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LIS Departments need Accreditation System and New Courses
by J. K. Vijayakumar 04 Dec '07

04 Dec '07

Dear Colleagues, It is good to see the ongoing discussion about integration of ICT technologies to LIS Courses in India. I agree that we need to incorporate ICT in LIS Syllabus, and most of the Departments have done that already. I doubt about the quantity practical orientation provided by them, it varies from one to another. A good IT lab with latest hardware and software is still a dream for many of the Departments. Few of them have collaboration with IT / Computer Science departments. This is the era or Globalisation and Specialisation. India is trying to become a developed nation, and we have to think from this background. In this regards, I have two points to discuss. 1. Our main problem is that, we do not have a "National Accreditation Process for Library Science Programmes" in India. NAAC accredits the Universities as a total. There are national library associations bearing this responsibility in developed nations, like ALA for USA, CILIP for UK etc. The accreditation process is carried out regularly and Departments will get accreditation for 5 /6 years. The course, syllabus, teaching methods, ability of faculty, facilities etc are standardised or regularised through this process. Departments failing in accreditation can not attract students, because the employers always prefer to appoint candidates with an accredited degree. If we implement this system in India, we can set standards for LIS Departments and its courses. We can approach associations from other countries to get our Courses recognised, may be in developed countries like USA and UK. Indian Library Association should take up this issue and find out the ways to start accreditation process in India. This will help us in making our candidates globally accepted. With my experience, I know that it is not simple as I wrote here, but we should start somewhere. 2. Second point is about starting new (specialised) courses. If you watch LIS Departments in developed countries, you can see atleast two or three master level courses are offered by them. Those are specialised courses, but clearly fits in our area of services, like Knowledge Management, Information Science, Medical/Helath librarianship, Information Systems, Electronic Information Management, Digital Libraries, School Librarianship etc apart from pure Library and Information Science. In India, our tendency is that, we compress all these subjects in to a 2 year course and call it as MLISc. Along with MLISc, why can't we think of starting few more Masters from any of the above mentioned areas. We also need specialisation in our Courses to supply specialised library professionals to the present vibrant job market. Market needs Knowledge Managers, Digital Librarians, Medical Librarians, Information Analysts etc. For this, along with the present faculty members, we may need new members or collaboration with other departments. I hope our teachers, practitioners and celebreties in Indian LIS will give importance to these two points. Thanks for reading. Dr. J. K. Vijayakumar --------------------------------- Need a vacation? Get great deals to amazing places on Yahoo! Travel. -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.

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Infolibrarian is back!!!
by moumita dey 04 Dec '07

04 Dec '07

Dear All, one of our favourite site Infolibrarian, now can be accessed at http://www.infolibrarian.com/index.htm. We missed it for long days!! Search through Google still results in portlandX, means some more problems are still there. But the desired page is accessible directly using the above mentioned link. rgrds, Moumita Dey -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.

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InfoVision 2007-the Knowledge Summit - Round the Corner-Hurry Up!
by Angrosh 04 Dec '07

