Dear Colleagues, If you consider me a part of market, my answer would be Yes. LIS profession needs to have ICT skills for following reasons: 1. Fast changing requirements (very large number of services that could be provided to the users are web based). I do not wish to compartmentalize the professionals in segments as Sukhdev did it. I feel even Public Libraries Segment would welcome if a LIS person uses ICT skills in providing services. Actually, we need to modernize public libraries. They are far backward in developments (in general, in India) from other segments under description. 2. To have an edge over the IT staff in the organization as they are some times (if you allow me let me say 'most of the times') non-cooperative with LIS staff. LIS staffs dependency by having these skills on ICT staff would reduce. 3. Recognition: The bosses feel that this person is doing something when you are discharging your duties using modern tools and techniques. A traditional LIS person, however, serious and dedicated (s)he is in providing services, not have the same recognition of a person with ICT background. How deep LIS professional should know about ICT? I think the products of NCSI, DRTC, etc., have proved their visibility in market. So their syllabus can be a model. With warm regards, Murari P Tapaswi National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula 403 004 Goa, India Phone: 91-(0)832-2450275; Fax: 91-(0)832-2450602 www.nio.org, www.coastalhazards.info, www.mangroveindia.org -----Original Message----- From: lis-forum-bounces@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in [mailto:lis-forum-bounces@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in]On Behalf Of Sukhdev Singh Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2007 7:28 PM To: lis-forum@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in Subject: Re: [LIS-Forum] Efforts of MyDLIS,University of Mysore in introducing ICT skills among students Dear Friends, Most of us read emails from this forum, however very few of us try to discuss issues contained in these emails. Even when some people do respond - they just reply to the originator of the email and not to the whole forum. I can understand most of forum servers are configured in that manner only. So while clicking on "Reply" - reply goes to only to the author of the email. I would request lis-forum members to click on "Reply All" if they feel that whole forum would be interested in the issue. I feel e-forums like lis-forum are meant to discuss rather than announce. Now let me come to the issue of ICT skills among students of Library Science. I would rather like seek an answer? What does market expects from Student Librarians. Does market ( employment opportunities) favours ICT skilled students? For answer, I would suggest some M.Lib.Sc student take it as master thesis. I feel there are four are market segments - 1. Academic Segments - Here the requirements are more or less are fixed by some accrediting body UGC. ICT Skills are just considered desirable. 2. Public Libraries Segment - Usually has lower eligibility criteria. I wonder if any preference given to ICT Skills. 3. Govt Sector / Research Segment - Depends upon the employer department. 4. Private and Corporate Segment - They need highly ICT Skilled professionals. But only problem is that they would employ librarian for very routine jobs and give ICT jobs to MBAs or Computer Professionals. This is what I assume. The truth may quite different from it. Therefore we should further elaborate on this issue and take it as a scientific study. Not only we should answer the marketability of ICT skills but should also try to find out what exact skills are required and what priority each skill get in the market. Only then we should be able to fine tune our LIS curriculum. --Sukhdev Singh, NIC. -----Original Message----- From: lis-forum-bounces@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in [mailto:lis-forum-bounces@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in]On Behalf Of Padmanabha Vyasamoorthy Sent: 18 May 2007 11:12 To: lis-forum@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in Subject: Re: [LIS-Forum] Efforts of MyDLIS,University of Mysore in introducing ICT skills among students ...
Not too many jobs with decent pay packets are coming up either. We should do and continue to do what is best under the circumstances without losing heart. In the long run dividends will be very good. ...
Vyasamoorthy
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