Dear Professional Friends,

The issue raised is very complex, sensitive and applicable not only to Librarianship, but to many other professions as well. It is not right to point our fingers to one section of the players among the concerned stake holders like LIS professionals, teachers, IT professionals, users, administrators, Government, etc. There is a paradigm shift from system-centered librarianship to user-centered librarianship and now to “Knowledge construction”-based librarianship, demanding a host of skill sets including Traditional (library), IT, Management and Marketing. Under these circumstances we need to safeguard borders of our profession as is very well done among other professions like medicine and legal. This is possible if all stake holders of librarianship follow ethical principles and professional values and serve concerned user community equipped with skill sets mentioned earlier and above all with positive attitude. I appreciate the new generation librarians if they provide high quality IT based information services without grounding the basic principles in which our profession is rooted. For having imbibed these qualities few Indian LIS teachers/professionals have made great names at international level and have occupied the highest positions like Vice-Chancellor of University or Director of National Institute.

While teachers should not feel shy to update themselves with contemporary and market driven expertise, the professionals too can improve their skill set by attending required ICT, and Management courses. No doubt few universities have changed their LIS syllabus to suit present market needs. But in most of the schools we don't have teachers with necessary background. In spite of this few teachers have been trying to come up to the expectations by updating themselves, but it is due to their shear interest. Taking into account of the comments of few top level LIS teachers/professionals about the downfall of professional trend, I have the following observations/suggestions.

1. The Departments of LIS and University Librarries should work closely to impart knowledge/skills both theoritical and practical. While teachers can spend some time in providing quality services, the librarians can also be part of the teaching program. In few universities librarian is also faculty, probably an ideal situation from the point of view of students.

2. The LIS Departments should borrow the services of teachers from IT, Management, Psychology, etc of the same university or outside to teach our students some of the skils specialised. We don't have to feel shy about this.

3. The Departments can also have some of the IT/Management savvy Librarians in their panel of teachers to teach on regular basis (say to complete one or two credits), not just one of two invited lectures.

4. Internship should be made compulsory, say for a period of 2-3 months during the second year of MLIS. The Internship should carry 100-200 marks and count for result. In this connection the Departments, apart from using their own libraries, can take help of other advanced library and information centres. There could be some MOU among the institutions concerned.

5. As has been the case already with one or two universities like University of Mysore, DLIS Board of Studies should have professionally acclaimed librarians as members. This could be extended to BOE and Syllabus committees too. LICs should arrange lectures of LIS faculty on different subjects for the benefit of their staff.

6. MLIS dissertations can be carried out at different LICs involving one internal guide from the department and another external guide from host LIC.

7. Universities can think of recognizing few top LIS Professionals with Ph.D. as Rsearch Guides.

8. While I have nothing abainst Open University LIS degrees, it is really difficult to groom the graduates as successful library professionals. However these cources are boon for the candiadtes already working in libraries to improve their carreers.

9. Disparity in salary and status compared to faculty and scientists/engineers is one of the serious handicap in keeping up the spirit of libraianship. Indirect contribution to the economic growth of the country results in invisibility of the profession. This is a big issue not answerable easily. In many cases our sincerarity automatically solves this issue, but many a times the policy decision comes in the way of reaping the fruits of sincerity in the form of recognition or promotion.

10. The Professionals Societies have a major role in improving the situation. Many a times we get satisfied with big melas, grand inaugural functions in th presence of political personalities and status of individuality rather than that of Associations without bothering about content and quality of papers/lectures during the conferences/seminars.

11. Many of us (seniors) do not encourage youngsters to come up and do not bother to develop second/third level leadership due to various reasons including inferior complexity of ourselves not being IT savvy. I have seen few good library managers having developed lot of IT enabled services with the help of IT savvy juniors. One of my predecessor joined for computer cources at the age of 68. This being the case why not we both professionals and teachers join for useful courses, keeping away shyness as teachers may be our juniors.

