Career in Library and information Science role in our life and the choice of a career is one of the most critical decisions of our lives. It shapes our future and determines our lifestyle. Due to multiplicity of choices, selecting a career is not an easy decision today. It is estimated that every year lakhs of educated job seekers pass out from schools and colleges. Due to inadequate knowledge and unrealistic professional aspirations, a large percentage of them seek traditional careers such as civil services, engineering, medicine, education defense services etc., where there are limited options. And there are hundreds of alternative career options for those who are made aware of their aptitudes and strengths, and provided the appropriate information.

Selecting a Career as Librarianship 

The basic aim of a librarian is to disseminate knowledge. Libraries are now universally recognized as important institutions. The gradual spread of the concept of demo-cracy, the extension of education, the intensification of research activities, and the rapid increase in production of recorded know-ledge, have lead to the expansion of libraries and the development of their services. With the growth in number of institutions of learning, the need and importance of libraries is also growing. Therefore, librarianship is a growing field, which has by now attained the status of a separate discipline in the universe of knowledge. The management of these libraries needs persons with good academic and professional qualifications. Those intending to enter the library profession should certify themselves that they posses the necessary academic qualifica-tions and the sense of vocation that would enable them to work successfully as librarians.

The services provided by libraries are now called “library and information services” combining the conventional library functions of the yester years with its present day information services role. Computer and information Techno-logy too has started playing a significant role in delivering infor-mation services. Two other terms are also associated with the discipline viz., “documentation” and “Information Storage and retrieval”. Thus, besides libraries, there are also Documentation Centres and Information Centres. Despite using different nomenclat-ures, at the heart of the discipline is the provision of information services to those who need them.

Educational Opportunities

Conventional Courses - Library and Information Science is not a mere academic discipline. It is a professional course which involves practical, observational and experimental study. Education and training in the discipline is imparted in India at various levels. Formal education in library science offered by universities is little more than six decade old. Prior to that, the training was offered by profess-ional associations of librarians in different states. Generally it is of six months duration leading to the award of certificates. Universities first introduced the diploma course of one-year duration, which, later on, was elevated to the degree level with additional course inputs. Several institutions still continue to offer certificate courses. The certificate course of six months duration leading to the award of CLISc is open to candidates who have passed the 10+2 exami-nation. Besides universities, professional associations of librarians also offer the CLISc course. DLISc course of one year duration is available mostly through distance learning mode Entry requirement for this course is also 10+2. Some polytechnics also offer diploma courses. For the degree course of one-year (BLISc) duration, graduates in any discipline are eligible for this course. Those who obtained the BLISc degree can then pursue the master’s degree course (MLISc), also of one year duration. On the recommendation of UGC curricu-lum model 2001, several universi-ties have now started two-year integrated courses leading to Master’s degree after graduation. The duration of MPhil course is one year while PhD takes between three or five years. At present, education in library & information science is provided at six levels, viz., Certificate (CLISc); Diploma (DLISc); Bachelor degree (BLISc); Master’s degree (MLISc); MPhil, and; PhD.

IT Oriented Courses : With the advent of computers, the nature of library and information science has undergone revolutionary change all over the world. As stated earlier, the computer and information technology is now being widely used in libraries and information centres to process, store, retrieve and disseminate information. NISCAIR under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi conducts the two years programme leading to the award of Associateship in Information Science (AIS) and the Documentations Research and Training Centre (DRTC) at the Indian Statistical Institute (Banga-lore) offer Associateship in Documentations and Information Science (ADIS). The International School of Information Manage-ment (ISIM), University of Mysore is also launching 2 years M. Tech programme in Information Systems and Management during July 2007. 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. These courses are:

v  M.Sc (Information Science)

v  Master of Library Automation and Networking

v  Postgraduate Diploma in Library Automation and Net-working (PGDLAN)

v  Master’s Degree in Library Automation (MLA)

v  PG Diploma in Library Auto-mation

v  Master of Information Techno-logy Management (MITM)

v  Postgraduate Diploma course in Information Technology (PGDIT)

v  M Tech in Information Systems and Management

The details of these courses are available on various websites like www.infolibrarian.com, www. lisgateaway.com, www.webindia 123.com, http://iqra-careers.com, www.isim.ac.in.

Career Opportunities

Librarianship, as it used to be called earlier, is now recognized as a discipline in its own right like any other academic discipline, thanks to Dr. S.R. Ranganathan, who is regarded as the father of library science in India. The discipline is now variously called library science, library and information science or simply information science. Trained library professionals can find considerable opportunity for employment as well as job satisfaction in this area as a teacher and as well as in Librarianship.

Librarianship as a profession provides a variety of employment opportunities. In fact, it is possible to choose the kind of library to suit one’s interest and background. There are a wide variety of libraries, which provide employ-ment opportunities. The libraries may be broadly grouped into various categories: (a) Academic Libraries, (b) public Libraries, (c) Special Libraries, (d) Government Libraries, and (e) Private Libraries. Besides, there is the National Library. Newspapers libraries are also a class by themselves. In addition, foreign governments, as a part of their cultural programmes, had opened libraries in several cities.

