LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

Knowledge is power and books are one of the main sources of knowledge . Libraries are where books are kept , looked after and maintained in a systematic way so that they can be used by different groups of readers. In other words, libraries serve as storehouses or home of books . There are a large number of libraries- both private as well as public- that provide access to lakhs and lakhs of books . The field in recent years has expanded to include online network resources, libraries and information hubs. The Internet has professionals always have an advantage over others in the field.
It is not required that one should be a bookworm, but one should be a book lover. One should love to be surrounded by books and have an analytical bend of mind to arrange and look after different types of books.
Book are catalysts to ignite minds , helping us to know about so many different things. They are the only long lasting companions of humans. But there are so many diverse fields of books that it becomes very difficult for individuals to keep and manage books by themselves. For this purpose a large number of libraries – both private as well as public – have been set up in diffdrent parts nf the natinn and abrosr the globe. Each and every school, college institution and university has also its own library. With the rise in number of institution and college , more libraries are being set up . Consequently , the need for trained professionals to man them is also on the rise.
Information Technology and the Internet have revolutionised the whole domain of Library and Information Science . Now the job of librarian is not just manage books but also to ensure availability of information resources, make them readily available to potential users, know different sources of information be abreast of latest information system , maintain close links with publishing houses and other resource centres from where books and information can be gathered. In all , the person should be energetic and should have the will and eagerness to go out of the way and function exceptionally well for his/ her library or resource centre. The earlier perceived role of the librarian from ` mere ctstodian of the boojs tn nov manager of the boojs h`s led to dynamic changes.
Eligibility
Certificate , diploma , degree, postdegree courses are available in Library and Information Science . For certificate of diploma courses one needs to be 10+2 qualified . For degree courses (B.Lib) offered by most of the universities , one should be graduate with 50 percent marks in any discipline from any recognised Indian university. Some universities also require some previous experience in any recognised library.
For post –degree (M.Lib) courses one requires any recognised university or institution .
Courses
The duration of Certificate and Diploma courses varies from six months to one year. The degree and post – degree courses are of one-year duration . The degree course in Library and Information Science comprises 14 topics like management of library and information centres a basic knowledge of computer applications and other related topics. The degree course is available in 150 of the 299 universities dithdr ar a full, tile cnursd or in ` dirtanbe- lode proframle.
Prospects
Thought Library Science has long been viewed by many as a prospective career option, it is only recently that the field has witnessed an increased interest level among career- oriented people . The requirements to excel in the field have vastly changed over time; a librarian is no longer a bespectacled old man flipping through dog-eared pages of the register. Keeping pace with changing times , the job profile of librarians has undergone a sea change .For deserving candidates the prospects are very bright . There are a large number of posts that are lying vacant in many institutes across the country. The reason for these posts remaining unfilled is non- availability of deserving and right candidates. Young professionals who are well versed in IT skills as well as in library management and science have better prospects. The remuneration is very good both in private libraries as well as in the public or university libraries . However to join a college or university as a librarian a fresher has to pass the UGC-NET examination conducted by New Delhi based University Grants Commission twice every year. The librarian joins a university or college in a pay scale that is at par with that of lecturer.
Professionals with higher qualification like post graduate degree have still better changes to be absorbed by world – renowned organizations like the Council for scientific and Industrial Research , the National Social Science Documentation Centre (NASSDOC) the Indian Council of Medical Research. (ICMR) or the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
WHERE TO STUDY
Indira Gandhi National Open University
Maidan Garhi , New Delhi
Website : http://www.ignou.ac.in/
University of Pune
Pune , Maharashtra
Tel : 020-25699549
E-mail : Suresh@lib.unipune.ernet.in
Website : http://www.unipune.ernet.in/
National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management Rajendranagar , Hyderabad- 500 030 (AP)
E-mail : helpine@manage.gov.in
Website : http://www.manager.gov.in/
University of Mumbai
Vidyanagari. Santa Cruz (East)
Mumbai – 400098
Tel : 022-6526679/6528201
Mohanlal Sukhadia University
Udaipur – 313001, Rajasthan
Tel : 0294-2413035
Fax : 0294-2413150
E-mail : registrar@mlus.org
Website : http://www.mlsu.org/
Mangalore University
Mangalagangotri- 574199
Karnataka
Tel : 0824-2287316
Website : http://www.mangaloreuniversity.ac.in/
Calcutta University
Third Floor ,Asutosh Building
87/1, College Street,
Kolkata – 700073, West Bengal
Tel : 033-22410071
E- mail : bchakra2003@yahoo.co.in
Aligarh Muslim University
Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh
Website : http://www.amu.ac.in/
Panjab Universitx
Chandifarh
Wedbsite : http://mail.google.com/.www.puchd.ac.in