WALK-IN-INTERVIEW AT NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, MUMBAI

NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
(ICMR), J.M. STREET, PAREL, MUMBAI 400 012. Telephone: 022-24192000/24192102/03

WALK-IN-INTERVIEW

Applications are invited for Walk-in-Interview on 24 th August 2012 between 09:00 hrs and 12:00 hrs. for the following apprenticeship.

No.	Name of the Post	No. of vacancy	Consolidated salary	Essential qualification	Age Limit	Duration
1.	Apprentice – Library & Information Science	One	Rs.11,500/p.m.	Bachelor in Library Science (BLISC)or Master in Library Science(MLISC) from a recognized university	Below 25 Yrs.	One Year

1. Age relaxation for SC/ST/OBC/PH Candidates will be as per the government rules.
2. Qualification/degree should be from the reputed Institution/University.
3. Mere fulfilling the essential qualification/experience does not guarantee for selection.
4. Canvassing in any form will be a disqualification.
5. No TA/DA will be paid either for attending the interview or joining the post.
6. Persons already in regular time scale service under any Government Department / Organizations are not eligible to apply.

Candidates must bring along with them all the relevant documents in original and one set of attested photocopies of the same and one passport size recent colour photograph.

Download application form

Arunachal Celebrates National Librarians’ Day

National Librarians’ Day was celebrated in Arunachal  alongwith rest of the country to pay tribute to father of Library Science Dr. S R Ranganathan on his birthday today. The Department of Public Libraries, Government of Arunachal Pradesh celebrated the Day by organizing an extempore speech competition amongst the school children on the topic “How to develop reading habit in the young age” to understand the importance of libraries in shaping their lives. Students from various schools of Itanagar participated in the competition. Addressing the participants DL&IO (Hq), L Ete informed that National Librarians’ Day is celebrated in India on August 12  in remembrance of  Padmashree Dr Ranganathan, who spearheaded library development in India. This Day reminds the librarians their mission to work towards meeting the information needs of the people by providing high quality information system, he said.

The Deputy Director Resarch, B Pertin described the importance of library and the vital role of a librarian in moulding and shaping the young minds. He advised the students to make reading book in library a habit to gain knowledge. Kamal Nath De, Jr. Librarian, State Library was awarded as the best Librarian  for his hard work in the service and Master Kamin Pertin from Arunodaya School, Master Mui Tape from Green Mount and Miss Meme Gadi also from Green Mount stood 1st, 2nd & 3rd respectively in extempore speech. DIPR

Pasighat: The “National Librarians’ Day” was celebrated  in a befitting manner at the Pasighat district library. Speaking on the occasion Education and  Library Minister Bosiram Siram called upon the school and college students, employees and general public to become regular library readers for enhancing and acquiring information and knowledge on various fields. Terming it as ‘storehouse of knowledge’ he said the role of library in collecting and preserving the information etc is commendable and it would fulfill the needs of the younger generations.

Siram urged the citizens to visit to the library regularly and appreciate the library professionals for their untiring services. But he admitted that there are huge tasks ahead for librarians to help common people improve reading habit. Illiteracy, poverty and lack of knowledge are still prevalent among people in the state, he  said while urging the officers and teachers to share their knowledge about library in schools to inspire the students. Taking privilege, the minister urged one and all to join hands and cooperate the state government to implement all the schemes and projects successfully in the state for larger interest of the people.

While condemning the Bandh culture he appealed all  to cooperate in implementing the hydro power projects for financial development of the state. The projects would not only meet the demands of water and electricity, but would help to set up industries and develop agricultural sector which would make Arunachal a financially strong state, added Siram. Earlier, Deputy Commissioner R K Mishra appreciated the efforts of the library officials and stated that reading is the most rewarding activities in life and it makes one knowledgeable which generates confidence in life. It helps us to know our past, present and future, socio-cultural affairs, economic growths, technical and scientific developments, discoveries etc. He suggested all to avail the optimum benefits of library services. Mishra appealed  the minister to take more steps to modernize the library and asked the library officials to be sincere, dedicated, devoted and punctual in their duties.

The keynote address was given by the DLIO Yayum Riba and among others M. Das Librarian (JNC) and BK Bhattacherjee Jr. Librarian (DL) also spoke on the occasion. Retired IAS Officer Oshong Ering, Dean of Horticulture College Dr. B N Hazarika, DDSE Tani Talom, officers, faculties and students of Pasighat participated in the programme.  Earlier on August 11 an Art Competition was conducted wherein eighty students participated.