04 Dec '07

InfoVision 2007 The Knowledge Summit, Dec 17-18, 2007, The ITC Maratha, Mumbai ----------- Come to InfoVision 2007. Listen to... Inaugural Speaker · Dr. F C Kohli, Father of Indian Software Industry (Former Vice-Chairman, Tata Consultancy Services) Other Keynote Speakers: · Mr. Ajit Balakrishnan, Founder Chairman and CEO, Rediff.com · Mr. John Blossom, President & Senior Analyst, Shore Communications Inc., USA · Mr. Sriram Bharatam, iridiumInteractive Ltd. · Prof. Hsinchun Chen, University of Arizona, USA · Dr. Jayanta Chatterjee, Professor, IME Dept., Kanpur · Prof. Noshir Contractor, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, USA · Mr. Ashok Krish, TCS · Dr. Kris Kumar, Professor, PESIT, Bangalore · Dr. Kavi Mahesh, Knowledge Management Consultant, Infosys & Professor, Dept. of Computer Science, PESIT, Bangalore · Dr. Pandu Nayak, Google, USA · Dr. Bino Paul G.D., Associate Professor, TISS, Mumbai · Dr. Prabhakar Raghavan, Head, Yahoo! Research, USA · Prof. Vijay V. Raghavan, Distinguished Professor, University of Louisiana, Lafayette, USA · Mr. A.S. Rao, Advisor, DSIR, Govt. of India · Dr. Madanmohan Rao, AMICC · Mr. Satya Rao, CEO, Axiom Consulting, Bangalore · Ms. Waltraut Ritter, Knowledge Enterprises, HK · Mr. Arun Ramanujapuram, Director of Advanced Technology, Yahoo! · Prof. Rohini Srihari, CEO, Janya Inc. and Faculty Member, State University of New York, Buffalo · Dr. L. Venkata Subramaniam, Research Staff Member, IBM India Research Lab (IRL) · Mr. Rohit Agarwal, Founder and CEO, techTribe Networks, USA & India · Mr. Bob Stembridge, Thomson Scientific, UK · Dr. G.S. Singh, TCS Session Themes: · Small World, Network Theories and Models · Web 2.0 and Mashups · Social Networking and the Semantic Web · Weblogs and the Wisdom of the Crowds · Organizational Communication and Group Dynamics · Networks, Creativity and Innovation · Innovation and Knowledge Assets Special Attraction 2007 Thomson Innovation Award, 17th Dec, 2007 evening during the gala dinner Registration Fee: Corporate and Industry: INR 8000.00 per delegate Academic Institutions: INR 6000.00 per delegate Students: INR 4000.00 per delegate 3 or more delegates from same organization 10% discount 10 % special discount for CSE, BCIC & K-Community Members For online registration and updates: www.infovision2007.org Register online, tell your friends, come and participate in the stimulating discussions. For more details, contact: International School of Information Management University of Mysore, Manasagangotri Mysore 570 006 Tel: +91-821-2514699; +91-821-2411417 Fax: +91-821-2519209 Angrosh - 9886970411 Email: office(a)infovision.org.in; office(a)isim.ac.in See you at InfoVision 2007! -------- ************************************* M. A. Angrosh Project Manager International School of Information Management University of Mysore, Manasagangotri Mysore - 570 006 Tel: +91-821-2514699; Fax: +91-821-2519209 Email: angrosh(a)isim.ac.in website: www.isim.ac.in ******************************************** -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.

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IT now happens in India!!!!: Library NEXT
by Sukhdev Singh 04 Dec '07

04 Dec '07

Dear Friends, Fully functional Next Generation libraries now becoming reality in India. This I realized only last Saturday (1st December 2007). I happened to visit NATIONAL SOCIAL SCIENCE DOCUMENTATION CENTRE-NASSDOC (ICSSR) at 35, Ferozeshah Road, New Delhi 110 001. They hosted a meeting of "Ranganathan Research Circle". After the meeting, the hosts took us for a visit of their library. Well I was fascinated to see latest technology working for their library. An ordinary library user needs to have his / her RFID embedded library card to get hold and carry home a book of his/her choice. That too without having to come in personal contact with library staff. The reader would be able to enter the library by swiping one's card at a special entry / exit automated gate. Once in the library, the user can search library catalogue. It is computerised and available in the form of an online database commonly known as OPAC - Online Public Access Catalogue. I found three terminal aesthetically placed in front of large banner depicting the utility of catalogue. Searching OPAC could be useful. But as we know, most users would browse through the stacks. This comes naturally to human mind. One can easily browse the library stack area with help of guides. These guides are full of colours with well thought out background and labels. Book stakes are made of wood that matches with the lovely atmosphere of the library. The shelves are made of think glass slabs. Not wonder sliding books to withdraw give a silky touch and hence protect book edges. All books have a RFID tag pasted below the accession slip. The tag is in the shape of a white small square patch that is noticed only when observed. After getting a document of choice, one can choose to sit in a well lighted reading area. Few computer workstations are also available. So internet and electronic databases are are also available to readers. Taking a book home is easy. Keep it with library card on the Automated Issue / Return Kiosk. Issue it and take it away. The automated security exit would not make any fuss. I hope Indian Libraries would soon witness adoption of such innovative technologies. The library staff would be spared from routine issue / return activities. Now they can devote their time and energy in some better activities. The 'stereo typed public perception' about librarians would also change. So can we call such libraries as ATM Libraries? I have blogged the above message with few photographs. You may like to see the photographs. You may also leave you comments there. http://sukhdev.blogspot.com/2007/12/it-now-happens-in-india-library-next.ht… or http://snipurl.com/1ulrs Regards --Sukhdev Singh, NIC. -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.

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Re: [LIS-Forum] Library education
by Aman Jha 04 Dec '07

