Selecting a Career as Librarianship

Transcription

1 Selecting a Career as Librarianship The basic aim of a librarian is to disseminate knowledge. Libraries are now universally recognized as important institutions. The gradual spread of the concept of demo-cracy, the extension of education, the intensification of research activities, and the rapid increase in production of recorded know-ledge, have lead to the expansion of libraries and the development of their services. With the growth in number of institutions of learning, the need and importance of libraries is also growing. Therefore, librarianship is a growing field, which has by now attained the status of a separate discipline in the universe of knowledge. The management of these libraries needs persons with good academic and professional qualifications. Those intending to enter the library profession should certify themselves that they posses the necessary academic qualifica-tions and the sense of vocation that would enable them to work successfully as librarians. The services provided by libraries are now called library and information services combining the conventional library functions of the yester years with its present day information services role. Computer and information Techno-logy too has started playing a significant role in delivering information services. Two other terms are also associated with the discipline viz., documentation and Information Storage and retrieval. Thus, besides libraries, there are also Documentation Centres and Information Centres. Despite using different nomenclat-ures, at the heart of the discipline is the provision of information services to those who need them. Educational Opportunities Conventional Courses - Library and Information Science is not a mere academic discipline. It is a professional course which involves practical, observational and experimental study. Education and training in the discipline is imparted in India at various levels. Formal education in library science offered by universities is little more than six decade old. Prior to that, the training was offered by profess-ional associations of librarians in different states. Generally it is of six months duration leading to the award of certificates. Universities first introduced the diploma course of one-year duration, which, later on, was elevated to the degree level with additional course inputs. Several institutions still continue to offer certificate courses. The certificate course of six months duration leading to the award of CLISc is open to candidates who have passed the 10+2 exami-nation. Besides universities, professional associations of librarians also offer the CLISc course. DLISc course of one year duration is available mostly through distance learning mode Entry requirement for this course is also Some polytechnics also offer diploma courses. For the degree course of one-year (BLISc) duration, graduates in any discipline are eligible for this course. Those who obtained the BLISc degree can then pursue the master s degree course (MLISc), also of one year duration. On the recommendation of UGC curricu-lum model 2001, several universi-ties have now started two-year integrated courses leading to Master s degree after graduation. The duration of MPhil course is one year while PhD takes between three or five years. At present, education in library & information science is provided at six levels, viz., Certificate (CLISc); Diploma (DLISc); Bachelor degree (BLISc); Master s degree (MLISc); MPhil, and; PhD.

2 IT Oriented Courses : With the advent of computers, the nature of library and information science has undergone revolutionary change all over the world. As stated earlier, the computer and information technology is now being widely used in libraries and information centres to process, store, retrieve and disseminate information. NISCAIR under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi conducts the two years programme leading to the award of Associateship in Information Science (AIS) and the Documentations Research and Training Centre (DRTC) at the Indian Statistical Institute (Banga-lore) offer Associateship in Documentations and Information Science (ADIS). The International School of Information Manage-ment (ISIM), University of Mysore is also launching 2 years M. Tech programme in Information Systems and Management during July In view of the increasing use of computer and information technology in libraries, several universities in India also have started various courses focusing primarily on information technology and computer. These courses are: M.Sc (Information Science) Master of Library Automation and Networking Postgraduate Diploma in Library Automation and Net-working (PGDLAN) Master s Degree in Library Automation (MLA) PG Diploma in Library Auto-mation Master of Information Techno-logy Management (MITM) Postgraduate Diploma course in Information Technology (PGDIT) M Tech in Information Systems and Management The details of these courses are available on various websites like www. lisgateaway.com, com, Career Opportunities Librarianship, as it used to be called earlier, is now recognized as a discipline in its own right like any other academic discipline, thanks to Dr. S.R. Ranganathan, who is regarded as the father of library science in India. The discipline is now variously called library science, library and information science or simply information science. Trained library professionals can find considerable opportunity for employment as well as job satisfaction in this area as a teacher and as well as in Librarianship. Librarianship as a profession provides a variety of employment opportunities. In fact, it is possible to choose the kind of library to suit one s interest and background. There are a wide variety of libraries, which provide employ-ment opportunities. The libraries may be broadly grouped into various categories: (a) Academic Libraries, (b) public Libraries, (c) Special Libraries, (d) Government Libraries, and (e) Private Libraries. Besides, there is the National Library. Newspapers libraries are also a class by themselves. In addition, foreign governments, as a part of their cultural programmes, had opened libraries in several cities. Opportunities in Teaching Library and Information Science is also a subject for UGC-NET for determining the eligibility for lectureship in universities and colleges. If somebody likes to join this profession as a teacher, he has to