Tawang: Speaking on the occasion of National Librarian’s day celebration at Tawang, deputy commissioner Kemo Lollen emphasized on the need for publication and exhibition of old records and rare books of the district as well as the state written by various authors at the District Library. Accessibility to such books will help and be useful as reference for various sections of the people. “Despite the development of modern technology such as television, Internet, etc, the kind of knowledge and experience gained from books cannot be substituted by anything”, Lollen said. Pointing at the benefits of the books, Lollen further said, books enshrine the noble thoughts and sublime truth of all ages. He also advocated for subscription and display of the “ Arunachal Gazette”  at the District library for the benefit of the readers.

Lollen later visited the Books Section of the District Library. The HoDs of the district along with the District Library Office staffs were present on the occasion. Earlier the District Library Officer, B K Roy, highlighted the importance of the day. The Day was also celebrated in Dibang Valley District in a befitting manner. To mark the occasion, many competitions like essay writing, extempore speech, painting etc. were organized among students on the Topics “Book - Our Best Friend” and “Importance of Library”.

The celebration was attended by the deputy commissioner Abu Tayeng, teachers, students, officers, public leaders, active NGOs in huge number. Speaking on the occasion, Tayeng said that Library is the store house of books which contributes a lot to the society in its growth and development. The DC urged the students and all in general to inculcate the habit of reading in order to enhance the knowledge and understand the wider scope in life. He gave away the prizes to the winners of the competitons. Later, the DC inspected the District Library  and termed it as one of the best Library in entire state. Earlier, DL&IO, R.K.Singh dwelt in length about the transitions of system of information dissemination from the Vedic period to the present day.

Yingkiong: District Library Yingkiong has celebrated the Librarians’ day at Yingkiong. Speaking on this occasion Ing Ratan, DLIO highlighted the importance of library in Arunachal Pradesh. She advised the people to keep up reading habit and visit the library regularly.  Among others, Principal of St. Marry School spoke on  the occasion. diseaset. Students and teaching staff of the St. Marry School, among others, participated in it.

Source:http://www.northeasttoday.in/our-states/arunachal-pradesh/arunachal-celebrates-national-ibrarians%E2%80%99-day/

Former Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) librarian selected for award

Visakhapatnam, Aug 9 (PTI) Former librarian of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) PSN Murthy has been selected for Dr Ranganathan Kaula award for year 2011 in recognition of his service for the cause of library and information science. The award will be conferred upon Murthy by the Andhra Pradesh Minister for Infrastructure and Ports Ganta Srinivasa Rao at a function organised here on the occasion of the Librarians' Day on Sunday, said Muralidhar Rao, secretary of Society for Promotion of Public Libraries. The award comprises Rs 5000 in cash and a citation, he told reporters. The award has been given by Prof Kaula Endowment for Library and Information Science since 1980 to persons who have rendered eminent service to the cause of library science.

MORE NEWS AT: http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/former-vsp-librarian-selected-for-award/1039128.html

In the age of electronics, Nilgiris library promotes reading through book club

UDHAGAMANDALAM: In an age of electronics where the habit of reading is facing a losing battle, the Nilgiri Library is making valiant efforts to revive it by conducting book club activities, hosting cultural events and scheduling story-telling and reading sessions for children over the last two years. The library is located in a Victorian building with striking gothic style architecture, on Commissioner's Road in Ooty.

Members of the book club meet every second Saturday to discuss the book selected for the month. This past Saturday marks the beginning of the third year of the club. "It is an interesting experience. It is not necessary to agree with popular sentiment regarding the book. You are free to agree or disagree with the reviewer or ideas and concepts of the author," said Kamala, the coordinator of the book club.

The book to be read is announced well in advance, usually three months before the discussion happens. The reviewer chooses the book to be read. This coming Saturday the book to be discussed is 'The Secret Life of Plants' by Christopher Bird and Peter Tompkins. Ravindran Govindan, who chose the title, will review the book followed by a debate on its content among club members.

Members really look forward to the Saturday meetings. In fact, one member who knew that she would be missing one such meeting sheepishly asked if it could be recorded. Another member, Dr Kousalya would like to meet every week. "These meetings are very gratifying," Kamala said. A few recently reviewed books include White Tiger by Aravind Adiga, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho and The Old Man and the Sea by Hemingway.

The 150-year-old library also conducts reading and storytelling sessions for children. A small children's corner has been identified inside the library for the purpose. "Children are very enthusiastic about the reading sessions and they participate actively," said Kamala.

A garden club has been formed by the library members to maintain the area surrounding the library building. "We want the library to be a hub of cultural activities," said Ramakrishnan Nambiar, secretary of the Nilgiris Library. About 40 saplings of indigenous trees were planted inside the campus a few days ago.

The library also organizes talks by authors, audio visual sessions, dance and music programmes to draw more members. They also plan to come out with a cinema club. Last week it screened the Oscar award winning Iranian movie, The Separation. The screening was sponsored by INTACH, the Nilgiris chapter. "We plan to screen art movies and award winning movies for our members," said Nambiar.

