Prof, Thank you for an interesting discussion and your valid comments on
teaming up in the current scenario. I think here is a huge opportunity
for everyone to collaborate and improve the situation. I strongly feel
LIS schools and LIS professionals are doing good and of course can do
better. This cautiously optimistic outlook or operating with the Feel
Good Factor (FGF) will help everyone a lot and fosters Synergy. The
third major component, I wish to add, is 'Practicing LIS Professionals'
in any institution/industry. Just as the IT domain is embarking on the
Industry-Academia Collaboration for learning, teaching, research,
Knowledge Transfusion (KT), sharing of the best practices & unleashing
the next practices etc, the stakeholders of LIS profession also need to
collaborate closely to give practical perspective and orientation to the
students. Librarian as Teacher (besides as Continuous Learner as you
mentioned and questioned by Arun) is one of the important dimension to
be explored much better for imparting wisdom on emerging trends and also
survival skills to be a successful Information Professional in this
information-intensive knowledge era. I strongly feel, the practicing
Librarians should collaborate with academicians/professors, visit LIS
schools, talk to students, answer some of the unanswered questions in
their budding minds or at least briefly share their experience, learning
and knowledge. Joseph Joubert said 'To Teach is to Learn Twice' and
thus it would benefit all the stakeholders in the best interest of our
Profession. I am gradually trying this in my own little way and always
ready to visit nearby LIS schools to talk to our students (the budding
professional colleagues) to induce confidence in themselves and learn
from them myself. These are some of my own thoughts I thought I should
share to reflect on this discussion and thank you for reading the note.
T Koteswara Rao
Librarian
Satyam Computer Services Ltd
Telephone: 098408 23377
From: lis-forum-bounces@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in
[mailto:lis-forum-bounces@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in] On Behalf Of amudhavalli
alagusundaram
Sent: 21 November 2007 10:52
To: Subbiah Arunachalam
Cc: Varalakshmi Rudrabhatla; mala; Sewa Singh; Samyuktha Ravi;
vijayakumar kp; lis-forum@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in; commodore shekhar; sashi
singh; sangita gupta
Subject: [LIS-Forum] Attention Please
Sir,
You are right and free to do so.
Students performance and matching the requirements are based on several
factors. The two major components are students and teachers.
Teachers, you know need to update themeselves and be committed. you can
only advise or suggest to this group and it is oneself who will lhave to
lead in his/her career.
AS far as students are concerned, the input into the schools are very
disappointing. Both quantitatively and qualitatively, they are so low,
it is extremely difficult to mould them to be even a 'better lot' if not
the 'best'. Candidates below the medocre line enter our profession,
unfortunately. They have no vision or mission. We try to inculcate that
in them to the best of our ability. In 2 two years is everythiing cannot
be accomplished though best of our efforts are put into that process.
Our curricula has been changed, by and large in most of the LIS Schools
across the coun try, particularly in the South. Infrastrcucture has been
improvised. What else you need?????
Profssional bodies at all levels are initiating lectures, workshops,
discussions etc for betterment of the professionals. Not many respond or
even iof they do so, not intersted or ready to learn and or change, It
has become a very challenging task for all of us. People have to change
themselves, I feel. Ther seems to no competency, competition or
communcation skills amongst the professionals, which is very
disappointing.
Yes, We speak and talk and talk, but what is the net result?. Who is to
be blamed?? Ofc ourse, Not any one single individual or group. All of
us need to team up together to create awareness and upgrade the
literacy level.
I am willing to take up any task at any time to be involved in this
attempt. I Look forward for some concrete suggestions and movements to
participate myself.
Thanks
amudha
Subbiah Arunachalam