All the Best to all contesting candidates for ILA Election 2019 – 2022

Hello Dear LIS Professional Friends (Contesting and Voting),

ILA has uploaded final list of Contestants for the ILA Election 2019 – 2022 on 19 Jan 2019

Best wishes to all the contestants. May the best person WIN! Because once the person(s) wins there will be host of expectations from fellow professional members and responsibilities that the “Winning ILA Team” needs to shoulder.

Even my name figures on the list…this time! SO VOTE FOR ME AS COUNCIL MEMBER-SOUTH ZONE!  I am not part of any panel and standing as independent candidate as I believe that – if I WIN – I will be able to work effectively and able to question current team too – so effectively work for association members and profession 🙂

Why should you vote me – you may ask! Please read below to be convinced to vote for me.

If I am elected as Council Member – South Zone, I will support ILA Council by working as team member towards development of profession and try to address problems/issues faced by LIS professionals…better transparency in all endeavors and more importantly communicate using website and various social media what contributions were made during said term. Push towards chapters in various states and ensure standardization in policies on various issues. Work towards increasing members from South, improve women representation in LIS associations & updating member database. Monitor social media if given responsibility. I will also be the voice & conscience – if need be.

Please find my Curriculum-vitae given below as desired in 10 sentences:

I am Dr (Ms) Achala Munigal, Asst. Prof. (LIS)/Asst. Librarian working in UCS, Osmania University (OU) with 20+ years experience. Education qualifications include BLISc, MLISc, MA (Philo.), PhD (LIS) from OU. Got JRF/NET-LIS (1996). Completed UGC-MRP in 2012. Completed MOOC on Copyright from Harvard & Coursera; Basics of APA Style etc.; & now preparing Citation Styles MOOC. PhD Supervisor for 5 Scholars. Course-writer for few units for BRAOU. Co-Director for 2 ICSSR-SRC courses. Resource person – College of Air Warfare (CAW), UGC-HRDC (earlier ASC) of OU, JNTU (H), MAANU in Hyd & Gujarat University (GU); ICSSR-SRC; DLISc of OU, KU, BRAOU & GU. Authored 1 & edited 1 international book; written 3 chapters; 5 journal & 11 conference proceedings articles. Best article IASLIC-2016. Convener for various Seminars/Conferences/Workshops.

In addition to the above – I am also Life member of various Library Associations like ILA, IASLIC, MANLIBNET, SALIS, BOSLA, APLA, ALSD, TSLA etc. I am also on ICSSR-SRC Web Team member 2017, Member Committee on Digitization Section of the ICSSR-SRC 2018, Member Open Access India’s Working Group, South Zone Convenor Open Access India, ADINET Consultant Advisor 2016-, Altmetrics Ambassador 2015-, DOAJ Associate Editor Volunteer 2015–2016, International Librarians Network (ILN) Country Coordinator  2013-2014. I was awarded a Roll of Honour – Contribution Award for making much appreciated ‘above and beyond’ efforts towards sustained process development, business growth and for sharing knowledge and expertise with team members from the Deloitte leadership while at Deloitte. Visited countries including Australia, Kenya, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Tanzania, Singapore, & Bahrain. I am an avid networker and connect with people on various social media.  I am passionate about giving back to the community and volunteer on many LIS related projects.

Please check what happened in ILA elections 2016-2019 on my blog “My Professional Adventures” at https://achalamunigal.wordpress.com/2016/06/15/my-professional-adventures/ Dear Prof K. G. Vaidya who was the then election officer had confirmed via email that he had received my ballot via email and Indian post within stipulated time and then seen on website that – unanimously ILA Team 2016-2019 was elected! Why my application was rejected was never communicated to me or on website! No transparency at all!

So this time around….I blogged my nomination at My Professional Adventures – Part II at https://achalamunigal.wordpress.com/2018/12/26/my-professional-adventures-part-ii/ and sent my nomination papers via email and Indian Post to the current election officer Dr. Sarabjeet Singh Pawar, Election Officer, ILA – 2019-2022.

In my other post “LIS Associations Elections – Demand by Members!” at https://achalamunigal.wordpress.com/2018/12/11/2262/ I have blogged that contesting members do not have an agenda or election manifesto. So on what grounds are candidates contesting??? And on what grounds are the members electing???

A SUGGESTION TO ALL CONTESTING CANDIDATES – TO PUT IN A AGENDA ON WHAT THEY PLAN TO DO IN THE TERM 2019-2022. WE AS MEMBERS WILL READ IT AND THEN VOTE FOR BEST CANDIDATE! “NONE OF THE ABOVE”, or NOTA  OPTION SHOULD ALSO BE PROVIDED IN BALLOT – I THINK! 

It is not going to be like the previous ILA Teams

1. They either did not contribute
2. They contributed but on minor not major issues
3. They contributed on major issues but did not share their contributions!

Any or all of the above reasons led to the dissatisfaction & disillusionment amongst LIS professionals in India! MANY HAVE POSTED ON VARIOUS SOCIAL MEDIA THAT THEY NEVER GOT BALLOT FROM ANY LIS ASSOCIATION TILL DATE!

Problems Plaguing LIS Association Elections – not only ILA but every other LIS Association in India.

1. Retired professionals are treating LIS Association seats like Emeritus-ship! Once they are retired – they settle down in some association position (irrespective of what it is!). I respect the experience of the retired professionals and strongly believe that they can still contribute as advisors/mentors to current team but not as a incumbent holding a position! So I believe that only working people should contest for all posts.
2. Most of the previous “unanimous” or otherwise elected LIS Associations are being run as “Fiefdoms”. How many ballots sent vs how many returned – transparency not available! Newer blood is not given a chance; as experienced professionals do not want to let go of their hold as they move from one position to other (After being Vice President for a term – they don’t aspire for higher position to be President; they don’t mind being a Council Member as long as they hold a post!) Why? What are the perks of being in an Association??? Anyone in the know-how – please message me AchalaMunigalRao@gmail.com. 2017-19 ILA  Number of elected members in ILA: Total 35 (Including 1 President, 6 Vice Presidents, 1 General Secretary, 1 Secretary, 6 Council Members, 17 Council Members Open, 3 Institutional Members) and 2017-19 IASLIC  Number of elected members in IASLIC: Total 60  ( Including Office bearers 13, Individual Governing Body Members 21, Individual Governing Body Members 20, Institutional Governing Body Members 6). DO WE REALLY NEED SO MANY TO REPRESENT US???? Scale down please!!! Associated costs would go down!!
   The perks I know of
   • You will be given travel allowance. But are all the members treated equally and given the travel allowance??? I will blog about this later!
   • You will be included as expert or resource person on various boards. Barter system works I hear – that why we see the same person called as resource person on variety of topics (which he/she may not be an expert in!). I have practically seen a resource person carrying the same set of “dated” PPT slides to every session for past few years droning or spewing same bilge!
   • CAN SOMEONE GIVE ME A CONCRETE EXAMPLE OF HOW MANY MAXIMUM YEARS WAS A LIS PROFESSIONAL IN AN ASSOCIATION IN VARIOUS POSITIONS! CURIOUS!
3. Most of the previous elected LIS Association members were “reticent” and one never got to know their views or opinions on any topic of consequence (Latest one being a non-LIS taking on mantle at INFLIBNET).  LIS professionals who are “Doers” should be identified and trained so that they can taken on the mantel in future if elected. “Talkers” and “Thinkers” are also necessary but not as elected members!
4. There is no major WOMEN representation in any zone…especially at top positions! Women Professionals need to wake up and take their place….as nobody will give it to you! I think there should be 50% representation rather than the 33%! Women please write to me your interest in participating in LIS association for the next term 🙂 Lets prepare ourselves!
5. There are no National LIS Association in India which are truly representational! ILA is north based, IASLIC is Kolkatta based and IATLIS is for teaching faculty! Most LIS Associations are having majority of members from NORTH – there are no major representations from EAST, WEST, SOUTH! I suggest to have one National LIS Association and various State Chapters so that everyone will have representation and a voice. Every region has its inherent problems and require someone to represent them on right platform.
6. LIS Associations do not use Information and Communication Tools, Technologies and Devices. They still use archaic methods of communication. When Social Media, Mobile Technology and Web Technology is available; continue to use Snail mail for reasons best known to them! I suggest that members should be able to edit their information online and be able to make changes and vote online; an option can be provided to those who want to opt in for other means of communication. Example: Newletters are still being printed and posted! Opt in for print or email can be made available instead of mass printing and sending to all! Introduce and maintain social media accounts and regularly monitor it!
7. Conferences and Awards are the only events done on regular basis! Every LIS Association is conducting Conferences/Seminars/Workshops as if in competition with other LIS Associations in India. Sometimes the topics are rehash of every other topic that has already been conducted! Every LIS Association are awarding best faculty/librarian without giving transparency in selection process! Cronyism is being cited as being rampant in selection process! A Few are being awarded to just keep them quiet I hear and others as a barter system (you award me one now and it will be later on returned on another ocassion)!But important issues are never discussed!

