Department of Library and Information Science

Department Overview

Since its establishment within Universiti Malaya in 1992, the Department of Library and Information Science (DLIS) has matured into a dynamic centre for scholarship, innovation, and professional development in the information sciences. 

We are proud of our longstanding reputation in the Malaysian and global library and information science (LIS) communities. Our commitment lies in delivering high-quality teaching, nurturing research, and producing graduates who lead—in libraries, information centres, archives, digital institutions, and beyond.

Why Choose DLIS?

• Innovative graduate programmes: We offer both coursework and research-based master’s programmes, such as the Master of Library and Information Science (Coursework) with 45 credit hours including research projects, and the Master of Information Science (Research) emphasizing deeper scholarly inquiry. 

• Research excellence & emerging directions: Our faculty and students engage in advanced studies in scientometrics, digital libraries, information behaviour, and scholarly communication, while also venturing into newer domains such as data science, health informatics, and digital humanities. 

• International reach and visibility: DLIS is host to the Malaysian Journal of Library and Information Science (MJLIS)—a tri-annual open access journal indexed in Scopus and Web of Science databases. We also organize the International Conference on Libraries, Information and Society (ICoLIS)—the latest, 9th edition held in September 2023 under the theme Libraries at the Forefront of Open Science. 

• Strong institutional backing: As part of Universiti Malaya, consistently ranked among the top universities globally and within Malaysia, DLIS benefits from the university’s academic environment, resources, and prestige. 

• Nurturing learning environment: Students enjoy close mentorship from faculty, hands-on exposure via internships and collaborations with local and international organizations, and opportunities to be actively involved in research projects.

• Alumni impact: Many of our alumni ascend to leadership roles in library and information services—some serving as chief librarians and senior professionals across Malaysia.

Our Mission

DLIS is committed to bridging people, information, and digital technologies. We aim to:

• Advance knowledge in information science through rigorous research

• Train professionals equipped for evolving information contexts

• Promote meaningful access, management, sharing, and use of information for the betterment of society