1. LIS Educational Trend in India:LIS Educational Trend in India:
where are we heading to?where are we heading to?
Table of ContentsTable of Contents
1.1. Historical BackgroundHistorical Background
2.2. Current DevelopmentCurrent Development
3.3. Present Trend in LIS Education inPresent Trend in LIS Education in
IndiaIndia
4.4. Levels of LIS EducationLevels of LIS Education
5.5. Reinventing & Redesigning the LISReinventing & Redesigning the LIS
Educational objectivesEducational objectives
6.6. Where are we heading to?Where are we heading to?
7.7. Focus Should be on…..Focus Should be on…..
8.8. Suggestions for a better tomorrowSuggestions for a better tomorrow
Dr. Sabuj Kumar Chaudhuri,
Librarian, Basanti Devi College, Kol-29

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Historical BackgroundHistorical Background
 Pre-independencePre-independence
The foundation of LIS education in India dates back in 1911 when W.A.Borden,
An American disciple of Melvil Dewey,for the first time started a short term
training programme in library science at Baroda under the patronage of
Maharaja Sayajirao III, Gaekwad of Baroda
1915 – Asa Don Diconson, an American, who was the Librarian of Punjab
University,Lahore (now in Pakistan) started a training programme at Punjab
University.
1931 – University of Madras (Certificate Course)
1935 –Andhra University (First Diploma Program)
1937 –Madras University (First 1 Yr. PG Diploma)
1941 – Banaras Hindu University (PG Diploma)
1943 – Bombay University (Diploma in Librarianship)
1945 – University of Calcutta (Diploma in Librarianship)
1947 –University of Delhi (PG Diploma in Librarianship)

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Post-independencePost-independence
1951 University of Delhi started first Master in Library Science(M.Lib.Sc).
1956 to1959, six new LIS departments were established at Aligarh Muslim
University, M.S.University of Baroda, Nagpur University, Osmania
University, Pune University and Vikram University. Since 1960s, the number
of LIS departments established has continued to increase.
1972 University of Delhi started first MLIS program
1978 University of Delhi started first MPhil program
1960 Two well-known documentation centres in India viz. Documentation
Research and Training Centre (DRTC) and Indian National Scientific
Documentation Centre (INSDOC) started offering Associateship in
Information Science in 1962 and 1964 respectively.
1957-University of Delhi first awarded PhD to D B Krishna Rao

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Current DevelopmentCurrent Development
Presently 120 universities are offering bachelor’s degree,Presently 120 universities are offering bachelor’s degree,
78 are offering master’s degree, 21 are offering two-year78 are offering master’s degree, 21 are offering two-year
integrated course, 16 universities are offering M.Philintegrated course, 16 universities are offering M.Phil
degree, and 63 are offering Ph.D. degree. In addition,degree, and 63 are offering Ph.D. degree. In addition,
NISCAIR (formerly INSDOC), New Delhi and DRTC,NISCAIR (formerly INSDOC), New Delhi and DRTC,
Bangalore are offering a two-year Associateship inBangalore are offering a two-year Associateship in
Information Science, which is recognized by someInformation Science, which is recognized by some
universities as equivalent to Master’s degree.universities as equivalent to Master’s degree.

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Present Trend in LIS Education InPresent Trend in LIS Education In
IndiaIndia
 Inception of ICTInception of ICT
 Growth of Distance Education ProgramsGrowth of Distance Education Programs
 Impact on curriculum contentImpact on curriculum content
 Various interdisciplinary researchVarious interdisciplinary research
 Full-fledged DepartmentFull-fledged Department
 Trained Faculty MembersTrained Faculty Members
 IT exposure to studentsIT exposure to students

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Levels of LIS EducationLevels of LIS Education
CertificateCertificate
BLISBLIS
------ PG Diploma in Computer Application,Library------ PG Diploma in Computer Application,Library
Automation, Archives & Documentation ManagementAutomation, Archives & Documentation Management
MLISMLIS
AIS (NISCAIR/DRTC)AIS (NISCAIR/DRTC)
MPhilMPhil
PhDPhD
DLittDLitt

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Reinventing and Redefining theReinventing and Redefining the
LIS Educational ObjectiveLIS Educational Objective
 Are we prepared for the new information era?Are we prepared for the new information era?
 Is our present course curriculum socially relevant &Is our present course curriculum socially relevant &
Compatible with the social change?Compatible with the social change?
 Does it serve the common people living in the remotestDoes it serve the common people living in the remotest
villages?villages?
 Will it be able to meet up the information demand of theWill it be able to meet up the information demand of the
2121stst
Century or beyond?Century or beyond?
 Is our curriculum designed to serve the academicIs our curriculum designed to serve the academic
community alone?community alone?
contd…contd…

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One can be trained in the technology, but its effective useOne can be trained in the technology, but its effective use
lies in the creativity and understanding of the individual. Alies in the creativity and understanding of the individual. A
thorough understanding requires a thorough education.thorough understanding requires a thorough education.
Education can be thought of as training in a way ofEducation can be thought of as training in a way of
thinking. ICT is ever changing and with this change manythinking. ICT is ever changing and with this change many
new jargons like Library 2.0, Web 2.0, and Internet 2.0 etc.new jargons like Library 2.0, Web 2.0, and Internet 2.0 etc.
are being coined each and everyday. Without going to theare being coined each and everyday. Without going to the
core of these terms, this can be said that possibly we arecore of these terms, this can be said that possibly we are
much interested in discovering new terms but notmuch interested in discovering new terms but not
interested to serve our common people by providinginterested to serve our common people by providing
information they really need.information they really need.
contd….contd….