The cultural activities organized have attracted another 150 members to the library. Presently, the library which houses more than 40,000 books, some as old as 400 years, has 600 members.

Run by a committee, it came into existence in 1858 to cater to European readers. Among visitors to the library are many distinguished personalities including I K Gujral, former Prime Minister of India, Fatima Beevi, former Governor of Tamil Nadu and Rajam Krishnan, a renowned writer.

More News at: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-11/coimbatore/33152836_1_nilgiris-library-library-members-cinema-club

Experts call for steps to refresh libraries

TRICHY: At a time when digital libraries are becoming a challenge to academic libraries, librarians feel the latter have to look within to find new methods to attract users.

Serving and retired librarians from across Trichy district voiced their opinions on the occasion of 'Librarians' Day', observed on the 120th birth anniversary of renowned librarianSR Ranganathan. The Society for the Advancement of Library and Information Science (SALIS), Tiruchirappalli chapter, organized the programme in the city on Sunday.

Dr K Elavazhagan, librarian and chief knowledge officer from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM-T), Trichy, delivered a lecture on 'Security systems in libraries', saying academic libraries should play a major role. Librarians should be approachable to students so that students felt inclined to borrow books and learn more.

"The lack of security systems, latest technologies and unskilled manpower in libraries also prevent students from accessing academic libraries. As a result, they prefer to go to the Internet for reference. The need for Closed Circuit Televisions (CCTV), radio frequency identification (RFID) and magnetic chips are a must to provide a secure environment to students and also to prevent loss of books. In higher education institutions, students may avoid using academic libraries fearing consequences in case of loss or damage of books. Invariably, the authorities question all of them to find out the actual offender. When there is a system like CCTVs and RFID, they feel free to access libraries. Moreover, librarians who pursue library science through distance education mode lack skills. They should improve their calibre to serve students better. Students should be aware of legal consequences while downloading content from the Internet. They must get permission from the publishers concerned to download material, or else it may attract legal problems," he said.

"In the IIM-T library, we have implemented security systems at the base level. We will have a full-fledged system in future so that students can avail themselves of books at any time," he said. Dr Jesudoss Manalan, chairman of SALIS, Trichy, said it was indeed clear that the number of library users had drastically come down with the advent of digital libraries. It was the right to time to define new roles to attract students. In the same vein, the use of security systems would block the learning process as users may feel offended.

Educational institutions should try to change the attitude of students in order to ensure effective use of libraries, he added.

More News at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/Experts-call-for-steps-to-refresh-libraries/articleshow/15468872.cms

Library law 'fails' to take off

BERHMPUR: The "poor implementation" of a law on public libraries has affected an initiative to build a network of such institutions in the state, experts said on Sunday.

"The Odisha Public Libraries Act was enacted to establish a network of the public libraries from block level to the state level. But even after 10 years of its enactment, the Act was not implemented fully," said RK Mohapatra, a professor of library science at Sanjay Memorial Institute of Technology ( SMIT).

Mohapatra was speaking at a function to celebrate the birth anniversary of SR Raganathan, the father of library science in India, at Chhatrapur in Ganjam district. The meeting was organised by the district library.

"The scenario is equally bad in several other states. Beside Odisha, 17 states have enacted legislations on building of public libraries. But only 10 states have implemented the law in the right spirit," Mohapatra added.

The Act also called for formation of a public library council to monitor the initiative. "The government has failed to set up the body. Even now, most of the blocks lack the proposed state-run Gandhi Pathagar," said Ashok Choudhury, former MLA of Chhatrapur.

More News at :http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/Library-law-fails-to-take-off/articleshow/15471981.cms

Project Fellow (1) and Project Assistant (4) at Jadavpur University, Kolkata

Ref. No.-REC/N/241/12                                                                                           Dated: 08.08.2012

CIRCULAR

Applications are invited in prescribed form for the following project-linked posts in the "Digital Library and Web based Material Development" under the UGC funded "University with Potential for Excellence - Phase II" scheme of Jadavpur University. All posts are purely temporary and their duration is indicated below. Applicants are required to clearly mention the code number of the post they are applying for in their application.

A. Digital Library

1. Project Assistant - 4 Posts (Code: DLWS01)

Salary: Rs 12,000/- per month (consolidated)

Essential Qualification: (i) Graduate in any discipline with Bachelor’s Degree in Library Science OR

(ii) B.Sc. in Computer Sc. OR

(iii) BCA.

Desirable Qualification: Knowledge on Digital Library Management Software.

2 . Project Fellow – 1 post (Code: DLWS04)

Salary: Rs. 14000/- per month +30% HRA
Essential Qualifications: Master of Library & Information Science or Equivalent with at least 60% marks.
Desirable Qualifications: Should have knowledge of LINUX, Webpage designing, My-SQL, Open Source Library Management Software, writing skill in English and Bengali.