WHAT ARE THE OTHER PROFESSIONAL ISSUES THAT LIS ASSOCIATION IN INDIA CAN HELP RESOLVE?

There are host of issues plaguing LIS professionals- listed few below! Why are they not addressed by any LIS association?

• Recruitment – current vacancies!
• Salary anomalies!
• Designations
• Courses are not standardised!
• Are LIS Associations having a ethics and professional conduct policy? Why is it not listed on IFLA? There was an attempt JOCLAI made – but no substantial outcome! Why?
• Is there a complete list of LIS Departments – Teaching faculty and working professionals in India in State/Central/private/deemed universities under which stream/discipline in one place?
• Is there a complete list of LIS Associations in India in one place?
• Is there a complete list of LIS journals published in print and online in India and World in one place? How many are commercial/subscribed or open access or hybrid? Is there a white list or black list (predatory)?
• There is no directory of LIS professionals – who are working, retired, without jobs etc

This time the existing ILA members and other LIS professionals who are not ILA members of ILA have finally woken up from deep slumber and have become a vocal lot! Which is a positive sign. I urge non-members reading this post to become members of national and state associations immediately and start demanding benefits of being member of the association!

LASTLY – Remember this is not a political election! Kindly respect all professionals (retired, senior and junior) and use civil and professional language while communicating on all media. Everyone has a right to put across their view – India is a democracy! Respect the view and the person even if it differs with yours! Let’s agree to disagree!!

If there is any feedback you can leave it here

Kindly note: These are my opinions and others have freedom to agree and disagree.

Best,

Achala Munigal

AchalaMunigalRao@gmail.com

 

 

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My Professional Adventures – Part II

Dear All who are following my blog and previous post “My Professional Adventures” at https://achalamunigal.wordpress.com/2016/06/15/my-professional-adventures/

I, Dr (Ms) Achala Munigal with ILA Life membership number SL-5415 submitted nomination papers along with Curriculum vitae of 10 lines as desired; for post of Council Member-South for ILA election for the term 2019-2022.

 

Please find my Curriculum-vitae given below as desired in 10 sentences:

I am Dr (Ms) Achala Munigal, Asst. Prof. (LIS)/Asst. Librarian working in UCS, Osmania University (OU) with 20+ years experience. Education qualifications include BLISc, MLISc, MA (Philo.), PhD (LIS) from OU. Got JRF/NET-LIS (1996). Completed UGC-MRP in 2012. Completed MOOC on Copyright from Harvard & Coursera; Basics of APA Style etc.; & now preparing Citation Styles MOOC. PhD Supervisor for 5 Scholars. Course-writer for few units for BRAOU. Co-Director for 2 ICSSR-SRC courses. Resource person – College of Air Warfare (CAW), UGC-HRDC (earlier ASC) of OU, JNTU (H), MAANU in Hyd & Gujarat University (GU); ICSSR-SRC; DLISc of OU, KU, BRAOU & GU. Authored 1 & edited 1 international book; 3 chapters; 5 journal & 11 conference proceedings articles. Best article IASLIC-2016. Convener for various Seminars/Conferences/Workshops. I volunteer on  LIS related projects.

 

In addition to the above – I am also Life member of various Library Associations like ILA, IASLIC, MANLIBNET, SALIS, BOSLA, APLA, ALSD, TSLA etc. I am also on ICSSR-SRC Web Team member 2017, Member Committee on Digitization Section of the ICSSR-SRC 2018, Member Open Access India’s Working Group, South Zone Convenor Open Access India, ADINET Consultant Advisor 2016-, Altmetrics Ambassador 2015-, DOAJ Associate Editor Volunteer 2015–2016, International Librarians Network (ILN) Country Coordinator Dec 2013-2014. I was awarded a Roll of Honour – Contribution Award for making much appreciated ‘above and beyond’ efforts towards sustained process development, business growth and for sharing knowledge and expertise with team members from the Deloitte leadership while at Deloitte. Visited countries including Australia, Kenya, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Tanzania, Singapore, & Bahrain. I am an avid networker and connect with people on various social media.  I am passionate about giving back to the community and volunteer on many LIS related projects.

 

If I am elected as Council Member – South, I will support ILA Council by working as team member towards development of profession and issues faced by professionals. Work towards increasing members from South & updating member database. Monitor social media if given responsibility. I will also be the voice & conscience – if need be.

 

I have sent my nomination form to Dr. Sarabjeet Singh Pawar, Election Officer, ILA – 2019-2022  via email to pawar6140@gmail.com with CC to ila@ilaindia.net on Dec 27, 2018, 2:11 AM.

I have sent my nomination Dr. Sarabjeet Singh Pawar, Election Officer, ILA – 2019-2022  to address House No. 461, Phase—6, Mohali-160055,Chandigarh as mentioned on their website https://ilaindia.net/images/pdf/election-notification.pdf via India Post on 22 Dec 2018. Proof given below.

 

I am hoping the Election Officer Dr. Sarabjeet Singh Pawar for 2019-2022  will respond via email and post that he has received my nomination papers within time and will not repeat the injustice what Prof K. G. Vaidya The Election Officer for 2016-2019 had done! I have recorded my experiences with proof at “My Professional Adventures” at https://achalamunigal.wordpress.com/2016/06/15/my-professional-adventures/

Kindly also read my views “LIS Associations Elections – Demand by Members!”at https://achalamunigal.wordpress.com/2018/12/11/2262/

You can get in touch with me at AchalaMunigalRao@gmail.com

LIS Associations Elections – Demand by Members!

Hi to All those who are reading my blog – request you to click links highlighted in blue provided as proof of substantiation – sources of what is discussed.

Came across a Google Form “ILA Election is Transparent?“ created by Vinod Kumar Mishra on 10 Dec 2018. He has also posted the complete list of members at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ze-l6zmCMki-t8McDPrOHAvYB8BheRmt/view But all the members email is not given – apron 800+ members are given (not sure if they are working) and rest have @nitinswaroop.com not belonging to members.

