- LIS-Forum - ncsi.iisc.ernet.in

open course ware
by Subbiah Arunachalam 27 Apr '06

27 Apr '06

From Peter Suber's blog How can open courseware make education better? Toru Iiyoshi, Opportunity is Knocking: Will Education Open the Door? Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, April 2006. (Thanks to A.G. Rud.) Excerpt: [O]ne of open education's most critical questions --how can open education's tools and resources demonstrably improve education quality?-- [is] rarely mentioned [at conferences on open education]....The main tenet of open education is to make educational assets freely available to the public. This is becoming easier and less expensive as network and multimedia technology evolves....But several obstacles may stand in the way of using these and other powerful tools and resources in ways that will actually improve the quality of education. First, although the tools and resources are readily available, transferring practical knowledge about how to use them is not easy. Indeed, this kind of pedagogical know-how is notoriously hard to make visible and portable....[T]he vast majority of this kind of practical knowledge remains tacit and invisible in the experiences of the educator or educators who created the materials....This is why Carnegie's Knowledge Media Lab is working...to develop and disseminate support tools and resources that capture not only materials but the stories and experiences of real teachers using those materials in...concrete settings.... Second, true success in open education requires a change in education culture and policy. The education community values activities like scholarly writing and pursuing new research questions....But...adapting or improving another's educational materials is rarely understood to be a creative, valuable contribution.... Finally, we must look beyond institutional boundaries and connect efforts among many settings and open source entrepreneurs....An initiative like the Sakai Project, for example, which is working to design, build, and deploy a new online education platform that includes course management, electronic portfolio, assessment, collaboration, communication, and other tools actually coordinates multi-institutional collaborative efforts and offers institutions the chance to collectively advance teaching and learning....This is the kind of cooperation and knowledge sharing that will catapult open education to a new level. ...I anticipate three dramatic improvements over time: increased quality of tools and resources, more effective use, and greater individual and collective pedagogical knowledge. Ideally, all will occur simultaneously, combining local classroom innovations and learned lessons through global knowledge sharing....Opportunity is knocking. Will we open the door? From Peter Suber's blog How can open courseware make education better? Toru Iiyoshi, http://www.carnegiefoundation.org/perspectives/sub.asp?key=245&subkey=1151 Opportunity is Knocking: Will Education Open the Door? Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching , April 2006. (Thanks to A.G. Rud.) Excerpt: [O]ne of open education's most critical questions --how can open education's tools and resources demonstrably improve education quality?-- [is] rarely mentioned [at conferences on open education]....The main tenet of open education is to make educational assets freely available to the public. This is becoming easier and less expensive as network and multimedia technology evolves....But several obstacles may stand in the way of using these and other powerful tools and resources in ways that will actually improve the quality of education. First, although the tools and resources are readily available, transferring practical knowledge about how to use them is not easy. Indeed, this kind of pedagogical know-how is notoriously hard to make visible and portable....[T]he vast majority of this kind of practical knowledge remains tacit and invisible in the experiences of the educator or educators who created the materials....This is why Carnegie's http://www.carnegiefoundation.org/KML Knowledge Media Lab is working...to develop and disseminate support tools and resources that capture not only materials but the stories and experiences of real teachers using those materials in...concrete settings.... Second, true success in open education requires a change in education culture and policy. The education community values activities like scholarly writing and pursuing new research questions....But...adapting or improving another's educational materials is rarely understood to be a creative, valuable contribution.... Finally, we must look beyond institutional boundaries and connect efforts among many settings and open source entrepreneurs....An initiative like the http://www.sakaiproject.org Sakai Project , for example, which is working to design, build, and deploy a new online education platform that includes course management, electronic portfolio, assessment, collaboration, communication, and other tools actually coordinates multi-institutional collaborative efforts and offers institutions the chance to collectively advance teaching and learning....This is the kind of cooperation and knowledge sharing that will catapult open education to a new level. ...I anticipate three dramatic improvements over time: increased quality of tools and resources, more effective use, and greater individual and collective pedagogical knowledge. Ideally, all will occur simultaneously, combining local classroom innovations and learned lessons through global knowledge sharing....Opportunity is knocking. Will we open the door?

