International Research Journal of Multidisciplinary Science & Technology ISSN: 2455-930X

International Research Journal of Multidisciplinary Science & Technology www.irjmrs.com ISSN: 2455-930X

CURRICULA OF LIBRARY & INFORMATION SCIENCE EDUCATION IN THE UNIVERSITIES OF KERALA: A STUDY

AtrayeeBasu Assistant Librarian The Heritage School, Kolkata

------***------Abstract - In this paper the main focus is given in to  to compare the LIS curriculum of these universities andto bring outthe relevancy of those curriculum in the the curricula of Library and Information Science practical field. (LIS) Education in theuniversities of Kerala. It has been also attempted to compare the present courses 3. LITERATURE REVIEW of LIS education, LIS curriculum and its structure The publications on this topic, which arebriefly reviewed, offered by these universities.This paper also tries to are: bring out the relevancy of those curriculums in the BidyarthiDutta, Anup Kumar Das (2001) in his paper“Higher practical field. Education in Library & Information Science in India” lists down the universities and colleges that are providing postgraduate LIS education in India through regular and Keywords: Library and Information Science Education, distance mode. Also the paper describes the various course Curriculum. content at different level.

1. INTRODUCTION: A.Y. Asundi and C.R. Karisiddappa (2007) in their study as was published in an article entitled “Library and Information Science 1.1. Curriculum: Curriculum originates from a Latin Education in India: International Perspectives with Special wordwhich means “course”. The word “course” has derived Reference to Developing Countries” demonstrated the broad from Latin word “currere,” which means “to run.” Historically, perspectives on making LIS curriculum viable for the global curriculum means classified selections of accumulated issues were presented by Karisiddappa and Asundi. They also knowledge in academic subjects. Curriculum is defined as “the deliberated on major issues like emergence of ‘information and totality of influences and experiences, selected and unselected, knowledge society’. The paper enlisted nine major factors that needed inclusion in the LIS curriculum. Many of them have now conscious, subconscious, and even unconscious, and planned find place in the curriculum on LIS developed by the CDC of and unplanned, which the pupil receives through the school, in UGC. The curriculum has a viable balance between the the classroom, library, laboratory, workshop, and playground traditional and technological aspects, practices, skills, and and in the informal contacts between teachers and pupils.”1 techniques. Karisiddappa has succinctly stressed the need for a model curriculum for developing countries. The LIS education 1.2. LIS Education: LIS education is defined as in India has a unique profile, as it started as a voluntary “theeducational provision for entrants to the library vocation by many university libraries. This trend followed for at profession. It is always a tertiary level, and frequently least a decade or so. An independent identity to the course was follows a first (Bachelor’s) degree or equivalent reached only in early 1970s. Despite these lacunae, it has qualification. It normally takes place in a university progressed well and has attracted the world focus particularly department, but there are examples of free-standing that of the developing world.The profile of LIS education given schools which provide such education”.2It is a process of in the paper shows the landmark achievements in its stride for creating library scientists, documentalists, and information recognition. scientists. LIS education is a lifelong learning process. After initial formal education it continues in the form of 4. METHODOLOGY continuing education and staff development.3 4.1. Scope & Coverage: To conduct this study, universitiesof 2. OBJECTIVES: Kerala, which offer courses in LIS were chosen.

 to identify the structures of the courses offered at these universities.

International Research Journal of Multidisciplinary Science & Technology www.irjmrs.com ISSN: 2455-930X

Table 1 designed to be flexible and wide-ranging, incorporating the cutting edge as well as ensuring a firm grasp of core fundamentals

5.3 University of Kerala

The Dept. of Library and Information Science started in 1961 is one of the early depts. established by the University of Kerala. The dept. provides learning opportunities and undertakes research projects in concept and techniques related to diverse areas in LIS. It also undertakes a number of continuing education programs such as Refresher courses, workshops etc. for working librarians in order to update their knowledge in the recent developments and to provide better 4.2. Method of the Study:Data for LIS courses services to the user community. The department offers the andcurriculums were collected from the respective academic programmesvizMLISc., M. Phil and PhD. The dept. has university websites. These LIS courses and curriculums so far given training to more than 1500 professionals at various were then thoroughly analysed and compared with each levels to manage different types of libraries on scientific lines. It other. Last but not the least conclusions were drawn and has produced 19 PhDs, 22 MPhil and 250 Post graduate some suggestions were given. research studies (MLISc) and has completed around 10 research projects in LIS. The Dept. has a good collection of 5. DESCRIPTION OF THE LIS DEPARTMENTS OF books and periodicals in the dept. library and is equipped with THE THREE UNIVERSITIES: audio visual communication system. The dept. maintains a well- established InfoTech Lab with server and more than a dozen 5.1Kannur University computer systems. A peer reviewed journal Journal of Information Science &Technology is also being published from  Departmental Activities the dept.