You can connect with creator of this form incase there are any queries, clarifications, feedback, suggestions to add more questions etc. 

My opinion:

• I would not like my personal mobile or email to be displayed on the internet beside my membership name and number – for obvious reasons of security and privacy.
• But did the ILA take WRITTEN PERMISSION of all members to sell/re-sell/share their contact information? I think that ILA CANNOT make available all the contact information of (800+) members (voters list) is being sold to contesting candidates for price of Rs. 6000/- + Rs. 250  as its security and privacy infringement and not authorised by ILA members! 
• On other hand for sake of argument – the information that was freely given by all members should be freely shared with contesting candidates! 
• Another question is – Can the ILA current President and council members attest that the contact information provided is most current and all the mobile and emails are working? SL No 2012 with Membership SL-5415 has sl-5415@nitinswaroop.com and not AchalaMunigalRao@gmail.com which is my working email id,
• I also think that members interested in contesting can use social media, discussion groups, Facebook groups etc as a alternative to connecting with various LIS professionals – members (for voting) and non-members (for awareness). 

If anyone is interested please read my blog post “My Professional Adventures“ which contains my self nomination to ILA as one of its members and ILA confirming receipt via email; but later on there is no mention of my candidature in final list published. A unanimous elected panel declared later. I did not receive the ballot paper as a life member to cast my vote too. So how can I be assured that the election for 2016-19 was transparent!

I am still optimistic and would like to contest ILA 2019-22 elections and hoping to file my nomination soon for Council Member. I also encourage like minded professionals who want to contribute to nominate themselves for various posts. 

Calling all members from South of India to stand for President Post, Vice President Post, General Secretary Post, Council Member(s) Post in South Zone and Open Zone, Institutional Members and ensure that we have representation from South in the national association – ILA. I have already mentioned that I will be contesting as Council Member from South. Each of you from south India has a right to contest for the same post that I am nominating myself. I am not saying if I nominated myself you should not! Requesting all members from south to take membership to ensure that issues specific to south are properly represented. REQUEST ALL TEACHING FACULTY AND WORKING LIS PROFESSIONALS TO UNITE AND WORK FOR THE PROFESSION.  KINDLY NOMINATE SELF FOR POSITION OR NOMINATE PERSON WHO IS A DOER FOR ALL ABOVE POSITIONS – NOT A PERSON WHO WILL SIT IN CHAIR FOR NAME ONLY! AS WE AS MEMBERS WILL DEMAND TO KNOW WHAT WAS HIS/HER CONTRIBUTION DURING THE SAID PERIOD. I request south Indians Please email me at AchalaMunigalRao@gmail.com 

• Your full name
• Designation
• Affiliation
• Contact Information
• if you are a member  with membership number or not!

I have made a form Library and Information Science (LIS) Professionals – ELECTION AWARENESS POLL. Request all LIS Professionals to fill it

CALLING ALL LIS PROFESSIONALS TO TAKE MEMBERSHIP IN ILA AND IASLIC TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE TWO BODIES TO REPRESENT US ON NATIONAL SCALE.

After the ILA fiasco I submitted my application to IASLIC and was elected on GB. 

AS MEMBERS OF VARIOUS ASSOCIATIONS – WE SHOULD ALL GET UNITED AND DEMAND THAT FAIR AND TRANSPARENT ELECTIONS BE CONDUCTED.

ALL THOSE WHO THINK THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS PROFESSION SHOULD COME TOGETHER AND MAKE A PANEL BEFORE CONTESTING WITH A ELECTION AGENDA/MANIFESTO TO CONVINCE WHY THEY SHOULD BE VOTED.

PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GET ELECTED INTO VARIOUS ASSOCIATION BOARDS/COUNCILS FOR NAME ONLY SHOULD BE IGNORED!

DOERS (history of substantial contribution) MUST BE GIVEN PREFERENCE AND VOTED FOR.

ONCE ELECTIONS ANNOUNCED – DEMAND TO SEE NUMBER OF BALLOTS SENT FOR VOTING TO MEMBERS AND THE POLLED NUMBERS ARE SAME OR NOT! SIMILAR TO ALA 2018 ELECTION

THEY SHOULD ALSO DECLARE HOW MANY POSITIONS WERE NOT CONTESTED AND ON WHAT BASIS DID THE POST GET FILLED.

Contesting members of ILA, IASLIC or any other numerous LIS association in India do not have a ELECTION MANIFESTO – AGENDA. So Im curious on what basis are they contesting and winning till date? If there is no issue – on what basis are voters electing members?  

Why is not a single LIS professional who is a member of LIS association – questioning what concrete measures or developmental activities were undertaken by elected members in their term.

Now coming to my observations and opinions on specifically LIS Associations! I have discussed only ILA and IASLIC only as an example not to target them for any ulterior motives. Hoping these suggestions will be taken in right spirit as intended. I have also taken examples of ALA, IFLA, CILIP etc as way of standard example not for any particular affinity towards them.

Which LIS Association is truly national in nature?

• Indian Library Association (ILA) – Name reflects national but is Delhi centered  
• Indian Association of Special Libraries and Information Centres, (IASLIC)- Name reflects special libraries and is Kolkatta based
  
• Indian Association of Teachers of Library and Information Science (IATLIS) – Name reflects Teacher specific – not working librarian!
  
• Rest all associations are
  • State based like  Andhra Pradesh Library Association (APLA) from Andhra Pradesh or Academy of Library Science and Documentation (ALSD) and Telangana Library Association (TSLA) from Telangana State
  • Profession based like Medical Librarians including Medical Library Association of India (MLAI) New Delhi and Indian Medical  Association Karimnagar or Management Libraries or Law Libraries.
    
• LIS Associations are listed out by State. 
• None are national in representation!

What is the definition of national association? 

According to me a National Association should be representative – in terms of zones-state/UT, male:female ratio as 50% in Council/GB, issues discussed:resolved, having various state/UT chapters etc The members of national association should be working on various issues faced by professionals and resolve them.

My opinion: Why don’t we have ONE national organisation and various state chapter(s) representing 29 States and 7 Union Territories of India similar to Chapters of American Library Association (ALA) from USA and Special Interest Groups (SIGs) of Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) from UK?

All state chapters can still have same name as chapter name and greater degree of autonomy but should be a member of the national organisation.

Suggest that various existing associations in one state can be merged and made into state chapters. But there is a challenge because each association is having certain amount they have collected over time as membership fees and by conducting various seminars/conferences/workshops etc and would not like to part with the said amounts. 

An ideal association should have

• One President (rotated every two years – North, South, East, West, UT zones)  so that there is equal representation
• Five Vice Presidents (one from North, South, East, West, UT zones).
• Ten Executive Members ( two person each from North, South, East, West, UT zones). 

Note:

• It should be made mandatory for all LIS students when they qualify (pass) to become basic members of National LIS Association and State Association without any fee being charged. The full membership and voting rights can be extended when the membership is paid. This will help in knowing how many candidates qualified, how many with jobs vs how many without jobs and also most current contact information will be available to the association.
• There should be only two contesting teams – each having a panel. Each Panel should have a election manifesto – agenda  will will help voting members decide who amongst the two panel will be a best choice to represent their voice.
• No member (President/Vice President/Other Members) should have more than two terms (consecutive or at different times).
• Retired people can only be given advisory roles at national/state/UT/special groups levels – never as contesting candidates and can have a special group similar to ALA’s Retired Members Round Table (RMRT) or CILIPs Retired Members Group as I feel that the profession would benefit from their experience and develop with their advice.