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 We must not forget that computer is only our tool. It’s neitherWe must not forget that computer is only our tool. It’s neither
destination nor objective.destination nor objective.
 Possibly no common people do understand the role of a librarian asPossibly no common people do understand the role of a librarian as
information provider who can provide the right informationinformation provider who can provide the right information
 We have to take the advantage of ICT to serve our common people.We have to take the advantage of ICT to serve our common people.
We will make our nation information rich that will help India to shedWe will make our nation information rich that will help India to shed
off its developing nation tag to developed nation tag. We have tooff its developing nation tag to developed nation tag. We have to
redesign our course content keeping in view of our social need,redesign our course content keeping in view of our social need,
context, and information requirement from all the strata of thecontext, and information requirement from all the strata of the
society but not the academic community alone. Above all coursesociety but not the academic community alone. Above all course
content should be designed to make original thinkers like othercontent should be designed to make original thinkers like other
academic disciplines.academic disciplines.

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Where are we heading to?Where are we heading to?
Present Focus of Library EducationPresent Focus of Library Education
Trend 1Trend 1
 LIS schools are increasing their investment andLIS schools are increasing their investment and
infusion of information technology into theirinfusion of information technology into their
curricula without innovation & judgment in thecurricula without innovation & judgment in the
light of relevancylight of relevancy
 Integrating digital technologies &Integrating digital technologies &
overemphasized ICT content into their courses.overemphasized ICT content into their courses.
 discovering new jargons for old services -itsdiscovering new jargons for old services -its
deviated from its basic philosophy & objectivesdeviated from its basic philosophy & objectives
contd…contd…

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Trend 2
 LIS schools are offering instruction in different formats toLIS schools are offering instruction in different formats to
provide students with more flexibilityprovide students with more flexibility
Campus-based programs, distance education, Internet-Campus-based programs, distance education, Internet-
based course delivery.based course delivery.
Trend 3
 LIS schools are oriented to serve academic community
mainly.
Trend 4
 Very less scope of specialization and thus less equippedVery less scope of specialization and thus less equipped
to serve people in specialized field.to serve people in specialized field.
contd….

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Trend 5
 Neglected information demand in every layer of theNeglected information demand in every layer of the
societysociety
Trend 6Trend 6
 No Serious Commitment to make the LIS fieldNo Serious Commitment to make the LIS field
professional in real senseprofessional in real sense
Trend 7Trend 7
 Negligible amount of academic content to make originalNegligible amount of academic content to make original
thinker like other academic disciplinesthinker like other academic disciplines
Trend 8Trend 8
 There is no quality control, no standard,There is no quality control, no standard,
no accreditation body of LIS educationno accreditation body of LIS education

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Focus should be on …Focus should be on …
 Course Curriculum should have a great focus to serveCourse Curriculum should have a great focus to serve
rural India. Because India still lives in village.rural India. Because India still lives in village.
Information worker has great role to play in all these 4Information worker has great role to play in all these 4
modelsmodels
Lab to labLab to lab (scientific inf.excahnge between & among labs)(scientific inf.excahnge between & among labs)
Lab to landLab to land (symbiotic relationship between inf. Provider &(symbiotic relationship between inf. Provider &
users)users)
Land to labLand to lab (diffusion of TK and wisdom)
Land to landLand to land (lateral learning)(lateral learning)
 Great focus should be on to revamp publicGreat focus should be on to revamp public
library & rural library systemlibrary & rural library system
contd…contd…

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 Focus should be on the dissemination of scientificFocus should be on the dissemination of scientific
information to the desired level & curriculum may beinformation to the desired level & curriculum may be
designed accordingly.designed accordingly.
 An accreditation body like ALA must be evolvedAn accreditation body like ALA must be evolved
 More scientific, mathematical and statistical,More scientific, mathematical and statistical,
experimental approach are required to make theexperimental approach are required to make the
discipline interdisciplinary in true sense & should bediscipline interdisciplinary in true sense & should be
commensurated with the original thinkingcommensurated with the original thinking
 More specializations are required to serve better and in aMore specializations are required to serve better and in a
more efficient waymore efficient way
 Internship should be must in the Course curriculumInternship should be must in the Course curriculum
 According to the UGC Curriculum (2001) possibilityAccording to the UGC Curriculum (2001) possibility
should be explored sincerely to startshould be explored sincerely to start
undergraduate programs in LIS field.undergraduate programs in LIS field.

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Suggestions for a BetterSuggestions for a Better
TomorrowTomorrow
However, sixty years is enough for the maturity for aHowever, sixty years is enough for the maturity for a
discipline but unfortunately we could not progress much.discipline but unfortunately we could not progress much.
Before redesigning the LIS Curriculum we have to makeBefore redesigning the LIS Curriculum we have to make
clear the following things:clear the following things:
 LIS education is not about the service alone but also aLIS education is not about the service alone but also a
distinct academic disciplinedistinct academic discipline
 LIS Curriculum must be socially committed &LIS Curriculum must be socially committed &
accountableaccountable
 Make it interdisciplinary in true senseMake it interdisciplinary in true sense
Last but not the least , that no noble work can de done in aLast but not the least , that no noble work can de done in a
isolated way so prominent academicians from science,isolated way so prominent academicians from science,
social sc, and humanities must be consulted to make thesocial sc, and humanities must be consulted to make the
curriculum more meaningful for the society and thecurriculum more meaningful for the society and the
profession as a whole.profession as a whole.

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