12. Refresher courses are being conducted by many academic staff colleges. These cources many a times are not structured, but go by the expertise of the resource personnel available. The faculty of the concerned university should not be shy in attending few lectures of this kind of programs if the topic is new or the resource person is knowledgeable. These programs should not be just on give and take basis.

13. Irrespective of the position we achive let us not hesitate to call ourselves as librarians. I would like to quote an example of one of my friend , a scientist in grade of director of a National Laboratory, when introduced as the senior most Deputy Director, while he had the opportunity to hoist the National Flag on August 15, reminded the audience proudly about his profession, the 'librarianship'.

Let all stake holders play their roles truthfully and bring good name both to the profession and themselves. Today is birthday of one of the greatest sons of India, the former President of India Dr. Abdul Kalam, who has been great admirer of librarians and librarianship. Let us get inspired by him and do our best so that the world recognises " LIBRARIANSHIP AS A NOBLE PROFESSION".

“Librarianship is a profession defined by service. Every aspect of librarianship, every action that we take as librarians can and should be measured in terms of service.” (Gorman)

" Let the Festival of Lights 'Diwali' bring good name to our profession and happiness to all fellow librarians and their families"

Goudar

-------------------------------
Dr. I.R.N. Goudar

Sci G & Head, Information Centre for
Aerospace Science and Technology (Retd.)
National Aerospace Laboratories
Airport Road, BANGALORE-560 017 India
http://www.icast.org.in/staff/goudar.html
E-mail:goudar@css.nal.res.in

irnaganagoudar@yahoo.co.in

91-80-25235315

--- On Thu, 8/10/09, Rafiq Ansari <rafiq.ansari@gmail.com> wrote:

From: Rafiq Ansari <rafiq.ansari@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [LIS-Forum] Who is responsible for the downfall trend of LIS profession
To: lis-forum@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in, newbird_2005@yahoo.co.in, IALA@googlegroups.com, iatlis@yahoogroups.com, nmlis@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thursday, 8 October, 2009, 7:10 PM

Dear Professionals,

This debate reminds me of a statement by Alvin Toffler, while reading one of his edited books entitled "Learning for Tomorrow: The role of the Future in Education". The quote reads as under:

"All too often we are stuffing the heads of young with the products of earlier innovations, rather than teaching them how to innovate. We treat their minds as storehouses to be filled, rather than as instruments to be used".

This vividly summarizes the present decadence in our profession. Having interacted with scores of LIS professionals, professors and teachers, I am convinced

3. that because our teachers do not have updated subject knowledge, students' minds are stuffed with old ideas

4. that because students pass out with old ideas, they face practical difficulties in their jobs

I strongly feel that there is need to apply management course techniques for LIS courses. Let there be more

- interactions and group discussions (amongst students / between students and teachers)

- invite and organize more specialized lectures on library systems, library security systems (RFID, etc.)

- professional study tours to modern libraries (as opposed to conventional libraries), where latest technology is in place

These are just random thoughts that I felt to share with you all. Any comments are most welcome.

Dear Professionals,

Please see below answers of some good and heart burning questions asked by Miss Charu. This is my view and observation only so you may also give your feed back about the truth i am also hungry to solve the problems of LIS professions.

1. LIS Curricula is not updated enough so that a student can have the latest and up-to-date knowledge of practical environment.
Ans. 1 You are right it is not updated.

2. Do the learned faculties are not getting required time and proper infrastructures to keep update themselves?
Ans. 2 If really faculties are not getting time then where they are busy? And why Problems occur in LIS?

3. Are the students now a days are interested only to getting a
degree by using any of the means so that they can decorate their C.V.s
Ans. 3. Students are like children’s they are only following the path of their elders.

4. Does the new entrants feared to take challenges and not capable to convert their theoretical knowledge in practical terms?
Ans.4 You give the opportunity of top leadership positions to new entrants they will change the whole scenario of LIS with the blessings of good Intelligent/experienced professionals.

5. Does the govt is only interested only in framing the hard core
policies and setting up certain working groups to evaluate the situation?
Ans. 5. Evaluation of condition is very easy and govt. is doing it well but who will solve it this is the question.

