Re: [LIS-Forum] Does Introduction of LIS Syllabus in Undergraduate Course Curriculum Change the Libraries/Librarians image?

Dear All, The idea behind starting LIS course at UG level may be good. But what is required is to get the Librarians posts filled up in every school, college, university and R&D institutions. It is most appalling to know that in many universities (AP & Telangana are no exception) University librarians'post is vacant, or is managed by in-charge librarians. Till some time back, IIT Delhi had no librarian (after Jagdish Aroara left for INFLIBNET). Many R&D Organisations that had recruited library professionals in Scientific, Technical and Officer grades in the past are not recruiting now. This is true in DRDO, CSIR, ISRO, and so on. Even Labs like NISCAIR, DESIDOC were/are headed by non-library professionals. This is the new trend to appoint non professionals oin libraries. So many Professional Associations are there at national and state level, ILA, IASLIC, SIS, ALSD, APLA, TLA, KALA,WBLA, ASLA, KLA, MyLISA, and so on. There are specialised associations as well: College librariand Association, School Librarians, Management Librarians, Engg College Librarians, Agriculture Librarians, etc etc. Is any association fighting for the cause of Library profession or for recruitment of professionals? They want posts, and perks and make only lip service. If LIS profession is still vibrant I thank the Private Companies--MNCs and NCs-- who recruit more professionals. AICTE which made it mandatory to have a library and a librarian for recognition. Why UGC gives/extends grants and INFLIBNET provides online journals at cheaper rate when librarians are not there in the Universities. They should stop where no librarian is available and send stern message to recruit Librarians. Then only LIS profession and Librarians will be existing otherwise the former may be there (since Universities need students and their fees) but the latter would extinct and would become history Reagards Dr AL Moorthy, Former Director-DESIDOC & Chief Consultant (Inf Sci), BrahMos Aerospace, Hyderabad Centre, Adj: DRDL Rear Gate, Kanchanbagh PO, Hyderabad-500058 Ph: (O) 040-24087058; Mob: 09951212000 On Wed, Nov 12, 2014 at 8:45 AM, Vasumathi Sriganesh (QMed) < vasu@qmedkf.org.in> wrote:

I would offer my opinion that for our profession to be recognized we need the following:

1) Revamping of the school library system, where the librarians and teachers must work together to introduce students to the concept of

a) Extra reading on their subjects (introducing the principle that just mugging from textbooks is not knowledge) b) Extra reading out of their subjects - fiction / non fiction / reference sources etc to have a rounded off knowledge

Reading should be done from a combination of print and online - make students understand that everything is not available online, but some things are only available in print, some only online

2) In UG curriculum - have a paper on information literacy - compulsory for all

3) Librarian Science courses need to include options for specialization after the MLIS. Coming from a medical library background - I know how much there is to learn in this field; it is never ending. Obviously there will be the same amount of learning to do in Engineering, Law etc - fields of librarianship.

4) Continuous upgradation in respective fields - including general librarianship. Only excellent general librarians can work with special librarians to give their patrons any special help they may need from time to time

Upgradation of librarians should include the need for good teaching practices and excellent management skills. The librarian of today has to be able to teach academicians and students, and ensure that every resource is utilized 100%

It is all a vicious circle - and only when we present a proper picture to the right bodies and keep pushing for changes, will things happen. This should include - how we can create a new generation of librarians only if the bodies plan not only for equal status, but for promoting the library science courses with the attraction of well paid jobs. The current generation of librarians need to keep upgrading themselves to be as good as the best Professors, if not more.

Vasumathi Sriganesh QMed Knowledge Foundation (Trust - Reg No: E-24663) A-3, Shubham Centre, Cardinal Gracious Road Chakala, Andheri East, Mumbai 400099 Tel: 91-22-40054474 Mob: +919867292230 Web: www.qmed.org.in http://www.qmedkf.org.in/ www.indianmedicalsites.in

On Mon, Nov 10, 2014 at 3:18 PM, Vasanth wrote:

...

Dear Sir/Madam,

It has been often deliberated in many professional forums that (at least in Karnataka) higher education department such as Department of Collegiate Education (DCE) should introduce LIS syllabus (information literacy) as a subsidiary paper in undergraduate course curriculum.

Karnataka State College Librarians Association (KSCLA) has been in the forefront on this issue for some time. In fact, in 2012 KSCLA organized one day conference on the theme “Information Literacy”. Then Karnataka Higher Education Minister Sri. C.T. Ravi was invited to inaugurate the conference. It was done mainly to place a request to introduce the LIS syllabus in under graduate course curriculum. Even after this as well, in many of the conferences our professionals have deliberated on this issue. Though this is an important issue, does merely introducing LIS syllabus in the curriculum change the image of the libraries and librarians?

Libraries even at the higher education level in India have not given enough importance. It has often been a neglected entity in college environment. At the behest of UGC, librarians are appointing for managing the library in higher education institutions mainly in undergraduate colleges. Otherwise, some secondary division clerk would have been put in place to run the show (there were/are cases of non-professionals managing college libraries).

Of late, professionals entering the LIS profession are demanding the equal status on par with teachers at the higher education level. Librarians are today on par with teachers in terms of financial benefits (eg., pay scale) but in terms of professional status librarians have not been seen as equal to teachers. Introducing a LIS curriculum in undergraduate colleges is not a solution for this.

We as professionals should demand for better infrastructure and human resource to manage libraries. Most of the college libraries (in Karanataka) even lack basic facilities such as proper buildings to store and organize books. Man power is a big problem librarians have to manage everything on their own. There is a no supportive man power to manage libraries. This has dented the image of the libraries.

Introduction of LIS curriculum in undergraduate courses would be an additional baggage rather a benefit to librarians. After teaching, librarians have to work again in the library. Who would there to manage it? Instead of this let us fight for our professional rights (for proper facilities) to be remain as library professionals. Let is once again remember the adage “librarians are the teacher’s teacher”. Merely having the designation of assistant professor of LIS would not change the image of the profession.

(Views are personal) ------------------------- With best wishes

Vasantha Raju N. GFGC-Periyapatna Mysore

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