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Showing posts with label August 2012. Show all posts
Showing posts with label August 2012. Show all posts

Friday, August 31, 2012

DU students photocopying academic books is legal by Danish Raza


You just cannot produce scholars with a ban on photocopying course material. Literally!” said a miffed Lokesh, an M. Phil student at the Delhi School of Economics, popularly known as D- School, at Delhi University’s North campus. Lokesh is part of a campaign to save the D- School photocopy shop from a petition filed against it by several large publishers.
For students at the varsity, xeroxing course material from the prescribed syllabus is perfectly normal, and the spiral bound black and white pages of different sizes- each bunch weighing anywhere between 2 to 3kg have been an integral part of campus culture for generations now.
Almost every piece of required reading in every syllabus is available with the photocopy shop at a cost. Of course, nobody thought about the legality of it all. Until recently that is!
The copyright infringement petition filed by Oxford and Cambridge university press with Fancis and Tailor against DU and Rameshwari photocopy services in D-School, challenging the practice of photocopying course material, has left varsity students red faced. The petition says that photocopying allows students cheap access to otherwise expensive material.
Photocopying portions of texts for academic purposes is not illegal: Reuters
“The crackdown on photocopy is illegal. The current pricing of academic journals makes it inaccessible to substantial number of students,” said Lawrence Liang of Alternate Law Forum, a Bangalore based law firm that particularly looks at copyright issues.
About the legality of photocopying course packs, Liang said under the Indian Copyright Act, students are entitled to photocopy academic work for study and research purpose.
“Section 52 (1) says that one can reproduce any work by a teacher or a pupil in the course of instruction or as a part of questions or answers to questions. The same section allows a fair dealing with any work other than computer programs when done for private or personal use, including research,” he said.
The petition has brought under the lens, the set norms and definition of ‘mass circulation’. To make a case for violation of copyright act, publishers have challenged a decades old practice in a university, rather than targeting the sale of pirated copies of their books in grey market.
Nor is this the first time publishers have attacked a photocopy service provider to launch a discourse on copyright law. Danish Sheikh, a lawyer at the Alternative Law Forum cites examples from other countries in an article published on Kafila. According to Shiekh’s article, in 1991, eight publishers filed a lawsuit against Kinko’s Graphic Corp in USA on similar grounds. Kinko’s lost the case but it lead to the formation of a system of intermediary agencies which take care of copyright licensing of academic work.
The report also cites an instance where instructors at Georgia State University got in trouble when they posted readings online. Publishers argued that doing so was the equivalent of paper photocopying and pressed for regulations. The case resulted in the court putting a quantitative cap on the portion of a book that can be posted online.
“It is a classic strategy followed by publishers in the West so that all academic institutions get the signal and toe the line,” said Ravi Sundaram, senior fellow at Delhi based Centre for the Studies of Developing Societies.
Students said that in the current academic scenario, one cannot do away with photocopies unless there is an equally viable alternative in place.
“The photocopied compilation is essential for thousands of students from economically weaker sections who cannot afford to buy the original books. Sometimes a prescribed reading is only a chapter of a book. Does the publisher expect each student to buy the whole book to read that particular chapter?” said Lokesh.
“Since college libraries do not have sufficient copies of the designated readings, photocopying is the only viable option,” she added. As part of the campaign, students have launched a Facebook page in support of the photocopy shop, and will conduct a seminar on copyright laws in India.
Part of the problem lies with the fact that after releasing exorbitantly priced hard bound editions, a majority of publishers don’t release affordable versions of their books. On average, an Oxford book on any science topic costs Rs 700 to 800. A photocopied variant of the book costs around Rs 200.
“A course pack is not equivalent to compiling a new book or selling a pirated version. Most of these readings are authorised and prescribed readings of the universities meant for private circulation and academic purposes, and not mass produced or produced for mass commercial purposes. Departments and libraries are all an active part of this enterprise and so all of us must be sued for this, not just Rameshwari photocopy service,” said Subhadeepta Roy, PhD student in D- School.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Rising above challenges: Interesting News