1 0

LIS Courses : International Accreditation/Certification
by J. K. Vijayakumar 27 Apr '06

27 Apr '06

Hello all, Few months back, there was a discussion in Indian LIS forums about the accreditation of Indian LIS course at international level. I would like to inform you that IFLA has started a new Discussion group named "LIS Education in Developing Countries: Discussion Group". Please visit http://www.ifla.org/VII/dg/lisdg/index.htm for details. -------------------------- J. K. Vijayakumar --------------------------------- How low will we go? Check out Yahoo! Messengers low PC-to-Phone call rates. Hello all, Few months back, there was a discussion in Indian LIS forums about the accreditation of Indian LIS course at international level. I would like to inform you that IFLA has started a new Discussion group named "LIS Education in Developing Countries: Discussion Group". Please visit http://www.ifla.org/VII/dg/lisdg/index.htm http://www.ifla.org/VII/dg/lisdg/index.htm for details. -------------------------- J. K. Vijayakumar How low will we go? Check out Yahoo! Messengers low http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mail_us/taglines/postman8/*http://us.rd.yahoo.com/ev… PC-to-Phone call rates.

1 0

excemption from NET SET exams for Librarians
by Chitra P Rao 26 Apr '06

26 Apr '06

We have to view this requirement in its totality. More librarians work in Insttiutes and Organisations who have not had any teaching experience nor do they aspire to become teachers without the experience. Hence while the NET SET requirement for teaching positions are relevant for doing PHD's for those who are working on their own or as part of a group should also be given the opportunity of doing a PHD without the NET SET requirement in all universities. Only some do not have that as a primary requirement. For a person with 15-20 years work ex and who wants to do PHD it is indeed very difficult to appear for the NET SET exams. hence while reconsidering the NET SET exams this aspect may be given some consideration. As a large number of Librarians are non teachers also. Thank you. Sr Librarian and Head LIS NITIE Mumbai 400 087 ph: 28573371 extn 337

2 1

UGC NET/ SLET for LIS professionals.
by rajesh bhardwaj 26 Apr '06

26 Apr '06

From:- Rajesh Kumar Bhardwaj http://www.rajweb.info Dear All Professionals, I am very thankful and agree with all those who support the NET compulsion and strongly recommend that NET should remain eligibility criteria for Lecturer / Assistant Librarian / College Librarians because the wheel of educational reforms can not go back in 20th century. I have done NET in first attempt but still waiting for appropriate status and feel that NET should remain on top. Please send your response by filling the questionnaire available at http://www.ugc.ac.in/inside/net_review.doc further details are available at (http://www.ugc.ac.in/inside/net_review%20_mungekar.pdf) with kind regards, RKB From:- Rajesh Kumar Bhardwaj http://www.rajweb.info http://www.rajweb.info Dear All Professionals, I am very thankful and agree with all those who support the NET compulsion and strongly recommend that NET should remain eligibility criteria for Lecturer / Assistant Librarian / College Librarians because the wheel of educational reforms can not go back in 20 th century. I have done NET in first attempt but still waiting for appropriate status and feel that NET should remain on top. Please send your response by filling the questionnaire available at http://www.ugc.ac.in/inside/net_review.doc http://www.ugc.ac.in/inside/net_review.doc further details are available at ( http://www.ugc.ac.in/inside/net_review%20_mungekar.pdf http://www.ugc.ac.in/inside/net_review%20_mungekar.pdf ) with kind regards, RKB

