I-Schools: Mice Roaring or the Future is Now Arriving?

Sawyer, Steve; Rosenbaum, Howard

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/15072 Copy

Description

Title

I-Schools: Mice Roaring or the Future is Now Arriving?

Author(s)

• Sawyer, Steve
• Rosenbaum, Howard

Issue Date

2008-02-28

Keyword(s)

• iSchools
• institutions
• faculty
• graduate students

Abstract

Through this essay we develop an argument for supporting the growth of I-Schools by building on the literature and concepts of institutions. We first argue that I-Schools, and the I-School movement, can be seen as engaging in a process of institutionalization. That is, they are seeking each and collectively to become self-sustaining and enduring social units. To support this argument we draw on the literatures regarding institutions and institutionalization. We do so to help clarify what those involved in the I-School movement might need to do to encourage the process of I-Schools becoming become enduring and self-replicating forms of organization in the contemporary university milieu. The literature on institutions and institutionalizing is vast, active, and multi-threaded. In this essay we draw from, but do not summarize or extend this work. We draw on concepts from institutional theory to frame our thesis: what can those involved in I-Schools do to encourage the growth and legitimization of these scholarly institutions?

Type of Resource

text

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/15072

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