At last, it is heartening to know that LIS professionals are feeling the
veracity of the problems, great of Dr.Nagana Goudar taking out time and
involve himself - which shows his verve and nerve for the LIS profession.
Too many issues on Lis-Forum (we get lost- cannot come out with solution)-
Issues are many -
1. Gap between teachers and working librarians
2. Teacher knowledge in digital era
3. Research - topic not addressing the existing problem and industry
needs
4. ICT knowledge of librarians/LIS teacher - application or
programming knowledge
5. Behavioral issues and relationship with management
6. Service condition and recognition of working librarians
7. Penetration capability of librarians - as researcher, or on par
with core/academic community in the host organization
8. Other operational issues
I think virtual discussion on these issues - one by one - having
group of moderators
(group of experts) with a leadership (like Dr.Nagana Goudar and technical
support by Dr.Francis) would be of very helpful. I am sure professionals
can come out with definite solution. I request Dr.Goudar and Dr.Francis to
initiate virtual discussion platform and circulate summery and platform
address on LIS-Forum, so that people can participate in the virtual
Asynchronous discussion.
Dr.H.S.Siddamallaiah
Visiting Professor, faculty of Informatics, Mahasarakham University,
Thailand
Former Principal Librarian and Information Officer
NIMHANS, Bangalore, India
On Mon, Feb 10, 2014 at 1:47 AM, Ishwar Goudar
Dear Professionals,
I invite others to add additional points or comment on this posting.
Our LIS Profession, like others has its own advantages and pitfalls. I feel proud of being a librarian and am satisfied, although my entry into this profession is accidental. Making our profession a noble one depends mainly on our positive attitude/sincerity and to a less extent on our ICT skills. Yes, there are other factors influencing our working environment such as equivalence with our counter parts like teachers, scientists and engineers we serve, in terms of salary, age of superannuation, etc. Some of the issues, we discuss in the forum, although genuine, are beyond our control. While our efforts should continue to make our presence felt in the society, providing effectice and sincere service is the only way to build good image and lift our status. While thorough knowledge of ICT is adavantageous for providing effectice service, it should not become a stubmbling block for our progress. We need not be programmers. Application level knowledge of ICT will suffice. Where there is a will, there is always a way. If we put little effort it should not be a problem for any one of us to adopt to the digital environment. I would like to share with you some of my ideas and suggestions about our LIS Profession based on my observations and experience for the last 37 years in my workimg environment, discussions with professionals/patrons and reading of postings in Lis-forum. Few points may be the ones raised already in Lis-forum. Some of my views can't be generalised.
1. There is need for better understanding and coordination between the LIS teachers and practicing professionals. We should be complementary to each others' activities rather that being competetors for positions or power.
2. While many LIS Schools in the country have changed their syllabus to suit the digital environment, there is dearth of teachers knowledgeable to handle changed syllabus. We need not wait for recruitment of new teachers with IT background, We should improve our skills. Same thing holds good for working librarians. If we hesitate we will never cope up with the new environment. Simply jump at it with all sincereity and attempt to learn skills, we will succeed.
3. Teaching based on professional/practical experience is more effective and vice versa is also true.
4. We need more courses like that of NCSI/DRTC/NISCAIR. Unfortunately the latter ones got into problem. We should go beyond PGDLANS, atleast start part time courses of this kind.
5. We should have a better understanding of developments and service conditions, etc in the country. For example although UGC has clearly recommended the superannuation age as 62 for those professionals drawing UGC scales, number of universities have not adopted this. Is it not our duty to help each others by sharing the information they have along with concerned office orders for having implemented the UGC Recommendations.
6. Let us try to improve the quality of our LIS research activity and avoid duplication in research topics. For example we come across same Ph.D topics by many scholars like "Awareness and usage of e-resources/e-journals.........among Research scholars/Faculty ..... in Universities/Engineering colleges...... in Karnataka/Maharashtra .... Bangalore/Delhi....", same set of objectives and hypotheses with just change in the context. How many of us carry out serious literature search before choosing research topic and also write a good literature review in the Synopsis/Thesis. Many of us mention same standard sources LISA and LISTA and not even many commercial/OA full text databases for which we have access. Same is the case with many other desciplines. This reminds me of a statement by J.Frank Dobie "An average thesis is transference of bones from one graveyard to another". Let us try for not be example for this statement.
7. One of the recent Lis-form posting on " Selection of internal candidates..." resulted in lot of discussion. I have the experience of sitting in a number of top R & D institutions, universities, colleges both in private and public sector. This is not the case always, the other way is also true, inspite of there being an efficient internal candidate, some time they select out side candidate due to various reasons. A number of posts of University Librarians have not been filled. Few library staff in national laboratories are being transferred to other divisions without assigning any reasons and still they want us to keep the libarary open 8-8, or even more. We should discuss these issues and try to find reasons and solutions.
8. Some national laboratories have brought down their library budgets to 10-20 %. Does it mean that we will get everything through Google. It can give access to only abstarct level information of commercial publishers. Unless the open access is totally implemented, we can't afford to reduce our budgets. Thanks to Consortia initiatives. Slowly we have started hearing some moves to cut their size too in terms of budgets and resources. We don't know in what directions our academic and research activities are moving.
9. Just now National Mission on Libraries has been launched by President of India. This is an opportunity for us show the professional strength, rather than that of individuals, irrespective of whether we are professionals from different sectors viz academic, public or special librariy categories.
10. Professional Associations should be more serious about their objectives and business. We need not encourage formation new associations with personal agenda and forget its progress soon after one or two programs, rather strengthen the existing ones. We have seen some associations dying with same speed as they took birth.
11. To the extent possible let us try to adopt standard OS software in all our applications. If we can install and configure the S/W it is good, else let us take help of others or go for some service providers, as it works cheaper compared to commercial ones. Those with expertise, should also try to develop patches to suit typical Indian library applications.
12. We senior professionals should encourage youngsters, and not be jealous about their ICT knowledge. we should make use of their expertise to provide state of the art services, rather developing a psychology that they would impress the authorities and sideline us. We too will get the credit of providing quality services being managers. Infact even today I learn a lot from trainees. Moreover there is no rule that managers should know everything.
13. To the extent possible let us try to adopt standard OS software in all our applications. If we can install and configure the S/W it is good, else let us take help of others or go for some service providers, as it works cheaper compared to commercial ones. Those with expertise, should also try to develop patches to suit typical Indian library applications.
14. Minimum expectations from a LIS professional are - a good collection to suit their patrons requirements, an automated library including house keeping activities, a good library website as a part of institutional site with necessary details of services and resources and links to free and OA resources in the area of interest of his institution. This will help his institution to get better rating in NAAC or similar assessments and there by his recognition in the institute.
15. Above all, a good service provider/reference librarian with human touch is loved by one and all. He can be much more effective with basic knowledge of e-resources and search techniques.
16. Finally, let us congratulate and thank Lis-forum, which has given a wonderful platform for us to discuss the matters of professional interest. I remember my friend and classmate Late Dr. T.B. Rajashekar, one of the gems our profession has seen for starting this service and Dr. Francis Jayakanth for continueing service and maintaining it tirelessly for the last so many years.
Regards,
-- Dr. I.R.N. Goudar Ex. Visiting Professor and Library Adviser Mysore University Library University of Mysore Manasagangotri, MYSORE - 570 006 Ex Scientist 'G' and Head, ICAST, NAL, Bangalore Mob: 09611165781 E-mail: goudarishwar@gmail.com
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