Most of the LIS associations are run like fiefdoms and cronyism is rampant. Most of the members of these associations do not question for many reasons including

• Respect or fear of Senior professionals or faculty who taught them – who are on these associations
• Fear of repercussions on their job or favourable placement or PhD
• Juniors members are largely seen as without experience and not allowed to participate in elections and Seniors who are favourable to the rest in panel are given leverage. It is run on basis of what benefits a person gets to table who is given preference. You call me to your events and the favour will be returned very soon basis. So those who cannot extend any of these perks are ignored even if they can work hard and contribute. So the doers and young professionals are de-moralised.
• Most of these members are already working so do not want to make waves so keep quiet
• Others who are not in job do not want to irritate any association member who maybe on interview board or can influence via his cronies the outcome
• Majority are Indifferent, apathetic un-motivated members 
• Few who believe that nothing will happen as they are individual persons.  
• Few who make a protest are targeted – on personal and professional basis
• Others who make an effort and try to make a difference by nominating self and fighting individual battle are either not allowed to enter or snowed down by rules and regulations.

Request both ILA and IASLIC Presidents to tell what kind of developments or changes made in their tenure from time they got elected – till date? Each association with strong team of 35 ILA and 60 IASLIC contributed what?

2017-19 ILA President: Prof. Shabahat Husain. Number of elected members in ILA: Total 35 (Including 1 President, 6 Vice Presidents, 1 General Secretary, 1 Secretary, 6 Council Members, 17 Council Members Open, 3 Institutional Members)

2017-19 IASLIC President – Jatindra Nath Satpathi. Number of elected members in IASLIC: Total 60  ( Including Office bearers 13, Individual Governing Body Members 21, Individual Governing Body Members 20, Institutional Governing Body Members 6) 

If I am questioned – Who I am – to ask? 

I BELIEVE EVERY MEMBER HAS A RIGHT TO ASK WHAT THEIR ASSOCIATION DID IN THE ELECTED TERM!

I AM A LIFE MEMBER OF BOTH ASSOCIATIONS – ILA ( SL-5415) and IASLIC (3757-L[Z1])   AND one of the Open Individual Governing Body (GB) Member of IASLIC for year 2017-19

And What contributions I have made as member elected?

If anyone wants to know what my contribution was as GB member of IASLIC till date!

• I have repeatedly requested IASLIC to give me responsibility of posting on social media on behalf of IASLIC – which has been largely ignored. 
• I have conducted Librarians Day 9 Sep 2017 in Osmania University on Vice President of South Zone T Ashok Babu (549) advice. I tried to connect again in 2018 but was not successful as he did not respond – later on got to know that he was in USA and unwell. 
• I have tried to connect with Vice President of South Zone  with numerous proposals but it was not pursued and materialised due to his ill health
• I tried to connect with via email, phone and in person to Sajal Kanti Goswami and Prof Pijushkanti Panigrahi  in numerous Conferences held in elected years with various suggestions but none materialised 
• I have used social media and also sent individual emails and whatsapp messages to LIS professionals requesting them to become members
• I am updating the south zone database by myself without being asked to; as it will only strengthen the database and not a way to tread on anyones toes!
• As a GB member do not want to proactively take on leadership mantel especially when there is a Vice President and many senior members from our zone on board.
• I believe that if the Council/GB board trusts its various members – not by just keeping their names on Board – instead request them to contribute – then all members would be proactive and will try to contribute in various capacities and development of profession.

What professional activities should a LIS Association include?
Currently LIS association are just conducting seminars/conferences/workshops; publishing journals/bulletins and giving awards.
Are there any other additional things that these associations should take up?

 My Opinion: How a LIS Association can contribute?

• Professionalisation: Have a code of ethics and professional conduct for library and information science professionals in India. Suggested Code 
• Work towards dignity and pride of being in the LIS profession. Similar to Hippocratic oath being administered to medical students; SRR five laws should be administered to all LIS students and newly recruited LIS professionals as they are relevant even now. Variants of 5 laws also given.
• Accreditation: UGC is monitoring body for all Central, State, Deemed and Private institutions in India for all disciplines including LIS education. Philippines has license, ALA and CILIP has certifications. 
• Have one National Association with various state chapters. There are too many LIS Associations. Humorous take by IndiaLibraries on “Why Librarians in India do not get message from their Prime Minister or President if they hold a National Conference?“  
• Represent to government on various issues including
  • Get space for Library Association Building in various states.
  • Ensure that LIS professionals are given duty leave to  conduct or attend LIS related events like book exhibitions, seminars/conferences/workshops on 9-12 Aug (SRR Birthday celebrated as Librarians Day) and 14-20 Nov (celebrated as National Library Week) every year.
  • Ensure that Non-LIS persons do not take LIS positions. Example: Dr. Jagdish Arora, Director of Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET) Centre was a LIS professionalbut now the position is offered on 10 Dec 2018to Prof. J P Joorel Head Department of Statistics from University of Jammu.  I am not commenting on the decision but commenting upon how LIS professions status is being ignored.
  • Standardisation of Job Designations – Job Descriptions – Educational Qualifications – Salaries. There are positions like Librarian, Deputy Librarian, Assistant Librarian, Library Assistant, Others (Book Keeper, Cataloguer etc are obsolete positions) (Data entry, IT Manager, Social Media Manager are new positions) then there are Library Attenders in a Library. LIS Professional Mr Sonaj Kailas writes that LIS job seeking candidates of Kerala are facing a serious issue:  There is a separate common pool library service under the Higher Education Department of Kerala Government which is still following old rules in which a candidate with 10th Standard with Certificate in Library Science can apply for Grade IV Librarian. Due to which candidates having qualified MLISc with UGC NET are not getting the job. I am a working Assistant Librarian with the designation of Asst. Prof. (LIS)/Asst. Librarian. I understand that most of the south India (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana State, Tamil Nadu) follows designating Asst. Librarian as Asst. Prof. (LIS).
  • All Working Librarian and Teaching Faculty designations should be standardised all over India. Many opine that there is nothing wrong in being called a Librarian and one should take pride in it as there is something unique in the designation; while many others believe that the term Librarian is obsolete now as librarians are no more guards of archives or managing a library utilising manual methods – but now have a varied work processes which includes IPR-copyright-patent, digital and cloud applications; while many others feel that a new term should be introduced or coined to give the import of the work being done by Librarians. Few have suggested that Levels can be used to designate posts from entry level to highest level similar to levels for scientists. Example: Librarian – A, Librarian – B, etc.
  • Normalise salary structure for a given position across India. One LIS professional Ashfaq Rather on Jammu & Kashmir Library Association Facebook page reports difference in grade pay of Junior Librarian Jammu (2800) and Kashmir (2400) 

Asst. Librarian = Asst. Professor
Deputy Librarian = Associate Professor
Librarian = Professor

But as per UGC 

– Asst. Librarian = Asst. Professor at Academic Level 10 (6000 AGP) 

– Asst. Librarian = Asst. Professor – Senior grade at Academic Level 11 (7000 AGP)

– Deputy Librarian = Asst. Professor – Selection grade at Academic Level 12 (8000 AGP) 

– Deputy Librarian = Associate Professorat Academic Level 13 A(9000 AGP)

– Librarian = Professor at Academic Level 14(10000 AGP)

– Librarian = HAG Scale – Senior Professor at Academic Level 15

There is an anomaly Deputy Librarian designation is equivalent to Associate Professor. But as per UGC Deputy Librarian designation is equivalent to Asst. Professor – Selection (8000 grade pay).  A letter was prepared and circulated on social media by one of the LIS professionals who’s name is not known which is documented on IndiaLibraries Blog – Wake Up Call and Open Request to All LIS Professionals requesting all LIS professionals to send in their Feedback/comments/suggestions for UGC Draft Regulation 2018 to The Chairman, University Grants Commission via email to ugcregulations2017@gmail.comand follow up by India Post To, The Chairman, University Grants Commission, New Delhi – 110002 on or before February 28th, 2018 by midnight in answer to Public notice No.F.1-2/2017 (EC/PS) Dated: 9th February, 2018. 

