Factors Influencing Senior High School Students to Enroll in Library and Information Science

In today’s knowledge-driven society, Library and Information Science (LIS) plays a vital role by intersecting with fields like technology, data management, and information literacy. As global demand for information professionals rises, LIS program face low enrollment rates worldwide (Gorman et al., 2020; Hodgkinson, 2020), including in the Philippines. This study investigates factors influencing senior high school students' intention to enroll Library and Information Science (LIS) courses. The present study examined if students' personal, school, and social variables, perceived value of librarianship by students, and effectiveness of BLIS campaign programs significantly influence their enrollment decisions. This study utilized a descriptive-correlational research design. The data were gathered from 232 senior high school students from a university in Ozamiz City, through a researcher-constructed questionnaire. The sample size of 232 students was determined using the Taro Yamane formula. Results showed that personal factors such as self-efficacy and career motivation, were most influential, followed by social and school influences. Findings also revealed a high correlation between contextual factors, perceived value, marketing strategies, and students' intention to pursue LIS. The research offers LIS educators, policymakers, and career counselors’ implications of how to promote LIS programs and solve enrollment problems. It also highlights the importance of strategic marketing and good career guidance in recruiting students to the LIS profession in the Philippine setting.