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Two voices of librarians: Vimal and Smitha
by false 30 Jun '09

30 Jun '09

Sir/Madam I just wanted to share my thoughts on two recent postings in the LIS forum. One from Vimal (Time for a change: survival thoughts, dated 25th June 2009) and another from Smitha (Development of Govt. PU college Libraries, dated 27th June 2009). One thing wanted to clarify before delve into the topic is Vimal and Smitha are two metaphor beyond that I have nothing individual. I take Vimal posting. It was indeed thought provoking and for the development of the profession. We are witnessing a rapid change in information processing industry coupled with phenomenon evolution of the WWW for the post twenty years. Thanks to Tim Berners-Lee. But the bottom line is librarians are willing to change not the institutions (colleges). Smith’s posting in that way presents underlying reality. Librarians are looked at mere “store keeper”. His/her intellectual labor was not at all respected in colleges. Colleges and schools in India have given very less importance to libraries. In most of the colleges, there are no libraries at all. If we have, it was maintained pathetically. We recently recruited librarians have very hard time with the authorities to provide basic facilities at least a room to set up a library. But they are also not in a position to immediately set up things right. As fellow member listed out there was no proper record maintained in the library previously. It was maintained by the clerk or in some cases lecturer. And stark thing is that librarians are suspected in many occasion simple because they think librarian may pocket fines collected from students, fee collected against loss of books. It was very harsh thing to happen for librarians. In book acquisitions process there was a big nexus, higher authorities would not take librarian into considerations. Simply ask us to take book into stack. We are accountable for each book in the library and you have to pay for missing books. At times we have quarreled with faculty and students to return books. With such a situation, how a librarian change himself. In colleges hardly subscribe scholarly journals and with few exceptions reading habit is very deplorable. It is time for changing the mindset of the institutions and the people who are part of it. Recently I had a conversation with a lecturer and finally he said to me that your job is just like a clerk who manages different inventories and keeping vigil look on books. The brief conversion I have had with the lecturer is given below. Lecturer: We have a vacation from 25th May Librarian: is it, enjoy Lecturer: What about you. You must have the holiday right? Librarian: We have no vacation Lecturer: Sorry, I though you must …….. Librarian: no no……. we have extra EL for thirty days Lecturer: but…………. Your job is more of like a clerk. One maintains inventories. Librarian: no reply We have great role to change this mindset. We have to raise our voice. Your Sincerely Vasantha Raju N ICC World Twenty20 England '09 exclusively on YAHOO! CRICKET http://cricket.yahoo.com -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.

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Soft Skills Online Vedios
by Basavaraj Kumbar 30 Jun '09

30 Jun '09

Dear All, Please refer the URL Link http://www.calbusinessed.org/Soft_Skills.html It will give the Vedio those are very useful to develop Your soft skills. Regards, -- Mr. Basavaraj S. Kumbar Asst. Librarian Bangalore Managament Academy, #17, Ashirwad Towers, Doddanakundi Cross, Marathahalli Post, Bangalore - 37. Cell no. : 9742379948 -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.

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Google Book Search Bibliography, Version 4
by Charles W. Bailey, Jr. 29 Jun '09

29 Jun '09

On June 29, 1989, I launched PACS-L, a LISTSERV mailing list, and it quickly evolved into the platform on which my initial scholarly digital publishing efforts were based. To commemorate this event, I'm releasing the Google Book Search Bibliography, Version 4 (see "A Brief Look Back at Twenty Years as an Internet Open Access Publisher," (http://tinyurl.com/mvyrfm) for a summary of my subsequent digital publishing activities). http://www.digital-scholarship.org/gbsb/gbsb.htm This bibliography presents selected English-language articles and other works that are useful in understanding Google Book Search. It primarily focuses on the evolution of Google Book Search and the legal, library, and social issues associated with it. Where possible, links are provided to works that are freely available on the Internet, including e-prints in disciplinary archives and institutional repositories. Note that e-prints and published articles may not be identical. For a discussion of the numerous changes in my digital publications since my resignation (http://tinyurl.com/5en4jt) from the University of Houston Libraries, see Digital Scholarship Publications Overview. http://www.digital-scholarship.org/cwb/dsoverview.htm -- Best Regards, Charles Charles W. Bailey, Jr. Publisher, Digital Scholarship http://www.digital-scholarship.org/ http://digital-scholarship.org/cwb/cwbaileyprofile.htm -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.

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Development of Govt. PU college Libraries
by Smitha C 27 Jun '09

27 Jun '09

Dear Professionals, I have been appointed as Librarian for PU College, Harihara, Davanagere very recently. Post- joining I found library as just “store room of books”. Nothing is maintained properly 1. No sufficience Room, reading table, chairs and racks are not their. 2. Non of documents are recorded and catalogued. 3. Arrangement of documents runs ping-pong. 4. No Services provided. 5. No records for journals and magazines subscription details. 6. No details of budget usage. Hope I can get few of above mentioned problems solved and bring some standardization to this classic government library. Then start providing some basic LIS services. Hence I request some of experienced PU collage librarians to help me in knowing details of budget usage, maintenance and arrangement of documents followed in respective college’s and suggestion for development my library. -- Smitha C MLISc, M.Phil Librarian D R M Govt. PU College Harihara -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.

