Library

&

Information Science

Introduction:

Library and Information Science (LIS) is an interdisciplinary field that applies the practices, perspectives, and tools of management, information technology, education, and other areas to libraries; the collection, organization, preservation, and dissemination of information resources; and the political economy of information. The libraries being the repositories of knowledge and information, their importance has increased. In this situation, the librarianship has attained the status of a separate discipline. Librarians are the custodians of libraries and they organize, maintain, and store books in the libraries. They help people to find information and use it effectively in their personal and professional lives. The traditional libraries which contained only books now have periodicals, journals, micro-films, audio-videos, cassettes and slides for various purposes such as education, research, reference and pleasure.

Historically, library science has also included archival science. This includes how information resources are organized to serve the needs of select user groups, how people interact with classification systems and technology, how information is acquired, evaluated and applied by people in and outside of libraries as well as cross-culturally, how people are trained and educated for careers in libraries, the ethics that guide library service and organization, the legal status of libraries and information resources, and the applied science of computer technology used in documentation and records management.

The career in library includes areas like library and information systems management, classification/cataloguing systems, bibliography, documentation, preservation and conservation of manuscript, collection management, information systems and technology, research methodology, computer applications, reference, statistics and management, information processing, archives management, indexing, library planning, etc. Library science is constantly evolving, incorporating new topics like database management, information architecture and knowledge management, among others. It is an interesting subject and provides a great opportunity to have the knowledge of wide variety of information sources.

Personality Traits:

One can become a librarian if he/she has a basic interest in books as well as a variety of topics, good communication skills, customer service attitude, methodical approach, organising ability, ability to anticipate user's needs, a wide general knowledge and ability to cope with frequent interruptions when doing jobs requiring concentration.

They must have knowledge of a wide variety of scholarly and public information sources, and follow trends related to publishing, computers, and the media to effectively oversee the selection and organisation of library materials.

Courses/Training

Courses in Library & Information Science are

  • Bachelor of Library & Information Science(BLISc)
  • Bachelor of Library Science(BLSc)
  • Certificate Course in Library Science
  • Diploma in Archives & Documentation
  • Diploma in Library Science.(DLSc)
  • Master of Library & Information Science(MLISc)
  • Master of Library Science(MLSc)
  • B.LIB from recognized University
  • M.LIB from recognized University

Institutes:

There are about 80 university departments offering the LIS courses. This course is also available through distance learning mode. Two Sanskrit universities, viz., KS Darbhanga Sanskrit University (Bihar), and Sampuranand Sanskrit Vishvavidyalaya (Varanasi) offer Pustakalaya Vigyan Shastri (9 months) and Granthalaya Vigyan Shastri (One year) courses respectively. Knowledge of Sanskrit language is an essential requirement. LIS are available in the following Universities/Institutes-

  • 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
  • Jiwaji University, Gwalior
  • Karnatak University, Dharwad
  • 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
  • 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
  • Vikram University, Ujiain
  • UP Rajarshi Tandon Open University, Allahabad (Distance Education)
  • Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi (Distance Education)

Eligibility

Minimum qualification required to take up a course in Library Science is graduation. One with graduation can go for Bachelors degree in library science. Duration of this bachelors course is one year. Those with Bachelor degree in library science can go for Masters degree in library science which is of one year duration. One can also go for M.Phil and Ph.D in this field. There are also diploma and certificate courses.

Various universities, colleges, polytechnics, as well as distance learning institutions around the country offer courses in Library Science. In most of the institutes selection is through an entrance test.

Course areas include library and information systems management, classification/cataloguing systems, bibliography, documentation, preservation and conservation of manuscript, library management, research methodology, computer applications, information processing, archives management, indexing, library planning etc.

Careers:

Some of the career options are as given below:-

  • Library Attendant
  • Library Assistant
  • Semi-Professional Assistant
  • Junior Librarian/Professional Assistant
  • Assistant Librarian
  • Deputy Librarian
  • Librarian/Chief Librarian
  • Senior Library Information Assistant
  • Law Librarian
  • Indexer
  • Information architect
  • Archivist

Placements & Prospects

  • Libraries
  • Colleges
  • Corporate Training Centres
  • Research Institutions
  • Media Organizations
  • Consulting Firms
  • Trained personnel in this field can find employment opportunities in areas like:
  • Public / Government libraries
  • Universities and other academic institutions
  • News agencies and organisations
  • Private organisations and special libraries
  • Foreign embassies
  • Photo / film libraries
  • Information centres / documentation centers
  • Companies and organisations with large information handling requirements
  • Museums and galleries, which have reading rooms and research facilities
  • Some library technicians are self-employed as researchers, consultants, cataloguers etc. on short term contracts.

Challenges:

The major challenges faced by present college librarians are:-

  • Complexity in locating and analyzing and linking of Information;
  • Overloading and redundancy of information;
  • Lack of Standardization of hardware and software ;
  • Financial investment for setting and maintaining the technology;
  • The existing technology may be insufficient to accommodate the tremendous growth of information on Internet.

Library and information professionals should add new ICT skills to their current capabilities in order to help users overcoming their anxieties about the new world of networked and digitized information, and assist them to navigate through it. For which training is indispensable to bestow the professionals with the skills, knowledge and confidence to use ICT effectively in their day-to day work, and to the benefit of their clientele. Above all, making library staff competent locally and globally necessitates greater ‘investment in staff’ for raising their level of technology skills and preventing skills obsolescence. The libraries all over the world are now responding with adaptability, creativity and flexibility. Indian librarians of today serve in a society which is actually in flux, torn by the technological revolution and rapid political changes. Librarians and information professionals in India are now experiencing both excitement and anxiety as a result of the sweeping societal changes. In preparing the future librarians of India, in making them more proactive, the library and information science departments of different universities can definitely play a significant role.

Remuneration

Salaries of librarians vary according to the individual's qualifications, experience, type, size and the nature of the hiring institutions. In India, a Librarian can get salary between Rs. 2 to 4 lacs per annum.

Useful Links: https://www.sarvgyan.com/courses/librarian

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