Damning indictment of LIS profession
Dear Moderator, Grateful for publishing the following in lis-forum. I wish to draw the attention of our professional colleagues to an article under the Musings, entitled "What are your bonafides?", by Mr Ranjit Lal in the Magazine section of the Hindu of 9 April, 2006. I think all of us should read this and ponder over the implications. I'm sure many of us must have already done so. The gist of the article is the author, obviously not a member, approached the librarian of the National Museum library in Delhi for help and the librarian promptly asked him to prove his bonafides. Ranjit Lal contributes articles to the Hindu and probably does so to many other renowned newspapers and journals. In any case he told the librarian that he uses the Teen Murthi library and the British Council Library in Delhi and he is working on a book for which he needs help. According to the article, this did not cut ice with the librarian. This article, I believe, is a damning indictment of the unhelpful and bureaucratic attitude of the librarian of one of the premier institutions of the country. It should rouse the collective conscience of the LIS profession and force us to think if in today's competitive world we can afford to have this kind of unhelpful attitude. Even otherwise, isn't service to the user at the centre of our profession ?. The aurthor rightly says the public pays for librarian's salary, allowances and the innumerable cups of tea, justifiable and just righteous indignation!!. How do we change this attitude?. I was under the impression that things have changed and we all swear by service. All the works of SRR emphasise this aspect. Because of instaces like this,( I hope they are isolated) the whole profession gets the stick. And this is why society does not give us the status that an intellectual profession like ours deserves. We need to do something here. Sankaraiah, K Immediate past President of the Madras Library Association (MALA) Dear Moderator, Grateful for publishing the following in lis-forum. I wish to draw the attention of our professional colleagues to an article under the Musings, entitled "What are your bonafides?", by Mr Ranjit Lal in the Magazine section of the Hindu of 9 April, 2006. I think all of us should read this and ponder over the implications. I'm sure many of us must have already done so. The gist of the article is the author, obviously not a member, approached the librarian of the National Museum library in Delhi for help and the librarian promptly asked him to prove his bonafides. Ranjit Lal contributes articles to the Hindu and probably does so to many other renowned newspapers and journals. In any case he told the librarian that he uses the Teen Murthi library and the British Council Library in Delhi and he is working on a book for which he needs help. According to the article, this did not cut ice with the librarian. This article, I believe, is a damning indictment of the unhelpful and bureaucratic attitude of the librarian of one of the premier institutions of the country. It should rouse the collective conscience of the LIS profession and force us to think if in today's competitive world we can afford to have this kind of unhelpful attitude. Even otherwise, isn't service to the user at the centre of our profession ?. The aurthor rightly says the public pays for librarian's salary, allowances and the innumerable cups of tea, justifiable and just righteous indignation!!. How do we change this attitude?. I was under the impression that things have changed and we all swear by service. All the works of SRR emphasise this aspect. Because of instaces like this,( I hope they are isolated) the whole profession gets the stick. And this is why society does not give us the status that an intellectual profession like ours deserves. We need to do something here. Sankaraiah, K Immediate past President of the Madras Library Association (MALA)
I am for the positive attitude - i.e. to allow even non-members to visit and refer to the collection of the library. For me, a library should be like a temple - were everyone should be welcomed. However in the present incidence - before passing a hurried judgement - we should here look into two important issues: 1. Are complete facts reported?. We have read only one sided story. Poor librarian will never be able to put his / her version. He does not the power of the media. 2. Is it a Museum or a Library? A Museum would be more restrictive than a library because of the non-replenish-able material it holds. What are the rules for non-members? Should the librarian break the institutional / organisational rules to carry out his/her professional duties? We should ponder over these issues as well. But do not forget - Library is like a Temple. Hence Don't Discriminate. --Sukhdev Singh. On 13/04/06, K.Sankaraiah <sankariahk@dataone.in> wrote:
Dear Moderator, Grateful for publishing the following in lis-forum.
I wish to draw the attention of our professional colleagues to an article under the Musings, entitled "What are your bonafides?", by Mr Ranjit Lal in the Magazine section of the Hindu of 9 April, 2006. I think all of us should read this and ponder over the implications. I'm sure many of us must have already done so. The gist of the article is the author, obviously not a member, approachedthe librarian of the National Museum library in Delhi for helpand the librarian promptly asked him to prove his bonafides. Ranjit Lal contributes articles to the Hindu and probably does so to manyother renowned newspapers and journals. In any case he told the librarian that he uses the Teen Murthi library and the British Council Library in Delhi and he is working on a book for which he needs help. According to the article, this did not cut ice with the librarian.
