American library schools are confronted by the problems of declining enrollment, changing modern technologies, and a shrinking market for their graduates. The extension of courses to include information science is a welcome direction, although it seems to reflect a lack of confidence in the traditional library science education. For librarianship to continue as a viable, respected profession, library schools must return to basics: knowledge of subject contents, the teaching role of librarians, and information processing. Although library schools may develop information science programs stressing managerial aspects along side the traditional library science program in order to expand the market for their graduates, the current hybrid program, by mixing information science and library science, may well undermine the foundation and role of American librarianship. (36 end notes) (Author/EW)