Dear Professional Comrades, It is quite unfortunate to join a discussion about our own status. I have no capacity to support or negate the points raised by the veterans in LIS like Dr. Gouder and Dr. Harinarayana. However, as a professional who is always keen about the profession, I am adding a few things which I learned though my 22 years of voyage in the profession. Library profession is facing crucial challenges due to the following reasons: 1. *The name itself:* The name Librarian sounds that he/she is only a custodian of books. The world of book has changed. Not our academics including librarians. 2. *The ego clash between teachers and librarians:* Though the librarians are treated at par with teachers even by UGC, other subject teachers including the library science teachers (not all) are not ready to accept librarians as teacher even if they are having UGC scale and status. Many of our teachers are above UGC and treat librarians as peons or clerks. 3. *Lack of knowledge contribution:* Library and information science is almost dying because there is no new additional contribution to the subject from the academics and researchers. Most of the researches are conventional and contributing nothing to the subject. The only addition to the subject is application of information technology. Technology people will overpower the profession if librarians are reluctant to harness the technology. 4. *The question whether we need libraries:* Even the academics and administrators often raise the question whether we need libraries in the light of the availability of e-content even in mobile phones. *The ignorance of the so called academics and administrators coupled with lethargy of the library professionals created the present situation*. 5. *Inactive/ineffective library associations:* Library associations in India are either inactive or inefficient. Most of the library associations are only workshop/seminar conducting associations which contribute nothing to the subject or profession. *Suggestions:* 1. Change of name of librarians in tune with the nomenclature in management / technology/teaching. 2. A proactive library association which will accredit library schools and enroll library professionals looking seriously into the matter of standard. This association shall be the voice of the profession and a link between the professionals and government and other organs. On Thu, Jun 4, 2015 at 3:24 PM, Eldho Joy <eldhoj@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear professionals

I would like to add something to the thoughts expressed by Dr.IRN Gowdar regarding the status of library profession and professionals in India.

1.The nextGen people are reluctant to take up LIS studies as their profession.This is evident from a recent seminar in which no LIS professional would like to send their wards for a carrier in LIS.

2.There is no clearcut syllabi and course of action from many of our LIS schools as what do they want their students to do.

3.Apathy of our officials towards Librarians.Many of the institutions either compel their librarians to do part time teaching job or very much underpaid.

4.Lack of governmental interest in this profession.

We have to see and learn what librarians are doing in other parts of the world to maintain the quality and status of this profession.

Eldho Joy E Research Scholar University of Kerala Thiruvananthapuram.

On Thu, Jun 4, 2015 at 6:34 AM, N.S. Harinarayana < ns.harinarayana@gmail.com

...

wrote:

...

Dear Professionals, Greetings!

This is a rejoinder to Dr. IRN Gowdar's comment on MyDLIS Golden Jubilee Celebrations.

MyDLIS is in the festive mood which it rightly deserves. It is the second only LIS School in Karnataka which has completed 50 years of fruitful existence. The Golden Jubilee celebrations commenced last year on 24th June 2014. Throughout the year MyDLIS is actively engaged itself to celebrate and share our joy with alumni and other well wishers. The culmination of these activities will be in the form of Golden Jubilee Summit and International Conference during June 18-20, 2015. There is a Meet and Greet program for alumni on morning of 18th June exclusively for MyDLIS alumni. Hurry Up! Register yourselves for the events!

The preparations are in full swing. And a lot of help is pouring in. As a matter of fact, we are receiving the pleasantries and greetings from many people, even from unexpected corners. The overwhelming support and encouragement have humbled many of us.

I am bit surprised by the timing of the views aired by Dr. Gowdar, let alone its tone and tenor.

The criticism of Dr. Gowdar about non-inclusion of LIS professionals proved null and void going by the arguments put forth by Dr. Vasanth in earlier postings in LIS-FORUM. As Dr. Vasnath observed some of the invited speakers either work in or closely associated with iSchools - the next generation LIS Schools. A few other invitee speakers in the list work in the areas that are alienated with LIS. In the interest of being precise, I am withholding myself from being giving the details.

The second line of argument by Dr. Gowdar is that many of the invited speakers are from other fields. After all LIS profession boomed in India only after the efforts of Dr. S.R. Ranganathan - a mathematician! It needs to be emphasised here that the Golden Jubilee Summit is multi-disciplinary by design. It has been declared in the brochure in unequivocal terms. Let me quote from the Summit's brochure. 'The Golden Jubilee Summit will bring academics from across wide spectrum of multidisciplinary field of INFORMATION SCIENCES to connect the dots of principles, processes and paradigms of information that have shaped the field and offer a preview of the future boundaries of information and its science, technology and management'. Hence, MyDLIS has rightly invited the luminaries from other fields. MyDLIS has the prerogative of deciding what it wants to do to celebrate the Golden Jubilee.

The third line of argument, in a very subtle way, by Dr. Gowdar is that MyDLIS has ignored the Indian LIS speakers. As already explained, Golden Jubilee is a year-long celebration for MyDLIS. Every month MyDLIS had special lectures from eminent LIS speakers from India. So far there were nine such lectures in this series. Details can be had from the Chairperson of MyDLIS. Secondly, the grand finale program is a twin-event. Golden Jubilee Summit along with International Conference forms the extravaganza event. For the International Conference eminent librarians, scholars, teachers from LIS field in India are invited as speakers, chairpersons of the sessions, and for other roles in the event. It is thus, unfair, to infer that MyDLIS has ignored LIS speakers. The number of such invitees goes beyond 35 in number. MyDLIS has also invited the Presidents of all the Library Associations in Karnataka as guest delegates. This gesture itself shows the kind of love and respect MyDLIS has for LIS profession.

Dr. Gowdar alleges that he tends to feel that MyDLIS has not produced persons of eminence in LIS. This is not only unwarranted but also disparaging comment. It may not take much time to answer this comment. Dr. P.Y. Rajendra Kumar, the current Director General of National Library of India is our alumnus. The most successful information entrepreneur Sri N.V. Sathya Narayana is graduated from MyDLIS. The most revered Prof. V.G. Talawar - the first ever Vice-Chancellor from LIS field in India - is a MyDLIS faculty. For fear of being too long listing all the names, I would just say that MyDLIS has produced professionals who have occupied the pivotal positions in many organizations and universities. MyDLIS probably is the only LIS department in India which could attract research and development projects worth many crores. MyDLIS is the first ever LIS department in Karnataka to start two-year MILSc programme which was followed by others eventually. More than 70 PhDs are from MyDLIS. It is one of the very few SAP departments in India. Likewise, there are many achievements. In the nutshell, we are proud to be alumni of MyDLIS which has given us more than what we could expect.

It is the time for fun, enjoyment and prosperity for MyDLIS. Let us make the event a grand success.

Long live MyDLIS!

-- N.S. Harinarayana Department of Library and Information Science University of Mysore, Manasagangotri Mysore 570 006 Off. Ph: (0821) 2419393

-- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.