It is a bold step. However, it is the time when universities should discontinue BLISc course (as they did at the time of introducing BLIS/BLISc in place of diploma) and introduce 2 years MLISc course. This will certainly give opportunities to increase the depth of the content, reduce duplication and include new topics. Does any expert on recruitment/promotion committee ask questions to even a fresh professional considering the fact that the candidate has only BLISc degree? LIS departments are expected to impart the necessary library and information skills to their students so that the student can to function effectively in libraries and other information-related work environment with minimum supervision. The course designers/expert committee should design an appropriate curriculum keeping in view the facts that * Employers are many and varied. * Employers having different missions and objectives * Employers needs to be surveyed in order to know their requirements and assessments * Demands of the employers change over time. * The Department may be conducting Master and other programme in LIS * Feedback of experts are important * Different skills needed to perform positional responsibilities & professional activities. * Students are coming from different socio-economic backgrounds with various academic specializations and language skills. * Specialized skills needed to serve under privileged, illiterate, neo- literate and physically challenged fellow citizen. * Specialized skills needed to play effective role in information literacy programme IGNOU may also consider allowing student to take a few courses from other areas: mass communication, technical writing, computer (CIC, BCA, MCA?), psychology etc. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arup Raychaudhury Indian Statistical Institute 203 BT Road Calcutta 700 108 INDIA -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.