Outward :- 504/2016 *By Email **/** S**peed** Post **/** B**y* * Hand* Date –10-06-2016 To *Smt. SmritiZubinIrani* *Hon’ble Minister of HRD* *ShastriBhavan* *Jeevan Deep Building* *Parliament Street* *New Delhi 110 001* *Respected Madam* *Subject : AICTE Schemes Grants for Improvement/Development of Librarians* In response to the online RTI application no. 50547 dated 22nd March, 2016. I have noted that AICTE does not have any scheme for improvement / development of Librarian/s. In any education institution, library and librarian is a key resource and person to facilitate process of managing knowledge – identifying, sharing, editing, transmitting and continuously searching for knowledge resources. Maharashtra University Act 1994, defines Librarian as teacher under 2(34) and the qualifications prescribed for Librarians is same as that of teachers. The role of librarian is to provide proactive service to the entire teaching fraternity of an educational institution which they are serving. A Librarian, therefore, functions in juxtaposition to the teaching fraternity and has to more watchful for knowledge updates, not merely in his own area but across the network of subjects and courses offered by the institution in which the Librarian is in serving. The role of the Librarian in the knowledge economy, fuelled with the ICT revolution. This has provoked the Librarian’s role into a new direction characterised by seamless activities viz. identifying databases, academic, industry and India INC, library infopack with support to syllabus, remote access to databases, active participation of the institution, developing digital depository, organisation of lectures on various dimensions viz. bibliography software, plagiarism software (Turnitin and ephorous), citations tools, survey softwares, communication database (call for papers) – Scopus and web of science and a wide variety of other activities related. Limited only by the genius of researchers at work in the field of ICT interface. Unless the Librarian is given an opportunity to update and upgrade his knowledge, skills (soft and hard) and is aware of what is happening in the vicinity and the world around in the context of the knowledge economy of which India is a very important point. This will help librarian to provide quality services to teaching fraternity. In fact librarians should also be involved in decision making process as well. This will help AICTE to decide which databases, books and references are necessary and how much amount needs to be spent by the colleges on the same. Librarians shall also provide very valuable information about the utility of the resources. In the circumstances, when Librarians are highly qualified in their field with the highest degrees viz. M.Lib., M.Phil and Ph.D. along with NET / SET, funds needs to be allotted by AICTE and related agencies for development of librarians. This shall definitely add value to the teaching learning process. In the context of what is said above, I hope the AICTE takes into account the emerging multifaceted role of Librarian, in the knowledge economy, driven by the seamless progress of ICT and change its approach towards the role of Librarian dedicated funds must be allotted for development of librarian on a top priority. I strongly suggest AICTE to make necessary changes in the manual and include Librarian in the teaching category. Librarians status as per UGC norms (Librarian is considered in teaching faculty UGC 1995/193/95/VS-3), and librarian even possess right to become the Principal of the college. UGC 2010/472-10/VS-1) A line in reply with necessary amendment shall be highly appreciated. Yours sincerely !!! * SubhashAthavale Vaibhav Narawade* Secretary Secretary -- Warm Regards Dr. Sandeep Bhavsar Librarian *Prin. L. N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research (AUTONOMOUS)* L Napoo Road | Matunga (CR) | Mumbai- 400 019. Tel: 022-2419 8377 | Mob: 9870 18 9999 Library Portal*: http://elearn.welingkar.org/infowe http://elearn.welingkar.org/infowe* -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.