• Standardise superannuation age for LIS teaching faculty and working librarians. In State University like Osmania University the age limit for working professionals is 60 years and teaching professionals is 60 years. But in Central University working professionals is 62 years whereas the teaching professional is 65 years.
• Library and Information Science Education should be standardised. CBSE has introduced Library and Information Science course at the senior secondary level. National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) also has Library and Information Science (339). 5-Year Integrated MLIS, 3-Year B.A. /B.Sc. (Hons.) in Library and Information Studies, 2-Year Integrated B.Lib.I.Sc- M.Lib.I.Sc, 2-year M.Lib.I.Sc, 1-year B.Lib.I.Sc at Department of Library-Information Science in University of Calcutta. Various universities have different number of years of completion.
• LIS Education should be divided into
  • BASIC
  • History: Library movement in India, India (SRR) and Abroad (Dewey)
  • Library Management – Manual, Digital, Cloud, Library Management Software
  • Library Classification
    • DDC
    • Colon Classification
  • Bibliographic Standards MARC, CCF 
  • Library Information Technology and Library Software
  • Information Sources and Services
  • Others – Reprography, Document Delivery
  • Reference Sources – CAS, SDI
  • SPECIALISATION – AFTER BASIC COURSE DONE 
  • Academic
    • School – CBSE, ICSE, IGCSE, IB etc
    • College
    • University
  • Public
  • Archives and Museum
  • Special
    • Law
    • Medical
    • News – Print, Online
    • Transportation
  • Defence
  • Corporate
  • Private
  • Government – State and Central
  • Abroad
  • Social Media
  • Scholarly Communication 
    • Citation Styles
    • Plagiarism
    • Reference Management Softwares
• How course is abbreviated. M.A.(Lib.I.Sc,) in Osmania University, B.Lib.I.Sc- M.Lib.I.Sc in University of Calcutta, BLISc & MLISc from Jadavpur University
• Library and Information Science Education is put under different disciplines. It is under Faculty of Social Sciences in Osmania University and under Faculty of Post-Graduate studies in Journalism, Education and Library & Information Science in University of Calcutta. Library and Information Science is multidisciplinary and cannot be put in social sciences nor under sciences, arts, humanities or computer sciences! It should be a stand along discipline.
• Prepare listing of Librarians Vs Library InCharge – Central and State University Libraries in India. Find out since when is recruitment not done in each university from each state. Long Delay in appointment of librarians & faculty. Seven Asst. Librarians were appointed in Feb 2011 in Osmania University after a gap of XX years (Last appointment was in yearXX) and teaching faculty (Last appointment was in year 2013). There is no librarian or deputy librarian recruited in Osmania University; the library is run with Librarian incharge Dr. R. K. Pavan Kumar, Asst. Prof. (LIS)/Asst. Librarian. There are two faculty in designation of Asst. Prof. (LIS) in Osmania University Department of Library and Information Science one Dr K Bharathi is the Head of the Department and Dr J VivekVardhan is Chairman Board of Studies. There is no Professor or Associate Professor in the Department. The last professor – Prof. V Vishwamohan superannuated on 31 Jan 2018. The department is currently running a integrated MLIS and PGDLAN, PhD course in 2018-19.
• Listing all various LIS fellowships and awarding agencies
• List of internships/apprenticeships/traineeships and institutions extending them
• Advisory Agency should be introduced where queries can be asked regarding studying abroad, working abroad, to check recognition and comparison of educational certificates for Indian and abroad certificates – degree equivalence or it can also be conference related –  like asking for resource persons or tap for funding from various agencies and publishers.
• Mentoring should be introduced. Participants who want to be mentored can submit applications and people who want to mentor should opt in and share their expertise voluntary.
• Listing all LIS newsletters and publishers
• Listing of LIS Professionals
  • Prepare a Updated list with current contact information of all LIS Professionals in India – Members/Non Members
  • Prepare a institutional member list
  • Listing of resource persons – for lectures/seminars/conferences/workshops with specialisations
  • Listing of emminent persons with their contributions given. Example: All LIS professionals from India and abroad already know of S R Ranganathan contributions. Ayyanki (Iyyanki) Venkata Ramanayya called Architect of Public Library Movement in India”, Vattikota Alwarswamy called Father of Telangana Grandhalaya Udyamam, Kodati Narayana Rao known as Doyen of Library Movement and Public Library Development in Andhra Pradesh will be lost to younger generation of LIS professionals. There may be many more from all over India.
• Guideship (supervisor)/Projects allocated only to Teaching LIS and not Practising LIS. An anomaly: I am a working librarian in Osmania University and I have been given guideship of PhD research scholars in Osmania University. There should be an exam for PhD supervisors (both working library professional or teaching faculty  can apply). Only if they qualify should they be given supervisorship or guideship. 
• MRP – Minor/Major research projects are awarded only to LIS faculty and not working professionals as per UGC rules. But this should be changed. 
• MOOCs and e-content.e-PG Pathashala says Any PG teacher, engaged in teaching in an Institution recognised by the UGC, for at least ten years, in the particular discipline. Working Librarian is not given opportunity. 
• Prepare listing of Library related MOOCs 
  • Basics of APA Style: An Online Course
  • CopyrightX/CopyX course from Harvard
  • Copyright for Educators and Librarians
  • Courses on Swayam
    • Refresher Course in Library and Information Science
    • Digital Libraries
    • Library Automation and Digitisation
• Listing all LIS newsletters and publishers
• Prepare a list of national and international LIS journals with country information with Tier 1, Tier2 and Tier 3 listing also include Open Access and Subscribed journal information,  Print and online journal information etc. If possible a white list, black list of LIS journals also can be prepared.
• Quality monitoring in Distance LIS education from all open universities not limited to IGNOU, BRAOU, KSOU etc
• Conduct session on API scores for CAS as per 7th CPC
• Emphasise standard citation style APA for LIS thesis in all universities in India
• Standardisation: ISO 11620:2014 – Information and documentation — Library performance indicators training and implementation
• Library Related Software Training: Subscribed Library Management Software like Libsys, Alice for Windows, Destiny from Follet and Open Source including Koha (Library Management Software) and Dspace (Institutional Repository Software)
• Membership to International Library organisations to be taken by various national LIS associations from India. ILA has got the membership of International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) in the category of National Association Membership, Band 11 and the Membership Code is IN-0002 for year 2017-18 (valid till 31 Dec 2018).
• Stress on Public Libraries as community centres. Ensure that the LIS professionals working in public libraries have basic facilities like water, toilets, chair and table to sit and work.
• Identify how many libraries for blind are there and how many more need to be introduced.
• Find out Innovative Library services being extended and felicitate the person/institutions extending them.
• How many innovative – out of box ideas – libraries are existing. Example: Boat Libraries, Train Libraries, Bike Libraries etc
• Prepare a tourist circuit of all major libraries in India and map them and organise visits

I have come across these issues. There are many more which I did not cover. Seeking LIS professionals views/opinions and also any discussion points with sourcing given which I aim to include mentioning their name. Kindly email me at AchalaMunigalRao@gmail.com

PLEASE NOTE: PLEASE NOTE: THESE ARE MY OPINIONS ONLY EXCEPT WHERE SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED!

