Career in Library and Information Science
September 23, 2024 2024-11-09 11:22Career in Library and Information Science
CAREER IN LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
Introduction
“Google can bring you back 100,000 answers, a librarian can bring you back the right one.” — Source Unknown. Today’s librarians are information experts; they ensure that people get the relevant information in minimum time with least effort. The modern librarian can be termed as knowledge manager. With the advent of information technology, the traditional concept is being revised to include new-age tools of information like CDs, Internet, e-libraries etc. Traditionally, a librarian is associated with collections of books. Modern day librarians have evolved themselves to meet social and technological needs. They may deal with information in many formats, including books, magazines, newspapers, audio recordings (both musical and spoken-word), video recordings, maps, manuscripts, photographs and other graphic material, bibliographic databases, web searching, and digital resources. A librarian may provide other information services, including computer provision and training, coordination of public programs, basic literacy education, assisted equipment for people with disabilities, and help with finding and using community resources. The modern librarian is the manager of an enormous warehouse thus research and computer skills are important. Librarians who specialize in medicine or law will find their professions more lucrative than general librarians. A large part of his or her job is research. Librarians are challenged daily to find creative ways of retrieving a different information; and how well they can satisfy these requests determines their success and satisfaction in the profession.Libraries are the reservoirs of knowledge and agencies of communicating information. Libraries are now universally recognized as important institutions. A public library is an important element in the life of a community, an academic library is an essential part of an educational institution, a business or special library is indispensable in Govt. department and large business and industrial organisation. Libraries require proper maintenance and care. Hence the need for a special branch of knowledge, called the Library Science.
Objectives: -
- To share expert skills, knowledge, and abilities with communities and the profession as a whole
- To train professionals to meet the changing information needs of individuals and groups in a diverse and global society
- To contribute to the librarianship and allied fields through publication, research and other creative activities.
- To provide the information of classical library science with the current technologies.
PERSONALITY TRAITS:
A Librarian should have (1) A wide range of interest; (2) patience with readers queries (3) a helping nature, (4) a methodical approach, (5) love for books and (6) a good memory etc.
Different types of libraries require a varied combination of these qualities.
Courses and Eligibility
- Certificate Course in Library Science
- Certificate Course in Library and Information Science
- Certificate in ICT Application in Library
- Diploma in Archives & Documentation
- Diploma in Library Science (D.LSc) Bachelor of Library & Information Science (BLISc)
- Bachelor of Library Science (B.L.Sc)
- Bachelor of Arts in Library Science
- Master of Library & Information Science (MLISc)
- Master of Library Science (MLSc)
- Master of Arts in Library Science
- M.Phil, Master of Philosophy in Library & information Science
- Post Graduate Diploma in Library Automation and Networking
- PhD, Doctor of Philosophy in Library & information Science
- Graduates from any stream can take a Bachelor’s degree in library science which is a one-year course. The Master’s degree course in library science is also of one year for this the eligibility is bachelors course in library sciences. There are also diploma and certificate courses.
Specialised courses in the field of Library Science considered equivalent to the M.Lib.Sc. Courses are available at:-
- Documentation Research and Training Centre (DRTC), Bangalore.
- Indian National Scientific Documentation Centre (INSDOC), New Delhi.
Selection of candidates is mainly merit based. Some institutions hold admission tests in order to shortlist students.
Basic Eligibility UG: For admission in the bachelor’s degree, the candidate must have passed the higher secondary school certificate (10+2) examination with science subject such as (biology, maths and chemistry). The duration for this course is 3 years.
PG: The eligibility criterion for pursuing a master’s degree is holding a bachelor’s degree with science subjects such as (biology, maths and chemistry). The duration for this course is 2 years.
