Preparing library and information professionals for the 21stcentury: Issues and challenges for library and information

science educators in India

Item type Conference Paper

Authors Rath, Pravakar

Citation Preparing library and information professionals for the 21stcentury: Issues and challenges for library and informationscience educators in India 2006, :35-40

Publisher School of Communication & Information, NanyangTechnological University

Downloaded 21-Mar-2018 08:33:00

Link to item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/105129

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Preparing Library and Information Preparing Library and Information Professionals forProfessionals for

2121stst Century:Issues and Challenges for LISCentury:Issues and Challenges for LIS

Educators in IndiaEducators in IndiaBy

Dr Pravakar RathProfessor and Head

Department of Library and Information ScienceMizoram University

( A Central University)Aizawl,India

Email:pkrath_99@hotmail.com,prath@fulbrightweb.org

Rath, P. (2006). Preparing Library and Information Professionals for 21st century: Issues and Challenges for LIS Educators in India.

Presented at the Asia-Pacific Conference on Library & Information Education & Practice 2006 ( A-LIEP 2006), Singapore, 3 -6 April 2006, Nanyang Technological University.

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INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

• Librarianship-Library and Information Science-Information and Library Studies-Information Studies

• Impact of Information and Society-Knowledge Society

• Advances in Information and Communication technology and Application in LICs and LIS Education and Training

• Role of LIS Educators in Creating Appropriate Human Resources

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LIS Education in India: Current ScenarioLIS Education in India: Current Scenario

• LIS Education at Different Levels: Certificate,Diploma,BLIS,MLIS,M.Phil,Ph.D

• 98 Universities including Open Universities Offering MLIS and 50 Universities Ph.D

• BLIS,MLIS(One Year Duration Each) or MLIS (Two Years Integrated) or M.Sc(Information Science/Studies of Two Years Duration)

• UGC is Instrumental in Formulating Model Curriculum• Besides NISCAIR and DRTC offering Two years AIS and

ADIS AS Equivalent to MLIS.

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Recent Trends and DevelopmentsRecent Trends and Developments

• Primary Focus on Professional Knowledge and Skills(Technology, Management and Communication)

• Library Professionals to Information Professionals• Traditional Library to Digital Library• Library Cooperation to Resource Sharing

Networks/Consortia• Collection Development to Content Development• Conventional Education to Web-Based Education• Information Society-Knowledge Society• Establishment of Knowledge Commission

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Library Professionals to Information ProfessionalsLibrary Professionals to Information Professionals

• Impact of Information & Communication Technologies (ICT)

• Information Management Skills (Library Automation, Networking, Design & Development of Information System, Internet, Digitization, Content Development)

• Competencies of Information Professionals (Managing, Organising Information Resources and Services, Apply Information Tools and Technologies)

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Traditional Library to Digital LibraryTraditional Library to Digital Library

• Traditional Library-Automated Library-Electronic Library-Digital Library

• Growth, Development and Popularity of Digital Library (Access, Content and Cost)

• Digital Library Initiatives in India (Parliament, INSA, IIT, NISCAIR)

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Library Cooperation to Resource Sharing Library Cooperation to Resource Sharing Networks/ConsortiaNetworks/Consortia

• Library Cooperation- Library Networks-Library Consortia

• INFLIBNET, DELNET and Many other Local Library Networks

• Library Consortia- UGC-Infonet E-Journal Consortium, INDEST, NCSI, HELNET

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Collection Development to Content DevelopmentCollection Development to Content Development

• Acquisition- Collection Development-Information Resource Development-Content Development

• Content Development in Electronic Environment

• Formats and Standards

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Conventional Education to WebConventional Education to Web--Based EducationBased Education

• Conventional Learning- Web Based Learning/E-Learning

• E-learning Provides: – Increasing Access to Learning Resources– Interactive Teaching and Learning Environment– Increasing Student Convenience – Reducing Educational Delivery Costs– Developing a scholarship of web based pedagogy– Providing 21st century learning environment.

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Information SocietyInformation Society--Knowledge SocietyKnowledge Society

• Information Society- “Information”• Knowledge Society “Information and Knowledge”• Knowledge Management- Collect, Organize and

Disseminate Information and Knowledge• UN Initiative in World Submit on “Information Society”

with emphasis on “Connect the World by 2015”• International Telecommunication Union recognized

India’s mission 2007: Every Village a Knowledge Center as a Flagship of the “Connect the World Movement”

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Establishment of Knowledge CommissionEstablishment of Knowledge Commission

• Establishment of Knowledge Commission in India

• Emphasis on “Brain Power”- More Powerful than Military and Economic Power of a Nation

• India Recognizes Building Knowledge Economy as “Knowledge Society- The only way to meet challenges of “Globalization and 21st.Century”