This article, I believe, is a damning indictment of the unhelpful and bureaucratic attitude of the librarian of one of the premier institutions of the country. It shouldrouse the collective conscience of the LIS profession and force ustothink if in today's competitive worldwe can afford to have this kind of unhelpful attitude. Even otherwise, isn't service to the user at the centre of our profession ?. The aurthor rightly says the public pays for librarian's salary, allowances and the innumerable cups of tea,justifiable and justrighteous indignation!!.
How do we change this attitude?. I was under the impression that things have changed and we all swear by service. All the works of SRR emphasise this aspect.Because of instaces like this,( I hope they are isolated)the whole profession gets the stick. And this is why society does not give us the status that an intellectual profession like ours
deserves.
We need to do something here.
Sankaraiah, K Immediate past President of the Madras Library Association (MALA)
_______________________________________________ LIS-Forum mailing list LIS-Forum@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in http://ncsi.iisc.ernet.in/mailman/listinfo/lis-forum
LIS professionals' response to a particular problem by a media professional has got enough coverage in LIS professionals' mailing list. A summary of what has been discussed regarding this matter should also be posted on media professionals' mailing lists. HPS Kalra DLIS, Punjabi University, Patiala. On Mon, 17 Apr 2006, Sukhdev Singh wrote:
I am for the positive attitude - i.e. to allow even non-members to visit and refer to the collection of the library. For me, a library should be like a temple - were everyone should be welcomed.
However in the present incidence - before passing a hurried judgement - we should here look into two important issues:
1. Are complete facts reported?. We have read only one sided story. Poor librarian will never be able to put his / her version. He does not the power of the media.
2. Is it a Museum or a Library? A Museum would be more restrictive than a library because of the non-replenish-able material it holds. What are the rules for non-members? Should the librarian break the institutional / organisational rules to carry out his/her professional duties?
We should ponder over these issues as well.
But do not forget - Library is like a Temple. Hence Don't Discriminate.
--Sukhdev Singh.
On 13/04/06, K.Sankaraiah <sankariahk@dataone.in> wrote:
Dear Moderator, Grateful for publishing the following in lis-forum.
I wish to draw the attention of our professional colleagues to an article under the Musings, entitled "What are your bonafides?", by Mr Ranjit Lal in the Magazine section of the Hindu of 9 April, 2006. I think all of us should read this and ponder over the implications. I'm sure many of us must have already done so. The gist of the article is the author, obviously not a member, approachedthe librarian of the National Museum library in Delhi for helpand the librarian promptly asked him to prove his bonafides. Ranjit Lal contributes articles to the Hindu and probably does so to manyother renowned newspapers and journals. In any case he told the librarian that he uses the Teen Murthi library and the British Council Library in Delhi and he is working on a book for which he needs help. According to the article, this did not cut ice with the librarian.
This article, I believe, is a damning indictment of the unhelpful and bureaucratic attitude of the librarian of one of the premier institutions of the country. It shouldrouse the collective conscience of the LIS profession and force ustothink if in today's competitive worldwe can afford to have this kind of unhelpful attitude. Even otherwise, isn't service to the user at the centre of our profession ?. The aurthor rightly says the public pays for librarian's salary, allowances and the innumerable cups of tea,justifiable and justrighteous indignation!!.
How do we change this attitude?. I was under the impression that things have changed and we all swear by service. All the works of SRR emphasise this aspect.Because of instaces like this,( I hope they are isolated)the whole profession gets the stick. And this is why society does not give us the status that an intellectual profession like ours
deserves.
We need to do something here.
Sankaraiah, K Immediate past President of the Madras Library Association (MALA)
_______________________________________________ LIS-Forum mailing list LIS-Forum@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in http://ncsi.iisc.ernet.in/mailman/listinfo/lis-forum
_______________________________________________ LIS-Forum mailing list LIS-Forum@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in http://ncsi.iisc.ernet.in/mailman/listinfo/lis-forum
helo i think we r trying to see many things out of nothing. unless we know whole story, from both sides, we r going for weveral conclusions. i had an experience of going to Bibliotheca Nationale, Paris, they have not allowed me to enter. if anything is wrong, it is because of the policy, rules and many other things. unnecessarily we r trying to make the librarain a scape goat.we donot what happend and which library, who is this man, wht he demanded--etc. i wish we close this topic and let us try to help the people who come for the information. harry@pbi.ac.in wrote: LIS professionals' response to a particular problem by a media professional has got enough coverage in LIS professionals' mailing list. A summary of what has been discussed regarding this matter should also be posted on media professionals' mailing lists. HPS Kalra DLIS, Punjabi University, Patiala. On Mon, 17 Apr 2006, Sukhdev Singh wrote:
I am for the positive attitude - i.e. to allow even non-members to visit and refer to the collection of the library. For me, a library should be like a temple - were everyone should be welcomed.