Application forms are obtainable from the Information Office of the University during working hours (11 am to 4 pm) from Monday to Friday except holidays on payment of Rs.50.

The applicant has to appear for a walk-in interview with completed application form and attested copies of all the relevant certificates and mark-sheets along with originals. All selected candidates will have to produce completed results at the time of joining. The walk-in interviews will be held according to the following schedule:

(All appointments are initially up to 31 March 2013 with possibility of renewal subject to satisfactory work and/or continuation of the project)

Code numbers: DLWS01 (Project Assistant), DLWS02 (Junior System Administrator), DLWS03 and DLWS04 (Project Fellow).

Date for walk-in interview: Thursday, August 23, 2012, between 2:30 pm and 4:30 p.m.

Venue for interviews: Centre for Digital Library and Documentation, Central Library, Jadavpur University Main Campus.

Vacancy of Project Associate (DeLCON Consortium)

Name of Post : Project Associate (DeLCON Consortium)
Emoluments : Rs. 23,000.00 P.M. Consolidated
Essential Qualification :
1. Post Graduate preferably in Library & Information Science from any Recognized University by the UGC, with minimum 1 Year Diploma In Computer Application.
2. Good Communication Skills in English with ability to draft official correspondence and notes effectively. Good working knowledge of computer operation such as MS Office etc.
Desirable : Knowledge of maintaining & managing digital library, ability to selfcorrespondence
and report preparation.
Experience : Minimum 3 years in related fields
Age Limitation : 35 years as on advertised dated (Relaxation as per Government of India
norms for SC/ST and OBC candidates.
Note: Candidate may send a hard copy of application alongwith the attested copy of testimonials and a
Demand Draft of Rs. 200.00 (Drawn in fovour of Director, NBRC, payable at Manesar, Gurgaon) should be send to the ‘Registrar’, NBRC. Only short listed candidates will be called for interview (Application fees is not applicable for SC, ST and Women Candidates).


Advertisement of Project Associate : http://delcon.gov.in/Pro_Asso_DeLCON_host_on_website.pdf

Application Form: http://delcon.gov.in/application_format_for_project_associate.doc

Assistant Librarian (Female) at Queen Mary's School, Mayur Vihar, Delhi

Post- Assistant Librarian

School- Queen Mary's School

Address- Sahkarita Marg, Mayur Vihar Phase-1, Delhi-91

Senior Research Fellow (1 Post) at University of Agricultural Sciences,GKVK, Bangalore

Title of the project:e-Granth project, NAIP, UAS Library

Location: University Library, University of Agricultural Sciences,GKVK, Bangalore 560 065


Designation: Senior Research Fellow (SRF) (1 Post.)

Emoluments: Rs.16,000/- + HRA

Qualifications:  Master?s Degree in Library Science/information science/documentation from recognized University as a full-time regular student. 

Desirable Qualifications:
(a) Evidence of innovative library services, published work and professional commitment, computerization of library.
(b) Two years working experience in University Library Systems, specially in Library Automation, Digital library, Networking. 

For more information http://uasbangalore.edu.in/#notification

With Best Regards
Srinivasa.V
Asst.Librarian, UAS Library, GKVK, Bangalore.
Phone: 080-23636243 ext-272
Mobile: 09986560565
Fax: 91-080-234648343
e-Mail: vsrinivas28@gmail.com

Nine Reasons to Save Public Libraries

By Emmily Bristol

Credit: Flickr (Creative Commons)

While the War on Women and Chick-fil-A might be getting all the juicy headlines lately, there’s another issue quietly smoldering in the background noise of this election season. It’s buried under all the campaign rhetoric and doom-and-gloom forecasts about the economy.

Our public libraries are not just threatened this election season. They’re fighting for their lives — and with them, the livelihoods and well-being of hard-hit communities all over the country.Library districts in California, Illinois, Ohio, Nevada, Texas, Washington, and more have measures or proposals to slash budgets in 2012. California alone is looking at 50% budget cuts. Where I live, the library district is facing a 30% budget cut, which will close at least two branches. According to the American Library Association, 23 states are looking to cut library budgets in the most recent fiscal year.

But I have yet to see a demonstration to save the libraries. Or read national news coverage about the potential collapse of one society’s most valuable resources. Indeed, it wasn’t by accident that our nation’s founding fathers established the first American lending library.

But the truth is that the state of our public libraries is a kind of litmus test of not only our economic health but that of our democracy, too. After all, libraries are the free, democratization of education, unbiased research, and uncensored enlightenment.

