Some points to rejuvenate college and university libraries in Kerala
Dear Joseph Zacharia and other professionals, Every profession has clearly defined the roles of Professionals, Semi-Professionals and non-professionals. But, in Kerala, most of the professions are effectively controlled and managed by clerks, including the libraries and librarians. Some library professionals (I do not know whether they are true professionals or not) are also in this line and supporting to create quarrels and court cases. School, College and University Teachers have assistants, named Lab Asst. and Farm Asst.; Doctors have Asst., named Physicians’ Assistant; Nurses have Assistant, named Nursing Asst.; and so on. But, in the case of librarians in Kerala, such a clear definition is not prevailing, which causes unscientific management of professionals and continuous quarrels and court cases. We, the professionals in Thrissur have discussed these issues in detail in two seminars led by the Kerala Agricultural University and Kerala Library Association and recommended the following: (1). UGC or similar Scheme should be implemented in all college and university libraries, including poly technique colleges, medical colleges, nursing colleges, engineering colleges, etc. in Kerala as was done for other subject teachers in these institutions. (2). While implementing the UGC Scheme, all the then Junior Lecturers in conventional colleges/universities and Junior Assistant Professors in Kerala Agricultural University have been upgraded to Lecturers/Asst. Professors and given UGC Scale by exempting from 55% marks and NET (3). Here after, only direct recruitment prevails to Lecturer/Asst. Professor. (4). In the case of librarians, all the then professionals (Library/ Technical/ Reference Assistants/ Librarian Grade I, II, III & IV) should have to be inducted to the UGC Cadre by exempting from 55% marks and NET. (5). A new cadre similar to Lab Assistants should be introduced in university/college libraries with CLISc as qualification; with clear cut rules for promotion and without entry to the UGC Cadre. (6). So, the only solution to rejuvenate our profession is the full implementation of the UGC Scheme as was done for other teachers. Automatically, all quarrels between NETians and Non-NETians will end; all library professionals in universities will demand to raise the retirement age to 60 or even upto 65; duties like issue, return, replacement, shelf rectification, etc. will be handled by CLISc holders or even experienced non-professionals; nobody will demand for the unnecessary increase/ creation of posts for promotion and so on. (this is happening in Govt. Secretariat and every body is trying to create posts of Chief Secretary, Additional Secretary, DGP, CFO, etc. for promotion and consequently multiplying red-tappism and power governance. Dr. A.T. FRANCIS, MCom, MLISc, NET, PhD HEAD, LIBRARY & IT NODAL OFFICER College of Horticulture Kerala Agricultural University Thrissur - 680 656, India, 91-9496839409 (m) francisaloor@yahoo.com -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.
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Dr. A.T. Francis