However in the present incidence - before passing a hurried judgement - we should here look into two important issues:
1. Are complete facts reported?. We have read only one sided story. Poor librarian will never be able to put his / her version. He does not the power of the media.
2. Is it a Museum or a Library? A Museum would be more restrictive than a library because of the non-replenish-able material it holds. What are the rules for non-members? Should the librarian break the institutional / organisational rules to carry out his/her professional duties?
We should ponder over these issues as well.
But do not forget - Library is like a Temple. Hence Don't Discriminate.
--Sukhdev Singh.
On 13/04/06, K.Sankaraiah wrote:
Dear Moderator, Grateful for publishing the following in lis-forum.
I wish to draw the attention of our professional colleagues to an article under the Musings, entitled "What are your bonafides?", by Mr Ranjit Lal in the Magazine section of the Hindu of 9 April, 2006. I think all of us should read this and ponder over the implications. I'm sure many of us must have already done so. The gist of the article is the author, obviously not a member, approachedthe librarian of the National Museum library in Delhi for helpand the librarian promptly asked him to prove his bonafides. Ranjit Lal contributes articles to the Hindu and probably does so to manyother renowned newspapers and journals. In any case he told the librarian that he uses the Teen Murthi library and the British Council Library in Delhi and he is working on a book for which he needs help. According to the article, this did not cut ice with the librarian.
This article, I believe, is a damning indictment of the unhelpful and bureaucratic attitude of the librarian of one of the premier institutions of the country. It shouldrouse the collective conscience of the LIS profession and force ustothink if in today's competitive worldwe can afford to have this kind of unhelpful attitude. Even otherwise, isn't service to the user at the centre of our profession ?. The aurthor rightly says the public pays for librarian's salary, allowances and the innumerable cups of tea,justifiable and justrighteous indignation!!.
How do we change this attitude?. I was under the impression that things have changed and we all swear by service. All the works of SRR emphasise this aspect.Because of instaces like this,( I hope they are isolated)the whole profession gets the stick. And this is why society does not give us the status that an intellectual profession like ours
deserves.
We need to do something here.
Sankaraiah, K Immediate past President of the Madras Library Association (MALA)
_______________________________________________ LIS-Forum mailing list LIS-Forum@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in http://ncsi.iisc.ernet.in/mailman/listinfo/lis-forum
_______________________________________________ LIS-Forum mailing list LIS-Forum@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in http://ncsi.iisc.ernet.in/mailman/listinfo/lis-forum
_______________________________________________ LIS-Forum mailing list LIS-Forum@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in http://ncsi.iisc.ernet.in/mailman/listinfo/lis-forum Prof. N.LAXMAN RAO, Chairman, Board of Studies, Dept.of Library & Information Science, Osmania University, HYDERABAD- 500 007 (INDIA) Vice President, Association of British Scholars(AP Chapter) Vice-President, Faculty Club, Osmania University Ph:+91-40-27171565(res): +91-40-27682290(off) 9246547599(Mobile) e:mail-- naglaxman@yahoo.com OR naglaxman@indiatimes.com --------------------------------- Yahoo! Messenger NEW - crystal clear PC to PC calling worldwide with voicemail helo i think we r trying to see many things out of nothing. unless we know whole story, from both sides, we r going for weveral conclusions. i had an experience of going to Bibliotheca Nationale, Paris, they have not allowed me to enter. if anything is wrong, it is because of the policy, rules and many other things. unnecessarily we r trying to make the librarain a scape goat.we donot what happend and which library, who is this man, wht he demanded--etc. i wish we close this topic and let us try to help the people who come for the information. harry@pbi.ac.in wrote: LIS professionals' response to a particular problem by a media professional has got enough coverage in LIS professionals' mailing list. A summary of what has been discussed regarding this matter should also be posted on media professionals' mailing lists. HPS Kalra DLIS, Punjabi University, Patiala. On Mon, 17 Apr 2006, Sukhdev Singh wrote:
I am for the positive attitude - i.e. to allow even non-members to visit and refer to the collection of the library. For me, a library should be like a temple - were everyone should be welcomed.
However in the present incidence - before passing a hurried judgement - we should here look into two important issues:
1. Are complete facts reported?. We have read only one sided story. Poor librarian will never be able to put his / her version. He does not the power of the media.
