LIS Educational Trend in India: LIS Educational Trend in India: where are we heading to?where are we heading to?

Table of ContentsTable of Contents1.1. Historical BackgroundHistorical Background

2.2. Current DevelopmentCurrent Development

3.3. Present Trend in LIS Education in Present Trend in LIS Education in IndiaIndia

4.4. Levels of LIS EducationLevels of LIS Education

5.5. Reinventing & Redesigning the LIS Reinventing & Redesigning the LIS Educational objectivesEducational objectives

6.6. Where are we heading to?Where are we heading to?

7.7. Focus Should be on…..Focus Should be on…..

8.8. Suggestions for a better tomorrowSuggestions for a better tomorrow

Dr. Sabuj Kumar Chaudhuri,

Librarian, Basanti Devi College, Kol-29

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Historical BackgroundHistorical Background Pre-independencePre-independenceThe foundation of LIS education in India dates back in 1911 when W.A.Borden,An American disciple of Melvil Dewey,for the first time started a short term training programme in library science at Baroda under the patronage of Maharaja Sayajirao III, Gaekwad of Baroda

1915 – Asa Don Diconson, an American, who was the Librarian of Punjab University,Lahore (now in Pakistan) started a training programme at Punjab University.

1931 – University of Madras (Certificate Course)1935 –Andhra University (First Diploma Program)1937 –Madras University (First 1 Yr. PG Diploma)1941 – Banaras Hindu University (PG Diploma)1943 – Bombay University (Diploma in Librarianship)1945 – University of Calcutta (Diploma in Librarianship)1947 –University of Delhi (PG Diploma in Librarianship)

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Post-independencePost-independence1951 University of Delhi started first Master in Library Science(M.Lib.Sc).

1956 to1959, six new LIS departments were established at Aligarh Muslim University, M.S.University of Baroda, Nagpur University, Osmania University, Pune University and Vikram University. Since 1960s, the number of LIS departments established has continued to increase.

1972 University of Delhi started first MLIS program

1978 University of Delhi started first MPhil program

1960 Two well-known documentation centres in India viz. Documentation Research and Training Centre (DRTC) and Indian National Scientific Documentation Centre (INSDOC) started offering Associateship in Information Science in 1962 and 1964 respectively.

1957-University of Delhi first awarded PhD to D B Krishna Rao

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Current DevelopmentCurrent Development

Presently 120 universities are offering bachelor’s degree, Presently 120 universities are offering bachelor’s degree, 78 are offering master’s degree, 21 are offering two-year 78 are offering master’s degree, 21 are offering two-year integrated course, 16 universities are offering M.Phil integrated course, 16 universities are offering M.Phil degree, and 63 are offering Ph.D. degree. In addition, degree, and 63 are offering Ph.D. degree. In addition, NISCAIR (formerly INSDOC), New Delhi and DRTC, NISCAIR (formerly INSDOC), New Delhi and DRTC, Bangalore are offering a two-year Associateship in Bangalore are offering a two-year Associateship in Information Science, which is recognized by some Information Science, which is recognized by some universities as equivalent to Master’s degree. universities as equivalent to Master’s degree.

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Present Trend in LIS Education In Present Trend in LIS Education In IndiaIndia

Inception of ICTInception of ICTGrowth of Distance Education ProgramsGrowth of Distance Education Programs Impact on curriculum contentImpact on curriculum contentVarious interdisciplinary researchVarious interdisciplinary researchFull-fledged DepartmentFull-fledged DepartmentTrained Faculty MembersTrained Faculty Members IT exposure to studentsIT exposure to students

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Levels of LIS EducationLevels of LIS Education

CertificateCertificateBLISBLIS

------ PG Diploma in Computer Application,Library ------ PG Diploma in Computer Application,Library Automation, Archives & Documentation ManagementAutomation, Archives & Documentation Management

MLISMLISAIS (NISCAIR/DRTC)AIS (NISCAIR/DRTC)MPhilMPhilPhDPhDDLittDLitt

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Reinventing and Redefining the Reinventing and Redefining the LIS Educational ObjectiveLIS Educational Objective

Are we prepared for the new information era?Are we prepared for the new information era? Is our present course curriculum socially relevant & Is our present course curriculum socially relevant &

Compatible with the social change?Compatible with the social change? Does it serve the common people living in the remotest Does it serve the common people living in the remotest

villages? villages? Will it be able to meet up the information demand of theWill it be able to meet up the information demand of the

2121stst Century or beyond? Century or beyond? Is our curriculum designed to serve the academic Is our curriculum designed to serve the academic

community alone?community alone?

contd…contd…

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One can be trained in the technology, but its effective use One can be trained in the technology, but its effective use

lies in the creativity and understanding of the individual. A lies in the creativity and understanding of the individual. A

thorough understanding requires a thorough education.thorough understanding requires a thorough education.

Education can be thought of as training in a way of Education can be thought of as training in a way of

thinking. ICT is ever changing and with this change many thinking. ICT is ever changing and with this change many

new jargons like Library 2.0, Web 2.0, and Internet 2.0 etc. new jargons like Library 2.0, Web 2.0, and Internet 2.0 etc.

are being coined each and everyday. Without going to theare being coined each and everyday. Without going to the

core of these terms, this can be said that possibly we are core of these terms, this can be said that possibly we are

much interested in discovering new terms but not much interested in discovering new terms but not

interested to serve our common people by providing interested to serve our common people by providing

information they really need.information they really need.

contd….contd….