1 0

indianjournals.com
by Chandrima Roy 26 Apr '06

26 Apr '06

Dear All, We would like to introduce Indianjournals.com in this forum, which is an effort of <http://www.indianjournals.com/other_sites/de/index.htm> DIVAN ENTERPRISES to provide single platform to Indian Journals and highlight Indian contributions internationally. Indianjournals.com is a year old venture that presently hosts 34 Indian Publications from 28 different societies covering 8 subjects so far. We are continuously increasing the number of Indian Publications and invite the Societies to come up with their journals to get the same hosted on the common platform. We also seek your preferences in adding journals to this platform. Full-text articles of many journals are available free on the website. We are also providing online subscriptions to the paid journals available and offering exclusive Package Deals too! For more information, please log on to our website: http://www.indianjournals.com <http://www.indianjournals.com/> or contact us for further details and queries. Thanks & Regards Greesh Kr. Behal (General Manager) indianjournals.com B-9, Basement, "A" Block Local Shopping Complex Naraina Vihar, Ring Road New Delhi - 110028 Mob. +91-9350230872 Website : http://www.indianjournals.com <http://www.indianjournals.com/> Email: gbehal(a)indianjournals.com  [A] Dear All, We would like to introduce Indianjournals.com in this forum, which is an effort of http://www.indianjournals.com/other_sites/de/index.htm DIVAN ENTERPRISES to provide single platform to Indian Journals and highlight Indian contributions internationally. Indianjournals.com is a year old venture that presently hosts 34 Indian Publications from 28 different societies covering 8 subjects so far. We are continuously increasing the number of Indian Publications and invite the Societies to come up with their journals to get the same hosted on the common platform. We also seek your preferences in adding journals to this platform. Full-text articles of many journals are available free on the website. We are also providing online subscriptions to the paid journals available and offering exclusive Package Deals too! For more information, please log on to our website: http://www.indianjournals.com/ http://www.indianjournals.com or contact us for further details and queries. Thanks & Regards Greesh Kr. Behal (General Manager) indianjournals.com B-9, Basement, “A” Block Local Shopping Complex Naraina Vihar , Ring Road New Delhi – 110028 Mob. +91-9350230872 Website : http://www.indianjournals.com/ http://www.indianjournals.com Email: mailto:gbehal@indianjournals.com gbehal(a)indianjournals.com � �

1 0

M.Phil and Ph.D Issue ............
by yekanath kamble 26 Apr '06

26 Apr '06

Dear all, Of course i have not cleared any of these exams.I feel exemption for NET/SLET is not required. Based on the previous poor perform in academics the UGC has made this system which can inculcate the high standards in higher education system in india.Yes, there is no need to underestimate the candidates who posses M.Phil/PhD degrees in exceptional cases. As i observed in seven years experience in most of the sectors there is no frankly good treatment for library professionals as equal grades as employee in there respective parent organization?. So, couple of months back i noticed a mail from maharastra regarding this in this forum. As all of us know there are several universities in india offering distance education from Certificate course to Ph.d level in Library info. sc. do's any body will expect efficient practical knowledge in them about the profession?. Will there be any value for talented candidates? What will be the fate of profession status then?. Let it be there M.Phil and Ph.D after clearing this sort of NET/SLET (Agni Pariksha) only. If such exams are made mandatory. I feel there is respect for deserved candidates in all branched of knowledge. with regards. YEKANATH N KAMBLE ASST.LIBRARIAN R V COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING,MYSORE ROAD, BANGALORE-59 (INDIA) PH.91-80-28600351/28604705/28600184 FAX : 91 - 80 - 2860 0337 MOBILE.9448585358 --------------------------------- Celebrate Earth Day everyday! Discover 10 things you can do to help slow climate change. Yahoo! Earth Day Dear all, Of course i have not cleared any of these exams.I feel exemption for NET/SLET is not required. Based on the previous poor perform in academics the UGC has made this system which can inculcate the high standards in higher education system in india.Yes, there is no need to underestimate the candidates who posses M.Phil/PhD degrees in exceptional cases. As i observed in seven years experience in most of the sectors there is no frankly good treatment for library professionals as equal grades as employee in there respective parent organization?. So, couple of months back i noticed a mail from maharastra regarding this in this forum. As all of us know there are several universities in india offering distance education from Certificate course to Ph.d level in Library info. sc. do's any body will expect efficient practical knowledge in them about the profession?. Will there be any value for talented candidates? What will be the fate of profession status then?. Let it be there M.Phil and Ph.D after clearing this sort of NET/SLET (Agni Pariksha) only. If such exams are made mandatory. I feel there is respect for deserved candidates in all branched of knowledge. with regards. YEKANATH N KAMBLE ASST.LIBRARIAN R V COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING,MYSORE ROAD, BANGALORE-59 (INDIA) PH.91-80-28600351/28604705/28600184 FAX : 91 - 80 - 2860 0337 MOBILE.9448585358 Celebrate Earth Day everyday! Discover 10 things you can do to help slow climate change. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mail_us/taglines/earthday/*http://earth.yahoo.com Yahoo! Earth Day

