Dear Professionals,
UGC has to ammend rules to strenghten the Library
System of the Universities in India.
Now, the UGC and the Govt. is totally neglecting this
sector. The first example for this is that in
majority of the Universities in India, the post of
University Librarian is laying vacant. Out of seven
universities in Kerala, only two have University
Librarians. All others are running on "In-Charge" for
several years.
There are several reasons for this. Some of them are
listed below:
1. No sufficient number of qualified candidates are
available ( As per UGC norms). College Librarians /
Asst. University Librarans with 18 years experience in
the UGC cadre or Dy. Librarians are exinct species in
Kerala. At present no candidates are available in
Kerala.
2. The reason for this is that College Librarians
appointed after 1990 are not getting UGC Pay Scales.
3. Since the College Librarians/Asst. Uty. Librarians
are filled by promotion (3/4 posts), no candidate will
get 18 years service in the UGC cadre.
4. If a person appointed at the age of 28 as College
Librarian/Asst. Uty. Libraian in UGC scale only will
qualify
4. This reduces the interest and pressure of
librarians to aspire for this post and hence they try
to hold the post as In-Charge.
5. University authorities also not taking active
interest in this regard.
Suggestions:-
1. Revise the Qualifications and Experience as
follows:
- MLISC + PhD in Library and Information Science
- Total 18 years of professional experience in
libraries, of which atleast 8 years should be in the
UGC Cadre of Dy./Asst.Librarian or College Librarian.
2. In future, library professionals should be
recruited to universities and colleges only in the UGC
Cadre as in the case of teachers.
3. The ideal situation is the redesignation of the
post of librarians as Lecturers/ Readers/ Professors.
The designation of librarians in DRDO, CSIR, ISRO,
etc. is "Scientists".
With regards
A.T. Francis
Assistant Librarian
Kerala Agricultural University
From: Veerankutty Chelatayakkot