Protecting More Than Just Books: A Curricula Study of Traditional Cultural Expression in U.S. LIS Programs
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17161/5w6rtm03Abstract
More and more, librarians’ day-to-day job responsibilities include working with Traditional Cultural Expressions (TCEs) and their divergent needs. Nevertheless, TCEs—and their specialized care—lack adequate attention and appropriate training in Library and Information Science (LIS) pedagogy. This indicates that LIS students may be less prepared to ethically work on TCE-related inquiries in the future. This study conducts a curricula content analysis of 35 ALA-accredited Master of Library and Information Science (MSLIS) programs to preliminarily assess the current state of TCE-related topics represented in LIS programs. Through investigating course descriptions, the research evaluates the depth and breadth to which LIS students’ coursework incorporates topics related to TCEs and their care. The synthesized findings demonstrate that only a small number of LIS programs even offer TCE-centric courses; of these, very few programs explicitly require students to take them. Failure to integrate TCEs into the core curriculum results in students being unprepared for the corresponding challenges in their prospective workplaces, especially as most TCEs are not covered by copyright law. The implication of this study could be a fruitful and rigorous invitation for LIS educators to revise their LIS curriculum to keep pace with the ever-evolving information needs that arise in contemporary library contexts for diverse populations.
Metrics
References
Agyei, D. A. (2020). Bridging the international gap in the protection of folklore: Analysis of the Ghanaian approach against comparative experiences from selected African countries. Texas Intellectual Property Law Journal, 28, 393. https://tiplj.org/wp-content/uploads/Volumes/v28/Agyei_Final.pdf
Ameen, K., & Erdelez, S. (2011). Instructing usability evaluation in LIS curriculum: A case of the US. Pakistan Journal of Information Management and Libraries, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.47657%2F201112819
American Library Association. (2010, January 13). Librarianship and traditional cultural expressions: Nurturing understanding and respect. https://www.ala.org/sites/default/files/membership/content/librarianship_and_traditional_cultural_expressions_nurturing_understanding_and_respect_jan2010.pdf
American Library Association. (2012). Diversity standards: Cultural competency for academic libraries. https://www.ala.org/acrl/standards/diversity
Joint ALA/ARL Building Cultural Proficiencies for Racial Equity Framework Task Force. (2022, August). Cultural proficiencies for racial equity: A framework. American Library Association, Association of College & Research Libraries, Association of Research Libraries, and Public Library Association. https://www.ala.org/sites/default/files/advocacy/content/diversity/ALA%20ARL%20Cultural%20Proficiencies%20for%20Racial%20Equity%20Framework.pdf
American Library Association. (2023, January 28). ALA’s core competences of librarianship. https://www.ala.org/sites/default/files/educationcareers/content/2022%20ALA%20Core%20Competences%20of%20Librarianship_FINAL.pdf
Andrews, N., & Humphries, J.L. (2016). Negotiating indigeneity: Fostering Indigenous knowledge within LIS curricula [Paper presentation]. IFLA World Library and Information Congress, Columbus, OH. http://library.ifla.org/1440/
Awopetu, R. (2020). In defense of culture: Protecting traditional cultural expressions in intellectual property. Emory Law Journal, 69, 745. https://scholarlycommons.law.emory.edu/elj/vol69/iss4/3
Beaulieu, K., Bob, B., Bonaparte, S., Crum, S., Flores, A., Garwood-Houng, A., George-Shongo, D., Kahn, E., Koyiyumptawa, S., Lawson, K., Leopold, R., Lomahaftewa, G., Nason, J., Patterson, L., Pearce-Moses, R., Walele, J. R., Sadongei, A., & Underhill, K. J. (2007, April 9). Protocols for Native American archival materials. Northern Arizona University. https://www2.nau.edu/libnap-p/protocols.html
Bird, M. Y. (1999). What we want to be called: Indigenous peoples’ perspectives on racial and ethnic identity labels. American Indian Quarterly, 23(2), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.2307/1185964
Bivens-Tatum, W. (2010). Librarians and traditional cultural expressions. Journal of Religious & Theological Information, 9(1–2), 47–54. https://doi.org/10.1080/10477845.2010.508693
Brandes, S. (1998). The Day of the Dead, Halloween, and the quest for Mexican national identity. Journal of American Folklore, 111(442), 359–380. https://doi.org/10.2307/541045
Bucy, R. (2022). Native American student experiences of the academic library. College & Research Libraries, 83(3), 416. https://doi.org/10.5860/crl.83.3.416
Burtis, A. (2009). Managing Indigenous knowledge and traditional cultural expressions: Is technology the solution. Information for Social Change, 29, 9. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/60525169.pdf