It was President John F. Kennedy who made this plea for the sanctity of our libraries:

"If this nation is to be wise as well as strong, if we are to achieve our destiny, then we need more new ideas for more wise men reading more good books in more public libraries. These libraries should be open to all except the censor. We must know all the facts and hear all the alternatives and listen to all the criticisms. Let us welcome controversial books and controversial authors. For the Bill of Rights is the guardian of our security as well as our liberty."

Here are some reasons why our libraries are still the place where we as a nation will achieve our destiny:

1. The house of the 99%: The foundation of democracy is an educated electorate. When the economy is down, it is all the more vital that we the people have access to information, education, news… and now in modern times the internet, computers, and other sources of media tools as well. Libraries do that. For everyone.
2. Libraries build equity: Research shows that depressed neighborhoods and declining communities are not just culturally enriched by libraries. The institutions serve as a community focal point, like a town square, and communities that have that resource rebound.
3. Community hope chest: Libraries don’t just curate the Harry Potter series and lend copies of the latest blockbusters on DVD, they also house special collections based on the needs and unique identities of the communities they serve. The library district where I live houses a special collection on a World War II magnesium plant that helped turned the tide of the war (as well as establishing the second largest city in Nevada). That’s living history that gets lost without a public space to keep it alive.
4. Renewable resource: How much do you save by being able to borrow materials from the library? How helpful is it to have this resource — especially now that even retail bookstores, movie rental shops, and record stores are closing? There’s a calculator for that.
5. Literacy: Studies show (PDF) that children’s literacy is greatly improved by access to summer reading programs and preschool reading programs at public libraries. And children’s literacy is a building-block of adult literacy. When I was in college I interned at a non-profit that worked on illiteracy, targeting at-risk youth. I worked in their summer reading program at an elementary school with one of the lowest rates of economic depression in the state (Oregon). This meant that most of the kids who went to that school were enrolled in summer school — even if they were good students — simply because it was a cheaper alternative to child care. At the end of the program each child got to pick out one brand-new book to keep. For all but just a few of the children, it was the first book they ever owned. Maybe you don’t “own” the books at the library (although, as a tax-payer I would argue we do), but the libraries are a place where the socio-economic realities that push the starting line so far back for so many can be equalized. And that’s like a small miracle in the life of a child who has already had to learn how to be hard in the face of a world that cuts them no breaks. There are very few individuals who could buy every child a book and start them on the road to literacy. (And it’s been shown that access to books in childhood is one of thebiggest predictors of literacy.) But all of us together can buy a kid a building full of books. That is a miracle.
6. Leveling the playing field: Libraries offer vital resources for communities that might not otherwise be served or feel integrated. People learning English (or other languages), the elderly, deaf people, the homeless… the list goes on.
7. Safe space: In some communities, the public library may be the only free space available that is also a safe space. Young victims of bullying, kids who live with domestic violence, LGBT youth, and many more can find a safe place (and often a caring librarian) at the library. I know from personal experience — having spent time camped at my local library when I had no other safe place to go as a teenager.
8. Cultural touchstone: Many libraries showcase art — often by local artists. Likewise, the buildings themselves are often architecturally significant and enhance the beauty and character of the communities they serve.
9. Drop in or drop out: Libraries can also be a place that means the difference between a child’s success or failure in school. Many libraries offer tutoring programs, free classes, as well as access to volumes of information and technology that a kid might not have anywhere else. Believe it or not, even in these modern times there are kids who don’t have computers at home who need to type their papers for school. There are kids who can’t afford the expensive private tutor to get through Algebra. Libraries can make the difference to a kid teetering on the edge. And high school dropout rates have a direct correlation to the health of a community.

These days, there are a lot of people talking about how nobody reads anymore. But that’s just wrong. People are reading ALL THE TIME. People are on Facebook, on Wikipedia, on blogs… They are using e-readers to read virtual copies of books. They are downloading newspapers to their tablet devices. People still read. And people read books — with pages and paper and bindings — too. But the fact is, there’s all kinds of other stuff besides books that libraries do for people in our community every day. Book programs for shut-ins. After-school and summer programs for youth. Did I mention toddler story time?

But more than that, it may just be the last free space that is truly free and there for everyone — homeless, young, old, rich, poor, and any race under the sun. We are all welcome there. We are all equal there.

Doesn’t that seem like a space too valuable to lose?

More News at :http://ivn.us/2012/08/08/nine-reasons-to-save-public-libraries/

Envisioning the library of the future

Involve and Dialogue by Design (DbyD) have been commissioned by the Arts Council England (ACE) to explore with citizens the purpose and value of public libraries. Over the course of September we will be running a series of deliberative workshops across England and an online consultation to gather people’s views – as citizens and taxpayers – on what the library of the future should look like.

