes the conception and curriculum of the Bar-Ilan University program and then analyzes a survey that was carried out among the students. Results show that the students are interested in the subject--20-25% of them chose to learn Social Information. However, in practice, only 15% of the graduates apply their new knowledge at work. In considering the fact that there is no formal profession of a Social Information Scientist in Israel, these figures show the beginning of interest in the subject.