1 0

[LIS-Forum] Librarians' Duties: - BLOGS, WIKIs, WEBCASTS / PODCASTS, IM, RSS and WEB
by Sukhdev Singh 26 Apr '06

26 Apr '06

What would be the duties of Next Generation Librarians? Definitely it would include the following: --Distribution of content via digital tools such as blogs and wikis for the library system website. --Develop and deliver library instruction through podcasts and multimedia webcasts. --Promote community via new technologies within the library and virtually via IM and other emerging communication mechanisms. --Enhance Library's web presence with current content and methods for distribution such as RSS. --Investigate and implement new technologies that may enhance the Library System's web presence. Well, if you need some evidence to belief what I am talking about then visit the Wayne State University Library System requirements < http://www.ala.org/ala/acrlbucket/candrlnews/caropps/february2006/NextGener… > I can add some more to above: --Establishing and maintaining Open Access Institutional Repositories. --Facilitating Open Access Publishing. SO, ARE YOU READY TEACHERS / STUDENT LIBRARIANS? I keep my hands dirty and tab on these technologies at my Blog at http://sukhdev.blogspot.com --Sukhdev Singh

1 0

Re: RE: [LIS-Forum] "Re: NET relief mooted for MPhil, PhD students"
by Vijay Raghav Tiwari 26 Apr '06

