Dr.Babita Jaiswal
Librarianship as a profession provides a variety of
employment opportunities. Today there are a number of career prospects
in Library and Information Science. The qualified professionals are
employed in various libraries and information Centers. Trained library
professionals can find opportunities for employment both as teacher and
as a Librarian. In fact, it is possible to choose the kind of library to
suit one’s interest and background. In Librarianship, designations
could be Librarian, Documentation Officer, Assistant Librarian, Deputy
Librarian, Scientist (Library Science/ Documentation), Library and
Information Officer, Knowledge Manager/ Officer, Information Executive,
Director/Head of Library Services, Information Officer, and Information
Analyst
- In School, College, Universities;
- In Central Government Libraries.
- In the training centers of banks.
- In National Museum and Archives;
- In NGOs working in different areas.
- In R&D Centre like ICAR, CSIR, DRDO, ICSSR, ICHR, ICMR, ICFRE, etc.
- In Business Houses.
- In Foreign Embassies and High Commissions.
- In International Centers like WHO, UNESCO, UNO, World Bank etc.
- In the libraries of Ministries and other government departments.
- In National Level Documentation Centers.
- In Library Networks.
- In the newspaper libraries.
- In News Channels.
- In the Libraries of Radio Stations.
- In the Databases provider firms.
- In publishing companies for preparing Index, abstracts, bibliographies etc.
- In various digital library projects like ‘Digital Library of India’ etc.
- In Training Academies.
The role of libraries in providing widespread and inclusive
access to knowledge is widely acknowledged. In today’s context,
libraries have to play two distinct roles - to serve as a local centre
of information and knowledge, and be a local gateway to national and
global knowledge. Some of the issues under consideration of
National Knowledge Commission are:
- institutional framework of libraries;
- networking;
- education, training and research;
- modernization and computerization of libraries;
- maintenance of private and personal collections and
- staff requirements to meet changing needs.
This commission has recommended the formation for the
National Library Commission to strengthen the Library networks in India.
The Department of Culture (DoC) has proposed setting up a National
Mission for Libraries (NML) as a Central Sector Scheme. The NML will
cover libraries under the DoC and the activities under it will include:
National Census of Libraries; Modernisation including networking of
Libraries under DoC; establishing Knowledge Centres and Digital
Libraries. Recently under National Mission for Libraries there is a
proposal for establishing 7000 libraries having computers with internet
facility across the country.
It was recommended that the initial recruitment
should be direct at the level of library and Information Assistant. The
qualification requirement would be graduation and BLISc degree.
Thus, the scope of librarianship becomes brighter. Career in
LIS is multidimensional, ever growing bright and significantly
enriching the knowledge base of the society for prosperity and progress.
Courses in LIS
- Certificate course in Library and Information science (CLISc or CLIB) Eligibility 10+2
- Diploma course in Library and Information Science (DLISC or DLIB) Eligibility 10+2
- Bachelor in Library and information science (BLISC or B.LIB) Eligibility Graduate in any discipline from recognized University
- Master in Library and information Science (MLISC or M.LIB) Eligibility BLISc or B.LIB from recognized University
- M.Phil in Library and Information science Eligibility MLISC or M.LIB from recognized University
- Ph.D in library and Information Science Eligibility MLISC from recognized University
Course nomenclature and qualifying marks in different
courses differ from university to university. Earlier the subject was
called library science but now due to information explosion
professionals handle information. So library science is changing into
information science. A few universities have incorporated this word in
the course name but not removed the word library. So some universities
provide degree i.e. Bachelor in library and Information Science(BLISC),
and Masters in Library and information Science (MLISC), M.Phil in
Library and Information science and Ph.D in Library and Information
Science and some provide degrees like Bachelor in library
Science(B.LIB), and Master in Library Science (M.LIB), M.Phil in Library
and Information science and Ph.D in Library Science)
The computer and information technology is now
being widely used in libraries and information centers to process,
store, retrieve and disseminate information. NISCAIR under the Council
of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi conducts a
two-year programme leading to the award of Associateship in Information
Science (AIS) and the Documentations Research and Training Centre (DRTC)
at the Indian Statistical Institute (Bangalore) offer Associateship in
Documentation and Information Science (ADIS).This award is also
recognised as equivalent to MLISc degree. These two courses enjoy a good
reputation in the employment market. 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.
Universities offering courses in LIS
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)
Salaries in Library and Information profession
The salary varies depending upon the nature of the
organizations. Many colleges and universities have adopted UGC scales of
salary for the library staff. The library staff in the constituent
units of large establishments of the Central Government, such as Council
of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO), Indian Council of Agricultural Research
(ICAR), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) enjoy salary scales
similar to those applicable to scientific staff. Opportunities for
upwards mobility based on assessment of performance at intervals, make
the job attractive |
