"Library & Information Science":The Courses are belongs to SCIENCE/ARTS Stream

[NIRANJAN MOHAPATRA]

Dear Professionals,

I have a question always arise in my mind.

"Library & Information Science":The Courses are belongs to SCIENCE/ARTS Stream

If belongs to SCIENCE/ARTS Stream ....then why?

please...welcome ur valuable reply.

with regards,

NIRANJAN

[Prasanta Kumar Meher]

It does not belong to any stream.....   otherwise it must has a place in civil services examinations........  so sad......

[umasankr.s]

Absolutly it is science. because science which involves step by step porcess (similarly think the functions of library)

and also science invloves the experiment. ( think about library research methods some of applicable to same level )

[Dr. N K Pachauri]

LIBRARY SCIENCE BELONGS TO ARTS SIDE SUBJECT

[muthumathi dharuman]

Me too have this question in my mind always. expecting valuable reply from others. my professor said b4 it was in Art, then university committee changed into Science. i would like to say it shd be in science. b'cos libraians and libraries are exploring knowledge

[NIRANJAN MOHAPATRA]

Social Science is belongs to  Arts Stream.

If Library & Information Science is a Science, Then why it comes under department of Social Science in Universities.

[NIRANJAN MOHAPATRA]

Dear Professionals,

welcome all of you to discuss briefly  the above topic.

Information Science is a part of Information Technology where IT  belongs to department of Technology/Computer Science.

Also here Some university offers courses like Information & Documentation Science under department of Technology.

[Dr. N K Pachauri]

The word science means "Knowledge". In our universities we are learning various subjects and we assume that only natural and physical science subjects i.e. Physics , chem, bio, engineering, medical, agriculture and many more are science. And all other subjects are Arts and Social Sciences.

But all the subjects those have there systematic and  organised field of knowledge are science .

Therefore Knowledge covers general truths of the operation of general laws, esp. as obtained and tested through scientific method and concerned with the physical world.

So What does that really mean?

Science refers to  a system of acquiring knowledge. This system uses observation and experimentation to describe and explain natural phenomena. The term science also refers to the organized body of knowledge people have gained using that system. Less formally, the word science often describes any systematic field of study or the knowledge gained from it.

As a result we can say that Library and Information Science has its organised and systematic field of knowledge which can be proved by various scientific methods so SCIENCE is not a symbol of Natural Science. 

[SHEIK MAIDEEN]

Certainly, it is Science Subject. "Now a day’s Lib. & Info. Sc is incorporated with IT field". But still some Universities and Colleges placed it under the Social Science and Arts streams. I think, suppose to be moved to the Science area.

If I am not wrong.

[Saptarshi Ghosh]

Long time ago, there was a similar debate about "Is bibliography science or arts?". Actually, science in it's true sense, is the Experimentation, Observation and Inference in sequential order and more particularly in a controlled environment. Where as in social science, the extraneous factors and parameters are so varied that may not be feasible to to study in a controlled environment. Think about "Longitudinal Studies" or "Tracer Studies" or rather Action Research. Inherent inputs from the society are random and to maintain the homeostasis, induced manipulation is utmost important. As for example, if any one asks, which is the best charging system, could we be able to answer that? Probably no. The dynamism involved herein, tends towards social sciences although, inclusion of IT may seem as the journey towards science. But still, IT in LIS is the tools nit the means at all.

Post your insights. 

[NIRANJAN MOHAPATRA]

Many many Thanks for all professionals who takes part in my discussion & present their valuable replies.