26 Apr '06

Dear Aman I think merit never think in this direction. If one can give five years for getting a Ph.D., six months for NET. Any one who is a sincere in his/her subject can finish the NET just within next six months time. I feel that one who does not have any backing to get a job this gives a good standing amoung others, thats all. regards vrt On Tue, 25 Apr 2006 Aman Jha wrote : >Dear friends, > >I have different opinion. First of all I would like to say that getting PhD degree is a dream of a person. This must be regarded as the highest degree with respect. > >How can you underestimate those who have done only M.Phil/PhD and have no NET/SLET qualification? Do you want to say that you do MLIS and qualify NET/SLET for the Assistant Librarian? Thats it? You don't need to do M.Phil and PhD? Why don't then people recommend UGC to scrap M.Phil and PhD if it is not considered as merits of a candidate? Why do you consider meritorious to only those who have cleared NET/SLET? Achieving Higher qualifications depends on individual to individual. There are numerous examples of scholares who do not possess any M.Phil/PhD/Net/Slet and have proved to be subject expert and possess very good research skills. They have also taught as visiting professors in good universities. > >I think NET/SLET is an imposed qualification on Librarian. Just think about how many years do you need to spend in getting BLIS, MLIS and M.Phil/PhD after achieving excellence in Academics. Do you think that an engineer who has done Associateship from NISCAIR should again qualify NET/SLET just to prove his candidature whether he is meritorious or not? I do not think NET/SLET should be compulsory for those who have done M.Phil/PhD. > > >Rgds, >Aman Jha >Librarian >Confederation of Indian Industry >Plot No 249-F, Udyog Vihar, Phase IV >Sector 18, Gurgaon - 122015 (Haryana) >Tel: 0124-5014060-67 >aman.jha(a)ciionline.org >http://www.ciionline.org > > > > >-----Original Message----- > From: lis-forum-bounces(a)ncsi.iisc.ernet.in >[mailto:lis-forum-bounces@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in]On Behalf Of Vijay Raghav >Tiwari >Sent: Tuesday, 25 April 2006 9:50 >To: Susmita Chakraborty >Cc: lis-forum(a)ncsi.iisc.ernet.in >Subject: Re: [LIS-Forum] "Re: Contents of LIS-Forum digest...NET relief >mooted for MPhil, PhD students" > > > > >Dear All/Susmita > >I agree with you that NET should remain an eligibility criteria for Assistant Librarian/ College Librarians as it shows a nation wide acceptance. The merit must be honoured. I have done both but still I feel that NET should remain on top as it gives you an equal status as a professional. It subsides the difference of the different universities from where we had passed our M.L.I.Sc., hence I feel that it gives an equal status. Hope that other professinals will agree with me. >regards >vrt > > >On Mon, 24 Apr 2006 Susmita Chakraborty wrote : > >Dear All, > > > > > >Please refer to LIS Forum email message titled "NET relief mooted for > >MPhil, PhD students". I would like to share my personal observations > >in this regard. > > > >Firstly, let see who are qualifying UGC-NET/ SLET for Lecturership in > >Library and Information Science (LIS). The Meritorious or Talented or > >Hard-working LIS professionals are mostly qualifying these competitive > >examinations. > > > >On the other hand, let we see who are getting admission into MPHIL/ > >PHD programmes in LIS. Only few full-time MPHIL/ PHD courses are > >available in India as compared to total number of MLIS/AIS/ADIS passed > >outs. These full-time MPHIL/ PHD courses select student on the basis > >of Merit or NET/SLET. But they belong to only a few percent (about > >10%) of total MPHIL passed outs in India. Rest 90% percent students > >are getting admission into MPHIL courses on the basis of ability to > >pay hefty course fee (varies from Rs. 10,000/- to Rs. 36,000/-). So, > >these 90% MPHIL/ PHD students are not that much Meritorious/ Talented/ > >Hard-working as compared to UGC NET/ SLET qualified LIS professionals, > >but they have financial capacity to pay the hefty course fee. There is > >also no consistency or transparency in the admission process of PhD > >programmes except for the NET/SLET qualified LIS professionals. > > > >So, if we propose to exempt of UGC NET/ SLET clause from the > >eligibility criteria of college librarians/ university assistant > >librarians/ documentation officers/ lecturers, probably we will > >discourage Meritorious or Talented or Hard-working persons to come > >into LIS profession. Instead, Library Associations, Forums can > >collectively pressurize UGC to produce sufficient numbers of UGC NET/ > >SLET qualified candidates, or to hold GRE type examination for > >admission into MPHIL and PhD programmes. Also, Library Associations > >and University departments can introduce NET/SLET coaching classes to > >address the shortage of qualified manpower and for the greater > >benefits of the society. > > > >Hope, the apex organizations, like, UGC, AICTE, MCI, should set the > >eligibility criteria on the basis of above-mentioned facts, and not > >bypassing the above-mentioned facts. > > > >With regards > > > >S. Chakraborty > >Kolkata > > > >_______________________________________________ > >LIS-Forum mailing list > >LIS-Forum(a)ncsi.iisc.ernet.in > >http://ncsi.iisc.ernet.in/mailman/listinfo/lis-forum > > >Dr. Vijay Raghav Tiwari > >Librarian > >Harish Chandra Research Institute > >(Department of Atomic Energy, Govt of India) Chhatnag Road,Jhunsi,Allahabad -211 019. > >Phone.91-532-2668302(O), 0532-2274325 (O), 0532-2274064 (R) <vrtiwari(a)mri.ernet.in> > > >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. > Dr. Vijay Raghav Tiwari Librarian Harish Chandra Research Institute (Department of Atomic Energy, Govt of India) Chhatnag Road,Jhunsi,Allahabad -211 019. Phone.91-532-2668302(O), 0532-2274325 (O), 0532-2274064 (R) <vrtiwari(a)mri.ernet.in> Dear Aman I think merit never think in this direction. If one can give