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We must not forget that computer is only our tool. It’s neither We must not forget that computer is only our tool. It’s neither destination nor objective. destination nor objective.

Possibly no common people do understand the role of a librarian asPossibly no common people do understand the role of a librarian as

information provider who can provide the right information information provider who can provide the right information

We have to take the advantage of ICT to serve our common people. We have to take the advantage of ICT to serve our common people. We will make our nation information rich that will help India to shed We will make our nation information rich that will help India to shed off its developing nation tag to developed nation tag. We have to off its developing nation tag to developed nation tag. We have to redesign our course content keeping in view of our social need, redesign our course content keeping in view of our social need, context, and information requirement from all the strata of the context, and information requirement from all the strata of the society but not the academic community alone. Above all course society but not the academic community alone. Above all course content should be designed to make original thinkers like other content should be designed to make original thinkers like other academic disciplines. academic disciplines.

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Where are we heading to?Where are we heading to?Present Focus of Library EducationPresent Focus of Library Education Trend 1Trend 1 LIS schools are increasing their investment and LIS schools are increasing their investment and

infusion of information technology into their infusion of information technology into their curricula without innovation & judgment in the curricula without innovation & judgment in the light of relevancylight of relevancy

Integrating digital technologies & Integrating digital technologies & overemphasized ICT content into their courses. overemphasized ICT content into their courses.

discovering new jargons for old services -its discovering new jargons for old services -its deviated from its basic philosophy & objectives deviated from its basic philosophy & objectives

contd…contd…

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Trend 2 LIS schools are offering instruction in different formats to LIS schools are offering instruction in different formats to

provide students with more flexibilityprovide students with more flexibility

Campus-based programs, distance education, Internet-Campus-based programs, distance education, Internet-

based course delivery.based course delivery. Trend 3 LIS schools are oriented to serve academic community

mainly.

Trend 4 Very less scope of specialization and thus less equipped Very less scope of specialization and thus less equipped

to serve people in specialized field. to serve people in specialized field.

contd….

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Trend 5 Neglected information demand in every layer of the Neglected information demand in every layer of the

society society

Trend 6Trend 6 No Serious Commitment to make the LIS field No Serious Commitment to make the LIS field

professional in real senseprofessional in real sense Trend 7Trend 7 Negligible amount of academic content to make original Negligible amount of academic content to make original

thinker like other academic disciplinesthinker like other academic disciplines Trend 8Trend 8 There is no quality control, no standard, There is no quality control, no standard,

no accreditation body of LIS educationno accreditation body of LIS education

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Focus should be on …Focus should be on … Course Curriculum should have a great focus to serve Course Curriculum should have a great focus to serve

rural India. Because India still lives in village. rural India. Because India still lives in village.

Information worker has great role to play in all these 4 modelsInformation worker has great role to play in all these 4 models Lab to lab Lab to lab (scientific inf.excahnge between & among labs)(scientific inf.excahnge between & among labs)

Lab to land Lab to land (symbiotic relationship between inf. Provider &(symbiotic relationship between inf. Provider &

users)users)

Land to labLand to lab (diffusion of TK and wisdom)

Land to landLand to land (lateral learning) (lateral learning) Great focus should be on to revamp publicGreat focus should be on to revamp public

library & rural library system library & rural library system

contd…contd…

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Focus should be on the dissemination of scientific Focus should be on the dissemination of scientific information to the desired level & curriculum may be information to the desired level & curriculum may be designed accordingly.designed accordingly.

An accreditation body like ALA must be evolvedAn accreditation body like ALA must be evolved More scientific, mathematical and statistical, More scientific, mathematical and statistical,

experimental approach are required to make the experimental approach are required to make the discipline interdisciplinary in true sense & should be discipline interdisciplinary in true sense & should be commensurated with the original thinkingcommensurated with the original thinking

More specializations are required to serve better and in a More specializations are required to serve better and in a more efficient way more efficient way

Internship should be must in the Course curriculumInternship should be must in the Course curriculum According to the UGC Curriculum (2001) possibility According to the UGC Curriculum (2001) possibility

should be explored sincerely to start should be explored sincerely to start

undergraduate programs in LIS field.undergraduate programs in LIS field.

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Suggestions for a Better Suggestions for a Better TomorrowTomorrow

However, sixty years is enough for the maturity for a However, sixty years is enough for the maturity for a discipline but unfortunately we could not progress much. discipline but unfortunately we could not progress much. Before redesigning the LIS Curriculum we have to make Before redesigning the LIS Curriculum we have to make clear the following things: clear the following things:

LIS education is not about the service alone but also a LIS education is not about the service alone but also a distinct academic disciplinedistinct academic discipline

LIS Curriculum must be socially committed & LIS Curriculum must be socially committed & accountableaccountable

Make it interdisciplinary in true senseMake it interdisciplinary in true senseLast but not the least , that no noble work can de done in a Last but not the least , that no noble work can de done in a

isolated way so prominent academicians from science, isolated way so prominent academicians from science, social sc, and humanities must be consulted to make the social sc, and humanities must be consulted to make the curriculum more meaningful for the society and the curriculum more meaningful for the society and the profession as a whole.profession as a whole.

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