04 Dec '07

Dear All This is a very good write up. Those who are new to the Lis-Forum would like to adhere to the standard of writing on the forum like this. I find here much more clarity on the topic, original & balanced thoughts, simple expression and moreover, there is no junk in the body. We must focus on these issues while sending a message on this Forum or any other discussion forum. I request moderator to encourage such write up and invite original intellectual contribution. Note: Please do not relate this message to the ongoing discussion on Library science education. Regards, Aman Jha -----Original Message----- From: lis-forum-bounces(a)ncsi.iisc.ernet.in [mailto:lis-forum-bounces@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in] On Behalf Of Rajan Sent: Monday, December 03, 2007 4:03 PM To: Lis forum Subject: [LIS-Forum] Library education Dear All, This refers to the ongoing discussion on library training or subject specialisation of the grooming librarians. Librarians should emerge as knowledge managers in their institution, on their specific subject and in the community around them particularly because we live in a knowledge society. For that we should learn the specific subjects, our library handles, with the eagerness of a Professor and keep in touch with the information technologies like an enthusiastic computer man. He should not ignore the core library subjects and his role in the knowledge generation-supply-use chain. It is the duty of the enterprising library school student or young professionals to learn themselves all these by continuous efforts. It is better if the library schools provide a basic frame and motivation rather than teaching all necessary subjects. It is impossible too as the library schools may have that much subject expertise. The situation of most of our library schools are far from satisfactory to groom capable library professionals. If some professionals coming out from the schools are performing good. it may be because they hav put in extra efforts and have used their common sense well. I think it is high time to look at the deficiencies in our profession and use the excellent opportunities offered by the emergent knowledge society, computers, information technologies, Internet, focus on knowledge management etc. Now ample opportunities are there for self learning anything from swiming to driving to creating bombs using self -instructonal manuals available in Internet. Library professionals should use such opportunities..Learning any computer application is not at all a difficult thing as in the past. There was a time when even installing our cds-isis was a herculean task. If any library school or teacher claims that all is well, it shows the lack of his exposure or his disinterest in making his students as good peformers.It is a difficult to remain as a good teacher in a library school, when everything is changing so fast. Any library professional should have a good knowledge on library science, the specific subject he deals with and information technologies. We can go ahead only when we learn that we know less and there exist a lot more to learn. Regards,. K Rajasekharan Librarian, Kerala Institute of Local Administration(KILA) Mulagunnathukavu, Thrissur - 680581 , India Ph 0487 - 2200244+208 (O) 2201428 (R) -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. _______________________________________________ LIS-Forum mailing list LIS-Forum(a)ncsi.iisc.ernet.in http://ncsi.iisc.ernet.in/mailman/listinfo/lis-forum DISCLAIMER:The information in this message may be privileged. If you have received it by mistake please notify the sender by return e-mail and delete the message from your system. Any unauthorised use or dissemination of this message in whole or in part is strictly prohibited. Any information in this message that does not relate to official business shall be understood to be neither given nor endorsed by the Confederation of Indian Industry. Reach us via our unique Membership Helpline: 00-91-11-435 46244 / 00-99104 46244 (Monday-Saturday: 0900-1700 hrs) -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.

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Know about HINARI project to access to 3500 journals of major publishers
by Binod Yadav 04 Dec '07

04 Dec '07

Dear friends, The Health Internetwork Access to Research Initiative( HINARI) project set up by WHO with collaboration of major publishers. This project provides free or very low cost online access to about 3500 journals and databases in biomedical and related fields. For more details, open the given website. http://www.who.int/hinari/en/ URL http://www.healthinternetwork.net Binod Yadav MLISc Student Dept. of Library & Information Science University of Mysore Manasagangotri, Mysore-06 -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.

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DRTC Seminar
by samiksha yadav 04 Dec '07

04 Dec '07

Topic: RFID and its Application with Emphasis on Libraries Date: 5th Dec 2007, 2:00 PM Venue: DRTC Classroom Speaker: Radha Rani --------------------------------- Get easy, one-click access to your favorites. Make Yahoo! your homepage. -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.

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Librarians from other countries visit THE HINDU library, Chennai - a report in THE HINDU
by sankaran arumugam 04 Dec '07

04 Dec '07

Dear All, An interesting report published in THE HINDU on page 2 of Chennai Edn. Highlights: SHARING INFORMATION: Chief Librarian of The Hindu K. Rajendrababu interacts with librarians taking the certificate course in modern library practices for overseas library professionals at The Hindu office in Chennai on Monday. CHENNAI: Librarians from several Asian, African and South American countries visited The Hindu library on Monday as part of a certificate course in modern library practices. India is far ahead of several other developing countries when it comes to using technology in libraries, several of them said. For detailed report, please click the following link http://www.hindu.com/2007/12/04/stories/2007120492170200.htm With regards Sankaran A --------------------------------- Get the freedom to save as many mails as you wish. Click here to know how. -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.

