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Much beyond books

Is anyone reading anymore? The rise of e-books, social media information and technology could have rendered paper books obsolete: Google could have rendered reference librarians obsolete. But instead, people are still checking out physical books more than ever before.

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Usha Albuquerque

Is anyone reading anymore? The rise of e-books, social media information and technology could have rendered paper books obsolete: Google could have rendered reference librarians obsolete. But instead, people are still checking out physical books more than ever before. There are new writers, book events, book clubs, special reading sessions, and people are still using reference librarians for in-depth research, either because the information they need isn’t indexed in a database, or they need help to learn how to find, process and evaluated the information.

So even if you no longer curl up with a book, but more likely with your ipad or kindle, it is a love for the written word which has sustained the world of library science, ever since the first Library at Alexandria in Egypt was established more than 2000 years ago.

A library’s primary purpose is to systematically store and catalogue information for easy access by users. Books of all shapes and sizes, periodicals, and newspapers, have filled shelf upon shelf of libraries across the world, along with new-age tools of information like CDs, microfilms, videos, Internet, e-libraries etc, and more recently web-enabled, participatory and interactive online resources. Library science (now more often termed Information science) is a systematic process of organising and maintaining books, magazines and journals and all kinds of data so as to make is easily accessible to larger numbers of people. An individual who is engaged in this profession is known as librarian, or information manager. As more and more information is stored digitally, much of the work of a librarian is that of a knowledge or information manager, preserving documents through computerised systems, enhancing and refreshing content, and making it available on-line and digitally.

Today the differences between turning to a librarian and going to your Google search bar for information are vast. With specified training in areas like the organisation of information, computer technology, and research, a librarian is not only internet-savvy, but to also knows how and where it’s best to start and complete the fastest and most accurate online research.

Work profile

The most important function of a library is to organise, acquire and disseminate information. Librarians select and purchase materials from publishers, wholesalers and distributors, classify them according to subject matter, and arrange them in the library in a way that users can find them easily.

As more and more information is stored digitally, librarians are required to determine the user’s needs, and search, acquire, if necessary and prepare materials for use in the new formats.

Much of the work of the information manager is to preserve documents through computerised systems, enhance and update content, and make it available on-line and digitally. This involves 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.

With e-books and online research gaining ground, much of the work involves managing the library's search interface and programming web applications as well building a digital storehouse for information according to the need of the library and its users.

The chief librarian is normally the overall in charge of technical, administrative and financial matters, acquisitions and so on, while other posts such as that of library attendant, library assistant, junior librarian etc, would be required to handle classification, cataloguing, bibliography, ordering books/material, inter library loans, memberships and subscription renewals, book binding, location of missing books, reference services, computer programming and so on.

Those working in information centres work as database managers, reference tool developers, system analysts, indexers etc.

Getting in

The study of library science is a one year course Bachelor in Library Science (B Lib) or Bachelor in Library and Information Science (BLISC), after graduation in any subject, offered by many universities.

The bachelor’s degree course includes the study of library classification, library management, cataloging, information sources, information systems and services and the basics of information technology. The Master’s in Library Science (M.LIB) and Master’s in Library and information Science (MLISC), courses are one-year programmes. Almost 80 Indian universities offer degree, certificate and diploma courses in Library & Information Science.

Some even offer a two-year integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree programme in Library and Information Sceince., as also the M.Phil and PhD in Library and Information science. There are also several correspondence courses of one year duration. National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resource (NISCAIR) New Delhi www.niscair.res.in and Documentation Research & Training Centre (DRTC) Bengaluru are the two main institutes offering Library and Information Science courses.

NISCAIR conducts training programmes in library and information science, documentation, and science communication, and a two year master’s level academic course (Associateship in Information Science (AIS)) in information science.

Prospects

Information is a very powerful tool in today's information age so there is a great demand for information and data services in almost every commercial, academic and media organisation. Librarians or information specialists are recruited for information brokerage services, archival work at universities, private collection, photo/film libraries, media organizations, and with software companies for research and content management.

You can also do independent research for organisations according to your subject specialisation, work with museums, archives, historical foundations, non-profit organisations, track industry or market trends as a research analyst and virtually chart your own course in digging the gold mine of data.

There are many job opportunities for postgraduate librarians in colleges, university departments, science and technology departments/ institutions, research organisations and so on. To become a grade I librarian or assistant librarian in a college or university department, the requirement is MLISc. and UGC- NET.

There are also specialist librarians according to specific needs:

Law Librarians who are actually official members of litigation teams.

Science Librarians, embedded in research teams etc

In this age of e-books, Google Search, smartphones, firewalls, proprietary media platforms, digital rights management, librarians also play a vital role as specialists and guides in decisions applicable to digital preservation (e-books, magazines, etc.) and information curation. The mission of Librarians is to improve society by facilitating the acquisition, dissemination and preservation of information to better the community.

While a love for books in whatever form, is a pre-requisite in this career, you also need to be methodical and organised in your thinking, resourceful, persevering and computer literate. A familiarity with the mobile environment is essential, from tablets to smartphones to cloud computing. A curiosity and an interest in a wide variety of subjects are other useful personal qualities that can ensure your growth in this vast world of information.


Institute watch

Prominent institutions offering these courses are:

  • Panjab University, Chandigarh
  • Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar
  • Punjabi University, Patiala
  • Kurukshetra University, Haryana
  • Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla
  • University of Delhi, Delhi
  • Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi
  • Institute of Technology and Management, Dehradun
  • Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
  • Birla Institute of Technology, Mersa, Ranchi ( Jharkhand )
  • Lucknow University, Lucknow
  • Bhim Rao Ambedkar University, Agra

Distance learning courses offered at

  • Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi
  • Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University, Hyderabad
  • Kota Open University, Rajasthan

Job opportunities

  • Universities, other academic institutions and research organisations
  • Media houses, news agencies and publishing houses
  • Private organizations and special libraries
  • Foreign embassies
  • Photo/film libraries.
  • Information centres /documentation centers.
  • Large companies and organisation with huge information handling requirements.
  • Museums and galleries with huge library facilities and reading rooms and research facilities.
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