Towards exploring a global scenario of e-learning in library and information science schools Md. Shiful Islam a,b, *, Susumu Kunifuji a , Tessai Hayama a,1 , Motoki Miura c a School of Knowledge Science, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST), 1-1 Asahidai, Nomi City, Ishikawa 923-1292, Japan b Department of Information Science and Library Management, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh c Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan KEYWORDS Global scenario; E-learning; E-learning tools and techniques; LIS education Abstract The purpose of this study is to explore a global scenario of e-learning in library and information science (LIS) programs. We conducted an online survey of 370 LIS programs’ home- pages to explore e-learning offerings globally, covering Africa, Asia, Europe, America and Oceania. Data were gathered from the ALA Directory of Accredited Programs, the IFLA World Guide to Library, Archive and Information Science Education 2007, the Directory of Library and Information Science Programs in Asia, and from the Internet. A content analysis of the programs’ homepages was carried out in order to explore trends in e-learning (EL), including use of EL tools and technologies, modes of course delivery, etc. Results show that 85 (n Z 370) LIS programs (around 23%) are using e-learning systems for delivering education; they are embracing EL for overcoming the barriers of students who cannot enter into a tradi- tional education system due to work load, family commitments, or geographical location. Blackboard/Blackboard Vista (25.89%) is the most frequently used of the EL tools and techniques. WebCT/WebCT Vista (10.59%) is also being used frequently and the majority (i.e., 73 of 85 LIS programs; 86%) are delivering their course contents asynchronously. ª 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Introduction The expansive creation of information and communication technologies (ICT), the Internet, and the resulting deluge of information on societies and cultures have brought about a shift in the global education system (Mokhtar, Majid, & Foo, 2008). This shift has focused on the use and application of ICT techniques and tools in the teaching and learning process. However, these technologies also have had a huge impact on the world economy, corporate management and globalization trends, and they bear a tremendous potential to reshape the nature of study environments everywhere, for both * Corresponding author. School of Knowledge Science, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST), 1-1 Asahi- dai, Nomi City, Ishikawa 923-1292, Japan. E-mail addresses: islam@jaist.ac.jp, shifuldu@yahoo.com (M.S. Islam), kuni@jaist.ac.jp (S. Kunifuji), t-hayama@jaist.ac.jp (T. Hayama), miuramo@mns.kyutech.ac.jp (M. Miura). 1 Tel.: þ81 761 51 1715; fax: þ81 761 51 1149. available at www.sciencedirect.com journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/iilr The International Information & Library Review (2011) 43, 15e22 1057-2317/$ - see front matter ª 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.iilr.2011.01.004