Libraries have long played an integral role in the lives of many people and communities. They are an important source of information and knowledge, playing an important role in the ongoing education of citizens. Beyond this, they provide a shared public space where people meet and interact and can play a role in the development of communities. But while libraries have helped to shape, define and celebrate communities, they have also had to evolve and innovate as communities and society has changed around them.

Public libraries are going through a period of intense uncertainty and transition. With public funding being decreased considerably, the new financial context in which libraries now have to operate has created the need for libraries to demonstrate their public value, increase their reach and explore new models of delivery, including partnering and/or sharing services with other organisations, integrating library services with other community facilities, providing other public services, and/or involving library users in the governance and running of library services.

The pressure for libraries to innovate and adapt has, however, been around for much longer than the financial crisis. Social, economic, demographic, cultural and technological changes have meant that the number of people borrowing books has decreased and the way many people choose and expect to access and consume information has changed considerably over recent years. Libraries have had to respond to this by offering digital services and content, and identifying new ways in which to engage people. As a result, libraries have taken on much more of a role as a community hub and social space.

It is within this context of change that ACE embarked upon its programme of research to inform the development of a vision for the library of the future. We are excited to be working with ACE and DbyD to ensure that the ideas, views and values of citizens form an important part of that vision.
More News at :http://www.involve.org.uk/envisioning-the-library-of-the-future/

American Library Association releases 'Ebook Business Models for Public Libraries'

Washington, D.C.— Based on conversations with publishers and deliberations on the e-book market, the American Library Association (ALA) today released “Ebook Business Models for Public Libraries (PDF),” a report that describes general features and attributes of the current e-book environment and outlines constraints and restrictions of current business models. The report, which was created by the ALA Digital Content & Libraries Working Group (DCWG), suggests opportunities for publishers to showcase content through public libraries.

“E-book publishing is expanding and evolving rapidly, and the terms under which e-books are made available to libraries show wide variation and frequent change,” said DCWG Co-Chair Robert Wolven. “In this volatile period, no single business model will offer the best terms for all libraries or be adopted by all publishers or distributors. This report describes model terms libraries should look for in their dealings with e-book publishers and distributors, as well as conditions libraries should avoid.”

The DCWG recommends three basic attributes that should be found in any business model for e-books:

• inclusion of all titles: All e-book titles available for sale to the public should also be available to libraries;
• enduring rights: Libraries should have the option to effectively own the e-books they purchase, including the right to transfer them to another delivery platform and to continue to lend them indefinitely;
• integration: Libraries need access to metadata and management tools provided by publishers to enhance the discovery of e-books.

“ALA appreciates that realizing all of these attributes immediately may not be feasible, and a library may elect to do without one or more in return for more favorable terms in other areas, at least temporarily, but these features are ultimately essential to the library’s public role,” said ALA President Maureen Sullivan.

Nationwide, many libraries are facing constraints from publishers on how e-books can be used, including: perpetuating the print model of one user per e-book license purchased; limiting the number of loans; variable pricing; delayed sale; and restrictions on consortial or interlibrary loans. Alternately, opportunities for publishers might include enhanced discovery, readers’ advisory, or even a major new sales channel for library patrons.

“The choices that libraries make today can profoundly impact future directions, so it is critical libraries are informed of their options and negotiate aggressively for the most favorable and flexible terms possible,” said Erika Linke, co-chair of the DCWG’s business models subgroup. “Thus, while the DCWG’s primary focus in the past months was to try to influence publishers, we wanted to share some of what we learned with the library community at large.”

The DCWG has developed a number of other resources about e-books, such as its first “Tip Sheet (PDF),” which is on digital rights management, and an E-Content Supplement to American Libraries magazine. Check the American Libraries E-Content blog for new developments from the DCWG.

“The DCWG will continue its advocacy on e-book business models for public libraries as it increases its focus on other aspects of e-books such as the school library market and accessibility issues,” said Carrie Russell, lead ALA staffer for the business models subgroup.

Contact: Jazzy Wright
Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP), Washington Office (wo)

More News at :http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/news/ala/american-library-association-releases-ebook-business-models-public-libraries

Professional Assistant and Semi Professional Assistant at Bharati College, Delhi

BHARATI COLLEGE

(University of Delhi)

C-4, JANAKPURI, NEW DELHI-110058

Ref No.: BC/NT/2012/589                                                                                   Dated: 07-08-2012

Post	No of Posts	UR	ST	OBC	Pay Band	Grade Pay

Professional Assistant	1	1			9300-34800	4200
Semi professional Assistant	1	1			5200-20200	2800

QUALIFICATIONS:

Professional Assistant: Maximum Age 35 years

Essential:

1. M.Lib.Sc./ MLISc. Or equivalent with 50% marks.

OR

Master’s Degree in Arts/Science/Commerce or any other discipline with 50% mark and B.Lib. Sc./ B.L.I. Sc. with 50% marks.
2. Computer Science paper at Graduate/PG level or six month computer science course from a recognized institution.