My new article is out…

Library and Information Science Periodicals Published in India: An Overview
DOI:10.5958/0975-6922.2018.00030.X

http://www.indianjournals.com/ijor.aspx?target=ijor:pjolis&volume=12&issue=3&article=007

 

Request all to give their feedback at AchalaMunigalRao@gmail.com and share it with like minded professionals.

 

To know what other articles Ive written check out https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Gb9_FvkAAAAJ&hl=en

My new article is out…

Suggested code of ethics and professional conduct for library and information science professionals in India http://op.niscair.res.in/index.php/ALIS/article/view/19030

 

Request all to give their feedback at AchalaMunigalRao@gmail.com and share it with like minded professionals.

 

To know what other articles Ive written check out https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Gb9_FvkAAAAJ&hl=en

 

 

What is criteria under which a journal can be termed as ‘national’ or ‘international’?

When I was taking a lecture recently… A question was posed to me by one of the participants: What is criteria under which a journal is termed ‘National’ or ‘International’?

Terming a journal ‘national’ or ‘international’ is very dicey! There are lot of criteria to be considered! For those interested there are discussions around this at Quora, ResearchGate & LISLinks.

 

Many assume that it is simple

• Journals that have ‘International‘ ‘Global‘ ‘World‘ in their journal name is ‘international journal’ even if it is published in a ‘given country’ (India in this instance)
• Most opine any journal that is not published in India is is termed ‘international’. In other words, any journal that is published from any other country except from India can be termed ‘international’.

Does the above criteria make a journal truly ‘international’?

In globalized economy physical location does not matter as most ‘foreign’ publishers  have based their operations in India. On the other hand there are many open journals whose contact address lists a ‘foreign’ PO Box for communication but for all purposes is in India.

There is lot of confusion to most ‘novice’ researchers.

• Does language of the journal impact? Does the journal become international if it publishes in one/multiple ‘foreign’ languages?
• English is generally accepted as the lingua franca for scholarly communication. Will journal be ‘international’ if it publishes only in English language that is considered a common communication language in which most journals are published? There are many Indian journals that are not ‘international’, but are being published in English. A language by itself cannot be a single criteria to be termed international.
• Will journal be ‘international’ if the scope of journal is international that deals with subject/topics that are truly ‘international’ not ‘local’ in nature?

Many argue that any journal whose ISSN is assigned from a ‘given country’ is termed national for that country. But ISSN assigning agencies have been established in various countries for convenience and has no influence in terming a journal as national or international.

We can safely say a journal is ‘International’ if

• If journal has Editorial board that is truly international in its composition. Majority of editors should be from countries other than India. It should be noted that sometimes Chief Editor changes over time and ‘maybe’ from different countries including India. If the  Chief Editor is Indian it does not automatically qualify as ‘national’.
• Majority of published papers in the journal should be ‘international’ submissions. Not sure if authors of Indian origin residing in various countries or citizens from various global countries publish singly or in collaboration with Indians termed international.
• Majority subscriptions should originate from ‘global’ subscribers (individuals or institutions)
• Reviewers (experts of given discipline) from countries all over the world
• Published by a University or Association from any other country other than India
• Mention of journal in citation indexes that are accepted worldwide (as there a lot of bogus impact factors and predatory citation indexes mentioned by predatory publishers of their predatory journals)

Check out Jan J van Wingerden criteria for an International journal 

 

Criteria for ‘National’ Journal

• If journal published in any one of the Indian languages. Many journals are published in Bi-lingual/Tri-lingual/Multi-lingual and even in English language in India…. as English is generally accepted as the lingua franca for scholarly communication.
• If journal has Editorial board only from one country.
  • Note – India has many states. Editorial board can be from one state or from many states.

Sometimes editorial board of ‘national’ journal comprises of

• one/two editors who are Indians working in other countries
• one/two Indians who have migrated and taken citizenship of other countries
• one/two foreigners.

If majority in editorial board are Indians and journal is being published in India then journal is termed ‘National’.

• Majority of published papers in the journal are from within the country with a smattering of papers from abroad either as single authorship or collaborations with Indians is still termed ‘national’.
• Majority subscriptions should originate from within the country subscribers (individuals or institutions). There ‘maybe’ ‘few’ subscriptions from abroad also. Especially as journals are being published online it is easier for global reach.
• Majority of Reviewers (experts of given discipline) are from India only with an occasional reviewer from ‘abroad’.
• If the scope of journal is ‘national’ deals ‘majorly’ with subject/topics that are ‘local’ in content but also accepts ‘international’ relevant articles.
• Published by a University or Association of that country
• Mention of journal in country-wise citation indexes that are accepted worldwide

‘Many’ find the terms ‘National’ or ‘International’ are not important especially when it is Impact Factor that drives journal ranking. There are many bogus Impact Factors generated by Predatory Open Publishers/Journals which the researcher may not be aware of.  ‘Others’ stress the importance of ‘National’ or ‘International’ journals influencing jobs/projects they receive.

‘National’ or ‘International’ journal should not be a criteria for a researcher to publish. Researchers should find a correct vehicle to publish their article to be able to get a far wider readership or intended readership – Like minded people who are doing research on similar topic to be able to gain citations for their work.

Hope this helps.

Request all LIS professionals to read it and get in touch with me at AchalaMunigalRao@gmail.com if there is any discrepancy found.

Acknowledgements:

• Dr P Divakar Former Librarian, CCMB, Hyd

What is criteria under which a journal can be termed as ‘national’ or ‘international’? by Dr Achala Munigal is licensed under aCreative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Choose your CC license at https://creativecommons.org/choose/

Open Access (OA) Models: Terminology Alert!

Open Access is

• Gratis OA: removes price barriers
• Libre OA: removes both price and permission barriers

There are no ‘free lunches’ provided anywhere in the world…there is a hidden agenda….there are always strings attached!

Someone has to pay!

In the scholarly cycle one of the stakeholders listed below have to pay to ensure article reaches other authors/researchers/scholars/scientists/ interested parties!

• Author/Researcher/Scholar
• Institution
• Funding Agency
• Philanthropist
• Government
• Publisher
• Subscribers/Users
• Libraries

Traditionally commercial publisher invited authors to submit their articles to be published in their journals and extended services like proofread, typesetted, copy edited, sent for peer review, published/printed, and globally distributed and marketed on behalf of author. All the profits accrued were enjoyed by the publisher justified by him for his publishing efforts and services rendered. Only those who were highly celebrated authors/researchers/scholars whose work sold received a royalty amount for their work.

If the author wanted to publish an article – he/she had to pay to publisher for his services to get it published. The publisher ensured there was no contention in future for author to demand remuneration for his/her work incase it was well received so publisher introduced a copyright form which author has to sign to waive of his rights of his/her intellectual property to benefit the publisher.

The publisher introduced various models for publication.