 Development of Communication skills 5.3 Mahatma Gandhi University  Alumni activities   Coaching classes for UGC NET/JRF Established in 1995  Workshop in the use of KOHA software

  Departmental Facilities 6. FINDINGS & ANALYSIS   Common library in the campus 6.1. Courses Offered in Various Universities  Computer lab with 13 computers  Wi-fi facility in the Department Table 2 5.2 University of Callicut

The Department of Library and Information Science at University of Calicut is one of the pioneer departments in the field of Library and Information Science education in India. The Department was established as a full-fledged department of study and research in 1985. Though a one-year Bachelor of Library and Information Science (B.L.I.Sc.) course was being offered since 1977, in 1992 the Department launched a one- year Master of Library and Information Science (M.L.I.Sc) course. In lieu of these two programmes, the Department now offers a two-year Master of Library and Information Science (M.L.I.Sc.) course through Choice Based Credit Semester System (CCSS). It has also launched M.Phil and Ph.Dprogrammes (part- time and full-time) in Library and Information Science. The Department is leading the country in Library and Information Science education and has made a strong presence in the From the Above Table it has been Analysed that profession through its innovative teaching programmes, curriculum innovations, research projects, workshops, seminars, and short-term training programmes. The courses are © 2017, IRJMRS Volume: 02 Issue: 02 | March -2017 Page 118

International Research Journal of Multidisciplinary Science & Technology www.irjmrs.com ISSN: 2455-930X

 Out of these four universities, only Mahatma Gandhi University provides anone year Bachelor degree course in Library and Information Science (BLIS).

 All the four universities offer Masters of Library and Information Science (MLISc) course and it’s a 2years course. InMahatma Gandhi University it is an one year course.

 University of Kerala provides a 1year part time M.LISc. evening programme

 M.Phil and Ph.D courses are offered by University of Callicut and University of Kerala

6.2. Papers Offered at MLISc Level

Table 3

International Research Journal of Multidisciplinary Science & Technology www.irjmrs.com ISSN: 2455-930X

course curriculam were not collected, these table deals with the rest of the universities papers.

It is observed that 52 papers are taught in these three departments.These 52 papers when merged on the basis of the proximity of content, leads to following observations:

 Foundations of Library & Information Science is traditional core paper of Library & Information Science and the three universities taught this paper, but University of Callicut offers this paper in different nomenclature as Library, Information and Society  Library Managementpaper is taught by the three universities and it’s also a very important paper.  Traditional core practical papers Library Classification & Library Cataloguing are taught in different nomenclature. In Kannur University these papers are taught as Knowledge Organization: Library Classification- (Practical) &Information Processing and Retrieval:Library Cataloguing – Practical repectively. University of Callicut has amalgamated the two core papers ‘Library Classification & Library Cataloguing’ into one and relabelled them as Information Processing Theory (Classification and Cataloguing) and they also offer the practical papers Information Processing Practice (Classification) &Information Processing Practice (Cataloguing).  University of Kerala offers ‘Library Classification’ paper asOrganization of Knowledge:Library Classification (Theory) & Organization of Knowledge: Dewey Decimal Classification (Practical) and ‘Library Cataloguing’ paper as Organization of Knowledge: Library Catalogue (Theory)&Organization of Knowledge: Library Catalogue (Practical)  In University of Callicut, Universal Decimal Classification (UDC) is offered as a regular paper but University of Kerala offers this as an optional paper.  Both the universities University of Kerala and University of Callicut teach the paper Information Retrieval as Information Processing and Retrieval and Kannur University retained the earlier nomenclature of Information Retrieval.  Research Methodology is a common paper of the three universities.  Information and Communication is a common paper of the three universities.  Technical Communicationis taught as a regular paper inKannur University and University of Kerala but in University of Callicut this is an elective paper.  Internship Programme is offeredbyKannur University and University of Callicut Table 3 lists down the curriculum of the MLISc course  Study tour observation Report is offered by onlyKannur taught in the LIS department of the three universities. As University Dissertation and Viva Voceare taken by all of the the proper information of Mahatma Gandhi University universities

International Research Journal of Multidisciplinary Science & Technology www.irjmrs.com ISSN: 2455-930X

