International Indexed & Referred Research Journal, May, 2012. ISSN- 0974-2832, RNI-RAJBIL 2009/29954;VoL.

IV *ISSUE-40

Research Paper - Library Science

Role of Library in Higher Education and Research

* Hidge Gurling Ganapatrao
* Librarian, Arts, Science & Commerce College, Osmanabad A B S T R A C T
Libraries are recognized to play an important role in education, scientific research and social-economic development. This envisages the need for professionally qualified personnel to manage and run the libraries and information centers effectively and efficiently. Research in library and information science in India is not deep rooted. In order to feed the growing number of libraries, more trained library professionals were needed. For this purpose, library science departments started springing up, and library science developed into a distinct field of specialization with its own normative principles, theories, techniques, and practices that were deemed sufficient to meet the growing dimensions of library services.

May , 2012

Introduction: The goal of library and information science education is the preparation of personnel for the task of successful performance at different levels of competence in different types of libraries with an insight into the role of these libraries in a fast changing society. It should impart a thorough grounding in the intellectual foundations of the profession and competence in the technical and technological skills required for their day-to-day practice in different positions. In other words, education for library and information science should be both knowledge and theory oriented task or practice oriented. The two aspects of theory and practice should blend harmoniously in a sound programme of library and information science education because on this will depend the effectiveness and success of the programme. In achieving this objective the methods of teaching and evaluation employed are as important as the quality of the faculty. Involvement in Teaching and research Education can be defined as a process of learning, understanding, applying and utilizing knowledge for betterment of oneself, other individuals and the society as a whole. It is a process of interaction between learners and information sources. Education is a process for thinking, cognition and acquisition of knowledge which is directly based on the knowledge already created, gathered, stored, and disseminated by the society through a variety of media. Both teachers and library and information people measure and disseminate knowledge. A successful and growing teacher must have entered into companionship with the librarian. The law to be postulated is that nobody can become and succeed as a faculty member without support of the librarian. In an academic team of teachers and librarians no one is actually superior to the other. The Association of American Colleges and the Association

of American University Professors have opined that, "Librarians perform a teaching and research role in as much they instruct student formally and informally and advise and assist faculty in their scholarly pursuits. The function of the librarian as participant in the process of teaching and research is the essential criterion of the faculty status". This definition underlines the role of a librarian as faculty member in the teaching learning process. Even though the UGC and ICAR have issued directions to involve librarians in the active process of teaching and research, this aspect did not get due weightage in the higher education institutions in India. As compared to other universities, nonagricultural universities have better implemented the direction. They have included the topic `Information Processing and Management' as part of their course curriculum. Role of Library in Higher Education and Research: There has been enormous growth in education and higher education around the globe. Every country worth its name has developed a system of education and infrastructure to educate its people, and India is no exception. There has been a fast growth in institution of higher education since the dawn of twentieth century and more particularly, after India attained independence in 1947. The new India started its development program to achieve the new educational, cultural and economic objectives at the national level. Such developments at these institutions contributed to the development of more libraries, which in turn had to accept new responsibilities to meet society's changing needs and demands. Libraries are recognized to play an important role in education, scientific research and social-economic development of a country. This envisages the need for professionally qualified personnel to manage and run the libraries and information centers effectively and efficiently. In order to feed the

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International Indexed & Referred Research Journal, May, 2012. ISSN- 0974-2832, RNI-RAJBIL 2009/29954;[Link] *ISSUE-40

growing number of libraries, more trained library professionals were needed. For this purpose, library science departments started springing up, and library science developed into a distinct field of specialization with its own normative principles, theories, techniques, and practices that were deemed sufficient to meet the growing dimensions of library services. Handling of recorded knowledge in modern libraries has given birth to the functional aspects of collecting, organizing and promoting the use of reading materials relevant to the users through information transfer activities. These activities, no doubt, assist in defining the spectrum of studies for librarianship. The basic tenet of LIS education is to provide balanced training, integrating theory with practical exercises, and to cover all aspects of professional work with equal emphasis embracing new frontier of librarianship. LIS education aims at providing trained manpower to manage different types of libraries, information and documentation centers which, over a period of time have undergone changes in terms of needs, functions, types and range of services offered as well as tools and techniques being used when offering the services. Research in library and information science in India is not deep rooted. In the beginning it was in the form of a trial and error method. It was Padamashee S R Ranganathan who lifted librarianship to the level of a science with the formulation of laws of library science, and establishment library schools and research centers. He even graded them as normative principles, fundamental laws, canons, principles and postulates. Ranganathan cut

new grounds and blazed new trails in library and information science initially by solo research. This is evidence from the published literature that Ranganathan era's is characterized by a period of intellectual contribution to the library and information science, particularly library classification. The root of the library and information science research in India were offshoots from the country first LIS intellectual workshop instituted by the Dr SR Ranganathan a doyen of library science profession in India in 1946. And the first research fruit in the library and information science in the country even in the commonwealth countries was awarded by the University of Delhi in 1957 to the DB Krishna Rao for his thesis 'Facet Analysis and Depth Classification of Agriculture' under the supervision of Dr. SR Ranganathan. Conclusions: Libraries are recognized to play an important role in education, scientific research and social-economic development. This envisages the need for professionally qualified personnel to manage and run the libraries and information centers effectively and efficiently. Research in library and information science in India is not deep rooted. In order to feed the growing number of libraries, more trained library professionals were needed. For this purpose, library science departments started springing up, and library science developed into a distinct field of specialization with its own normative principles, theories, techniques, and practices that were deemed sufficient to meet the growing dimensions of library services.

R E F E R E N C E
1 Begum, S. Siraj Nissa. (2003). Total Quality Management in the Academic Library, Library Philosophy and Practice, 5(2). 2 Chaudhry, A.S., Majid, S.M., & Logan, E. (2002). Academic libraries in transition: Challenges Ahead.. Proc. World Library Summit, Keynote address: Academic Library Seminar, National Library Board, Singapore, April 22-26. 3 Mahajan, Preeti (2005). Academic Libraries in India: a Present-Day Scenario, Library Philosophy and Practice, 8(1). 4 Mittal R.L. (1984) - Library Administration: Theory and Practice -Metropolitan Publications, New Delhi. 5 Saraf Veena (1986) - Seminar on 'Academic Libraries in North Eastern India' November, , Manpower needs in college libraries: an appraisal.

SHODH, SAMIKSHA AUR MULYANKAN

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