Types/Kinds/Models of Open Access

• Gold OA where the author pays publisher as APC (article processing charge) and the work is made available immediately. The author directly pays or the funding agency covers it (usually the author budgets the publication fees in their applications for funds).
• Colors of Open Access depending on archival policies
  • green are preprint or post print (publisher’s version/PDF) of journal articles are hosted in digital repositories or online archives free for all to access
  • blue can archive post-print after refereeing or publisher’s version/PDF
  • yellow can archive pre-print draft before refereeing
  • white where archiving is not formally supported
  • black also called guerrilla where illegal paywalled article copies from academic social networks or pirate sites can be accessed and is said to be disruptive form of OA
• Platinum OA where the publishers depend on funding by foundations, non profits, etc. and do not charge authors APC but allow them to retain copyright of their work; and also to share and reuse provided its cited. “Diamond OA”; “Universal Access”; “Universal OA” are other terms synonomously used for Platinum OA.
• Hybrid OA where a commercial publisher publishes free articles (where author signed away copyright) and paid articles (where author pays to make his/her article free for all) are published in same volume/issue.
• Wondering if a ‘Unique OA’ model can be established where all stakeholders (authors, institutions, subscribers/users, government, funding agencies, philanthropist, publishers, libraries) pay a percentage of charges to make it a viable model.

Sources:

http://www.sherpa.ac.uk/romeoinfo.html

http://www.sherpa.ac.uk/documents/sherpaplusdocs/Nottingham-colour-guide.pdf

http://www.ncl.ac.uk/openaccess/green-gold/

https://cen.acs.org/articles/95/i25/Open-access-comes-shades.html

http://www.openaccesspublishing.org

https://www.martineve.com/2012/08/31/open-access-needs-terminology-to-distinguish-between-funding-models-platinum-oagold-non-apc/

https://openscience.uni-bielefeld.de/1013/what-is-platinum-open-access

LIS Conferences in India – Pertinent questions or not?

Friends…comments requested…

‘Most’ LIS conferences organisers policy – FIRST – Pay Registration fee Accommodation charges (invariably limited on first come first served basis)

Then it will be informed if your paper which is under review – is selected for presentation or not!

Why would anyone want to pay few thousands without confirmation?

I will be incurring almost 10,000 for registration & accommodation and another 10-15000 for flight! Is it worth spending 20-25,000 approx for one conference?

The website does not even state who the speakers are…..

Why can’t organizers plan better?

Most organizers say that paper is being reviewed and will wait to inform participant… till just before conference!

Participants need to take necessary official permissions….. book ‘limited’ accommodation at conference venue & train/flight tickets in advance! Getting train tickets is difficult at short notice & flight gets expensive!

Is this the right way? Or do we have a better way?

Not trying to blame anyone particular …but my question is sure to ruffle few feathers…

Q1. Should advance Intimation of accepted paper for presentation should be made mandatory or not ….before necessary amounts are paid?

Q2. Are the LIS conferences held in India (national or international)  worth spending so much on? What are we learning? Are keynote presenters presenting innovative content? Are we getting to know Indian library examples providing innovative services or know more examples from foreign countries? Are the papers by participants new or again a rehash? Or are we just attending these conferences for API…or to meet, connect, network with people…… criticize/enjoy food ….check out tourist places?

Childrens Book Awards & Lists

• • (Laura Ingalls) Wilder Awards http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/wildermedal
  • (Theodor Seuss) Geisel Awards http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/geiselaward
  • 100 Great Children’s Books, New York Public Library https://www.nypl.org/childrens100
  • American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books http://www.sbfonline.com/Subaru/Pages/PrizesHome.aspx
  • American Indian Youth Literature Award http://ailanet.org/activities/american-indian-youth-literature-award/
  • Bank Street College of Education’s Irma Black Award http://bankstreet.edu/irmablack/list-winners/
  • Best Books, School Library Journal http://slj.com/bestof2016/index.php
  • Best Children’s Books , Bank Street College of Education https://www.bankstreet.edu/center-childrens-literature/childrens-book-committee/best-books-year/2016-edition/
  • Best Children’s Books, Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/b?node=9481759011
  • Best Children’s Books, Brain Pickings https://www.brainpickings.org/2016/12/12/the-best-childrens-books-of-2016/
  • Best Children’s Picture Books , Publishers Weekly http://best-books.publishersweekly.com/pw/best-books/2016
  • Big Little Book Award http://biglittlebookaward.in/#home
  • Book of the Year Awards by the Children’s Book Council of Australia http://www.cbca.org.au/book-of-the-year
  • Book of the Year for Children Award from the Canadian Library Association http://cla.ca/cla-at-work/awards/book-of-the-year-for-children-award/
  • Boston Globe’s Horn Book Awards http://www.hbook.com/boston-globe-horn-book-awards/
  • Caldecott Medal http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/caldecottmedal
  • Charlotte Zolotow Awards http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/books/zolotow.asp
  • Children’s Africana Book Awards http://africaaccessreview.org/childrens-africana-book-awards/
  • Children’s Books Ireland (CBI) Book of the Year Awards http://childrensbooksireland.com/cbi-book-of-the-year-awards/
  • Children’s Literature Association’s Phoenix Award http://www.childlitassn.org/phoenix-award
  • CILIP Carnegie Medal http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/carnegie.php
  • CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/greenaway.php
  • Comstock-Gág Read Aloud Book Awards Winners https://www.mnstate.edu/cmc/read-aloud-winners-2005-2013.aspx
  • Coretta Scott King Awards http://www.ala.org/emiert/cskbookawards
  • Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize https://www.theguardian.com/books/guardianchildrensfictionprize
  • Hot Off the Press, Children’s Book Council http://www.cbcbooks.org/hot-off-the-press/
  • IBBY Hans Christian Andersen Awards http://www.ibby.org/index.php?id=273
  • Mildred L. Batchelder Award http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/batchelderaward/index.cfm
  • National Book Award for Young People’s Literature http://www.nationalbook.org/_nba_upallnight_ypl_about.html#.WHWLKoWcFPZwww.nationalbook.org/nba2010.html
  • NCTE Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children http://www.ncte.org/awards/orbispictus
  • NCTEAward for Excellence in Poetry for Children http://www.ncte.org/awards/poetry
  • NCTECharlotte Huck Award for Outstanding Fiction for Children http://www.ncte.org/awards/charlotte-huck
  • New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults http://www.nzbookawards.nz/new-zealand-book-awards-for-children-and-young-adults
  • Newbery Medal http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/newberymedal
  • Notable Children’s Books, American Library Association http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/notalists/ncb
  • Notable Children’s Books, The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/23/books/review/notable-childrens-books-of-2016.html
  • Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, National Council for the Social Studies http://www.socialstudies.org/notable
  • Noteworthy Books for Children and Teens, Capitol Choices http://www.capitolchoices.org/
  • Odyssey Audiobooks Awards http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/odysseyaward
  • Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12, National Science Teachers Association http://www.nsta.org/ostbc
  • Pacific Northwest Library Association’s Young Reader’s Choice Award http://www.pnla.org/yrca
  • Parents’ Choice Award Winners, Parents’ Choice Foundation http://www.parents-choice.org/award.cfm?thePage=books&p_code=p_boo
  • Pura Belpré Awards http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/belpremedal
  • Recommended Books by Theme, Reading Rockets http://www.readingrockets.org/books/booksbytheme
  • Red Dot Book Awards https://sites.google.com/site/reddotbookawards20152016/
  • Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Awards http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/sibertmedal
  • Schneider Family Book Award http://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/schneider-family-book-award
  • Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction http://www.scottodell.com/pages/ScottO%27DellAwardforHistoricalFiction.aspx
  • We Need Diverse Books’ Walter Dean Myers Award http://weneeddiversebooks.org/we-need-diverse-bookstm-announces-the-2016-winners-of-the-walter-dean-myers-award-for-outstanding-childrens-literature-young-adult-category/

Check out

Indian Children’s Book Publishers (Alphbetical)

 

For additions to this list please email me at AchalaMunigalRao@gmail.com

Letter to MY Precious Princess!