Kartik has turned his hobby into self-employment opportunity
C. Kartik, owner of Sri Chakra Lending Library in West Mambalam.Karatik is special. Special as a medical practitioner would call him and as a person who has achieved much in life. With an educational qualification which can put many to shame, his life, unlike that of others like him, has represented an uphill graph till now. With support from parents and teachers he has been able to beat his disability. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was three-years old, doctors advised Kartik’s mother, Rajalakshmi Chanderashekar, to put him in a special school.
Vidhya Sagar became his first abode, where he studied till Class X. “Kartik could not have achieved so much without the support of the school,” says his mother. He went on to finish his schooling from Lady Andal School, Chetpet. He was admitted to Loyola College where he did his under graduation in English Literature. Along with the regular course, Kartik enrolled himself into an add-on course on Media Presentation. He finished his M.A. in English and History. Studious as he is he went on to do an M.Phil in English and submitted his thesis on childhood theme in R.K. Narayan’s famous work, ‘Swami and Friends’.
Life, as Kartik would tell us, had been easy and fun-filled, with acceptance from everyone, till he had to apply for a job. On approaching organisation backed by a good education record, Kartik was turned down every time, not because he was not well qualified, but because he was different. “They only looked at my disability, not at what I could achieve. I tried every sector from BPO to journalism but no one is willing to take me. I also tried the government job meant for disabled, but was turned down. They either have a problem with my voice or my typing speed.”
Dejected after three years of job-searching, Kartik has found solace in his hobby which he has turned into a self-employment opportunity. An avid reader, Kartik has a collection of over 1,000 books, which he now lends out to others. A year ago he started a library called Sri Chakra at his home.
Books available
The library features collections of books on varied subjects such as history, literature, spiritual, children’s literature, study–related textbooks, general knowledge, competitive exam preparation books, etc. The library also has a special collection called Library of Nations, with detailed history and growth of continents. For Tamil lovers, the library offers classical works. Many of them came as presents from others.
To manage his library efficiently, Kartik also went on to get a Bachelors degree in Library and Information Science from Madras University. The membership fee for the library is Rs. 500 a year. Starting with five members, the library today has 25 patrons.
Through all ups and downs, his mother has been a rock-solid support. “I used to travel with him thrice a week to Madras Christian College, Tambaram, for M.Phil classes. My proudest moment was when Kartik went on the stage to collect his graduation certificate. People gave a standing ovation to him. Nothing can beat that feeling. I am thankful to Loyola for its support to Kartik, whenever we approached the principal with problems they were addressed immediately.”
Apart from reading, Kartik also loves chess and cricket and is a movie buff. “Vishwanathan Anand, Sachin Tendulkar and Ajit are my role models. I got a chance to meet Vishy and played a friendly match with him. I also met Sachin over dinner at Taj Coromandel and got a bat and a cap as souvenirs from him. But, my dream to meet actor Ajit has remained unfulfilled till now.”
Kartik wants to achieve a lot more. He wants to become a cricket columnist, wants to expand his library, and get a Ph.D in English, but his ultimate aim is to land a job. “I want to give back to my parents for all the sacrifices they have made for me. I want to run the library along side. Never before has my disability bothered me, but constant rejection has made me question where and when will I fit in.”
Travelling is also a major challenge for Kartik. His family is looking for sponsors for meeting transportation costs. Kartik can be reached at 98846 08795 / 91760 64755 / 81225 42365.
His library is located at No. 81/D Arihant Flats, Thambiah Road, West Mambalam. It is open from 4 to 7 p.m.