6. What are the major roles of reputed Associations in this
profession are they just limiting themselves by organizing seminars and
workshops from time to time.
Ans.6 Of course but not time to time regularly now a day’s these events also help to decorate the profiles. So you will find everybody is busy in planning to organize these events.

In the light of above queries, who is responsible for this downfall???

1. Educators
Ans. 1 We have to think because educators are educators students are not educators.

2. Students
Ans.2 They are childrens whatever we are teaching them they are learning honestly.

3. Curriculum
And.3 Definitely those who are designing the curriculum.

4. Govt.
Ans. 4. Govt. does not know what to do for the Betterment of LIS so that eminent personality who gives suggestions to govt.

5. Associations
Ans.5 These days every institution/university is organizing seminars/conferences so associations have to find other ways to highlight themselves for the betterment of the LIS.

Message: 3
Date: Sat, 26 Sep 2009 15:47:52 +0530
From: Pandurang Konnur
To: MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "in.mc79.mail.yahoo.com" claiming to be iatlis@yahoogroups.com, MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "in.mc79.mail.yahoo.com" claiming to be nmlis@yahoogroups.com,
lis-forum@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in, IALA
Cc: CHARU MATHUR
Subject: [LIS-Forum] Who is responsible for the downfall trend of LIS
profession .
Message-ID:
<MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "in.mc79.mail.yahoo.com" claiming to be 80b6c0c10909260317j65f4ba32j62b208cf0ab04961@mail.gmail.com>
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Dear Friends,

Here is one of the best topic where we should debate and derive a solution in the interest of our profession. We need to introspect in ourselves and trace the reason for the downfall trend of LIS profession and professionals.Let each one of us list out the reasons and the Associations like IALA will list them out, consolidate and bring on the right platforms for corrective measures.

I request all of you to respond to this mail.
Thanks,
Konnur.

On Sat, Sep 26, 2009 at 7:42 AM, CHARU MATHUR wrote:

>
>
> Respected Friends,
>
> Greetings for the day and seasons,
>
> Since long we have been witnessing and subsequently discussing regarding
> the downfall trend of LIS profession and professionals. Despite of blessed
> with ICT tools, LIS profession is not able to cope up with need of the users
> coming from the cross-sections of the society. Every next second we are
> getting a new e-query regarding very basic services supposed to be performed
> by the person in charge. What are the reasons of this situation that every
> new recruitee is find him in a soup and try to make every best possible
> effort to find out the answers of very basic nature questions? The reason
> may be any one of the following?????
>
> 1. LIS Curricula is not updated enough so that a student can have the
> latest and up-to-date knowledge of practical environment.
>
> 2. Do the learned faculties are not getting required time and proper
> infrastructures to keep update themselves?
>
> 3. Are the students now a days are interested only to getting a
> degree by using any of the means so that they can decorate their C.V.s
>
> 4. Does the new entrants feared to take challenges and not capable to
> convert their theoretical knowledge in practical terms?
>
> 5. Does the govt is only interested only in framing the hard core
> policies and setting up certain working groups to evaluate the situation?
>
> 6. What are the major roles of reputed Associations in this
> profession are they just limiting themselves by organizing seminars and
> workshops from time to time.
>
> In the light of above queries, who is responsible for this downfall???
>
> 1. Educators
>
> 2. Students
>
> 3. Curriculum
>
> 4. Govt.
>
> 5. Associations
>
>
>
> My dear friends, I just want to clarify myself as these questions are
> haunting my mind since long.
>
>
>
> Miss Charu Mathur,

With regards,
Vinod Kumar Mishra
Senior Library Information Assistant
P.K.Kelkar Library
IIT Kanpur.
Mob: 91+9455306495
email: MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "in.mc79.mail.yahoo.com" claiming to be vinod_librarian@rediffmail.com
: MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "in.mc79.mail.yahoo.com" claiming to be mishravk79@gmail.com

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