[LIS-Forum] Fw: An exploratory study of current LIS programs in Indian state universities- today's find

[Dr. Ramesh C Gaur]

Dear Colleagues,

Given below is an e-mail sent to me for my comments by Mr. Mohamed Taher. Mr. Taher is an Indian Librarian now in Tornto Canada.

You may like to send some comments / information on above topic to Mr. Taher. Pl. send your comments directly to Mr. Taher at mt2222 at yahoo.com .

Hope it may be an useful discussions.

regards
ramesh

**************************************
Dr. Ramesh C Gaur
PGDCA, MLISc,Ph.D. Fulbright Scholar (Virginia Tech, USA)
University Librarian 
Jawaharlal Nehru University(JNU)
New Meharuli Road, New Delhi - 110067
Tele +91-11-26742605, 26704551
Fax : +91-11-26741603
Email: rcgaur at mail.jnu.ac.in ;rcgaur66 at gmail.com 
URL: www.jnu.ac.in
Brief Profile: http://www.jnu.ac.in/Library/RameshCGaur.htm



From: Taher 
Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2012 5:10 AM
To: undisclosed recipients:
Subject: An exploratory study of current LIS programs in Indian state universities- today's find


    Mehra B, Potnis D & Morden J. An exploratory study of the nature and composition of current library and information science programs in Indian state universities, Perspectives in International Librarianship 2012:1 
What I notice form the above article is, it is gathering data: a) with a mixup of formal and informal LIS programs, b) those that have a web-based 'presence' ONLY, and c) using any link as a website for the concerned LIS program, etc. 

I would not go to a third party's website (e.g., LIS department website included is: http://india.studybot.org/) and presume such a site is official, authentic and dependable source for a national level study!!!

My humble opinion (without any disrespect to the otherwise serious, major contribution, by the authors): I think the above study should have included the major players: core/oldest/leading universities with LIS programs in India (in the study missing universities are, such as, Delhi, Bombay, Madras, Karnataka, Mysore, Aligarh, Calicut, etc.). 

Missing I say so, not because these are my friendly universities, rather because the area of comparative librarianship requires NEAR/fitting criteria to match and then explore. For e.g., by the date of establishment listed in the article: it includes, BHU, 1941; Calcutta, 1945; Assam University, 2009; and Karnataka State Open University, no date). Similarly, comparing those that offer only or any program: Bachelor M.Sc. M. Phil. Ph.D. & Other, makes any senses? 

Furthermore, I quote: "The data in Table 3 indicates a total of 27 universities that offered master level degree programs however seven of these were branch campuses of the same university in multiple locations." [end of quote]. What will be the results of such a comparative analysis of a sub-continent/civilization (that has not just states, rather nation-states, according to a sociologist)???

In my experience, comparative study, then is not just 'feeling about the similarities' in oranges and apples, nor looking at Nagpur Santra with Kashmiri Apple or Ooty Apple (and moreover randomly picking by impulse, i.e., pict it if-you-find it in your way). 

Anyways, the above should help anyone to start, a real and systematic comparison of state-owned, private and other LIS programs that are offering formal way (classroom), and another study for informal programs (online/distance/remote/off-site/blended, etc.).  

More on hearing from you,  Mohamed Taher



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