3 qualify UGC-NET exam in Library and information science. Teaching jobs are available in Universities, colleges, polytechni-ques and in vocational training institutes like ITI. Opportunities in Librarianship According to your academic and professional qualifications, you may join this profession as librarianship. In Librarianship, designations could be Librarian, Documentation Officer, Assistant Librarian, Deputy Librarian, Scientist (Library Science/ Docu-mentation), Library and Infor-mation Officer, Knowledge Manager/ Officer, Information Executive, Director/Head of Library Services, Information Officer, Information Analyst. In School, College, Universities, In 4 National Libraries of India like National Library, Kolkata; Cannomera Public Library, Chennai; Asiatic Society Library, Mumbai; Delhi Public Library, Delhi. And also in State Public Libraries In the training centers of banks like SBI, PNB, RBI, Bank of Baroda etc. In National Museums and Archives In NGOs working in different areas like TERI, CSE etc. In R&D Centre like ICAR, CSIR, DRDO, ICSSR, ICHR, ICMR, ICFRE, etc. In Business House like, TCS, Infosys, Reliance, Punj Loyd etc. In commercial houses like PHDCCI, CII, ASSOCHAM, etc. In Foreign Embassies and High Commissions situated in Delhi. In International Centres like WHO, UNESCO, UNO, World Bank, British Council, American Centre, ICRISAT etc. In the libraries of Ministries and other government departments like Parliament Library, Central Secretariat Library, Sates Lagislative Library, NIC, DAE, DOE, DST, Railway, Planning Commission, PM Office etc. In Library Software develop-ment firms and companies. In professional colleges like Medical, Engineering, Agricul-ture, AIIMS, IIMs, IITs, NITs In National Level Documen-tation Centres like NISCAIR, DESIDOC, NASSDOC etc. In Library Network like DELNET, CALIBNET, ADINET, INFLIBNET etc. In the newspaper libraries like Hindustan Times, Times of India etc. In News Channels like Door-darshan, Aajtak, Zeenews, Starnews, NDTV In the Libraries of All India Radio (AIR) Stations. In the Databases providers firms like Informatics, Science@ Direct, Scopus, Springer etc. In publishing companies for preparing Index, abstracts, bibliographies etc. In various digital library projects like Digital Library of India etc. In Training Academies like IAS, IPS, IFS, NDA, IMA, OTA etc. Conclusion The large-scale proliferation of library and information science courses has led the dilution of the standard of education and substantial increase in the number of degree holders. However, persons

4 possessing good academic records and adequate skills in computer and information technology can still look forwards to a rewarding career in the profession. In your own interest always verify course, dates of application, introduction of new courses, new competitive examinations either by direct correspondence, through websites or by keeping track of notification in the prominent dailies and publication like the Employment News. Have faith in your hard work, perseverance, persistence and continue to upgrade knowledge, awareness and skills. Universities offering Library Science Education Alagappa University, Karaikudi Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh Allahabad University Annamalai University, Annamalainagar Awadhesh Pratap Singh University, Rewa Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi Bundelkhand University, Jhansi Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar University, Agra Dr. Harisingh Gour Viswavidyalaya, Sagar Gulbarga University, Gulbarga Guru Ghasidas University, Bilaspur Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar Dr. Harisingh Gour University, Sagar HNB Garhwal University Srinagar - Garhwal Jadavpur University, Calcutta Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi Karnatak University, Dharwad Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra Nagpur University, Nagpur North Eastern Hill University, Shillong Pandit Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur Panjab University, Chandigarh Patna University, Patna Punjabi University, Patiala Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur Sambalpur University, Sambalpur SNDT Womens University, Mumbai

5 University of Delhi, Delhi University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad University of Jammu, Jammu (Tawi) University of Kashmir, Srinagar University of Lucknow, Lucknow University of Madras, Chennai University of Mysore, Mysore University of Pune, Pune University of Rajasthan, Jaipur UP Rajarshi Tandon Open University, Allahabad Vikram University, Ujiain