five years for getting a Ph.D., six months for NET. Any one who is a sincere in his/her subject can finish the NET just within next six months time. I feel that one who does not have any backing to get a job this gives a good standing amoung others, thats all. regards vrt On Tue, 25 Apr 2006 Aman Jha wrote : >Dear friends, > >I have different opinion. First of all I would like to say that getting PhD degree is a dream of a person. This must be regarded as the highest degree with respect. > >How can you underestimate those who have done only M.Phil/PhD and have no NET/SLET qualification? Do you want to say that you do MLIS and qualify NET/SLET for the Assistant Librarian? Thats it? You don't need to do M.Phil and PhD? Why don't then people recommend UGC to scrap M.Phil and PhD if it is not considered as merits of a candidate? Why do you consider meritorious to only those who have cleared NET/SLET? Achieving Higher qualifications depends on individual to individual. There are numerous examples of scholares who do not possess any M.Phil/PhD/Net/Slet and have proved to be subject expert and possess very good research skills. They have also taught as visiting professors in good universities. > >I think NET/SLET is an imposed qualification on Librarian. Just think about how many years do you need to spend in getting BLIS, MLIS and M.Phil/PhD after achieving excellence in Academics. Do you think that an engineer who has done Associateship from NISCAIR should again qualify NET/SLET just to prove his candidature whether he is meritorious or not? I do not think NET/SLET should be compulsory for those who have done M.Phil/PhD. > > >Rgds, >Aman Jha >Librarian >Confederation of Indian Industry >Plot No 249-F, Udyog Vihar, Phase IV >Sector 18, Gurgaon - 122015 (Haryana) >Tel: 0124-5014060-67 >aman.jha(a)ciionline.org >http://www.ciionline.org > > > > >-----Original Message----- > From: lis-forum-bounces(a)ncsi.iisc.ernet.in >[mailto:lis-forum-bounces@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in]On Behalf Of Vijay Raghav >Tiwari >Sent: Tuesday, 25 April 2006 9:50 >To: Susmita Chakraborty >Cc: lis-forum(a)ncsi.iisc.ernet.in >Subject: Re: [LIS-Forum] "Re: Contents of LIS-Forum digest...NET relief >mooted for MPhil, PhD students" > > > > >Dear All/Susmita > >I agree with you that NET should remain an eligibility criteria for Assistant Librarian/ College Librarians as it shows a nation wide acceptance. The merit must be honoured. I have done both but still I feel that NET should remain on top as it gives you an equal status as a professional. It subsides the difference of the different universities from where we had passed our M.L.I.Sc., hence I feel that it gives an equal status. Hope that other professinals will agree with me. >regards >vrt > > >On Mon, 24 Apr 2006 Susmita Chakraborty wrote : > >Dear All, > > > > > >Please refer to LIS Forum email message titled "NET relief mooted for > >MPhil, PhD students". I would like to share my personal observations > >in this regard. > > > >Firstly, let see who are qualifying UGC-NET/ SLET for Lecturership in > >Library and Information Science (LIS). The Meritorious or Talented or > >Hard-working LIS professionals are mostly qualifying these competitive > >examinations. > > > >On the other hand, let we see who are getting admission into MPHIL/ > >PHD programmes in LIS. Only few full-time MPHIL/ PHD courses are > >available in India as compared to total number of MLIS/AIS/ADIS passed > >outs. These full-time MPHIL/ PHD courses select student on the basis > >of Merit or NET/SLET. But they belong to only a few percent (about > >10%) of total MPHIL passed outs in India. Rest 90% percent students > >are getting admission into MPHIL courses on the basis of ability to > >pay hefty course fee (varies from Rs. 10,000/- to Rs. 36,000/-). So, > >these 90% MPHIL/ PHD students are not that much Meritorious/ Talented/ > >Hard-working as compared to UGC NET/ SLET qualified LIS professionals, > >but they have financial capacity to pay the hefty course fee. There is > >also no consistency or transparency in the admission process of PhD > >programmes except for the NET/SLET qualified LIS professionals. > > > >So, if we propose to exempt of UGC NET/ SLET clause from the > >eligibility criteria of college librarians/ university assistant > >librarians/ documentation officers/ lecturers, probably we will > >discourage Meritorious or Talented or Hard-working persons to come > >into LIS profession. Instead, Library Associations, Forums can > >collectively pressurize UGC to produce sufficient numbers of UGC NET/ > >SLET qualified candidates, or to hold GRE type examination for > >admission into MPHIL and PhD programmes. Also, Library Associations > >and University departments can introduce NET/SLET coaching classes to > >address the shortage of qualified manpower and for the greater > >benefits of the society. > > > >Hope, the apex organizations, like, UGC, AICTE, MCI, should set the > >eligibility criteria on the basis of above-mentioned facts, and not > >bypassing the above-mentioned facts. > > > >With regards > > > >S. Chakraborty > >Kolkata > > > >_______________________________________________ > >LIS-Forum mailing list > >LIS-Forum(a)ncsi.iisc.ernet.in > >http://ncsi.iisc.ernet.in/mailman/listinfo/lis-forum > > >Dr. Vijay Raghav Tiwari > >Librarian > >Harish Chandra Research Institute > >(Department of Atomic Energy, Govt of India) Chhatnag Road,Jhunsi,Allahabad -211 019. > >Phone.91-532-2668302(O), 0532-2274325 (O), 0532-2274064 (R) <vrtiwari(a)mri.ernet.in> > > >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. > Dr. Vijay Raghav Tiwari Librarian Harish Chandra Research Institute (Department of Atomic Energy, Govt of India) Chhatnag Road,Jhunsi,Allahabad -211 019. Phone.91-532-2668302(O), 0532-2274325 (O), 0532-2274064 (R) <vrtiwari(a)mri.ernet.in> http://adworks.rediff.com/cgi-bin/AdWorks/sigclick.cgi/www.rediff.com/signa… http://adworks.rediff.com/cgi-bin/AdWorks/sigimpress.cgi/www.rediff.com/sig…