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Favorite leisure time activities - Reading tops
by Aman Jha 04 Dec '07

04 Dec '07

Dear All There is an interesting report recently released by Harris Interactive Inc on favorite leisure time activities among Americans. And the most favorite among top five activities is still READING. May be an interesting read for all of you. Aspirant research scholars may find this as interesting research topic. Top five leisure-time activities---------------->>>>>>>>>>> 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2007 % % % % % % Reading 31 28 26 24 35 29 TV Watching 23 20 15 17 21 18 Spending time with family/kids 14 12 11 17 20 14 Computer activities 6 7 4 5 7 9 Going to movies 6 7 6 7 10 7 View report - http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=835 Regards, Aman Jha Librarian Confederation of Indian Industry 249-F, Sector 18, Udyog Vihar, Phase IV Gurgaon - 122 015, Haryana Reach us via our Membership Helpline (Monday-Saturday: 0900-1715 hrs). Dial: +91-11-43546244 / 9910446244 DISCLAIMER:The information in this message may be privileged. If you have received it by mistake please notify the sender by return e-mail and delete the message from your system. Any unauthorised use or dissemination of this message in whole or in part is strictly prohibited. Any information in this message that does not relate to official business shall be understood to be neither given nor endorsed by the Confederation of Indian Industry. Reach us via our unique Membership Helpline: 00-91-11-435 46244 / 00-99104 46244 (Monday-Saturday: 0900-1700 hrs) -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.

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Re: [LIS-Forum] Friday Talk by Dr. M.S. Sridhar at MyDLIS
by T. Shahab 03 Dec '07

03 Dec '07

The brief information about the lecture by Dr. Sridhar and the subsequent interaction with students reveal that the session would have been very fruitful and lively. To me the crux of the problem lies in the decreasing reading habit among youths and students. Why so? The problem lies in the methodology of education and teaching. Low interest on creativity, lack of originality in presentation, development of a mind set which seek ready made & quick results; we don't feel shy of rehashing things; etc & etc. Regards. -----Original Message----- From: lis-forum-bounces(a)ncsi.iisc.ernet.in [mailto:lis-forum-bounces@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in] On Behalf Of N.S. Harinarayana Sent: Saturday, December 01, 2007 11:16 AM To: Listforum Subject: [LIS-Forum] Friday Talk by Dr. M.S. Sridhar at MyDLIS Mysore University Library and Information Science Student Association (MULISSA) of the Department of Library and Information Science, University of Mysore, Mysore organised a Friday lecture by Dr. M.S. Sridhar, Head, Library and Documentation, ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore on the topic 'Librarianship as a profession' on November 30, 2007. A summary of the lecture and the student interaction which followed is given below. Libraries are under utilized. Only 1.5% of the population have access to the libraries. The myth that evolution of Internet has made libraries redundant contributes further to the less use of libraries. Dr. Sridhar counter argued that in spite of invasion of technology number of printed books and journals has not reduced. On the other hand it has increased. He said one in five books published and one out of three books borrowed from libraries are related to IT. If IT eliminates the printed books, why this trend he questioned. Dr. Sridhar presented some of the quality issues that need to be taken note of by the Internet users. Authenticity and accuracy are the major ones. Libraries are more reliable source for a common man. Filtering mechanism adopted in libraries ensures the quality and accuracy. On the other hand, Internet is increasingly becoming more popular creating the impression that libraries are no more required. Dr. Sridhar trying to rationalise this trend said accessibility, ease of use and perceived utility are the major factors for popularity of Internet. He opined that Internet and IT are supplement to the libraries and in real perspectives they are not threats. Giving some tips for students Dr. Sridhar said that domain knowledge (library based skills), communication, research bent of mind, reading habit and ICT skills are the expected core competencies by the employers. He said that competition for job is increasing as number of qualified professionals coming out of library schools has increasing drastically. A huge chunk of graduates are coming out of library schools from open universities. This has created an imbalance between supply and demand as for as library professionals are concerned. In this context Dr. Sridhar gave advice to the students that they should go for specialization and be ready when the opportunity arises. Dr. Sridhar's lecture was followed by an interesting and elaborate interactive session. Students asked varieties of questions and sought clarifications on various intriguing issues. Some of the questions asked/issues discussed are as follows: - Can Internet substitute a library? - Whether the present university syllabus enough for developing a good librarian? - How can one encourage young people to read? - How to ascertain needs/wants of remote readers in the context of digital libraries? - How one should equip to get good job? - What are the core competencies of librarians? - Whether classification and cataloguing are redundant in Internet era? - How to improve social status of libraries? - Libraries have been changing their names over the years from 'Libraries' to 'Knowledge centres', 'Information Centres' to 'Information Kiosks' etc. Whether this change in name inevitable? -- N.S. Harinarayana, Ph.D Department of Library and Information Science University of Mysore, Manasagangtori Mysore 570 006 Off. Ph: (0821) 2419399 -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. _______________________________________________ LIS-Forum mailing list LIS-Forum(a)ncsi.iisc.ernet.in http://ncsi.iisc.ernet.in/mailman/listinfo/lis-forum -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.

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