I am a member on an interesting list for new generation cataogs. The discussions are varied and interesting. One recent thread concerns the poor contributions of library schools in the US to research and development and I am quoting below the posting.

Members in India are critical, sometimes uneasonably, of library schools in India who work under much more constarints and I thought it would be useful to see that the situation in the US so far as new frontiers, R & D are not much different.

I suppose, we should not feel smug about this but see indeed how we can also improve our own research outputs so that they make a useful contribution to the profession in general.

"The library schools tend to be very small, with small faculties and small
student bodies, and without tremendous support from their parent
institutions. Moreover, they are divided into two groups: those that
have a significant concentration (possibly a separate degree) in information
science and those that don't. There are certainly some determined and
creative researchers among the faculties, but it's not a large community,
even across all the schools, and the existence of a community of people
among whom to discuss, argue, imagine, float ideas, encourage, compete, etc.
really would help in building a body of active researchers in the areas that
this group is interested in.

(And even within the profession at large, there is not a culture of research
and experimentation. There is instead a culture of service, and a culture
of day-to-day. The library schools could help in this regard by
inculcating their students and graduates with an understanding that
research, experimentation, investigation, thinking, etc. are essential parts
of their work. Personally, I'm not holding my breath.)

Some potential for useful and well-funded research emanating from library
schools would seem to lie in collaboration between for-profit entities (such
as OCLC, Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, III) and academics.

Unfortunately, although you are singing my song (that is, the song that
bemoans the dearth of creative research EITHER on the frontiers of
librarianship OR within its heartland), I'm also one of those who sings in
the chorus in the background and only occasionally dares a solo."

Janet Swan Hill, Professor
Associate Director for Technical Services
University of Colorado Libraries, CB184
Boulder, CO 80309
janet.hill@colorado.edu