Library Science and Information Technology - Gopakumar Karakonam

    

The job of a librarian involves wide reading and processing of information content through cataloguing, classification and indexing.

Knowledge is power: Job opportunities for librarians are many in colleges, university departments, science and technology departments, and research institutions.
Libraries are repositories of knowledge and information and are indispensable in the information age. With the merging of information technology with library science, the nature of libraries and the scope of their services have radically changed.
The job involves a wide range of reading and processing of the information content through cataloguing, classification and indexing, storing documents and retrieving the required information and so on. Those interested in this discipline can pursue a degree course in library and information science. At a higher level, one can opt for a master’s degree, M.Phil. or Ph.D. Students can also pursue certificate courses.
Qualifications

The minimum qualification required for a certificate/diploma course is a pass in tenth standard, and for degree course, a pass in Plus-Two.
Most universities in India offer one-year Bachelor’s degree in library and information science or two-year integrated Master’s degree. The bachelor’s degree course includes the study of library classifications, library and science, library management, cataloguing, information sources, information systems and services and the basics of information technology.
After obtaining a degree in library and information science, one can opt for a one-year regular master’s degree course. Graduates in other disciplines with 50 per cent marks should pursue the two-year (four-semester) integrated master’s programme.
Both these courses provide equal opportunities for employment. Many universities in south India have introduced the two-year integrated Master of Library and Information Science course. Some universities also conduct the one-year master’s programme for B.LISc. degree holders with 50 per cent marks and above.
The Department of Library and Information Science of several universities in the country offer higher education facilities including B.LISc./two-year integrated M.LISc./one-year M.LISc., M.Phil. and Ph.D. The following are a few among them:
• University of Madras, Chennai-600005
• Bangalore University, Bangalore-560056
• Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar-608002
• Andhra University, Visakhapatnam-530003
• University of Mumbai, Mumbai-400098
• Banares Hindu University, Varanasi-221005
• Jiwaji University, Gwalior
• Bhundelkhand University, Jhansi-284128
• Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh-202002
The Documentation, Research and Training Centre in Bangalore and the Indian National Scientific Documentation Centre, New Delhi, offer associateships in documentation and information science for experienced graduate librarians. The associateship is recognised as equivalent to M.LISc.
The Library and Information Science Department of the University of Kerala conducts a two-year regular (four-semester) integrated Master’s programme. It covers information knowledge and communication, library and society, library management, information sources, organisation of knowledge, information technology, information processing and retrieval, information systems, research methodology, bibliometrics, IT applications in libraries and information systems management. A dissertation and viva voce are also part of the course.
The department also offers a one-year self-financing M.LISc. evening programme. Those who have passed B.LISc. with 50 per cent marks are eligible to apply. For the one-year master’s programme, students can choose from the following options: science information system, agriculture information system, social science information system, health information system, industrial information system, academic library system and public library system. A one-year M.Phil. course is also offered by the department.
The School of Communication and Information Science under the MG University, Kottayam, offers B.LISc. and M.LISc. courses. The one-year (two semester) M.LISc. course here is conducted on a self-financing basis.
The Department of Library and Information Science of the Calicut University offers an integrated two-year M.LISc. course.

Distance mode

Many universities offer graduate and postgraduate courses in library and information science through distance mode. The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) offers both these courses ( www.ignou.ac.in). The Institute of Distance Education of the University of Madras ( www.unom.ac.in) and the Directorate of Distance Education of the Madurai Kamraj University ( www.mkudde.org) also offer graduate and postgraduate courses in library and information science.
The Institute of Distance Education of the University of Kerala, Kariyavattom, Thiruvananthapuram, offers B.LISc. degree through the distance education mode.
Those who desire to get a government job should ensure that these courses are approved by the Joint Committee of the Distance Education Council and the UGC.
The list is only indicative. Details of more universities that offer higher education facilities in library and information science under the regular and distance education mode can be collected from the University Handbook.
Career prospects

Those who have passed B.LISc. or M.LISc. degree are eligible to become second and third grade librarians or university library assistants. Those who have obtained an M.LISc. or Ph.D. and have cleared the Junior Research Fellowship National Eligibility Test (JRF-NET) can become lecturers in colleges. To become a grade I Librarian or Assistant Librarian in a college or university department, the requirement is M.LISc. and UGC- NET. Job opportunities for postgraduate librarians are many in colleges, university departments, science and technology departments, and research institutions. Scientific institutes appoint M.LISc. degree holders as scientific assistants.