Carpenter, M. M. (2004). Intellectual property law and Indigenous peoples: Adapting copyright law to the needs of a global community. Yale Human Rights & Development Law Journal, 7, 51. https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13051/5837
Carpenter, B. (2019). Archival initiatives for the Indigenous collections at the American Philosophical Society. Case Studies on Access Policies for Native American Archival Materials, (1), 1–13. https://www2.archivists.org/sites/all/files/Case_1_Archival_Initiatives_for_Indiginous_Collections.pdf
Catholic University of America. (n.d.). Course descriptions: LSC 884: Copyright & licensing institute. Retrieved May 10, 2024, https://lis.catholic.edu/academics/courses/course-descriptions/index.html
Chakrabarty, S. P., & Kaur, R. (2021). A primer to traditional knowledge protection in India: the road ahead. Liverpool Law Review, 42(3), 401–427. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10991-021-09281-4
Cherney, E., & Keilman, J. (2020, December 9). Chief Illiniwek was officially retired 13 years ago. University of Illinois is still trying to remedy his “painful impact” on Indigenous people. Chicago Tribune. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2020/12/09/chief-illiniwek-was-officially-retired-13-years-ago-university-of-illinois-is-still-trying-to-remedy-his-painful-impact-on-indigenous-people/
Chu, H. (2006). Curricula of LIS programs in the USA: A content analysis. Proceedings of the Asia-Pacific Conference on Library & Information Education & Practice (A-LIEP 2006), 328–337. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228342659_Curricula_of_LIS_programs_in_the_USA_A_content_analysis
The Copyright Act. 17 U.S. Code § 101 (2024). https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/101
The Copyright Act. 17 U.S. Code § 102 (2024). https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/102
The Copyright Act. 17 U.S. Code § 108 (2024). https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/108
The Copyright Act. 17 U.S. Code § 201 (2024). https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/201
Farah, P. D., & Tremolada, R. (2015). Conflict between intellectual property rights and human rights: A case study on intangible cultural heritage. Oregon Law Review, 94(1), 125. http://hdl.handle.net/1794/19577
Davis, A. (2019, October 15). What happens to your copyrights after you die?. Copyright Alliance. https://copyrightalliance.org/what-happens-to-your-copyrights-after-you-die/
Feist Publications, Inc. v. Rural Tel. Serv. Co., 499 U.S. 340 (1991). https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/101
Gosart, U. (2021). Responsive and Responsible: Libraries promote ethical care of Indigenous collections. American Libraries, 52(1/2), 14–15. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2021/01/04/responsive-responsible-culturally-responsive-care/
Hapsari, D. R. I., Hidayah, N. P., Fajrin, Y. A., & Anggraeny, I. (2021, November). Protection of traditional cultural expressions as intellectual property in Indonesia: A juridical-sociological review. Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Law Reform, 590, 84–88. https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.211102.172
Ibacache, K. (2021). University libraries as advocates for Latin American Indigenous languages and cultures. College & Research Libraries, 82(2), 182. https://doi.org/10.5860/crl.82.2.182
IFLA. (n.d.). Library services to multicultural populations section. International Federation of Library Association and Institutions. https://www.ifla.org/units/mcultp/
Jaszi, P. (2017, August). Protecting traditional cultural expressions: Some questions for lawmakers. WIPO Magazine, 4, 8–15. https://www.wipo.int/wipo_magazine/en/2017/04/article_0002.html
Jones, R. (2020). Social justice in library science programs: A content analysis approach. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 52(4), 1102–1109. https://doi.org/10.1177/0961000620904432
Kanyabuhinya, B., & Athanas, J. L. (2022). Protection of traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions in mainland Tanzania. Eastern African Law Review, 48(2). https://journals.udsm.ac.tz/index.php/ealr/article/view/5192
Li, L. (2016). The saviour of Chinese traditional cultural expressions? Analysis of the Draft Regulations on Copyright Protection of Folk Literary and Artistic Works. Queen Mary Journal of Intellectual Property, 6(1), 27–54. https://doi.org/10.4337/qmjip.2016.01.02
Maier, M. A. (2018) Content analysis: advantages and disadvantages. In M. Allen (ed.), The SAGE Encyclopedia of Communication Research Methods (Vol. 4, pp. 240–242). SAGE. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781483381411
Perera, K. (2015). Protection of traditional knowledge (TK) and traditional cultural expressions (TCEs) of South Asia in digital libraries and museums [Conference presentation]. The 3rd Biennial Conference of the International Association for Asian Heritage: University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/288975714_Protection_of_Traditional_Knowledge_TK_and_Traditional_Cultural_Expressions_TCEs_of_South_Asia_in_Digital_Libraries_and_Museums