2. Is it a Museum or a Library? A Museum would be more restrictive than a library because of the non-replenish-able material it holds. What are the rules for non-members? Should the librarian break the institutional / organisational rules to carry out his/her professional duties?
We should ponder over these issues as well.
But do not forget - Library is like a Temple. Hence Don't Discriminate.
--Sukhdev Singh.
On 13/04/06, K.Sankaraiah wrote:
Dear Moderator, Grateful for publishing the following in lis-forum.
I wish to draw the attention of our professional colleagues to an article under the Musings, entitled "What are your bonafides?", by Mr Ranjit Lal in the Magazine section of the Hindu of 9 April, 2006. I think all of us should read this and ponder over the implications. I'm sure many of us must have already done so. The gist of the article is the author, obviously not a member, approachedthe librarian of the National Museum library in Delhi for helpand the librarian promptly asked him to prove his bonafides. Ranjit Lal contributes articles to the Hindu and probably does so to manyother renowned newspapers and journals. In any case he told the librarian that he uses the Teen Murthi library and the British Council Library in Delhi and he is working on a book for which he needs help. According to the article, this did not cut ice with the librarian.
This article, I believe, is a damning indictment of the unhelpful and bureaucratic attitude of the librarian of one of the premier institutions of the country. It shouldrouse the collective conscience of the LIS profession and force ustothink if in today's competitive worldwe can afford to have this kind of unhelpful attitude. Even otherwise, isn't service to the user at the centre of our profession ?. The aurthor rightly says the public pays for librarian's salary, allowances and the innumerable cups of tea,justifiable and justrighteous indignation!!.
How do we change this attitude?. I was under the impression that things have changed and we all swear by service. All the works of SRR emphasise this aspect.Because of instaces like this,( I hope they are isolated)the whole profession gets the stick. And this is why society does not give us the status that an intellectual profession like ours
deserves.
We need to do something here.
Sankaraiah, K Immediate past President of the Madras Library Association (MALA)
_______________________________________________ LIS-Forum mailing list LIS-Forum@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in http://ncsi.iisc.ernet.in/mailman/listinfo/lis-forum
_______________________________________________ LIS-Forum mailing list LIS-Forum@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in http://ncsi.iisc.ernet.in/mailman/listinfo/lis-forum
_______________________________________________ LIS-Forum mailing list LIS-Forum@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in http://ncsi.iisc.ernet.in/mailman/listinfo/lis-forum Prof. N.LAXMAN RAO, Chairman, Board of Studies, Dept.of Library & Information Science, Osmania University, HYDERABAD- 500 007 (INDIA) Vice President, Association of British Scholars(AP Chapter) Vice-President, Faculty Club, Osmania University Ph:+91-40-27171565(res): +91-40-27682290(off) 9246547599(Mobile) e:mail-- naglaxman@yahoo.com OR naglaxman@indiatimes.com http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mail/uk/taglines/gmail_com/messenger/*http://uk.messe... Yahoo! Messenger NEW - crystal clear PC to PC http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mail/uk/taglines/gmail_com/messenger/*http://uk.messe... calling worldwide with voicemail
Ranjit Lal should have proved his bonafides before demanding for special favors. Majority of the journalists in our country keep demanding special treatment. Further does Ranjit Lal use the British Council Library free of cost ? I don't think so !! Meaning of 'MEMBER ONLY LIBRARY' means it is only for members !!! Isn't it ?. Raj Sukhdev Singh <esukhdev@gmail.com> wrote: I am for the positive attitude - i.e. to allow even non-members to visit and refer to the collection of the library. For me, a library should be like a temple - were everyone should be welcomed. However in the present incidence - before passing a hurried judgement - we should here look into two important issues: 1. Are complete facts reported?. We have read only one sided story. Poor librarian will never be able to put his / her version. He does not the power of the media. 2. Is it a Museum or a Library? A Museum would be more restrictive than a library because of the non-replenish-able material it holds. What are the rules for non-members? Should the librarian break the institutional / organisational rules to carry out his/her professional duties? We should ponder over these issues as well. But do not forget - Library is like a Temple. Hence Don't Discriminate. --Sukhdev Singh. On 13/04/06, K.Sankaraiah wrote:
Dear Moderator, Grateful for publishing the following in lis-forum.
I wish to draw the attention of our professional colleagues to an article under the Musings, entitled "What are your bonafides?", by Mr Ranjit Lal in the Magazine section of the Hindu of 9 April, 2006. I think all of us should read this and ponder over the implications. I'm sure many of us must have already done so. The gist of the article is the author, obviously not a member, approachedthe librarian of the National Museum library in Delhi for helpand the librarian promptly asked him to prove his bonafides. Ranjit Lal contributes articles to the Hindu and probably does so to manyother renowned newspapers and journals. In any case he told the librarian that he uses the Teen Murthi library and the British Council Library in Delhi and he is working on a book for which he needs help. According to the article, this did not cut ice with the librarian.
