This is extremely sad. But - recently I came to know that such things
(sometimes worse) are happening in the US too! I attended the Annual
Conference of the Medical Library Association. It is one of the best I have
attended and I can say we have LOTS to learn about how to conduct
conferences from them
Now the other side is - there were 2000 participants. When I commented and
said "Wow", they said "No not really. We used to have 5000 earlier and now
because many jobs have gone and many others do not get funding to attend
these events, the number has come down a lot"! University libraries are
still great, but "hospital libraries" have gone. One librarian shared on
the mailing list that after she left and later went back, the library was
being managed by "VOLUNTEERS" and was in an absolute mess!
Now - there is no point simply making a noise here. If we need to change
this scenario, we need to not only fight. We need to really look at how we
can change things too. And unless USERS feel the need for our profession,
it is a very difficult fight and change. And for users to feel our need, we
need to go beyond "managing our libraries". We need to do somethings like:
a) Learn more about the field our parent organization is about, and keep
training ourselves in the subject/s area
b) We need to be part of users' research groups (Go offer help and DO
something more than giving them literature and references)
c) Do research about our own libraries and constantly innovate
d) Act as if we are part of management - wear their hats and think. Not
only crib about them (even if they are worth cribbing about!)
And more.....
I am doing some / more of the above and I am sure there are many others who
do as much or more than I do. But it is obviously not enough. Lots more of
us have to do lots more. Only then anything can change.
One thing that every librarian on this list can do - is to keep on talking
to users and helping them in small to big ways. Spend more time with them
than at the desk.
Just my thoughts - right or wrong....
Vasumathi Sriganesh
QMed Knowledge Foundation
(Trust - Reg No: E-24663)
A-3, Shubham Centre, Cardinal Gracious Road
Chakala, Andheri East, Mumbai 400099
Tel: 91-22-40054474/75 Fax:91-22-40054358
Web: www.qmedkf.org.in www.indianmedicalsites.in
On Tue, Jun 26, 2012 at 9:00 PM, Niraj Barua
Dear fellow Professionals and respected one its a very sad development that the DOOMSDAY for the Library Professionals is nearing in general and in particular in our country. See the link below about vacancy for Library cum informatics Officer in a Central Govt autonomous institution. We should raise our voice unitedly against such unjustful strategies from the policy makers. Our professional qualification limits our job scope to only the Libraries, but Computer professionals have far more avenues to try for a job. Why are some of the people desperate to throttle our profession for benefit of some so called elites? Please raise your voice, share your concern otherwise the coming generation of our profession (if survives) will blame the present lot.
http://www.nabi.res.in/Vacancies/Permanent/NABI3(2)2012-Rectt/DetailofAdvt.p...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Niraj Barua 9435346637(Mobile) niraj_barua@yahoo.co.in.
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