Friday, August 24, 2012

पुस्तकालय के नाम पर 67 लाख डकारे


जितेंद्र उपाध्याय
चंदौली : तीन साल पहले जिस थ्री इडियट फिल्म को देखकर सरकारी विद्यालयों के छात्रों में तकनीकी और वैज्ञानिक खोज करने का फैसला लिया गया था वह फाइलों में कैद होकर रह गया है। मानव संसाधन विकास मंत्रालय की इस सोच पर शिक्षा विभाग ने पूरी तरह पलीता लगा दिया है। विद्यालयों में भेजे गए लाखों रुपये बंदबांट की भेंट चढ़ गए। अकेले चंदौली जिले में इस योजना मे 67 लाख की हेराफेरी हुई है।
फिल्म में एक गरीब छात्र को पहले तकनीकि क्षेत्र में महारथी और बाद में बड़ा वैज्ञानिक दिखाया गया। इस फिल्म को देखकर न केवल प्राथमिक और पूर्व माध्यमिक विद्यालयों में पुस्तकालय खोलने का फैसला लिया गया बल्कि प्राइवेट क्षेत्र में एक पाठ इस किरदार पर निर्धारित किया गया था। चंदौली के प्राथमिक और पूर्व माध्यमिक विद्यालयों में मानव संसाधन विकास मंत्रालय की ओर से सर्व शिक्षा अभियान अंतर्गत 67 लाख रुपये भेजे गए। इसमें 979 प्राथमिक विद्यालयों में साढ़े तीन हजार की दर से 34.26 लाख रुपया आया और 465 पूर्व माध्यमिक विद्यालयों में साढ़े सात हजार रुपये की दर से 32.55 लाख रुपये आया। इस धनराशि से प्रधानाध्यापक को पुस्तकालय के लिए तकनीकि और प्रतियोगी पुस्तकें खरीदनी थी। इसके अलावा देश दुनिया की जानकारी के लिए हर रोज अखबार की हेडलाइन छात्रों को बतानी थी। लाइब्रेरी के लिए आया धन कुछ महीनों तो खातों मे पड़ा रहा। पर कुछ ही महीनों बाद खातों से धनराशि गोल हो गई। इसके विरोध में कुछ हो हल्ला मचा तो दो-चार विद्यालयों में एक-दो प्रतियोगी पुस्तकें खरीद जरूर गई लेकिन वह अध्यापकों के घर की शोभा बन गई। मौजूदा समय में जिले के एक भी विद्यालय में लाइब्रेरी पुस्तक के नाम पर कुछ नहीं है। लाइब्रेरी के बारे में कुछ शिक्षकों का तो यहां तक कहना है कि जिस योजना में दुबारा धन नहीं आया तो वह योजना कैसी। उधर जिला बेसिक शिक्षा अधिकारी फूलचंद यादव का कहना है कि उन्हें ऐसी योजना के बारे में कुछ जानकारी ही नही है। कहा कि पता करवाएंगे तो बता पाएंगे कि योजना किस स्थिति में है।

कई सरकारी स्कूलों में नहीं समृद्ध पुस्तकालय


ओजस्कर पाण्डेय, चंडीगढ़
राइट टू एजुकेशन अधिनियम के तहत व सीबीएसइ के सर्कुलर के अनुसार सभी स्कूलों में विद्यार्थियों के व्यक्तित्व का विकास के लिए एक समृद्ध पुस्तकाल होना जरूरी है, लेकिन चंडीगढ़ के कई सरकारी स्कूलों में समृद्ध पुस्तकालय नहीं है। इसके साथ ही स्कूलों में अन्य विषयों की पढ़ाई के साथ पुस्तकालय में भी जाने का समय तय किया जाना भी जरूरी है, लेकिन चंडीगढ़ में कई सरकारी स्कूलों में या तो पुस्तकालय नहीं है और यदि हैं भी तो वहां पुस्तकालय लाइब्रेरियन नहीं है। जिस कारण विद्यार्थी पुस्तकालयों से लाभ लेने में वंचित हो रहे हैं।
जानकारी के अनुसार चंडीगढ़ प्रशासन के अंदर चलने वाले 15 सरकारी स्कूलों में लाइब्रेरियन का पद तो है, लेकिन यहां लाइब्रेरियन नहीं हैं। कई सरकारी स्कूल जैसे जीएचएस डड्डूमाजरा के स्कूल में जहां करीब दो हजार विद्यार्थी शिक्षा ग्रहण कर रहे हैं यहां पुस्तकालय स्कूल के बरामदे में चलाया जा रहा है। पेपर स्टेंड में बच्चे को खड़े होने की जगह नहीं मिलती है। लाइब्रेरियन की जगह स्कूल के किसी शिक्षक द्वारा काम चलाया जा रहा है। इसी तरह जीएसएसएस मलोया में जहां 2500 विद्यार्थी शिक्षा ग्रहण कर रहे हैं यहां लाइब्रेरियन का पद काफी दिनों से खाली पड़ा हुआ है। पुस्तकों की संख्या भी अधिक नहीं है।
धनास के सरकारी स्कूल में अन्य सरकारी स्कूलों की अपेक्षा पुस्तकों की संख्या अधिक है, लेकिन यहां भी लाइब्रेरियन नहीं है। सरकारी स्कूल विकास नगर मौलीजागरा में भी कमोबेश यही स्थिति है। यहां पुस्तकालय एक कमरे में किसी तरह चलाया जा रहा है। यहां न तो समीचीन पुस्तकें है और न ही इसकी कोई अन्य व्यवस्था ही है। यहां लाइब्रेरियन का पद तो है लेकिन लाइब्रेरियन नहीं है। विद्यार्थियों को जब तक नई पुस्तकें पढ़ने को नहीं मिलेगी वे अपने को कैसे अपडेट रखेंगे। सरकारी स्कूल सेक्टर-12 में भी लाइब्रेरियन का पद नहीं है यहां पुस्तकालय शिक्षकों द्वारा चलाया जा रहा है।
इस संबंध में गवर्नमेंट टीचर यूनियन के अध्यक्ष डा. विनोद शर्मा कहना था कि कई स्कूलों में लाइब्रेरियन का पद ही नहीं है ऐसे में यदि स्कूल व्यवस्था किसी अन्य शिक्षकों द्वारा पुस्तकालय चलाए तो वह कैसे दो विभाग के साथ न्याय करेगा। उन्होंने कहा कि यह मुद्दा जल्द ही डीपीआई के समक्ष उठाया जाएगा।
इस संबंध में जब डीपीआई उपकार सिंह से बात की गई तो उन्होंने कहा कि जल्द ही स्कूलों में लाइब्रेरियन के खाली पद भरे जाएंगे। उन्होंने कहा कि जिन पुस्तकालयों में पुस्तकों की कमी है वहां के लिए नई पुस्तकें खरीदी जाएंगी।

