Education for library and information science on the distance mode in India: a critique

Author: Jeevan, V.K.J.

Source: Librarian Career Development, Volume 7, Number 2, 1999 , pp. 7-15(9)

Publisher: Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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Abstract:

In the last five years, more and more universities have ventured into offering library courses on the distance mode, without any major increase in the demand for library professionals in the Indian job market. The motivations behind this practice are visible to a curious observer, and it is attempted in this paper, to list unusual conditions of the distance learning practice for library and information science education in India. A comparison of the library professional with an engineering professional is explored to arrive at the facts. Since accurate data about the number of library jobs is not available, two models were constructed to justify that the demand on library jobs is fully satisfied by the regular courses. The aspirations of working graduates of libraries to become professionally competent can be satisfied by resorting to an "accommodative" attitude by library schools. The challenges posed by the unchecked growth on distance education can be tackled only by the formation of a Library Education Council (LEC) with proper support by the professionals, administrators and professional organisations.

Keywords: Distance Learning; India; Librarianship

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/09680819910261028

Publication date: 1999-02-01

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