Date: 6 May 2011 07:19:42 -0000 From: Mahesh Maharudra Angadi Dear Friends, After a long long time we have come across a incidence which indeed will polish and encourage all of us for primitive thinking. Well, every division or class has its own valid reasons stated by our fellow friends. Let me try to bring the face of our users. What they think about Library discipline in general. Many students are still not aware that Library is also a well established discipline like management. It would be more appropriate if we change the nomenclature of M.L.I.Sc degree and try to incorporate it in management, for e.g., M.B.A with specialization in Library and Information Centre Management. Few Institutes have Information Systems as a specialization for M.B.A. However, companies prefer candidates with B.E or M.C.A background for Systems Manager post, considering that it also involves lot of technical background knowledge. In fact, well known University Librarian Dr. P. V. Konnur, under whom I studied in Goa University, had requested for M.Sc (Information Science) nomenclature instead of M.L.I.Sc, which was later on canceled due to lot of technical difficulties. But, one thing I proudly admire, Konnur Sir had designed our syllabus in such a way that we had a wonderful blend of Management and IT subjects in our syllabus which helped us a lot in our career. I promote our Library discipline under management for following reasons:- 1. Besides technical aspects of Library Science we require more focus on managerial skills. We need to be more trained in dealing with our patrons, teachers and office staff, principal and other management members and our own subordinate staff. 2. To attract more young bright minds and also to create a brand image of our discipline, association with management discipline will help a lot. 3. Nowadays, we do find M.B.A with specialization in Pharmaceutical Management, Bio tech Management, Hospital Management, Events Management. The objective of these course is to get the best top level managers in the concerned sectors. Thus, they focus more on the management aspects with also sufficient background courses of the core sectors. 4. What I want to promote here is that, we should not stop M.L.I.Sc degrees, but looking at the current needs, we should encourage more association with management discipline with specializations in Library and Information Management. For e.g., we do have B.Pharm and also M.B.A (Pharmaceutical Management). So if UGC recognizes M.B.A (Library and Information Centre Management) as an equivalent alternative qualification for the College Librarian post with the other same criteria like NET/SET, it will act as channel to strengthen the growth of discipline in right direction. Waiting for wonderful replies with a brain storm. With regards, Mr. Mahesh M. Angadi, Librarian. Model College, Dombivli (East). Contact No. 9869120258. (0251) 2470010.