This article, I believe, is a damning indictment of the unhelpful and bureaucratic attitude of the librarian of one of the premier institutions of the country. It shouldrouse the collective conscience of the LIS profession and force ustothink if in today's competitive worldwe can afford to have this kind of unhelpful attitude. Even otherwise, isn't service to the user at the centre of our profession ?. The aurthor rightly says the public pays for librarian's salary, allowances and the innumerable cups of tea,justifiable and justrighteous indignation!!.
How do we change this attitude?. I was under the impression that things have changed and we all swear by service. All the works of SRR emphasise this aspect.Because of instaces like this,( I hope they are isolated)the whole profession gets the stick. And this is why society does not give us the status that an intellectual profession like ours
deserves.
We need to do something here.
Sankaraiah, K Immediate past President of the Madras Library Association (MALA)
_______________________________________________ LIS-Forum mailing list LIS-Forum@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in http://ncsi.iisc.ernet.in/mailman/listinfo/lis-forum
_______________________________________________ LIS-Forum mailing list LIS-Forum@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in http://ncsi.iisc.ernet.in/mailman/listinfo/lis-forum --------------------------------- Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less. Ranjit Lal should have proved his bonafides before demanding for special favors. Majority of the journalists in our country keep demanding special treatment. Further does Ranjit Lal use the British Council Library free of cost ? I don't think so !! Meaning of 'MEMBER ONLY LIBRARY' means it is only for members !!! Isn't it ?. Raj Sukhdev Singh <esukhdev@gmail.com> wrote: I am for the positive attitude - i.e. to allow even non-members to visit and refer to the collection of the library. For me, a library should be like a temple - were everyone should be welcomed. However in the present incidence - before passing a hurried judgement - we should here look into two important issues: 1. Are complete facts reported?. We have read only one sided story. Poor librarian will never be able to put his / her version. He does not the power of the media. 2. Is it a Museum or a Library? A Museum would be more restrictive than a library because of the non-replenish-able material it holds. What are the rules for non-members? Should the librarian break the institutional / organisational rules to carry out his/her professional duties? We should ponder over these issues as well. But do not forget - Library is like a Temple. Hence Don't Discriminate. --Sukhdev Singh. On 13/04/06, K.Sankaraiah wrote:
Dear Moderator, Grateful for publishing the following in lis-forum.
I wish to draw the attention of our professional colleagues to an article under the Musings, entitled "What are your bonafides?", by Mr Ranjit Lal in the Magazine section of the Hindu of 9 April, 2006. I think all of us should read this and ponder over the implications. I'm sure many of us must have already done so. The gist of the article is the author, obviously not a member, approachedthe librarian of the National Museum library in Delhi for helpand the librarian promptly asked him to prove his bonafides. Ranjit Lal contributes articles to the Hindu and probably does so to manyother renowned newspapers and journals. In any case he told the librarian that he uses the Teen Murthi library and the British Council Library in Delhi and he is working on a book for which he needs help. According to the article, this did not cut ice with the librarian.
This article, I believe, is a damning indictment of the unhelpful and bureaucratic attitude of the librarian of one of the premier institutions of the country. It shouldrouse the collective conscience of the LIS profession and force ustothink if in today's competitive worldwe can afford to have this kind of unhelpful attitude. Even otherwise, isn't service to the user at the centre of our profession ?. The aurthor rightly says the public pays for librarian's salary, allowances and the innumerable cups of tea,justifiable and justrighteous indignation!!.
How do we change this attitude?. I was under the impression that things have changed and we all swear by service. All the works of SRR emphasise this aspect.Because of instaces like this,( I hope they are isolated)the whole profession gets the stick. And this is why society does not give us the status that an intellectual profession like ours
deserves.
We need to do something here.
Sankaraiah, K Immediate past President of the Madras Library Association (MALA)
_______________________________________________ LIS-Forum mailing list LIS-Forum@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in http://ncsi.iisc.ernet.in/mailman/listinfo/lis-forum
_______________________________________________ LIS-Forum mailing list LIS-Forum@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in http://ncsi.iisc.ernet.in/mailman/listinfo/lis-forum Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mail_us/taglines/postman1/*http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt... Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less.
participants (5)
-
harry＠pbi.ac.in -
K.Sankaraiah -
Prof. N. Laxman Rao. -
Rajesh P -
Sukhdev Singh