Revamping Library and
Information Science
Education in India
Dr. C.R.Karisiddappa
Visiting Professor,
Former UGC Emeritus Professor
Dept. of Library and Information Science
Karnatak University,
Dharwad
karisiddappa@gmail.com
Outline
• Introduction : Looking back & moving forward
• Towards Global thinking of LIS Education in India
• Concept of Library : A paradigm shift
• Revamping LIS Education
• Dimensional Changes & Need for Revamping
• Changing scenario-Emerging new concepts
• Conclusion
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100 Years - Looking Back & Moving Forward!!
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Baroda School, 1911 and Service to Society
Remembering Maharaja Sayyaji Rao Gaikwad -III
Entry of Ranganathan in 1930s
Establishment of UGC - impetus to Librarianship
Library Legislation – Network of public libraries ( 18
states enacted the Library Acts in India)
• Industrial Growth – Need for Documentation and
Information Services
• Need for Manpower for different kinds of libraries
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Looking Back & Moving Forward!!...
• Ranganthan estimated need for more than 100,000
professionals in India in 1964 itself
• UGC Reports (1965 w.r.t. LIS Education)
• Steady growth of LIS Education, Research & Training
• Present Scenario – 150 Universities, Distance Education
Programmes, Specialized Training Institutions &
programmes
• Levels of Education – From Certificate to Doctoral
Programmes
• Change in nomenclature – B.Lib.Sc. To B.L.I.Sc; to Two
Years M.L.I.Sc on par with other Post- Graduate Studies
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Towards Global Thinking of LIS Education
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World wide changes & changes in work place
Change of pattern of curriculum
Evaluation process & quality assessment & need
National Knowledge Commission (NKC)
Users assimilation of ICT
Library Networks & E-content growth
UGC e-Pathashala towards content creation & new
learning environment (e-Learning)
• Globalization & Internationalization of LIS Education
in India (w.r.t. inflow of foreign students)
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Concept of Library : A Paradigm shift
• Core concept of Library emanated from the idea of
“Recorded Knowledge”
• Paradigm shift witnessed due to mode of changes in
Recorded Knowledge & Communication process &
impact on profession including education process
• Changes in Modes of Recording & Revolution in
Communication of Recorded Knowledge
– Speech: Possible to make propositions
– Writing/Recording : Possible to preserve them
(speaker independent)
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Concept of Library : A Paradigm shift (Contd…)
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– Printing (Revolution in Mode of Recording):
Possible to preserve them writer independent
– Digital (Invisible/Virtual Mode of Recording):
Possible to access source of information without
physical ownership
Predominance of print replaced by multiplicity of
communication media
Ease of research, writing, editing &publication
Paved way for increasing quantum of information &
information overload to users
Increasing number of information providers
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Concept of Library : A Paradigm shift (Contd…)
• Earlier
– All users mainly use to look towards library for
knowledge & information
• Now
– Ample number of information sources & providers for
getting knowledge & information
• Shift in practice and learning
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Revamping of LIS Education in India
Points to Ponder
• Status of Library Systems
– Library Centered Education
– Declining strength of LIS manpower in Libraries
(Academic)
– LIS Departments and Libraries – lack of togetherness
– Lack of Library Culture
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Contd..
– Status of Public Libraries ,fading status of Special
Libraries
– Go back to school to learn “Library organization,
management and administration” is need of hour
– Needs of users changing – General to Specific –
Document to Information
– Users turning more ICT Savvy
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Contd..
• Choice of Curriculum Pattern – Traditional, Integrated, CBCS
• Need of Learning to Learn, Unlearn & Relearn by Teachers
• Professional Development Programmes - for LIS
• Professionals, Teachers – Multi-organizational levels &
courses
• Dawn of Accreditation & Assessment process
• Distance Education – Pros & Cons
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Contd..
• LIS Research – Quality Vs Quantity
– Need for Evaluation, Selection & Assessment
pattern of Research
– Content of Research papers (Plagiarism)
– Assessment & census of number of conferences &
seminars organized in India (Almost One per day –
an estimated 350 in 2011)
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Contd..
– Offer of Doctoral Programmes – lack of vision
– Training for conducting research for Researchers
and Supervisors (Guides)
– UGC Guideline – ISBN Tag to Conference Volumes
is not Quality Tag to assess research quality of
paper
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Dimensional Changes and Need for Revamping
• Cooperation & Collaboration – Networking of LIS
Schools
• Admissions of Students & Practices
• Pattern of Affiliation of LIS Departments
• Infrastructure
• Recruitment pattern of LIS Teachers
• Training of LIS Teachers
• Institute a “Council for Library and Information
Science” to complement Education, Research &
Training
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Changing Scenario –Emerging Neo-concepts
• Change of Designation – From Librarian to Cybrarian
– Desirable Vs Undesirable
• Accreditation & Assessment of Courses – Modus
Operandi
• Placement facilities – Professional schools –
Engineering & Management have mandate to place
products – should LIS schools take this mandate?
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Contd..
• Research Funding & projects – Social Involvement &
socially relevant projects & more funding for such
projects across domains
• National Mission on Libraries – Terms of reference,
recommendations and implementation
• Quality of Inputs – Change in pattern of admissions &
evaluation
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Conclusion
• Survival of fittest - this law applies to LIS education
programme more today than ever
– Well managed departments flourish
– Managed departments survive
– Ill Managed departments collapse
• Accreditation – NAAC can initiate process
• The quantum stress of ICT in LIS Courses – duality of
interests & neither would work with focus on some areas
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Conclusion…
• Ever widening user community interests &
perceptions – from non automated to automated to
web environment & implications on education &
training
• More & more issues of contemplation on wider
scope of LIS to LIST & Knowledge Society
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Conclusion…
• To conclude we the teachers, researchers & practitioners have
great responsibility to provide useful education to students as
well as professionals
• We have to prepare capable LIS professionals suiting to
Knowledge Society
• Let us remember the glorious words of Robert Frost
“The Woods are lovely, dark and deep,
but I have promises to keep,
and miles to go before I sleep”
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Thank You
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