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Librarian for Management College Lucknow Urgent Walk_in


Job Description
The candidate will look after library operation of college
Salary: INR 1,25,000 - 1,75,000 P.A. best in Industry
Industry:Education, Teaching, Training
Functional Area:Teaching, Education, Training, Counselling
Role:Librarian
Desired Candidate Profile
Education: (UG - B.Sc - Any Specialization, Other Specialization, Diploma - Any Specialization) AND (PG - PG Diploma - Any Specialization)
Experience: 2 to 6 yrs. 
candidate must be Post graduate in Library Science with2-3year experience or Graduate in Library science will be considered for AssistantLibrarian
Company Profile
Naukri Solutions: Company is in educational sector in Lucknow
Contact Details
Recruiter Name:
Dharmendra Rajan
Address:
301, Sahara Shopping Centre Faizabad Road Indira Nagar LUCKNOW,Uttar Pradesh,India 226016
Telephone:
522-3052307

Opening of Librarian by Arya Vidya Mandir School in Mumbai


Job Description
Should be dedicated and efficient and should have a good back ground of teaching experience preferably in ICSE Schools.
Industry: Education, Teaching, Training
Functional Area: Teaching, Education, Training, Counselling
Role: Librarian
Keyskills: Bachelors Degree in Library Science
Desired Candidate Profile
Education: (UG - Any Graduate - Any Specialization, Other Graduate - Any Specialization) AND (PG - Post Graduation Not Required, Other)
Experience: 0 to 5 yrs.
Resident of Mumbai Should apply. Bachelor in Librarian
Company Profile
Arya Vidya Mandir School
Arya Vidya Mandir Society manages 3 ICSE Schools affiliated to the ICSE Council located at 4 locations Santacruz [W], Bandra [W], Juhu & Bandra [E] where Indian culture & values are emphasized.
Contact Details
Recruiter Name:
Ms. Shital
Contact Company:
Arya Vidya Mandir School
Email Address:

IAS section now at Madurai library


MADURAI: A new section for IAS aspirants has been thrown open for the public at the district central library in Madurai on Wednesday.
The internet-enabled civil service aspirants section, inaugurated by collector Anshul Mishra at the library premises in Simmakkal would have a whopping 25,000 books on varied disciplines. The section has diversified collection to enable students to prepare for preliminary exams for UPSC, railway board exams, bank officers selection exam, teacher recruitment board exams, State-Level Eligibility Test (SLET) and National Eligibility Test (NET) for college faculty and books for various other competitive exams.
The section would also have encyclopaedia, dictionary for several laguages. "These books are specifically chosen to meet the requirements of the aspirants. Students should make optimum use of the books," Mishra said.
Nearly 1.5 lakh books of the total 1.87 lakh books in the district central library in Madurai have been bar-coded for online tracking and renewal by borrowers while the work is on to barcode the remaining books also. "After the completion of barcoding, readers can easily renew the date for return of borrowed books online," said librarian Krishnaveni. She said that browsing will be introduced very soon in the library.
The foundation stone for the district central library functioning in two floors was laid by then chief minister M Bakthavachalam in 1965 and was inaugurated in 1970. On an average, about 500 readers visit the library everyday. "There are no sufficient chairs when a number of readers visit the library in the evenings and weekends. We want more chairs," said a reader Shanmugam from Goripalayam.
"There are two vacancies in the library for office assistants. The vacancies are not filled up for a long time," an employee there said.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Assistant Librarian at Health Education Library for People, CST, Mumbai

Applications are invited for the post of Assistant Librarian at  Health Education Library for People, CST, Mumbai. The candidate should possess excellent communication and administrative skills and should be able to get along well with people.  Freshers may apply.

