Wednesday, December 15, 2004

New-age information managers
Sumeet Ghai

THE information era has thrown up many challenges not only for libraries but also for librarians. By drastically changing the information environment, it has transformed the role of librarians into those of information managers.

UNESCO believes that libraries of all kinds are probably the best agencies to maintain a free flow of ideas and information and create a climate of mutual understanding and friendliness. But with the advances in technology, that have turned the predictions of a "paperless society" into a reality, the role of libraries has been redefined.

Era of e-libraries

Librarians need to reinvent their role in this era of e-libraries. Though the work of librarians has not substantially altered, they must now realise that ‘libraries without walls’ are actually ‘libraries with a new wall’.

To face the challenge of the Internet, libraries cannot remain merely reservoirs of knowledge. The librarians need to rearrange their services so that the information and knowledge flows to readers wherever they are.

Meeting the challenge

In today’s world, librarians are information managers. Librarians assist people in finding information and using it effectively. A librarian’s work involves acquiring, organising and disseminating information. Planning and coordination of the library’s financial operations are other functions.

Reinventing the role

Acquisition of knowledge/ information involves selection, ordering and purchasing materials within the budgetary limits.

Organising information involves classification, cataloguing, storage, record keeping, shelving and maintenance of books in a manner so as to make it easily accessible to readers and users.

Dissemination of information is the most important work of a librarian. A librarian disseminates information by answering queries, issuing and receiving books as well organising activities to encourage use of the library.

The career of a librarian begins at the level of library attendant but may differ from organisation to organisation. In general, it takes the following path:

Career course

Library Attendant: Takes care of inter-library loans shelving books, processing bill, subscription renewals and new memberships.

Library Assistant: Main duties involve accession, shelf arrangements, levying of fines, maintenance and binding of books , location of missing books and related technical work.

Junior Librarian/semi-professional assistant: Work at the counter to receive and issue books, sends out reminders on overdue loans, looks after accessioning.

Junior Librarian/professional assistant: Is responsible for accessioning, classification, cataloguing, ordering books, as well as handling computer data.

Junior Librarian/ Assistant Librarian: Selects and acquires books and material, takes care of reference services and computer programming, as well as supervision of semi-professional assistants.

Deputy Librarian: Oversees administration, supervision and computer programming.

Librarian: Is overall in charge of technical, administrative, and financial matters. Responsibilities include delegation of duties, library supervision and management, personnel administration, budgeting, classification and cataloguing and recommendation of new acquisitions.

Director/Head of Information Centre: Works at the policy and planning level, and is responsible for the center’s organisation, coordination, control, leadership, external relations and administration.

In information services, designations could be:

Senior Information Analyst: Activities include processing of information, indexing, documentation etc.

Junior Information Analyst: Assists senior analyst in all aspects of work.

Information Assistant: Information transfers, processing, storage and dissemination of information are the main tasks.

Work opportunities

Trained personnel in this field can find employment opportunities in areas like:

  • Public/Govt libraries

  • Universities and other academic institutions

  • News agencies

  • Private organisations

  • Foreign embassies

  • Photo/film libraries

  • Information centres/ documentation centres

  • Museums and galleries, which have reading rooms and research facilities

Some library technicians are self-employed as researchers, consultants, cataloguers etc.

(The writer is the Librarian of Devki Devi Jain College of Education for Women, Ludhiana)

Course Chat
"Librarians must also have marketing skills"

Christina Singh
Christina Singh

THE Net explosion and advent of online bookstores has thrown up new challenges for librarians. Christina Singh, Deputy Manager, British Library, Chandigarh,outlines the role and prospects of librarians in the changing information environment. Excerpts from an interview:

How has the role of a librarian changed in this age of information explosion?

In today’s world, a librarian’s work is not merely confined to acquiring, managing and issuing books. Librarians need to be good at marketing and promoting their collection of books. It is not enough for libraries to be spending huge sums on procuring books. The reading public must be made aware of new additions to their stock. A library thus needs to have a good marketing strategy too.

What are the kind of job opportunities available in libraries?

Broadly speaking, a library science student can work in any of the three areas in a library——reference section, circulation or book acquisition. A student of Library and Information Science can specialise in any of these areas. Marketing professionals too are needed by libraries to help in promoting the book collection.

In this age of Net connectivity, do librarians need to possess specific computer skills?

Most of the training can be acquired on the job but a basic level of computer literacy helps. A high degree of computer knowledge is not required though a person with a MCA or similar background can use his skills to develop a software suited to a library’s needs. Since most libraries are connected through LAN, familiarity with the system is a must and is usually acquired in-house. For instance, we use the Libsys software that connects the British Library terminals with each other.

What are the qualities needed to be effective in this line?

Apart from the basic technical knowledge, a librarian must be customer-friendly, a good communicator and should keep abreast of emerging fields of knowledge. For instance, since change management and knowledge management are upcoming fields, as a librarian it is our job to stock books and provide information on these subjects. And, in view of the challenge posed by the Net, it is also important for librarians to be good at marketing, spreading awareness about their collections and handling queries from readers.

How paying is this field?

Librarians working in government libraries get the pay scales applicable to gazetted officers. Private libraries too pay well. For instance, in the British Library the start is around Rs 10,000.

— Chetna Keer Banerjee