Overview

Students who choose to study at the Department of Library and Information Science develop skills to look at problems from the perspective of information and are able to form their own solutions. They also learn about the information, knowledge, and experience produced by both individuals and institutions, and gain a basic understanding of their distribution, organization, provision, use, and preservation.

The Department of Library Science, which preceded the Department of Library and Information Science, was founded in 1951 with support from the United States as the first librarian training institute at a Japanese university. Robert Gitler, who was responsible for finding the right university, chose Keio University as he was inspired by the autobiography of Keio founder Yukichi Fukuzawa. Initially, five American professors and librarians were holding classes in English, aided by an interpreter.

Over time, the scope of the program expanded to library and information science, which dealt with various kinds of recorded information. Eventually graduate school programs were also established. The curriculum for undergraduate education currently has three courses: the library science course, information media course, and information management course. Many of our graduates find work in the library community, and many others take careers where their knowledge of information can positively impact people and society. The Department of Library and Information Science has a proud legacy as a pioneer of education and research in library and information science in Japan.