Some of its specialized fields are: -
- Information architecture
- Indexing
- Librarian
- Information broker
- Archiving
- Abstractors
- Metadata Management
- Researchers
- Cataloguing
- Metadata Architecture
- Computer, Data, and Information System
- Preservation Administration and Conservation
There are lots of career opportunities available for library science professionals. Librarians are information providers. They help people in finding information effectively. Initially, a graduate starts with a job title of a library assistant and gets promoted gradually. Qualified librarians in this field can seek employment in academic institutions, schools, government and public libraries, news and broadcasting agencies, universities and in private libraries.
Graduates can also seek employment in galleries, archives, museums, and documentation centers. Graduates can also work for publishing houses and statistical research centers. Some experienced librarians work independently as service providers.
Job Titles: -
- Librarian
- Library Attendant
- Library Assistant
- Deputy Librarian
- Information Assistant
- Senior Information Analyst
- Junior Information Analyst
- Director/Head Of Information Centre
- Junior Librarian/Assistant Librarian
- Junior Librarian/Professional Assistant
- Junior Librarian/Semi-Professional Assistant
Where to Study
Various Universities, Colleges, Polytechnics as well as distance learning institutions around the country offer certificate diploma and graduate and post graduate degree course in library and information science.
- University of Delhi, Delhi
- National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resource (NISCAIR), New Delhi
- Indian National Scientific Documentation Center (INSDOC), New Delhi
- Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
- Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra
- Bangalore University, Jnana Bharathi, Bangalore
- Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai
- Punjab University, Chandigarh
- Jadavpur University, Kolkata
- University of Calcutta, Kolkata
- Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi
- Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh
- S. University of Baroda, Vadodara
- Devi Ahilya university, Indore
- University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram
- University of Mumbai, Vidyanagari, Mumbai
- SNDT Women’s University, Mumbai
- Andhra University, Vishakhapatnam
- Indira Gandhi National Open University (I.G.N.O.U.), New Delhi
- Directorate of Distance Education, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar,Tamil Nadu
- ISI, Bangalore
- MK University, Madurai
- Annamalai University
Pay and Remuneration
At the entry level the pay and remuneration is not that high but a post graduate librarian can earn around Rs 2-2.5 lakhs in the beginning. At senior levels the salaries are good and comparable to asst professors. Those employed with corporate earn much more but their work pressure is quite high.
A day in life
Most of the time of their days is spent in classifying and storing information. They work with various computer applications and manage the books, periodicals and electronic resources for the organisation’s needs. They conduct online searches and retrieve information for their clients. They also supervise and train the staff in the libraries.
Recruiters:
Govt. Libraries,
Universities,
Colleges,
Corporates Training Centres,
Research Institutions,
Media Organisations,
Consulting Firms
“The concept of library has changed. Now the need is to provide ‘anytime anywhere’ access to knowledge resources”
Dr Antony Jose,
Chief Librarian, MDI Gurgaon
- Librarians are worried that with newer ways of access to knowledge, they will have to catch up with technology to keep the users hooked to the library. The consensus on the future of the library was that it will have to be web-enabled, participatory and interactive. So it’s no more about ideal upkeep of books. It’s about making the same book, journal or paper available online, and also making the user aware about its availability – through social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter to be more precise. Welcome to the world of new-age librarians.
Role of the librarian
“The concept of library as a building with stacks of books and journals has changed. The need of the hour is to provide “anytime anywhere” access to knowledge resources,” says Dr. Antony Jose, chief librarian, MDI Gurgaon. According to Dr. Jose, who has trained in advanced web technologies, a contemporary librarian is one who works in a hybrid environment dealing with a variety of information sources ranging from print to online resources. For instance, the mountains of newspaper and magazine clippings from diverse sources at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) library, popularly known as Sapru House are all digitized, now. So if you want access to yesteryear magazines like The Illustrated Weekly, this is a good destination. However, innovation also extends to using physical space more effectively. And managing both requires skills, and knowledge which is where specialised courses in the domain come into play.