Opportunities in Teaching

Library and Information Science is also a subject for UGC-NET for determining the eligibility for lectureship in universities and colleges. If somebody likes to join this profession as a teacher, he has to qualify UGC-NET exam in Library and information science. Teaching jobs are available in Universities, colleges, polytechni-ques and in vocational training institutes like ITI.

Opportunities in Librarianship

According to your academic and professional qualifications, you may join this profession as librarianship. In Librarianship, designations could be Librarian, Documentation Officer, Assistant Librarian, Deputy Librarian, Scientist (Library Science/ Docu-mentation), Library and Infor-mation Officer, Knowledge Manager/ Officer, Information Executive, Director/Head of Library Services, Information Officer, Information Analyst.

v  In School, College, Universities,

v  In 4 National Libraries of India like National Library, Kolkata; Cannomera Public Library, Chennai; Asiatic Society Library, Mumbai; Delhi Public Library, Delhi. And also in State Public Libraries

v  In the training centers of banks like SBI, PNB, RBI, Bank of Baroda etc.

v  In National Museums and Archives

v  In NGOs working in different areas like TERI, CSE etc.

v  In R&D Centre like ICAR, CSIR, DRDO, ICSSR, ICHR, ICMR, ICFRE, etc.

v  In Business House like, TCS, Infosys, Reliance, Punj Loyd etc.

v  In commercial houses like PHDCCI, CII, ASSOCHAM, etc.

v  In Foreign Embassies and High Commissions situated in Delhi.  

v  In International Centres like WHO, UNESCO, UNO, World Bank, British Council, American Centre, ICRISAT etc.

v  In the libraries of Ministries and other government departments like Parliament Library, Central Secretariat Library, Sates Lagislative Library, NIC, DAE, DOE, DST, Railway, Planning Commission, PM Office  etc.

v  In Library Software develop-ment firms and companies.

v  In professional colleges like Medical, Engineering, Agricul-ture, AIIMS, IIMs, IITs, NITs

v  In National Level Documen-tation Centres like NISCAIR, DESIDOC, NASSDOC etc.

v  In Library Network like DELNET, CALIBNET, ADINET, INFLIBNET etc.

v  In the newspaper libraries like Hindustan Times, Times of India etc.

v  In News Channels like Door-darshan, Aajtak, Zeenews, Starnews, NDTV

v  In the Libraries of All India Radio (AIR) Stations.

v  In the Databases providers firms like Informatics, Science@ Direct, Scopus, Springer etc.

v  In publishing companies for preparing Index, abstracts, bibliographies etc.

v  In various digital library projects like ‘Digital Library of India’ etc.

v  In Training Academies like IAS, IPS, IFS, NDA, IMA, OTA etc.

Conclusion

The large-scale proliferation of library and information science courses has led the dilution of the standard of education and substantial increase in the number of degree holders. However, persons possessing good academic records and adequate skills in computer and information technology can still look forwards to a rewarding career in the profession.

In your own interest always verify course, dates of application, introduction of new courses, new competitive examinations either by direct correspondence, through websites or by keeping track of notification in the prominent dailies and publication like the Employment News. Have faith in your hard work, perseverance, persistence and continue to upgrade knowledge, awareness and skills.

Universities offering Library Science Education

v    Alagappa University, Karaikudi

v    Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh      

v    Allahabad University

v    Annamalai University, Annamalainagar

v    Awadhesh Pratap Singh University, Rewa

v    Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow

v    Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi

v      Bundelkhand University, Jhansi

v    Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore

v    Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar University, Agra 

v    Dr. Harisingh Gour Viswavidyalaya, Sagar 

v    Gulbarga University, Gulbarga 

v    Guru Ghasidas University, Bilaspur

v    Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar

v    Dr. Harisingh Gour University, Sagar

v    HNB Garhwal University Srinagar - Garhwal

v    Jadavpur University, Calcutta

v    Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi 

v    Jiwaji University, Gwalior

v    Karnatak University, Dharwad

v    Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi

v    Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi

v      Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra

v    Nagpur University, Nagpur

v    North Eastern Hill University, Shillong 

v    Pandit Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur 

v    Panjab University, Chandigarh 

v    Patna University, Patna 

v    Punjabi University, Patiala

v    Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur

v    Sambalpur University, Sambalpur

v    SNDT Womens’ University, Mumbai

v    University of Delhi, Delhi

v    University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad

v    University of Jammu, Jammu (Tawi)

v    University of Kashmir, Srinagar 

v    University of Lucknow, Lucknow

v    University of Madras, Chennai

v    University of Mysore, Mysore 

v    University of Pune, Pune 

v    University of Rajasthan, Jaipur

v    UP Rajarshi Tandon Open University, Allahabad

v    Vikram University, Ujiain

The list of indicative

(The author is from the Division of Library, Documentation and Information, NCERT, New Delhi)