Candidates from Mumbai only please apply.

Interested candidates may apply with full details of their Educational Qualification/Experience and post applied for to helplib@vsnl.com or helplibrary@gmail.com

Ms.Anjoo Chandiramani,
Health Education Library for People, 206, Dr.D.N.Road, Gr.Floor,
Near New Excelsior Building,
CST, Mumbai - 400 001.

e-library on law inaugurated in Ahmedabad


AHMEDABAD: An electronic law library named after justice V B Raju was inaugurated at the metropolitan court in the city.
The Late Justice Shree V B Raju e-library was inaugurated by Justice Anant Dave, Gujarat high court judge, and principal session judge S H Vora.
The e-library has four computers and two printers and the access would be totally free. The library, according to S V Raju - senior lawyer and son of Late Justice Shree V B Raju - will have the latest judgments of the high court and the Supreme Court. The library will also have the central and state laws.
"A person coming for research would have to pay for the printouts only," said Raju.
Ahmedabad rural district and session judge J N Patel was also present on the occasion. Inaugurating the library, Justice Dave asked bar members and advocates to use the e-library facility optimally.

Librarian at Pratap Institute of Technology and Science, Sikar (Rajasthan)


Library Clerk at KPB Hinduja College of Commerce, Mumbai


Librarian at Lala Lajpatrai Institute of Management, Mumbai


Librarian at Satyug Darshan Institute of Education and Research, Faridabad


Digital content fast replacing books(TOI)


KOZHIKODE: Digital content is fast replacing printed books in libraries of higher educational institutions in the country, according to experts attending a five-day international workshop on digital libraries. The workshop began at the Indian Institute of Management-Kozhikode (IIM-K) on Monday. 

"Digital content in libraries at premier educational institutions has already grown to an unprecedented 70-80% as against printed books. Many journals are now available only in digital format," said M G Sreekumar, head, Centre for Development of Digital Libraries (CDDL) at IIM-K and Unesco coordinator of Greenstone Support for South Asia. 

He said there had been a paradigm shift in the way information resources were being handled by libraries following the massive influx of digital content. 

"Traditionally, libraries owned books and journals they bought or subscribed to, allowing them to make best use of the resources. But digital publishing has changed those concepts. Libraries now only get the licence to use electronic information, and even this is issued for a prescribed period," he said. The digital libraries have now become the crucial component of global information infrastructure and offer new levels of access to broader audiences. 

Inaugurating the workshop, Debashis Chatterjee, director of IIM-K, said the knowledge professionals of today should acquire the capacity and capability to foresee the future course of information and knowledge landscape in line with the new emerging world order. 

The workshop focused on Greenstone Digital Library Software, an open source software system for developing digital libraries promoted by the University Of Waikato, New Zealand and sponsored by Unesco. 

Participants will be instructed on how to design digital collections of different publications in a variety of file formats. They will also receive the Greenstone Digital Library Software.