About the course
Library and Information Science is a degree course, offered at Bachelor’s and Master’s level by universities across the country. The Bachelor’s is a one-year programme, which requires a bachelor’s degree in any stream. Dr Jose has a Bachelor of Library and Information Sciences from The MS University, Baroda. Also, offered through distance education by IGNOU and others, admission is on the basis of marks obtained in school-leaving exam in case of graduation, and on the basis of marks obtained in graduation, in case of postgraduation. Students from all streams are eligible to join the Bachelor’s course.
The programme subjects include library administration (including acquisition and verification); budgeting, personnel management; cataloguing; networking, automation; information sources; conservation of material; research methodology; and public libraries and academic libraries.
Ishtiaq Ahmad, a student of the Bachelor of Library and Information Science course for graduates offered by Jamia Millia Islamia says, students are exposed to software like Virtua, Libsys, SOUL and MARC, which help in organisation and management. He and a few other students interned at the JNU library in December. “Our training helped fill the gap between theory and practice,” he shares. Masroor Faizi, his classmate interned at the National Medical Library, which houses medical journals and e-journals. Here he was exposed to the process of how a print journal is made available online.
“The syllabus also covers understanding of staff deployment, manpower management, and about such issues as electricity supply and right selection of furniture, “shares Dr. MMA Ansari, faculty at Jamia. This gives students exposure to the daily functioning of a library. Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya under DU offers a one-year Bachelor of Library and Information Science, which is open to graduates from all streams.
Higher studies
At the postgraduate level, as in the case of University of Delhi, the curriculum delves deeper into Information Systems, Knowledge Organisation, Cataloguing and Classification. The syllabus includes Advanced Library Cataloguing (non-book material), Advanced Computer Application, Research and Statistical Methods, Marketing of Library and Information Services, Information Storage and Retrival and electives in Public Library, Academic Library, Research Library, Health Science Library, Agriculture Science Library and Engineering and Technology Library.
The course structure should take into consideration various technological changes, which are affecting the library and information services. “Greater emphasis should be placed on topics in computing and web content management and development,” he shares. Dr Jose, a Master of Science in Library and Information Science from the Indian Statistical Institute, Bangalore, rates this postgraduate course, as well as that at the National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources (NISCAIR), New Delhi, high on these parameters. NISCAIR also offers a fellowship (read box for details). Library professionals are increasingly opting for doctorate too, for better growth prospects. Dr. Jose did his research at Pune University, in the area of design and development of expert systems.
Growth and pay packages
A library professional is a specialist, and is treated at par with other experts. Thus, in an academic institution a head librarian is equivalent to a professor and falls into the same salary bracket. A deputy librarian is treated equivalent to associate professor. In private sector, according to BK Panda, a graduate in Library Science from Delhi University and now works as an Information Analyst with TCS in Bhubaneswar, the starting salary can even be Rs 5 lakhs per annum.
Jobs in the education sector
”The number of schools and colleges that are opening up in the country offer great opportunity to young professionals,” says Dr. Ghayas Makhdumi, University Librarian and Head, Department of Library and Information Sciences at Jamia. Makhduni has a PhD in British Medical Information System and a proposed model for India from the University of London. The Government has also launched a number of Central Universities and state universities. There’s also a plan to create a knowledge grid, which will depend upon the services of library professionals. Add to this, subject libraries that are opening up, with the increase in specialised institutes for law, hotel management, engineering, medical etc. A librarian working for a law firm may hold both library science and law degrees, while medical librarians should have a strong background in the sciences.
Corporate sector opportunities
“More and more librarians apply their information management and research skills to arenas outside of traditional libraries — for example in areas such as, database development, reference tool development, information systems, publishing, Internet coordination, marketing, web content management and design, and knowledge management,” observes Dr. Jose. Take the case of Panda. He joined TCS as information officer working in the field of knowledge management, and his job is to provide virtual information services, as part of the global help desk. A user sends a query, and information is provided within 30 minutes. “In the corporate world, companies have to store vast amounts of information and therefore have a comprehensive content management system,” says Panda. For instance, an area such as banking demands mass information management, which can be done only by professionals who have the ability to organise vast amounts of information in a systematic manner.
