[LIS-Forum] Does Introduction of LIS Syllabus in Undergraduate Course Curriculum Change the Libraries/Librarians image?

[Aragonda L Moorthy]

Dear Professionals,
    I too agree with the comments by many on the subject. This particular
rejoinder is for the Re-Designation of Librarians as Professors???
A teacher becomes Professor by teaching over a long period and guiding
Researchers for their PhDs. Our so-called Librarian Professors neither
teach so long nor guide any PhD students (there may be a couple of
exceptions), but proudly they call, designate as Professors. What a pity
If they are professors, the Dy librarian will be Dy professor or Associate
professor, Asst Libn: Asst professor, and a library Asst can be Professor
Assistant!!!
All Library Professionals should desist this type of designation. Let us be
the PROUD LIBRARIANS.

Dr AL Moorthy, Former Director-DESIDOC & Chief Consultant (Inf Sci),
BrahMos Aerospace, Hyderabad Centre, Adj: DRDL Rear Gate, Kanchanbagh PO,
Hyderabad-500058 Ph: (O) 040-24087058; Mob: 09951212000

On Thu, Nov 13, 2014 at 11:00 AM, Koteswara Rao Mamidi <mk-rao at hotmail.com>
wrote:

>  Dear friends,
>
> I am glad that once again an important problem faced by our LIS profession
> has come for discussion on this forum. The issues raised by my colleagues
> Dr. Moorthy, Manjunath, Meera, Vasumathi  and Vasantharaju are very
> pertinent and should be taken very seriously. On earlier occasion, I too
> had posted serious objections on this forum about 'mushrooming growth' of
> new LIS schools and lack of standards in LIS education; and as usual a few
> LIS faculty were angry at me and even questioned my 'professionalism' about
> the issue.
>
> I think instead of pointing again and again to the problem we should
> identify the actual people or the 'bodies' responsible for this situation
> and nail them. I strongly feel that wherever a librarian's post is vacant
> for a long time and/or a non-librarian is posted, the internal staff as
> well as the LIS Associations should lodge a complaint to the VC and also to
> the UGC & MHRD.
>
> Regarding LIS syllabus in undergraduate course, I strongly feel that there
> is no need for such a thing because it will have no impact or improve the
> image of the LIS profession. Remember the UGC's 2010 regulations which
> maintained parity among LIS teachers and librarians. And now, why we are we
> crying foul about the API scores? I personally feel that there is no need
> for parity because the nature of job differs. For example, the Govt. of AP
> had re-designated all library officers as Professor, Associate/Assistant
> professor, but in reality they superannuate at 58 or 60 and are not
> eligible for undertaking UGC research projects!
>
> By now we all should know why the image of our profession has gone down?.
> Firstly, too many students (with very little practical training) are
> passing out from so many ill-equipped LIS schools every year; let alone
> thousands of them obtaining degrees 'just like that' including PhD's under
> distance education from universities such as Annamalai, Madurai Kamaraj,
> Alagappa, etc? If you remember, earlier BLSc and MLSc were taught in
> universities with PG as entry qualification. Secondly, why don't we protest
> instead of keeping silent when a non-librarian is posted as a Librarian or
> a member of a library-related committee?
>
> I feel sad to say that the present LIS professionals lack the required
> standards, performance & management qualities to head a university library
> in spite of having many publications and PhD, etc. I think this is one of
> the main reasons for so many vacant positions of Librarians across the
> country. This is my personal experience and I am sure many of my senior
> colleagues would agree.
>
> In essence, the problems faced by our profession is due to a mismatch
> between 'supply and demand'. It is surprising to know that why other
> professions do not face such problems? It is time that all of us including
> the LIS associations should address this issue head on with the VCs, and
> higher education authorities like UGC and MHRD.
>
> Dr. M. Koteswara Rao
> Former Librarian, Univ. of Hyderabad
>
>
> > Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2014 15:57:35 +0530
> > From: gkm at igidr.ac.in
> > To: meera at rri.res.in
> > CC: almoorthy52 at gmail.com; lis-forum at ncsi.iisc.ernet.in
> > Subject: Re: [LIS-Forum] Does Introduction of LIS Syllabus in
> Undergraduate Course Curriculum Change the Libraries/Librarians image?
> >
> >
> > Some one should file a RTI questioning how long the post of qualified
> > librarian been kept vacant in various institutions and the reasons
> behind
> > it.
> >
> > Can library associations do that and also take up this issue with MHRD ?
> > Raising this issue only in discussion forum, now and then, will yield no
> > result.
> >
> > Secondly, do we need so many library science schools in the country ?
> Over
> > production affects quality, leads to unemployment and exploitation in
> the
> > market ( in terms of Wages ).
> >
> >
> > thanks,
> >
> > G.K.Manjunath, PhD
> > Chief Librarian
> > Indira Gandhi Inst of Development Research