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Help regarding Right off books
by Pawan Agrawal 27 Jun '09

27 Jun '09

Dear professionals, I had joined my institution one year back. and that time the whole library was fully in choatic condition. there was one in charge librarian. even he had joined our library just before 6 or 7 month prior to me. I found there several accession register even that is in soft copy. there was no manual accession register. in such condition we had to belive one of the accession register as original. There is no reliable and proper records of books issued to the departemental libraries etc. Now when the person in charge of library left the institution overall functioning is managed by me. However I have not received any formal letter for charge transfer. In last five year no stock varification is done. When I varified stock I found around 350 books less than its number in accession register i.e.9500. Now the management is trying to blame me for such lose. Though I have done so much in last one year so I dont expect that management will take any action as they also aware about such condition and my work in last one year. Please suggest me what should I do in such condition. What is wright off ratio of books. we do around 1500 transaction per month. Please suggest me what further step I should take. -- Thanks and Regards Pawan R. Agrawal Assistant Librarian SBSK Medical Institute and Reseach Centre Library Sumandeep Vidyapeeth University At & Post. Piparia. 02668-245264 Ph. 9376135580 -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.

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UNESCO releases new publication on open educational resources
by Puna Das 27 Jun '09

27 Jun '09

UNESCO releases new publication on open educational resources 26-06-2009 (Paris) UNESCO has released its first openly licensed publication. Open Educational Resources: Conversations in Cyberspace brings together the background papers and reports from the first three years of activities in the UNESCO OER Community. Access the online edition – or buy the book! Education systems today face two major challenges: expanding the reach of education and improving its quality. Traditional solutions will not suffice, especially in the context of today's knowledge-intensive societies. Open Educational Resources (OER) offer one solution for extending learning opportunities. The goal of the OER movement is to equalize access to knowledge worldwide through sharing online high quality content. Open Educational Resources are digitalized materials offered freely and openly for use and reuse in teaching, learning and research. Since 2005, UNESCO has been at the forefront of building awareness about this movement by facilitating an extended conversation in cyberspace. A large and diverse international community has come together to discuss the concept and potential of OER in a series of online forums. The background papers and reports from the first three years of discussions are now available in print. Open Educational Resources: Conversations in Cyberspace provides an overview of the first steps of this exciting new development: it captures the conversations between leaders of some of the first OER projects,and documents early debates on the issues that continue to challenge the movement. The publication will provide food for thought for all those intrigued by OER – its promise and its progress. Open Educational Resources: Conversations in Cyberspace is UNESCO's first openly licensed publication – an indication of the commitment of the Organization to the sharing of knowledge and the free flow of ideas. UNESCO’s OER Community is active since 2005; it connects almost 900 individuals in over 100 countries to share information and work collaboratively on issues surrounding the production and use of Open Educational Resources. UNESCO’s work on OER is generously supported by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. Access the online edition: http://oerwiki.iiep-unesco.org/index.php?title=Open_Educational_Resources:_… Source: http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=28899&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECT… ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Anup Kumar Das New Delhi, India http://anupkumardas.blogspot.com/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ICC World Twenty20 England '09 exclusively on YAHOO! CRICKET http://cricket.yahoo..com -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.

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Post of Information Analyst at HP - repeat announcement
by Mailing List Admin 26 Jun '09

26 Jun '09

Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:57:02 +0000 From: "Minj, Suvarsha (HP Labs India)" <suvarsha.minj(a)hp.com> Dear Friends, There is a requirement for the post of Information Analyst at HP Labs India. The job description is given below. Please forward if you know a suitable candidate. Communication skills must be excellent. Content creation and management experience will be an advantage. You can send you applications to suvarsha.minj(a)hp.com The lab is located near Forum Mall in Koramangala. This is a contract position, but I don't see a problem of renewal for a good performer. Those of you who applied for the same position earlier need not apply again. Your resume will be considered. Thanks and regards, Suvarsha, Information Analyst, HP Labs India Bangalore About HP Labs India: HP Labs India has been established with the principal focus on creating new technologies for addressing the IT needs of the next billion customers of HP. A large majority of these new customers arise from rapidly growing markets such as India with distinct technological, social and economic characteristics. By understanding this context deeply, HP Labs aims to create new and relevant technologies. Job Profile: HP Labs is looking for an information analyst for the following information handling activities. 1. To provide information search support to staff members of the lab 2. To manage the lab's library and digital archive. 3. To handle creation and maintenance of the content of the Lab's internal and external websites 4. To create newsletters of items relevant to the activities of the lab and about the activities of the lab 5. To coordinate the creation of research updates on the lab's activities 6. To prepare news items and copy edit articles More details of these activities are given below: 1. Information Search a. Current awareness (information monitoring and alerting); track and update information content related to the areas of interest of the lab. This would involve identifying sources of information for these areas both online and hard copy and alerting the lab personnel periodically b. On-demand searches: There could be requests from staff members for information resources in a specified area. Given the broad requirements the objective would be to find all relevant material related to that and submit that information to the requester in electronic form 2. Library and Digital Archive a. Manage the lab's library b. Archive digital artifacts produced internally using DSpace. 3. Website content creation and maintenance a. Help the labs keep the content of its internal and external websites upto date. 4. Newsletters a. A newsletter covering news that is relevant to the lab's activities b. A newsletter covering the major activities of the lab 5. Research Updates a. Coordinate the creation of research updates of the lab giving more information about the lab's activities 6. Copy editing and news publishing a. Copy edit articles and create short news items that convey the work that is being carried out for publication in newspapers/magazines 7. Technical publication process a. To be the owner of the process for external and internal publications (approvals, copyright management, etc.) Location: Near Forum Mall, Hosur Road, Koramangala, Bangalore. Note: This is a contract position renewed annually. Contact: Please send your resumes to suvarsha.minj(a)hp.com Thanks and regards, Suvarsha Information Analyst, HP Labs India, Bangalore