Rare books at Directorate of Library Services


Staff reporter
GUWAHATI, Aug 21 – A repository of information and wisdom of eras long gone by continues to draw in people from today’s knowledge society. And as time goes by, its highly regarded items will only gain in value.
The collection of rare books in the Directorate of Library Services Assam at Ambari here houses some of the most difficult-to-obtain books and journals in the State. Most of the books are no longer in circulation, and therefore, difficult to acquire. The authors of some were forgotten with the passage of time, while some others went on to earn distinction in different fields.
According to official sources, the rare books section contains more than 2,370 titles in English, which include books on Assam written during the colonial period. Assamese books currently available to the reading public number nearly 900.
A book with an intrepid sounding name is Hill Tracts between Assam and Burmah and the Upper Brahmaputra. Written by Lt R Wilcox, it was published way back in 1825. It shares shelf space with other works such as the Report on the Manufacture of Tea and on the Extent and Product of the Tea Plantation in Assam, printed in 1839.
Like its protagonist, who travelled well beyond the horizon, Gulliver’s Travels managed to find its way to the exceptional book collection. The first edition of Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World (in four parts) by Lemuel Gulliver, printed in 1726, was presented to the Shillong Public Library by the ‘Raja of Hill Tipperah’ through CW McMinn of the Indian Civil Service. After Meghalaya became a separate State, it moved to its present location.
A wide range of books in Assamese, no longer available in bookshops, offers insights into the way authors in the past perceived their subjects. Lakshminath Bezbaroa’s Nomal, Hem Baruah’s Asamiya Byakaran, Debakar Sarma’s Anka Path and Ram Sarasawti’s Geet Govinda are only a few of the priceless works in the rare books section, said an official.
Although not many lay people visit the rare books section, researchers from this region as well as abroad find it an interesting destination. Those acquainted with the facility agree on the need to create a digital database of the extraordinary books as their conditions will naturally deteriorate with age.
More News at: http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=aug2212/city05

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

How should academic libraries communicate their own value?

UEL lib
Libraries are not synonymous for a 'large undergraduate study hall'. Instead, they can provide vital support to research and teaching roles, says Stephen Barr

A library is more than a ‘large undergraduate study hall’. Photograph: David Levene
A common complaint from my librarian friends: too often users fail to appreciate that the resources they use online are only available to them because the library has purchased them. This is aggravated by confusion about what an academic library is. Researchers actively using library resources online may not think of themselves as using the library because they have not recently visited the building.
Libraries need to overcome such confusion to ensure that the contributions they make to the university are fully appreciated. Demonstrating value is key if libraries are to be able to continue to claim their share of institutional funding.
As part of a wider focus on working with the library community, SAGE recently commissioned a research project from LISU, the Library Information Science unit at Loughborough University. Although not the first research piece on this issue, LISU's research offers an up to date, accessible insight into best practices for libraries in demonstrating value, not just in terms of use, but also in terms of impact on research and teaching outcomes.
Drawing on research from the UK, the US and Scandinavia, the LISU study shows a world in which libraries are actively engaged in gathering evidence to demonstrate their value – but challenges remain. Though a good deal of evidence is collected, much of it is evidence of activity rather than evidence of value and impact. The kind of evidence provided by the 2009 CIBER global library study, demonstrating that per capita expenditure and use of e-journals is strongly correlated to research performance, is more challenging for individual institutions to develop.
Evidence is critical not only because administrators are increasingly required to justify expenditure, but also because librarians cannot take faculty support for granted. Though librarians do get a lot of positive feedback from faculty, the LISU study shows many librarians believe that researchers do not really know how to use all the library's resources. There is also a strong sense that teaching staff are often surprised by the sorts of support on offer.
Library buildings are increasingly geared towards meeting the needs of students, with cafés and social space provided alongside information resources. At the University of Utah, a recent survey showed that many teaching and research staff regarded the library as a large undergraduate study hall. With material available online and document delivery being made directly to offices, many faculty never visited the library building.
This creates an increased risk that faculty support for libraries will erode if faculty no longer perceive themselves as actively supported by the library. Disconnects of this kind are widely perceived. One librarian said: " ... most faculty really do ignore us or take [the library] for granted, while most librarians think that we are a central part of the faculty's mission".
The LISU study highlights a number of areas where libraries are actively engaging with faculty and students, providing evidence of value more effectively. The biggest trend is in collaborative working between librarians and faculty to support research and teaching roles. Library teaching embedded in departmental courses has become an important role for libraries, contributing to enhancing students' skills in information literacy and other areas.
Some universities, particularly in the US, have moved further in developing co-teaching courses. At others, there is librarian involvement in curriculum design with a view to ensuring that information skills are embedded in the course from the start. This kind of close working between faculty and librarians can also apply in research partnerships. An example cited is the involvement of subject librarians at the University of Nottingham in systematic reviews: their time is costed and documented as part of the research project in recognition that library skills are key to the successful delivery of the project, and librarians contributing to systematic reviews are cited as co-authors on the publications.
While there are gains to be made, library contributions to teaching and research can also pose significant challenges - notably that of time management. Providing embedded information training is a time-consuming support service for the library. Librarians are also aware of the limitations on faculty time in any partnerships.
For librarians to understand the perceptions of faculty and students and know how to reach and influence them, requires effective marketing - but this isn't just a question of promotion. The research found that in delivering shared services, Purdue University emphasises the importance of framing services from a faculty rather than from a librarian perspective. Librarians engaged in research support need to "present themselves as someone who can solve a problem research staff are having directly". A similar concern came across in the issue of using appropriate language – at the University of Sussex, sessions on electronic resources are presented as 'awareness raising' rather than 'training' to avoid generating unnecessary resistance.
Asked about the biggest impediment to promoting library services, one librarian summarised the issue as: "lack of time: for library staff to have time to promote resources to individuals; for academic staff to read and digest emails or other communications". This challenge was expressed in all three regions surveyed. Given the reality of time challenges on both sides, libraries need to be smart in identifying ways of building relationships and communicating value which are effective and scaleable.
There are also recommendations for senior university managers – the full report can be downloaded here. We undertook this project as a chance to better understand how libraries can support teaching and research staff. What LISU has reported on are just a small number of examples of best practice from case studies internationally: we'd welcome further input from you and your experiences here or on the Library Value blog.
Professor Stephen Barr is president of SAGE International

