What Do You Mean, "Information Scientist"?

This essay maps and defends the disciplinary shift from Library and Information Science (LIS) to Information Science (IS), making explicit how historical definitions centered on librarianship have expanded into a broader, computationally informed science. The analysis documents the transition from a 19th-century, document-centered conception of LIS to a plural, methodologically diverse IS that encompasses modern technologies such as databases, streaming data, algorithms, and more. Accredited MSIS and MLIS programs are shown to train graduates in systematic, evidence-based methods, theoretical grounding, research and evaluation, and ethical frameworks, aligning professional practice with core hallmarks of scientific enterprise. The essay rejects the monopolization of scientific legitimacy by PhD-holders, demonstrates how practitioner-produced outputs (applied research, software, repositories, and evaluation) constitute legitimate scientific contributions, and situates librarianship as one application area within a larger IS umbrella. Clearer communication about this disciplinary evolution is urged so that professional titles, curricula, and institutional recognition accurately reflect the field’s expanded scope and the scientific work performed by both practitioners and academics.