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DELISAA Alumni Meeting 2009
by Dr. K M Haneefa 25 Jun '09

25 Jun '09

Dear Fellow Alumni, We are cordially inviting you to the Alumni meeting of the Department of Library and Information Science Alumni Association (DELISAA), University of Calicut on July 4, 2009. We believe that you are looking forward to meeting old classmates and teachers, reminiscing memorable experiences and sharing your stories of success with them. We request you to contact us as soon as possible confirming your participation. Please forward this message to your batch-mates and other alumni of the Department of Library and Information Science, University of Calicut. Alternatively, you can provide us with their contact details and we would be happy to spread the word. Please confirm your presence at the event by replying to – cudlisc(a)gmail.com Phone No. 9446418742 With warm regards, Venue: Seminar Complex,University Calicut Date and Time: July 4, 2009. 10.00 AM to 3.00 PM Dr. Mohamed Haneefa K Lecturer Dept. of Library & Information Science University of Calicut, Kerala, India Phone (Office) :+91-494-2401144* 286 Mobile No. 09895622811 E-mail ID: hanee4u(a)gmail.com Dept. Blog:http://cudlisc.blogspot.com -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.

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help
by unnikkannan ob 25 Jun '09

25 Jun '09

Please give me the datails of the qualifications prescribed by AICTE for Librarians in Diploma Level Technical Institutions anticipating your reply at the earliest thanking you Unnikkannan.O.B Librarian N.S.S Polytechnic College Mannam Nagar P.O Pandalam Kerala -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.

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Time for a change: survival thoughts
by Vimal Kumar 25 Jun '09

25 Jun '09

I just returned to Trivandrum after attending MDP for librarians organised by DCSMAT.Many nice sessions were covered in that program including killer apps like web 2.0. Various sessions in the MDP evoked many thoughts in my mind regarding librarianship in dynamic competitive environment. The main thing I observed is that, new services in WWW changed the information and community building behavior of all types of library users. I don't think librarians vanish in the storm of these changes. But we must be more serious in the application of web 2.0 tools for marketing of library services and showcase information products. Are Indian librarians ready to make use of these services in their library environment? Where do we get training in emerging technologies? Who will provide the training? Who are our competitors; search engines, electronic content providers? Can we be as fast as our competitors ? Lot of questions still remaining. Another interesting truth is that, library users are acquiring skills in effective information retrieval usinguser friendly tools (e.g. Yahoo Pipes, *pipes*.*yahoo*.com) without the help of information professionals. We still continue as custodian of physical documents. What will happen to our profession, if a new killer application (think about Amazon Kindle) replace books and periodicals? We can hope that, things may not change within 10 years.But, we have to forecast the developments and have to equip our professional mind to accept the changes. We can observe the competition facing public libraries from television and online social networks. Most of the public libraries in Kerala (about 6000 public libraries in Kerala) is facing similar competition and they strive hard to survive. I would like to present some thoughts for survival from David Lee King (*http://tinyurl.com/lqz324*), 1. What do you do better than everyone else? Focus on that. Prioritize that. 2. You’re a natural community gathering place. Focus on your community. Feed it. Grow it. 3. Ask people why they don’t use your library. Use that information to improve your services. 4. Find your largest population segment of “potential patrons” and focus on growing patrons there. 5. Don’t focus on yourself or your stuff – instead, turn your focus on your customers and their needs. 6. Maybe it’s something as simple as rearranging your stuff so normal people can actually find things. We can do better than LC or Dewey call number order. Really. 7. Work on improving the experience at your library – both in the library and digitally. According to a user study (Time for a CHANGE: NEW approaches for a NEW generation of LIBRARY USERS by Tamar Sadeh), Internet tools and services provide ease of use, access and speed.Therefore, users prefer online information search tools despite their respect for and trust in the library’s resources. I think this the good time for change and we must follow new approaches for a new generation of library users. -- Vimal Kumar V. Asst. Librarian Asian School of Business Technopark, Trivandrum-695 581 Web: www.vimalkumar.co.nr Blog: http://vimalkumar.oksociety.in OK Society Volunteer. http://oksociety.in --------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I forget what I was taught. I only remember what I have learnt" -Patrick White -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.

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