Library Trainee at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research: Centre for Applicable Mathematics, Bangalore

Last Date-27th August 2012



Librarians a neglected lot: The Pioneer

If librarians are not treated with disdain, they are not respected either. In colleges, they are considered inferior to the teaching and the administrative staff. But considering the multifarious roles that they play and the skills that are required of them, they should be given a better deal, writes Zafar Alam Khan
Despite a number of libraries in the State Capital, ‘Librarians’ Day’, observed on the 120th birth anniversary of renowned librarian, SR Ranganathan on August 12 across the country, passed unnoticed in Bhopal. Not a single programme was held on the occasion in the city.
A librarian is considered to be a specialist in the care and management of a library, trained in library science and engaged in library services. A librarian has many important roles to play. Unfortunately, their lot remains neglected due to varied reasons, including the indifferent attitude of the policy makers, perhaps because of their lesser numbers.
SR Ranganathan, considered as father of library science, developed five laws in 1931. He said:
  • Books are for use
  • Every reader his or her book
  • Every book its reader
  • Save the time of the reader
  • The library is a growing organism
With a few simple adaptations, Ranganathan’s laws hold good even today.
Sachin Chourasiya, assistant librarian in Sadhu Vaswani College, who has written many letters to the Government to draw its attention towards the problems of the librarians, while talking to the Viva City, said “though the number of books has increased in the 31 departmental libraries of the State from a mere dozen to thousands, the number of librarians has remained the same. Besides, there is no fixed standard for their salaries. They are the lowest paid compared to those who are in the same rank in Government jobs.”
A senior librarian serving with the State Government, on condition of anonymity, said “unfortunately, Madhya Pradesh is one of those States where Library Act has not been implemented though the Bill for the purpose had been tabled twice in the State Assembly. It is not an Act till now. This also reflects the unwillingness of the State Government. Librarians across the State are of the view that the State Government would have to show strong commitment for getting the bill passed in the State Assembly.”
Chourasiya said the lesser number of librarians was the major reason for the plight of the community as other cadres like those of doctors, teachers, nurses, patwaris and RIs, etc succeeded in getting their demands fulfilled due to larger numbers and strong unions. The salary of the librarians was also not uniform like other cadres and it varied from department to department. There promotion chances were bleak due to lesser number of posts.
He said the lesser number of librarians did not empower them to raise their voice before the Government and therefore they expected that the Government would act unilaterally on Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay’s policy sentence “pain of last man standing in last queue needs to be resolved.”
MP Library Association and College Library Association are the two bodies meant for working in the interest of the libraries and librarians in the State, but the irony is that both the associations are inactive.
Chourasiya said the need of the hour was that the problems of the librarians, that included uniform wages, promotion guidelines, etc, should get all the benefits that others on equivalent posts were getting and that they should be awarded respectable status.
Nepal Singh Jadon, library and information officer, Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), said “the librarians working under the Central Government are lucky in this regard as the Union Government acting on the recommendations of the Chattopadhyay Committee fixed uniform wages for the library staff. Besides, there is a promotional policy for them.”
Unfortunately, most of the libraries in the State have inadequate staff. The non-progressive attitude of our society is to be partially blamed for this brain-drain in the field of librarianship. Even in academic institutions their wages are not comparable to that of teachers and other administrative staff. They are rarely a part of the policy-making body.
Librarians are considered not more than clerks. Even the authorities concerned have failed to implement a proper service structure, and have not come up with an effective promotion formula till today. Further obstacles that hinder the recognition of librarianship as a noble profession enlist the attitude and working habits of supporting staff in libraries.