> > Film City Road
> > Santosh Nagar
> > Goregaon(East )
> > MUMBAI - 400 065
> > India
> > Phone: 022-28416528
> > email: gkm at igidr.ac.in
> >
> > On Wed, 12 Nov 2014, Meera B. M. wrote:
> >
> > > Dear Professional friends,
> >
> > The situation is appalling to note that Non-librarians are made
> in-charge
> > of Libraries. This is true with premier institutes like IISc, ISI etc.
> > These are few additions to the list given by Dr Murthy.
> >
> > In spite of having so many Library schools across country producing Post
> > graduates, Phd's in good number and having so many active library
> > associations, this issue is being left unaddressed. Very recently I
> > happened to meet a Non-professional - a library In-charge of a reputed
> > university library attending a professional meeting. The person was most
> > of the time dis-interested and I am sure this was a forced
> responsibility.
> >
> > This high time WE (Professional Friends) wake up and do something
> concrete to fill up these voids.
> >
> > Regards
> >
> > Meera
> >
> > --
> > Dr B M Meera
> > Librarian
> > Raman Research Institute
> > C V Raman Avenue, Sadashivanagar P O
> > Bangalore 560 080
> >
> > Ph: 09480836045
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Aragonda L Moorthy" <almoorthy52 at gmail.com>
> > To: "Vasumathi Sriganesh (QMed)" <vasu at qmedkf.org.in>
> > Cc: lis-forum at ncsi.iisc.ernet.in
> > Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2014 11:09:02 AM
> > Subject: Re: [LIS-Forum] Does Introduction of LIS Syllabus in
> Undergraduate Course Curriculum Change the Libraries/Librarians image?
> >
> > Dear All,
> > The idea behind starting LIS course at UG level may be good. But what
> > is required is to get the Librarians posts filled up in every school,
> > college, university and R&D institutions. It is most appalling to know
> that
> > in many universities (AP & Telangana are no exception) University
> > librarians'post is vacant, or is managed by in-charge librarians. Till
> some
> > time back, IIT Delhi had no librarian (after Jagdish Aroara left for
> > INFLIBNET). Many R&D Organisations that had recruited library
> professionals
> > in Scientific, Technical and Officer grades in the past are not
> recruiting
> > now. This is true in DRDO, CSIR, ISRO, and so on. Even Labs like NISCAIR,
> > DESIDOC were/are headed by non-library professionals. This is the new
> trend
> > to appoint non professionals oin libraries.
> > So many Professional Associations are there at national and state level,
> > ILA, IASLIC, SIS, ALSD, APLA, TLA, KALA,WBLA, ASLA, KLA, MyLISA, and so
> on.
> > There are specialised associations as well: College librariand
> Association,
> > School Librarians, Management Librarians, Engg College Librarians,
> > Agriculture Librarians, etc etc.
> > Is any association fighting for the cause of Library profession or for
> > recruitment of professionals? They want posts, and perks and make only
> lip
> > service.
> > If LIS profession is still vibrant I thank the Private Companies--MNCs
> and
> > NCs-- who recruit more professionals. AICTE which made it mandatory to
> have
> > a library and a librarian for recognition. Why UGC gives/extends grants
> and
> > INFLIBNET provides online journals at cheaper rate when librarians are
> not
> > there in the Universities. They should stop where no librarian is
> available
> > and send stern message to recruit Librarians. Then only LIS profession
> and
> > Librarians will be existing otherwise the former may be there (since
> > Universities need students and their fees) but the latter would extinct
> and
> > would become history
> >
> > Reagards
> >
> > Dr AL Moorthy, Former Director-DESIDOC & Chief Consultant (Inf Sci),
> > BrahMos Aerospace, Hyderabad Centre, Adj: DRDL Rear Gate, Kanchanbagh PO,
> > Hyderabad-500058 Ph: (O) 040-24087058; Mob: 09951212000
> >
> > On Wed, Nov 12, 2014 at 8:45 AM, Vasumathi Sriganesh (QMed) <
> > vasu at qmedkf.org.in> wrote:
> >
> > > I would offer my opinion that for our profession to be recognized we
> need
> > > the following:
> > >
> > > 1) Revamping of the school library system, where the librarians and
> > > teachers must work together to introduce students to the concept of
> > >
> > > a) Extra reading on their subjects (introducing the principle that just
> > > mugging from textbooks is not knowledge)
> > > b) Extra reading out of their subjects - fiction / non fiction /
> reference
> > > sources etc to have a rounded off knowledge
> > >
> > > Reading should be done from a combination of print and online - make
> > > students understand that everything is not available online, but some
> > > things are only available in print, some only online
> > >
> > > 2) In UG curriculum - have a paper on information literacy -
> compulsory for
> > > all
> > >
> > > 3) Librarian Science courses need to include options for specialization
> > > after the MLIS. Coming from a medical library background - I know how
> much
> > > there is to learn in this field; it is never ending. Obviously there
> will
> > > be the same amount of learning to do in Engineering, Law etc - fields
> of
> > > librarianship.
> > >
