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. 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 members (voters list) 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?
- 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. I also encourage like minded professionals who want to contribute to nominate themselves.
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 professional but now the position is offered on 10 Dec 2018 to Prof. J P Joorel Head Department of Statistics from University of Jammu.
- 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
- 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!
