Dear Sir, Please find below my submission for sharing with LIS-forum Members. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unjustified Qualification for Assistant Librarians Dear LIS-Forum Members, At present the essential qualification for the post of Lecturers in the pay scale of Rs.8000-13500/- in Library and Information Science in University and Colleges is Post Graduation in the concerned subject with at least 55% marks or its equivalent grade of B in the UGC seven point scales plus a consistently good academic record. Besides fulfilling the above qualifications, candidates should have cleared the National Eligibility Test (NET) for Lecturers conducted by the UGC/ CSIR. However, the candidates who have completed MPhil. Degree by 31 st December 1993 or have submitted Ph.D. thesis to the University in the concerned subject on or before 31 st December, 2002 are exempted from appearing in the NET examination. In case such candidates fail to obtain Ph.D. degree, they shall have to pass the NET examination. Whereas the qualification prescribed by the UGC for the Assistant Librarian in the pay scale of Rs.8,000-13,500/- is also same as of Lecturer. But, Lecturer having MPhil or PhD at the time of appointment will get two and four advance increments and their basic pay will start from Rs.9100/- and 8550/- respectively, then why Assistant Librarians having PhD/MPhil are not being given four/two increments. In addition to this, Lecturers are also getting the benefits of CAS (Career Advancement Scheme), which is not for Assistant Librarians. Here, I would like to discuss following points among LIS-forum members: 1. Assistant Librarians are being deprived from advance increments and CAS because UGC assumes that Librarianship is not an academic profession, than why NET is compulsory for Librarianship. UGC-NET is a National Eligibility Test for Lecturership only. It should not be mandatory for Librarianship. In number of universities in India, the Assistant Librarians are being appointed without having NET and some universities also give an option of either PhD or NET for Assistant Librarians. Even some universities are also giving advance increments benefit to library professionals. Why there are different rules for the same post? 2. For the post of Assistant Librarians in universities, UGC may prescribe MLISc with 55% and five years experience as Professional Assistant. This qualification is also justified because the qualification for the post of Deputy Librarian is MLISc with 55% and five years experience as College Librarian or Assistant Librarian in University. And also for Information Scientist in university library which is also equivalent to Assistant Librarians, the qualification is MLISc + PGDCA. By changing the qualifications, number of Professional Assistants can get promotional avenues those are stagnating on the same post since several years and Universities may also appoint experienced Assistant Librarians. 3. We are conducting number of conferences, seminars, workshops and training programmes for library and information professionals. These are organized for updating/refreshing the knowledge in the field of library computerization, Information and communication technologies and librarianship so that we can provide excellent service to the users. But, I think, until and unless library professionals are not satisfied with its profession (in respect to promotional avenues), they cannot provide excellent service to its users. Librarians have to update their knowledge in three fields i.e., LIS + Computer Science + in the field of institutional objectives in which they are serving. In spite of that Librarians have been neglected in respect to career advancement. Hence, CAS should be implemented for the Library staff.
From this platform, I would like to requests to all the Senior Library and Information Professionals in the country specially Professors and Heads of LIS Departments of Universities, University Librarians, Presidents and Secretaries of library associations, and Directors of all National Level Documentation Centres to take necessary measures to resolve these serious anomalies as they have been serving in various committees of UGC related to LIS profession. Our senior colleagues can only convince UGC in constituting clear rules, guidelines and policies in respect to qualifications, benefit of advance increments and CAS for library profession. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anil Singh Division of Library, Documentation and Information National Council of Educational Research and Training Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi - 110016 E-mail: mailto:rathoreas@hotmail.com rathoreas@hotmail.com