• Role of Public Libraries as “Knowledge Center”

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Issues Before LIS EducatorsIssues Before LIS Educators

• Academic,Management,Technological and Legal

• Balancing Education and Practice,Research

• Need for National Accreditation Agency• Internationalization of Education

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Academic, Management,Academic, Management,Technological and LegalTechnological and Legal

• Academic- Need based Curriculum and Syllabus Enriching Professional Knowledge

• Management- Scientific Management and skills associated, Management of new Technology and Communication Skills

• Technological- Competency to Handle Sophisticated Technology in an automated Networked and Virtual environment

• Legal- Copy Right/ IPR, Cyber Laws

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Balancing Education and Practice,ResearchBalancing Education and Practice,Research

• LIS Educators, Researchers and Practitioners to identify Thrust Areas of Education and Research

• Provide Future Direction Keeping in view Potential Market Demand

• Coordination among the Three Groups

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Need for National Need for National Accreditation AgencyAccreditation Agency

• National Accreditation Agency for Quality Assurance and Achieve Standards of Excellence

• Allowing LIS Courses and Degree Holders at par with International Standard

• Presently in India- Medical Council (Medical Education), Bar Council (Legal Education), AICTE (Technical education), AICTE (Teacher education)

• NAAC- A National Body established by UGC for Institutional Accreditation (Universities and Colleges)

• NAAC recognised “Library” as an Essential Component in Assuring Quality in Higher Education

• NAAC Developed “Guidelines” on Quality Indicators in Library and Information Services (Affiliated and Constituent Colleges )

• Need for National Council in LIS Education

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Internationalization of EducationInternationalization of Education

• Reorienting LIS Professionals and Create competition in the Global Market

• Radical Change in LIS Curriculum and Syllabus keeping in view the need of Information Workforce in the Global Market

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Challenges Before LIS Challenges Before LIS EducatorsEducators

• Need Based Curriculum• Competent Faculty• Instructional Technology Support• Learning Resources(Print –Electronic and Web

based)• Continuing Education Programmes• System of Continuous Evaluation• Adequate Financial Support

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Need Based CurriculumNeed Based Curriculum

• Convergence of Library, Documentation, Information and Knowledge Areas

• An up-to-date Curriculum Integrating Knowledge and Skills (Managerial, Technological and Communication)

• Specialization of Learners in National and International Potential Job Market

• Appropriate Teaching Learning Pedagogy to provide effective Learning Environment

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Competent FacultyCompetent Faculty

• Faculty Members play an important Role in capacity Building (Creativity, Innovations, Transfer of Knowledge and use of Sophisticated Technology)

• Faculty Members for Creating Innovative Organizations to Facilitate Learners to Compete in the Global Market

• Success of Students as Testimony Faculty Members

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Instructional Technology Instructional Technology SupportSupport

• Technology to Support Effective Teaching and Learning including Media Technology

• Multimedia, Digital Library, Content Development and Information Management

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Learning Resources(Print Learning Resources(Print ––Electronic and Web based)Electronic and Web based)

• Electronic and Web based Resources to Supplement teaching

• LIS Educators to keep them abreast with latest developments through E-books and E-Journals

• Web Resources provide unlimited access, variety of Contents with low cost

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Continuing Education Continuing Education ProgrammesProgrammes

• Schools of LIS to organize Continuing Education Programmes and make known latest professional developments

• Develop Exposures and expertise through Refresher course, Workshop and Training, Orientation and Tutorials

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System of Continuous EvaluationSystem of Continuous Evaluation

• Evaluating the Strength and Weakness of the System, Professionals and their Competencies

• Cope up with Emerging areas of Specialization

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Adequate Financial SupportAdequate Financial Support

• Professional Education needs adequate financial support

• To achieve standards of Excellence and Assure Quality in Delivering LIS Education

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Role of LIS EducatorsRole of LIS Educators

• To cope up with Issues and Challenges as Professional Obligation

• Balancing “Tradition and Technology”• Creativity, Innovations in Teaching,

Learning and Research lie with Educators in the Transfer of Knowledge

• Ability or Capacity to Use and Exploit E-Resources and its Management

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ConclusionConclusion

• 21st Century compelled Library professionals to Information Professionals through ‘Education for Information”

• International initiatives and Developments forced the Developingcountries to keep pace with such Developments

• Govt. of India is committed to implement IT Act, E-Governance, Right to Information Act for development of all spheres of humanactivities

• LIS schools and Educators are committed to act as qualitative Problem Solvers and Effective Information Managers

• Possessing broad range of capabilities to meet the highest demand in the information sectors (academic, corporate, government) to meet the challenges in the new millennium.

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Thank You AllThank You All