Apex body for LIS education in India

[Mohammad Shamim Afzal]

The Hindu Delhi 24.10.2011

Less equal

We have enough bodies to regulate and monitor professional courses conducted by academic institutions like the Medical Council of India for medical courses, Dental Council of India for dental courses, Bar Council of India for Law courses, and so on.

However, there is negligence towards recognition of the library and information science profession. There is no national-level body to grant permission to run such professional courses and to regulate and monitor the institutions running them.

While there are a number of institutions running distance education courses, these courses require a more professional and technical approach for proper study at any level. The University Grants Commission and the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development should work towards establishment of such a body.

Mohammad Shamim Afzal.

[Dr. N K Pachauri]

I raised this point in 2012 in ILA conference. but there was no response from ILA side.

This may be a very good step which will look after recruitment, pay scale, status, working condition, promotions etc related issues of the professions. Most of the private institutions are exploiting   LIS professionals,

[Siddhartha Shankar Ray]

Dear janab Md. Shamim Afzal,

Thanks for your post. You have addressed an extremely important issue.

Certainly, there should be a regulatory body in LIS profession; especially for qualitative standards. However, I am afraid, ( I am sure many of my co-professionals will curse me for my comments!) if a befitting yardstick comes into practice, which ideally should be a proper blend of three components like Theory, Practical issues and IT applications , each having 33.33% share (where no objective type questions are to be set), I personally feel that the turn out of qualified candidates will not cross 35% of the total candidates and the most pathetic will be the theory component and IT will be the best/highest with >70%. turn out!!

I have seen the post of Dr. N.K. Pachury as well and I completely agree with him.

I personally believe, if a regulatory authority can introduce a befitting yardstick, the turn out will be so low that institutions will run after the candidates and the issues Dr. Pachury mentioned, can be achieved to a desirable extent!!

.  I learnt about Dr. Pachuri's experience with ILA and their reaction is quite natural because many of the big shots will pathetically fail to achieve the target marks and the members as at large will oppose it.

We can easily make a survey among the LIS LIink members even and one can understand what the people feel about it!

I must add here that I have never meant to underestimate or hurt my fellow LIS Link members, I have just tried to highlight the lacunae existing in our teaching system of this highly professional  discipline that's all!!

Knowledge and wisdom are not merely the ability to put some ticks against certain answers; rather, it tests one's depth of knowledge to explain issues, & its philosophy, it tests people's presence of mind, skill of analysis and mental alertness. In our professions several other attributes are also extremely important, like managerial qualities, ability to work in  groups and individually, prioritize the tasks, crisis management etc.

I worked as a Medical Librarian for nearly two decades. I have raised sort of same issue like affiliating bodies (like AHIP in USA & Canada) in Medical Librarianship where several of my friends supported me but I was personally advised to not to pull the issue far as understandably many of the then top bosses in our field felt extremely uneasy!!

I am amused to learn that Dr. Pachury's experience has been the same as mine after so many years!!

So, you see,the issue you have raised will get support from many Co-Professionals in the context of Status, Pay Scales, Promotions, Working Conditions etc. but coming to the issue of stringent yardstick for qualitative assessment, you won't have many beside you.

Thank you once again for raising an important issue.

Sincerely,

Siddhartha S. Ray, Calcutta

[Mohammad Shamim Afzal]

Thanks a lot for verbal support which is the need of the hour for a longer journey in LIS education in India. I am also working on status, especially with pay scale and other service matters, for LIS professionals.