The Open University / Virtual University / Institute of Open and Distance Learning (ODL) are the new horizon of imparting the education to the learners. I don't go to the statistical figure regarding how many times it has the number of enrollment in comparison to our traditional learning system and how many universities are operating in an ODL mode (but it's really very big). What point I am trying to point out is that- this new moves to the education system sufficiently neglect the role of librarian in the whole process of knowledge communication. Surprise Yourself.. a) Most State Open Universities of India are not having a full fledged librarian; b) They are not providing the library facilities even to their students (those who have registered under different courses in the regional or study centers); c) Many open universities are even doesn't providing open access to their collection to the students (if I am not wrong, it is also applicable to IGNOU- the Worlds largest Open University); Fire to the Surprise Recently there is a wonderful move from the Open University system to form a body like NAAC of our traditional system for assessment and accreditation of ODL systems and open universities. But, it also likely to move without giving sufficient weighting to the library profession. Do you want to know what it has done with LIS…. a) Content Management System (Wiki, Zoomla,…) is not the part of the library--- bring it to Media Centre (a new addition). b) Learning Management System (Moodle or like that..) is not anything to do with library—bring it to Media Center. c) Library Staff: What to do with it? (it does not define the library positions). So, what are left with LIS--- a) Only preservation and conservation of printed material?--- What excellent move towards this end it that it assigns 20 marks for the library (which is lacking in the assessment and accreditation of NAAC). Want to be happy with that? If not raise your voice before 15th November, 2008, the date on which the document for Assessment and Accreditation of Open University and ODL will be finalized in a meeting schedule to be held at IGNOU, New Delhi. -- Thanking you Yours faithfully (Sri Badan Barman) Academic Consultant, Library & Information Science, Krishna Kanta Handique State Open University, Housefed Complex, Last Gate, Dispur, Guwahati-781006, Assam, Phone: 0361-2234964 / 2235971, Fax: 0361- 2235398. Website: www.kkhsou.org, Email: kkhsou@gmail.com, kkhsoul@gmail.com Research Scholar: Department of Library & Information Science, Gauhati University, Guwahati-781014, Assam. Email: dlisgu@gmail.com. ---------------------------------------------------------- LIS in India: What's are going on? LIS Links: A Link Library in LIS: http://lislinks.110mb.com LIS Links: Jobs in LIS in India: http://lisjob.blogspot.com/ LIS Links: Upcoming Seminars, Conferences, Workshops & Refresher Courses in LIS in India: http://lisseminar.blogspot.com LIS Links: Latest Happenings & Contemporary Issues in LIS: http://lislatest.blogspot.com LIS Links: Awards, Prizes, Scholarships or Fellowships in LIS: : http://lisscholarship.blogspot.com/ LIS Links: Admission Notice for Courses in LIS in India: http://liscourse.blogspot.com/ Ning: LIS Links Contributors: http://lislinks.ning.com/ Google Groups: LIS Links Users: http://groups.google.co.in/group/lislinks?hl=en&lnk=srg -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.