Semi Professional Assistant: Maximum Age 35 years

Essential:

1.Graduate in Arts/Science/Commerce or any other discipline or any other higher qualification with 50% marks.
2. B.Lib.Sc./B.L.I Sc. With 50% marks.
3. Course in Computer Applications at Graduate or PG level or a 6 month computer course from a recognized institution.

For More Info: http://www.bharaticollege.com/

Professional Assistant at University of Mysore, Mysore

UNIVERSITY OF MYSORE

DV3/EMMRC/615/2011-12 Dated 23-07-2012                                         Vishwavidyanilaya Karya Soudha,

Crawford Hall, Mysore-570 005,

NOTIFICATION

Applications are invited in the prescribed form in Eight sets from the qualified candidates for the following posts in the Educational Multimedia Research Centre, Manasagangotri, Mysore.

Professional Assistant [9300-34800 GP4200]           01 UR

Minimum Qualification and Experience:

Professional Assistant: (Library): Graduate in any subject and B.Lib.Sc with  

5 years experience preferably in Media Library. Desirable: Experience of 

working in a media library.

EMMRCnotification23072012.pdf

The last date for issuing the Application forms is 13-08-2012

Universities, Ours and Theirs by KRISHNA KUMAR

As long as we discourage young talent, encourage an obsolete examination system and remain indifferent to research, we will continue to lag behind the West

There are four critical differences between universities of the western world and ours. Thefirst is that they do all they can, when they recruit young faculty, to make way for excellence. We do everything to block its entry. We start discouraging talent early, but a few bright youngsters manage to come up despite our best efforts. They are the ones who face the greatest resistance from our institutions at the time of selection for vacancies. The norms and standards that western institutions apply for selecting young faculty focus on individualised assessment of potential. Senior people and administrators who make decisions make sure that the aspirants are assessed on the basis of what they have published, the quality of research they have done, and how passionate they seem about the pursuit of knowledge and teaching.

MECHANICAL CRITERIA

In our case, the initial criteria applied are purely mechanical. Any hint of trans-disciplinary interest means that the candidate loses the chance to be interviewed. And those who somehow escape this fate are ultimately sized up at the time of interview in terms of the lobbies they might belong to. Someone rare enough to be independent of personal as well as intellectual lobbies is the first to be eliminated. In the semi-final act of short listing, those lacking support from the dominant lobbies get weeded out. Then, in the ultimate moment, hard bargaining takes place and the institution’s future gets sealed. If there is someone with an unusual background or achievement, you can depend on the selection committee to find a technical ground to reject him or her. The only way he or she might get appointed is if a determined Vice-Chancellor forces the person in. Democratic procedures and correctness have become incompatible with respect for quality. Our universities feel comfortable with the labyrinth of eligibility norms that the University Grants Commission has nurtured with relentless energy to issue circulars over the decades. Selection committees debate over the finest of technicalities to justify the selection of the average, allowing anyone with sheen to get stuck and lost in the maze of criteria.

The second major difference between our universities and the western ones relates to the concept of teaching. We calculate teaching in terms of periods taken. The Radhakrishnan Commission had bemoaned the fact that our colleges work like higher secondary schools. More than six decades after the commission gave its report, life in our undergraduate colleges is just the same. The UGC demands 18 periods of teaching per week from an assistant professor. “Isn’t that reasonable?,” one might ask. Of course, it is, if you ignore what the word “teaching” means. The practice of calculating teachers’ daily work by counting the number of periods they stand beside the blackboard exposes the hollowness of our system and the concept of education. It also shows how little we have progressed since colonial days when accountability was tied to crude measures. How far Britain has moved away from the procedures it introduced in India long ago became apparent to me a year ago when I was invited to serve on a course evaluation committee in a British institute. After examining the course content, the recommended readings and the description of each lecture session taken through the year, the committee met groups of students from the previous three years. We also read the detailed feedback each student is required to give at the end of each course.

Our discussion with students and — separately — with their teachers was frank and detailed. We learnt how students assessed their teachers in terms of preparedness for each class, personal interest in the subject, the pedagogic strategies used to arouse interest, and not just regularity — which was, in fact, taken for granted. In India, we worry about attendance records to keep the student under pressure to attend classes that may be altogether devoid of intellectual stimulation. Despite attendance norms being stringent, there are classes without much attendance. There are also numerous cases of attendancewithout classes. An obsolete system of examination helps teachers who miss classes and make no effort to relate to students. There are many who take the number of periods required, but their classes have no soul or spark.

