Date: Wed, 11 May 2005 12:43:55 +0530
From: Subbiah Arunachalam
A very good question. Many Heads of the The Library of Congress in
Washington DC did not go to a library school. In India, I knew of a
librarian who was an arts graduate and who did extremely well at CSIR
headquarters and later at the Fertilizer Association of India. For a very
long time the National Science Library at INSDOC was managed by an arts
graduate, who did a great job. But often these are exceptions. I also know
of librarians who have degrees in the field they serve. To be able to serve
a clientele, a librarian must know as much as possible in the field of
specialization of the clientele. That is why institutions expect librarians
to have some knowledge in physics/ astronomy/ aerospace/biology etc. I would
expect a librarian working at the Reserve bank to be well read in economics,
banking, finance and so on.
What is essential is neither a degree in science nor librarianship, but the
knowledge and ability to deliver. In most cases the knowledge comes through
formal university training.
Subbiah Arunachalam
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mailing List Manager"
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Sent: Monday, May 09, 2005 6:36 PM
Subject: [LIS-Forum] Reg.CLARIFICATION
Date: Fri, 6 May 2005 09:22:48 +0100 (BST)
From: jaya kgowda
QUESTION: WHY SOME OF THE LIBRARIES RESTRICT ONLY SCIENCE BACKGROUND
LIBRARIANS.
EXAMPLE: ISRO,ASTRO PHYSICS NAL E.T.C
Library Science is a universal of Knowledge.
Jaya