Perry, N. (2018, May 16). Issues surrounding Chief Wahoo and other racial caricatures used in sports. The Sandbox News. Retrieved May 10, 2024 from https://web.archive.org/web/20210227101559/https://sandbox.spcollege.edu/index.php/2018/05/issues-surrounding-chief-wahoo-and-other-racial-caricatures-used-in-sports/
Policastri, J. (2018, November 1). IALL 2018 recap: Traditional cultural expressions and international intellectual property law. DipLawMatic Dialogues. https://fcilsis.wordpress.com/2018/11/01/iall-2018-recap-traditional-cultural-expressions-and-international-intellectual-property-law/
Pogrebin, R., & Bowley, G. (2023, May 9). After seizures, the Met sets a plan to scour collections for looted art. New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/09/arts/met-museum-looted-art.html
Purwandoko, P. H., Sulistiyono, A., & Hawin, M. (2020). The implementation of the traditional cultural expression (TCE) protection Indonesia based on Article 38 Law Number 28 of 2014 regarding copyright. Indonesian Journal of International Law, 18(4), Article 5. https://doi.org/10.17304/ijil.vol18.4.823
Roy, L. (2015). Advancing an Indigenous ecology within LIS education. Library Trends, 64(2), 384–414. https://doi.org/10.1353/lib.2015.0045
Roy, L., Hogan, K., & Lilley, S. (2012). Balancing access to knowledge and respect for cultural knowledge: Librarian advocacy with Indigenous peoples’ self-determination in access to knowledge. In A. M. Tammaro, J. Lau, & T. J. D. Bothma (Eds.), Libraries driving access to knowledge (pp. 163–189). International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110263121.163
Rutgers University. (n.d.). [17:610:568] The history of books, documents, and records in print and electronic environments. School of Communication and Information. https://comminfo.rutgers.edu/academics/courses?courses=586&program=32
Santyaningtyas, A., & Noor, M. Z. M. (2016). Preserving of traditional culture expression in Indonesia. Asian Social Science, 12(7), 59–65. https://doi.org/10.5539/ass.v12n7p59
Shalihah, F., & Hakim, A. (2019). The obstacles of copyright protection against traditional cultural expression in Indonesia. In Proceedings of the First International Conference on Progressive Civil Society (ICONPROCS 2019). Atlantis Press. https://doi.org/10.2991/iconprocs-19.2019.23
Simmons University. (n.d.). All courses: LIS 448 – Digital stewardship (formerly LIS 531W). Retrieved May 10, 2024, https://internal.simmons.edu/students/academics/slis/current/courses/course-descriptions/all-courses
Steffe, L. E. (2023). Protection and prevention: The shortcomings of US copyright law in combatting cultural appropriation in the fashion industry. IP Theory, 12(3), Article 4. https://www.repository.law.indiana.edu/ipt/vol12/iss3/4
Susanti, D. I., Susrijani, R., & Sudhiarsa, R. I. M. (2020). Traditional cultural expressions and intellectual property rights in Indonesia. Yuridika, 35(2), 257. https://doi.org/10.20473/ydk.v35i2.15745
Tumuhairwe, G. K. (2013). Analysis of library and information science/studies (LIS) education today: The inclusion of Indigenous knowledge and multicultural issues in LIS curriculum [Paper presentation]. IFLA WLIC 2013, Singapore. https://library.ifla.org/id/eprint/276
Toffelmier, G., & Luomala, K. (2006). Dreams and dream interpretation of the Diegueño Indians of Southern California. Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology, 26(2), 215–228. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/34w1q47f
Torkornoo, G. (2012). Creating capital from culture-re-thinking the provisions on expressions of folklore in Ghana’s copyright law. Annual Survey of Interantional & Comparative Law, 18(1), Article 4. https://digitalcommons.law.ggu.edu/annlsurvey/vol18/iss1/4
University of Alabama (n.d.). 2023–24 academic catalog: LS 654 Print culture and society. Retrieved May 10, 2024, https://catalog.ua.edu/search/?scontext=all&fscaturl=&gscaturl=&search=Print+Culture+and+Society
U.S. News & World Report. (2022). Best library and information studies programs - US news rankings. Retrieved March 1, 2023, from https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-library-information-science-programs/library-information-science-rankings
White, M.D., & Marsh, E. E. (2006). Content analysis: A flexible methodology. Library Trends, 55(1), 22–45. https://doi.org/10.1353/lib.2006.0053
World Intellectual Property Organization. (2023). The WIPO Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore. https://doi.org/10.34667/tind.47859
World Intellectual Property Organization. (n.d.). Traditional cultural expressions. Retrieved February 28, 2023, from https://www.wipo.int/tk/en/folklore/
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Siyao Cheng, Melissa G. Ocepek, Sara R. Benson
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