 Kannur University provides both theory and To acquaint the students with various facets of practical papers of Information Sources and Services. information technology and to make them proficient in University of Kerala provides the paper as using the IT devices for the routine operations in a library Information Sources and University of Callicut provides the paper as two different topics To equip the students in research methods and research Information Sourcesand Information Services. methodology. Information SystemsandServicesis provided 6.4. M.Phil&Ph.D Courses byUniversity of Callicut and University of Kerala provides the paper Information Systems. Out of three universities two universities offer M.Phil  Elective Papers like Public Library System, and Ph.Dcourse- Academic Library System, Special Library System Health Information System, Engineering and 1. University of Callicut Technology Information System, Business 2. University of Kerala Information System, Fundamentals of ICT, Statistics &Bibliometrics, Technical Communication, The M.Phil Course run by the Department of Library and Organizing information Resources Practice, Information Science, University of Kerala (started in Organization of Knowledge: Universal Decimal 1998) has the following objectives. Classification (Practical) and Intellectual Property Rights and Libraries are also being offered by several  universities. to equip the students with an in-depth  knowledge in research and research  All the universities give special emphasis on IT methodology in Library and Information Science; papers, there are several papers on this topic like-  Kannur University provides Information and to equip students in methods of teaching in Library Communication Technology-Basic, Application of and information Science. Information andCommunication Technology- 6.5. Suggestions: Practical,Informationand CommunicationTechnology Applications– Theory,and Advanced application of  Information and Communication Technologies- Only Kannur University conducts Study Tour, the rest Practical. University of Callicut provides of the two universities should start this programme Fundamentals of Information and Communication immediately because this type of programme makes Technology, Application of Information and students more acquainted with the topics  Communication Technology in LIS In respect of this present eraKannur University and (Theory)andApplication of Information and University of Callicut give more emphasis on IT based  Communication Technology in LIS (Practice) subject,University of Kerala should also follow this.  Out of the three universities only University of University of Kerala provides Information Kerala does not provide Internship programme so Technology Application in LIS (Practical) they should start this programme for the betterment of their students 6.3. MLISc, One year course Part time, Evening  Some papers like ‘Preservation and programme) Conservation of Information Sources’ ‘User Studies’, ‘Library Planning, Building and Architecture’,  University of Kerala provides an one year ‘Digital Content Management’ are suggested to MLIScdegreeprogramme,which runs as a part time evening be incorporated at the curriculum for the course.It is meant mainly for practicing librarians, who have betterment of the course. acquired the one year B L I Sc degree. The main objectives  of this course are: While collecting data from different university department websites, there was a problem with To acquaint the students with the various aspects of Mahatma Gandhi University website, proper syllabi information, knowledge and communication. are not given to their departmental website. A willing student, who wants to know about the To acquaint the students with the various techniques of course and curriculum, will not get proper information storage and retrieval information. So MG University should develop their departmental website. To give students a detailed knowledge relating to national  and international information systems and techniques of designing various types of information systems.

International Research Journal of Multidisciplinary Science & Technology www.irjmrs.com ISSN: 2455-930X

7. CONCLUSIONS:

The regular courses i.e. MLISc, M.Phil and Ph.D courses are offered by all the universities. Beside the regular courses University of Kerala provides an one year MLIScdegreeprogramme,which runs as a part time evening coursefor practicing librarians.

Mahatma Gandhi University provides an one year Bachelor degree course along with the MLISc course.

The LIS departments of the three universities follow traditional as well as new and emerging subjects(due to lack of information Mahatma Gandhi University is not included in these departments). Thus it can be said that the LIS departments follow a heterogeneous curriculum. In respect of this present era more emphasis should be given on open source software and its application, open access initiatives, institutional repositories, intellectual property right etc.

8. REFERENCES:

[1] Dasgupta, Arjun. (2009). Preparing Future Librarians in India : A vision for LIS Schools of Indian Universities in the 21st Century. Paper presented at World Library and Information Congress: 75th IFLA General Conference and Council, Milan, Italy. Retrieved November15,2014,fromconference.ifla.org/past/2009 /126-dasgupta-en.pdf [2] Dutta, Bidyarthi& Das, Anup Kumar. (2001). Higher Education In Library & Information Science in India. ILA Bulletin 2001, 37(1), 25-30. November 15, 2014,fromwww.researchgate.net/...Higher_education_in_ library...information_scie... [3] Jain, P.K., Kaur, Harvinder&Babber, Parveen. (n.d.). LIS Education in India: Challenges for Students and Professionals in the Digital Age. RetrievedNovember 15,2014,fromdspace.fsktm.um.edu.my/bitstream/.../45IN D_Jain_ Harvin_Babbar.pdf [4] Asundi, A.Y. &Karisiddappa, C.R. (2007). Library and Information Science Education in India: International Perspectives with Special Reference to Developing Countries. DESIDOC Journal of Library & Information Technology, 27(2). Retrieved November 15, 2014, from publications.drdo.gov.in › Home › Vol 27, No 2 (2007) › Asundi [5] Kannur University. Retrieved November 18,2014 from www.kannuruniversity.ac.in/ [6] University of Calicut. Retrieved November 18,2014 from www.universityofcalicut.info/ [7] University of Kerala. Retrieved November 18,2014 from www.keralauniversity.ac.in