1 0

Re: [LIS-Forum] Damning indictment of LIS profession
by K.Sankaraiah 26 Apr '06

26 Apr '06

----- Original Message ----- From: "K.Sankaraiah" <sankariahk(a)dataone.in> Subject: Re: [LIS-Forum] Damning indictment of LIS profession > Dear Moderator, > I would be most grateful for posting the following mail. > Let me begin by thanking all the professional colleagues for their > comments on the subject. I'm most happy to see Dr Vyasamurthy also > picked up the Hindu article and providing a link to it, felt that some of > the librarians need to be sensitised to the concept of service. > I hope to be permitted to sum up the whole little debate. The comments > varied from a) some users are rude and selfish, try to pull their weight > around b) library is a temple and so access should not be restricted c) we > have not heard the other side of the story and so should not rush to judge > and d) every one should observe rules. In fact d) seems to be the dominant > factor. One cannot the dispute the validity of these claims; but equally > we cannot dispute the suppremacy of service for our profession, as also > for many otherprofessions. How can we forget the basic tenets of > librarianship as enunciated by the greatest library thinker of all times > viz books are for use; every book its reader; every reader his book and > save the time of the reader. Can we afford to take a confrontationist > stand of "them and we" and cry for eye for an eye and tooth for the tooth. > We talk of library marketing today like any commercial enterprize. We > say library user is a customer. Most of the librarians in the West say, by > calling the library user a customer, we have promoted them to a higher > position. > Customers come in all shapes and sizes. There are awkward customers and > difficult customers. But is it not a fact that as long as we are behind > the 'counter' ie the Lakshman Rekha, we cannot think of' tit for tat'. > Even when we know that a particular customer is in the wrong, we cannot > afford to vent our spleen on him or her. In this context, Gandhiji is > often quoted. 'We are in business because of the customer' and not the > other way round. > Yes, there are rules. But rule are there to prevent misuse or abuse and > not to prevent genuine use or user. > I'm very distressed to see my friend, Prof Lakshman Rao saying that rules > have to be followed. He says he was not allowed entry to Bibliotheca > National. But I'm sure he would not have been asked to prove his > bonafides. The library staff there, must have explained the restrictions > in a most polite way. I had a similar experiance. First time I could not > get in to the British Museum Library in London. But the staff there did > every thing possible to enable me to have access to it. They advised me > to get a letter from the British Council, which I did. I could see they > were inspired by the ideals of service. Mr Lakshman Rao is a respected > teacher and trainer of librarians and has been in the field for a long > time and if a teacher takes the stand that he has taken, we need not be > surprised by the attitude of some of us. > In the present case of Ranjit Lal, to me it appears, he wanted to consult > the documents in the National Museum Library. I visited its website which > looks very impressive, claims a stock of two lakh documents. The name of > the librarian (?) given there is one Ms Pratibha Parashar. She might not > have been the staff to attending Ranjit Lal. In the interests of our > profession, could some one in Delhi please find out what had happened. > As I said in my first mail, because of isolated instances like this, the > whole profession is blamed. By and large, librarians are good and > service-minded. Society is changing fast, much faster than any one can > imagine. We have come a long away from preservation to active > dissemination of information ( proactive is the word most appropriate, I > think) and I hope we have long ceased to be policing our possessions. > Social forces like competition are driving us to provide quality service > to our users. Technology is helping us today in ways undreamt of > previously to help us in this noble mission of ours, which ultimately > contributes to personal, individual and national development. > I'm grateful to LIS-FORUM for opportunities to share our views in matters > concerning our profession. You are doing a wonderful service !! Thank > you. > Sankaraiah, K > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "K.Sankaraiah" <sankariahk(a)dataone.in> > To: <lis-forum(a)ncsi.iisc.ernet.in> > Sent: Thursday, April 13, 2006 7:28 AM > Subject: [LIS-Forum] Damning indictment of LIS profession > > >> Dear Moderator, >> Grateful for publishing the following in lis-forum. >> >> I wish to draw the attention of our professional colleagues to an article >> under the Musings, entitled "What are your bonafides?", by Mr Ranjit Lal >> in the Magazine section of the Hindu of 9 April, 2006. I think all of us >> should read this and ponder over the implications. I'm sure many of us >> must have already done so. >> The gist of the article is the author, obviously not a member, >> approached the librarian of the National Museum library in Delhi for help >> and the librarian promptly asked him to prove his bonafides. Ranjit Lal >> contributes articles to the Hindu and probably does so to many other >> renowned newspapers and journals. In any case he told the librarian that >> he uses the Teen Murthi library and the British Council Library in Delhi >> and he is working on a book for which he needs help. According to the >> article, this did not cut ice with the librarian. >> >> This article, I believe, is a damning indictment of the unhelpful and >> bureaucratic attitude of the librarian of one of the premier institutions >> of the country. It should rouse the collective conscience of the LIS >> profession and force us to think if in today's competitive world we can >> afford to have this kind of unhelpful attitude. Even otherwise, isn't >> service to the user at the centre of our profession ?. The aurthor >> rightly says the public pays for librarian's salary, allowances and the >> innumerable cups of tea, justifiable and just righteous indignation!!. >> >> How do we change this attitude?. I was under the impression that things >> have changed and we all swear by service. All the works of SRR >> emphasise this aspect. Because of instaces like this,( I hope they are >> isolated) the whole profession gets the stick. And this is why society >> does not give us the status that an intellectual profession like ours >> deserves. >> >> We need to do something here. >> >> Sankaraiah, K >> Immediate past President of the Madras Library Association (MALA) >> > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > >> _______________________________________________ >> LIS-Forum mailing list >> LIS-Forum(a)ncsi.iisc.ernet.in >> http://ncsi.iisc.ernet.in/mailman/listinfo/lis-forum >> > > >