CONCEPT OF KNOWLEDGE

The third critical difference between life in an Indian university and a university in the West arises out of the concept of knowledge embedded in the system. The crude measures our regulatory bodies such as the UGC apply in the name of accountability mask the epistemic sterility of the curriculum, the pedagogic process and examination. In the West, curriculum and pedagogy both follow the teacher’s own research interests. Even smaller universities with limited resources attempt to cultivate a research environment. Topics of research reflect the university’s concern for the social and natural world surrounding it. Research is seen as an inquiry to solve problems as well as to induct the young into a community of inquires. Keeping a record of hours spent on direct teaching becomes irrelevant in such a system, even in the case of undergraduate students. To keep their research interests alive and popular, senior professors engage with young undergraduates who bring fresh questions and perspectives to ongoing inquiries. In India, you stop teaching undergraduate classes as soon as you attain professorial status. Teaching and research are seen as two separate activities. While teaching is perceived as institutional work, research is viewed as a personal agenda for moving forward in one’s career. Not surprisingly, infrastructure and administrative procedures that might facilitate research do not exist. Obstacles do, and the teacher who makes the mistake of initiating a research project has to struggle all the way to its completion and the ritual of report submission to the funding agency. No one among colleagues or in the administration cares to know the findings, let alone their implications. Teaching goes on following the grooves of preset syllabi, like the needle boring into an old gramophone record.

The fourth critical difference lies in the library. In the West, even in the most ordinary universities, the library forms the centre of life, both for teachers and students. Librarians enjoy a high status as their contribution to academic life cuts across academic disciplines. They work closely with teachers and students in the various tasks involved in procurement of books and journals, keeping the library quiet and friendly, and ensuring speedy access. Our case is the opposite. The library exists on the margins of the classroom. In many universities, undergraduate students are not allowed to use the university library. Subscription to journals and magazines has dwindled over the years, and maintenance of past volumes is now seen as an obsolete practice because e-storage is available. We forget that the library is not merely a service; it is also a physical space whose ethos induces the young to learn the meaning of belonging to a community of scholars. Our reading rooms carry an unkempt, hapless look, with clanking ceiling fans and dog-eared books waiting to be removed. Book acquisition has been saturated with petty corruption and a crowd of spurious publishers has thrived on the outskirts of the academia.

SYMPTOMATIC

These four critical differences are, of course, symptomatic of deeper problems entrenched in structures that govern higher education in India. Those who perceive all problems in financial terms miss the barren landscape of our campuses. Inadequacy of funds is, of course, worrisome, but it cannot explain the extent to which malice, jealousy and cussedness define the fabric of academic life in our country. There is a vast chasm that separates the Indian academia from society. Let alone the masses, even the urban middle class cares little for what goes on inside classrooms and laboratories.

The citizenry does not see higher education as an intellectual resource. Nor do political leaders. The only commonly understood purpose that the system of higher education serves is to alleviate — and keep under tolerable levels of discomfort — what the British economist, Ronald Dore, has called the ‘Diploma Disease’ in his 1976 classic on education in developing economies. Dore has explained why a country like ours will continue to lag behind the West in knowledge and technique so long as we keep using mark-sheets and certificates to screen the young for further education and employment. His insight that the valid goal of widening the pool of talent is defeated by bureaucratisation of selection continues to be pertinent across the colonised world.

(The writer is Professor of Education at Delhi University and a former Director of NCERT.)

More News at :

Library digital plan in limbo

• By DC Correspondent 
• Visakhapatnam

The district central library in the Maharanipeta area in the city, the biggest library in Vizag, has more than one lakh books on various subjects and subscribes to around 30 magazines a month but the digitisation project of the library is yet to see the light of day.

The district central library in the Maharanipeta area in the city, the biggest library in Vizag, has more than one lakh books on various subjects and subscribes to around 30 magazines a month but the digitisation project of the library is yet to see the light of day. Although the library gets over 200-300 readers every day, it does not have a proper catalogue of existing books and journals.

In Visakhapatnam, the Zilla Grandhalaya Samstha runs 72 libraries including five grade-1 and 51 grade-2 libraries. Libraries in the city are not able to meet the demands of readers in providing a better environment and infrastructure facilities due to inadequate funds.

Thota Nagesh, chairman of the Zilla Grandhalaya Samstha said that they had submitted a proposal to government for digitisation work of the district central library to attract more readers in the city but the proposal has been pending for various reasons including funds crunch. At present, classification of books according to category is done only in the registers, he added.

The library cess, the main source of income, which is collected by local bodies, including the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) at the rate of 8 per cent of property tax, is not paid by local bodies to the Samstha. Nagesh said that the GVMC alone owes around Rs.18 crore towards payment of library cess. Sources said that government issued an order to ensure timely payment of library cess by local bodies through e-Seva centres, where the cess amount would be deducted from property tax paid by tax payers but the GVMC has not implemented the order.

More News at: http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/regions/visakhapatnam/library-digital-plan-limbo-781