> > > 4) Continuous upgradation in respective fields - including general
> > > librarianship. Only excellent general librarians can work with special
> > > librarians to give their patrons any special help they may need from
> time
> > > to time
> > >
> > > Upgradation of librarians should include the need for good teaching
> > > practices and excellent management skills. The librarian of today has
> to be
> > > able to teach academicians and students, and ensure that every
> resource is
> > > utilized 100%
> > >
> > > It is all a vicious circle - and only when we present a proper picture
> to
> > > the right bodies and keep pushing for changes, will things happen. This
> > > should include - how we can create a new generation of librarians only
> if
> > > the bodies plan not only for equal status, but for promoting the
> library
> > > science courses with the attraction of well paid jobs. The current
> > > generation of librarians need to keep upgrading themselves to be as
> good as
> > > the best Professors, if not more.
> > >
> > > Vasumathi Sriganesh
> > > QMed Knowledge Foundation
> > > (Trust - Reg No: E-24663)
> > > A-3, Shubham Centre, Cardinal Gracious Road
> > > Chakala, Andheri East, Mumbai 400099
> > > Tel: 91-22-40054474 Mob: +919867292230
> > > Web: www.qmed.org.in <http://www.qmedkf.org.in/>
> > > www.indianmedicalsites.in
> > >
> > > On Mon, Nov 10, 2014 at 3:18 PM, Vasanth <gooche_1981 at yahoo.co.in>
> wrote:
> > >
> > > > Dear Sir/Madam,
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > It has been often deliberated in many professional forums that (at
> least
> > > > in Karnataka) higher education department such as Department of
> > > Collegiate
> > > > Education (DCE) should introduce LIS syllabus (information literacy)
> as a
> > > > subsidiary paper in undergraduate course curriculum.
> > > >
> > > > Karnataka State College Librarians Association (KSCLA) has been in
> the
> > > > forefront on this issue for some time. In fact, in 2012 KSCLA
> organized
> > > one
> > > > day conference on the theme “Information Literacy”. Then Karnataka
> Higher
> > > > Education Minister Sri. C.T. Ravi was invited to inaugurate the
> > > conference.
> > > > It was done mainly to place a request to introduce the LIS syllabus
> in
> > > > under graduate course curriculum. Even after this as well, in many
> of the
> > > > conferences our professionals have deliberated on this issue. Though
> > > this
> > > > is an important issue, does merely introducing LIS syllabus in the
> > > > curriculum change the image of the libraries and librarians?
> > > >
> > > > Libraries even at the higher education level in India have not given
> > > > enough importance. It has often been a neglected entity in college
> > > > environment. At the behest of UGC, librarians are appointing for
> managing
> > > > the library in higher education institutions mainly in undergraduate
> > > > colleges. Otherwise, some secondary division clerk would have been
> put
> > > in
> > > > place to run the show (there were/are cases of non-professionals
> managing
> > > > college libraries).
> > > >
> > > > Of late, professionals entering the LIS profession are demanding the
> > > equal
> > > > status on par with teachers at the higher education level. Librarians
> > > are
> > > > today on par with teachers in terms of financial benefits (eg., pay
> > > scale)
> > > > but in terms of professional status librarians have not been seen as
> > > equal
> > > > to teachers. Introducing a LIS curriculum in undergraduate colleges
> is
> > > not
> > > > a solution for this.
> > > >
> > > > We as professionals should demand for better infrastructure and human
> > > > resource to manage libraries. Most of the college libraries (in
> > > Karanataka)
> > > > even lack basic facilities such as proper buildings to store and
> organize
> > > > books. Man power is a big problem librarians have to manage
> everything on
> > > > their own. There is a no supportive man power to manage libraries.
> This
> > > has
> > > > dented the image of the libraries.
> > > >
> > > > Introduction of LIS curriculum in undergraduate courses would be an
> > > > additional baggage rather a benefit to librarians. After teaching,
> > > > librarians have to work again in the library. Who would there to
> manage
> > > it?
> > > > Instead of this let us fight for our professional rights (for proper
> > > > facilities) to be remain as library professionals. Let is once again
> > > > remember the adage “librarians are the teacher’s teacher”. Merely
> having
> > > > the designation of assistant professor of LIS would not change the
> image
> > > of
> > > > the profession.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > (Views are personal)
> > > > -------------------------
> > > > With best wishes
> > > >
> > > > Vasantha Raju N.
> > > > GFGC-Periyapatna
> > > > Mysore
> > > >
> > > > --
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> > --
> > Dr B M Meera
> > Librarian
> > Raman Research Institute
> > C V Raman Avenue, Sadashivanagar P O
> > Bangalore 560 080
> >
> > Ph: 09480836045
> >
> >
> >
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