1 0

Support for a Village Library
by prafulla tv 26 Apr '06

26 Apr '06

Dear All, We are delighted to report that Gundrampally Library and Information Centre (GLIC) was inaugurated on April 14, 2006 by Shri Chukka Ramaiah, eminent educationist. OPLib acknowledges with grateful thanks the donation of Rs.1000 made by Prof N. Laxman Rao, Dept of Library & Information Science, Osmania University towards the purchase of books for GLIC. New Initiative We are happy to inform you that a village library is being started in Kolamasanapalli Village (Palamaner Mandal, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh) shortly. This project is being supported by the Organisation for the Protection of Libraries (OPLib), a library advocacy group based in Hyderabad as part of its 100 Village/School Libraries programme. This is the third library that is being started by OPLib (Registered under the Andhra Pradesh Societies Registration Act, 2001 vide no.1502 of 2005)and it would be nurtured by Dr Murali Prasad, Librarian, Bhoj Reddy College of Engineering, Hyderabad and Mr Sreenivas of the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Hyderabad. OPLib appeals to all library lovers to donate generously, either in cash or kind, for the establishment of Kolamasanapalli Village Library. Your donations would be utilized for the purchase of books, newspapers, magazines, steel book racks, office furniture, computer, etc. Address for communication: Dr A Kishore Honorary President Organization for the Protection of Libraries c/o Parma Reddi Building, 9-1-34/30/16/A, Bapu Nagar, Langar House, Hyderabad 500 008 Email: saikishoresvu(a)yahoo.co.in Mobile 92474 28778 Cheques/DDs to be drawn in favour of Organization for the Protection of Libraries (OPLib) and payable at Hyderabad. Thank you very much in advance for your kind support and cooperation to our School/Village Libraries Project. Sincerely T.V. Prafulla Chandra Senior Editor NISC Email: tallurivpc(a)yahoo.com OPLibempowering the masses through better library services at the grassroots level. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A loving heart is the beginning of all knowledge. --Thomas Carlyle __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

1 0