18 Jan 2017

 

Dear Mia,

 

There is so much to share with you when you are on the verge of becoming a young lady and leaving your teenage years behind…

 

I can see the flashback in my mind….as in movies!

 

The first time I saw you I thought “Ten pretty fingers & ten beautiful toes…. Filled with cuteness & topped with one button nose!”

 

You were the most beautiful child on earth. Your crying was like music to my ears (sadistic eh!). Honestly I was working and missed you so much that any sound you made was like music. I spent hours just looking at you. Inspite of the poop & puke (grossed you out eh!) you still smelt like a garden of flowers (actually it was Johnsons soap, shampoo & powder). Don’t roll your eyes…. All said and done….You were a picture perfect baby…..My baby!

 

Suddenly I realised…. That my baby grew up and I was celebrating one year birthday of my princess with red balloons in heart shape & a huge cake with your grandparents, maasi and cousin sis…. with host of relatives in attendance. As time passed you slowly grew into a naughty little minx whose antics kept me thoroughly entertained and fully occupied. Don’t know when but you evolved into a monster – this scary monster – who got on my nerves – who questioned everyone and everything.  I was almost loosing hope as the monster was growing out-of-proportions; when I slowly started noticing teeny-tiny changes – a quiet metamorphosis into this responsible, confident, thoughtful, caring, lovely young lady who started ‘momming’ her own mommy. The only thing constant through all this ‘Sturm und Drang’ was your unflinching and unquestionable love.

 

I AM SO PROUD OF THE WAY YOU HAVE TURNED OUT.

BEAUTIFUL INSIDE OUT!!

 

And to tell you honestly – I was secretly ‘MOSTLY smiles inside’ with frown outside. Ive thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the roller-coaster ride.

 

Earlier, I may not have told you in so many words but always hoped that all my hugs conveyed to you my love and that you are the best thing that has happened to me in my life. I have always believed that love is not told in words but shown in deeds. But of late realised – that both are very… very… necessary. So I am writing to you. Although…Not very sure if writing letters is an obsolete sentiment in age of email, sms, chat & whatsapp! But when did I confirm to custom…so read on…..

 

I may not have been the best of moms or given you the life of a princess that you truly deserved. But I would like to tell you that you have been the best daughter in every way you possibly could be! Yes, even with your **** attitude and all. You are all of sugar and spice and all things nice! (Got it…Got it!!) I would not have liked you any other way.

 

I hoped to be the loving sweet mom whose brow is smooth and unlined while dealing with their children as shown in commercials….. but I think….. I came across as the ever stressed out mom, harried, pressed for time, rushing from one place to another, worried, tired most of the time, irritable MOM… who was busy with office and house work – and when free… was constantly lecturing you on one topic or the other. I hope that I have not taught you unconsciously that work comes over relationships. It does not!! Family is very important. Who would you turn to look and smile… when you have reached the pinnacle of success you have dreamed about? Its family!

 

Every person who comes into your life has come for a reason: Family you are born into or friends you cultivate in your lifetime. Should you want to keep it at stranger equation or relationship level or form a lifelong bond or chuck them out of your life is upto you.

 

I want you to know that every relationship needs a lot of time first for understanding to take place and later for bonding to occur. Love and Respect too are on same scale of importance but will come in time. Be it Daughter-Mother-GrandParents, Friend-Friend, Wife-Husband, between Daughter-in-Law and Parents-in-Law every relationship needs time with which comes understanding followed by respect….only then will love grow & flourish. Do not take any relationship for granted. Take out time from your busy schedule daily to meet-and-talk if in same place or call-and-talk if separated by distance. Yes Daily otherwise it will be postponed to later and then forgotten…. And then it is too late!!!

 

Even the Boss-Employee needs a lot of work and patience for the understanding and respect to grow. As respect cannot be demanded or bought…it has to be earned.

 

But patience and understanding does not mean that you become a doormat for anyone. You need to take a stand…. Make your own choices that are not based on fear or society accepted patterns or what you think others want from you.

 

Be your own person.

 

When to forgive and forget; or when to take a stand – take it headlong by horns – is what you need to decide. Because to win a war is to loose a friend. Is it worth it? You decide. Sometimes you win battles but loose wars! Can you afford to loose the main war? Think. So…sometimes to win wars – it is ok to loose couple of battles.

 

Choose your battles and wars wisely.

There will always be battles of mind and of the heart. Both give equal valid reasoning – don’t trust either – always listen to your inner voice – which will give you a right feeling and guide you in all your tough decisions of mind and heart. And whatever be your decision leading to right or wrong results, stand by it. Yes, there will be times you have taken right decision and sometimes wrong. Be bold to own it up – celebrate it if right and correct it if wrong. Nothing wrong in accepting that you were wrong. Remember you are human.

 

Just remember never do half hearted or half baked things. Give your 101% to everything you do and if it does not work out…nothing wrong in leaving it behind for your peace of mind. You will have the satisfaction of already having tried. Moving on is life.

 

Life is short – Make it sweet & enjoy it – Don’t make it tough for yourself by overthinking or for others by crying or whining over it. Nobody likes complainers & whiners!

 

There is always duality in nature…good with bad…ying with yang…black with white! So good phase is always followed by bad…. And bad with good! Cycle of life! So always have money, family and friends close by (not necessarily in same order!)

 

Who ever said money does not buy happiness had way too much of it! I believe it is not end all but most necessary for buying stuff you like and keeping good health which is happiness again! Can you get a good doctor to treat you without money?

 

I had struggled to make ends meet not once but twice in my life believing life will stop or get tired of handing me lemons. Life did not stop! Nor did I…. Stop making lemonade ie. I have realised….Money is important….very important infact…to make that lemonade much more sweeter!

 

Life is too short. Don’t spend time on earning so much there is no time left to spend – what you have earned! As long as there is a home to come back to… you can spend the rest on eating, travelling, meeting new people and gaining wonderful experiences…instead of creating movable and immovable property!

 

My advice to you is 60-30-10% rule – where 60% spent on yourself/family, 30% save for future and 10% spend on others….yes spending on strangers (orphans and old people) will make you appreciate all that you have & not take it for granted and give you lot of happiness of being useful to others.

 

Talking of money…there were times I could ill afford to spend money on trips & vacations which you graciously understood and accepted and there were times I spent a fortune when I could not afford it but just seeing your eyes light up & your wide beaming smile when you received what your heart desired made up for my empty pocket & worried mind. Hoping that all my struggles may have wizened you up! Hoping you will remember & appreciate the time I spent with you rather than remember the money I could not!

 

I want to give loads of other advices and clichés and save you from all negative things in life but have realised that you need to make your own experiences.

 

Always remember whenever you look back, you will always find me standing behind you – supporting you. (Scary eh if Im dead! LOLZ)

 

On a serious note, I fully trust you and know that you will be successful in every sense! Fly as high as you can….soar over the clouds… reach the stars….

 

Today ….I promise you….and myself….

I hope…I will always be the wind beneath your wings not the iron chain around your ankles.

 

I just want you to know that… I believe that…. I too have grown into a better person because of you. I appreciate my parents more now than ever ….because of you! I also want to tell you how much I appreciate you as a daughter and as a human being…..

 

Hoping you will have a memorable 18^th Birthday. Don’t let reality ruin your life…dream on with eyes open 🙂

 

Now go and conquer the world!

 

Yours Loving Mom

A