Calcutta’s treasure trove lies in tatters at Writers’ library

Kolkata Spiders crafting cobwebs on a record maintained at Fort William in 1863. A copy of a census of the population of Calcutta in 1770 gathering dust at one corner of a dingy and damp room. An atlas of Calcutta made by historian James Rennell in 1779-81 lies in tatters.
This is what one finds at the library under the land and land reforms department at the Writers’ Buildings, thanks to the neglect of both the Left Front and the incumbent Trinamool Congress government.
The library houses books, documents, records, maps and other materials from the days prior to the arrival of Job Charnock, regarded as one of the founders of Calcutta. According to experts, parts of the collection are comparable with those in the Library ofCongress in the US, British Museum in London, Khuda Baksh Library of Patna and National Library of Kolkata.
In fact, it was the land and land reforms department that the British first set up for revenue collection and distribution of ownership of land among the people. Started in Fort William in 1740, the library was later shifted to Writers’ Buildings, which was built in 1776. At present it is located in a sprawling hall measuring 578.27 sq metres on the ground floor of Writers’.
The collection includes 34,500 rare documents and books, district gazetteer of 1800, Calcutta gazette of 1700, printed records after the Sepoy Mutiny (1857), proceedings of the legislative council during the Raj, proceedings of the state Assembly from 1937 — when it was set up - to 1980-82.
Since no stock-taking has ever taken place in the library and numerous documents remained unexamined, nobody has any idea how many invaluable documents have been lost to neglect.
Once in a while, researchers and officials from various government departments use this library manned by one librarian and two employees. However, since no cataloguing has ever been done, it is difficult to locate documents.
In 2007, The Indian Express first wrote about the plight of the library. At that time A K Patnaik, then commissioner general of land and land reforms, who also happened to be then principal secretary of sports, gave Rs 1 lakh from the sports department budget to the library. There has been no more government assistance since then.
After the Trinamool government took over, librarian Mita Rani Ghosh did something very unusual. She went to the residence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at Kalighat and told her about the condition of the library.
Thereafter, Ghosh wrote a letter to Mamata on June 7, 2011, as to how the library can be upgraded. On September 13, Alpana Saha, assistant secretary in the land and land reforms department, wrote to Ghosh that the matter was being looked into. There has been no development since then.
Researchers say the library needs urgent attention. “I have seen invaluable records, particularly after the mutiny (1857), in the library. But they are in a shambles,” Benoy Bhishan Choudhury, former professor of history at Calcutta University, told The Indian Express.
Suvaprasanna, chairman of the State Heritage Commission, said he was not aware of the existence of the institution at Writers’ Buildings. “I will bring it to the notice of the highest authorities,” he said.

3 days national workshop on "Expansion in Developing and Organising Digital Information Resources" on 24-26 September 2012 at Mesra, Ranchi, Jharkhand


Birla Institute of Technology (Deemed University), Mesra, Ranchi, Jharkhand-835215 in collaboration with Indian Council of Social Science Research, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, New Delhi,   is conducting 3 days national workshop on "Expansion in Developing and Organising Digital Information Resources" on 24-26 September 2012.


Registration Fee, boarding and lodging is free for this workshop.
This workshop will create the awareness among the participants on types of digital information resources and its utilities; develop competitive skills and techniques for social scientist/ scholars/librarians in searching, accessing, downloading and archiving the digital information resources;familiarize the access patterns of digital information resources using remote web portals and selecting patterns of digital information resources for academic/research pursuits.

To survey the roadmap for literature search, retrieval, download and organise the digital information resource for academic and research purposes, alert challenges, prospects and impact of digital information resources on social scientists.

The workshop is limited to 30 participants, so we will accept the application on first cum first basis, along with the professional background.

for more details you can contact with the following details.
Dr (Mrs) NutanJohry, nutan@icssr.org,  Ph. 011-23073438
Workshop Director 0651-2276675 library@bitmera.ac.in
Mr. Debojyoti Nath, 09470162180, dnath@bitmesra.ac.in

Mr. Amitabh Kumar Manglam, 09470943275, amitabh.manglam@gmail.com