1. Introduction: The “Library and Information Science (LIS)” is formed by
merging the concept of “library science” and “information science”, and it is
the academic and professional study of issues related to libraries and the
information science that includes how information and information carriers are produced, disseminated,
discovered, evaluated, selected, acquired, used, organized, maintained, and
managed. This includes academic studies regarding how
library resources are used and how people interact with library systems. These
studies also tend to be specific to certain libraries at certain times. The
organization of knowledge for efficient retrieval of relevant information is
also a major research goal of LIS. However, there are many thinkers who see the
library science and information science as overlapping discipline.
2. Origin of Library and
Information Science: The term “library science”
first appeared in the early 1930’s, in the title of Dr. S. R. Ranganathan’s
“The Five Laws of Library Science” and in the title of Lee Pierce Butler’s 1933
book “An Introduction to Library Science”. In 1959, Information Science began
to be used in USA as a general brand for documentation which is summarized as a
discipline that investigates properties as well as behavior of information,
forces governing the flow of information and the means for processing
information for optimal accessibility and usability.
3. Definition: Library and Information Science is concerned with the body of
knowledge relating to the origin, storage, retrieval, transmission and
utilization of information. It generally refers to the data, information, knowledge and wisdom.
According to Borko, Information Science is an interdisciplinary
science that investigates the properties and behavior of information, the
forces that govern the flow and use of information and the technique, both
manual and mechanical, of processing information for optimal storage, retrieval
and dissemination. He further stated that information science has both pure
science components which enquire into the subject without regard to its
application and applied science components which develop services and products.
Librarianship and documentation are also the applied aspect of information
science.
According to J. H. Shera, Librarianship is the generic term and
information science is an area of research which draws its substance, method
and techniques from a variety of disciplines to achieve and understand the
properties, behaviour and flow of information. Information science contributes
to the theoretical and intellectual base for the librarians operation.
According to C. G. Viswanathan, Information science is concerned
with the principles and techniques governing the transfer and communication of
organized thought (knowledge) from one human to another and ultimately to
society.
According to P. B. Mangla, Information science is a discipline which
is concerned with the study of the properties and behaviour of information as
well as the forces influencing the flow of information.
According to P. H. William both library science and information
science are swiftly developing subjects and so the relation between them is in
a constant stage of change.
The Library and Information Science is at the cross road of science
seeking a basic principle which would bring together the knowledge in a general
framework in which each discipline would have its own place and in which its
relationship with other discipline would be clearly perceived. The activities
and programmes in LIS often overlap with the activities of computer science,
various social sciences, statistics, and system analysis.
4. Educational
Requirements and Study Avenues in Library and Information Science: The educational requirement for the
library job depends on the type of library where one chooses to work and it may
ranges from a certificate course to the Ph.D. Following are the different institutes
that provide study avenues in Library and Information Science in Assam.
a) Certificate
/ Diploma: Eligibility is Class X + II. In Assam,
Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University has the
Diploma in Library and Information Science programme where the entry
qualification is Class X + II.
b) Bachelor Degree: Eligibility is Graduate in any discipline from a recognized
University by the University Grants Commission. In Assam, Dibrugarh University
and Indira Gandhi National Open University have the 1 year Bachelor degree
programme where the entry qualification is graduate in any subjects.
c) Master
Degree: A Master's Degree in Library Science (M.Lib.I.Sc. / MLISc / MLS) or
Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science (MLISc) is required for most
librarian jobs in public, college or special libraries. It usually takes two
years to complete a MLISc programme. Gauhati University, Assam University,
Dibrugarh University, Assam Women’s University, Jorhat; University of Science
and Technology, Meghalaya (USTM), and Indira Gandhi National Open University
have the Master Degree programme in Library and Information Science where the
entry qualification is graduate in any subjects.
d) M.Phil.: M.Phil.
is usually a one year programme after the master degree in Library and
Information Science. In Assam, Gauhati University and Assam University provides
M.Phil. degree in Library and Information Science.
e) Ph.D.: A Ph.D.
degree in Library and Information science will help one to get the top
administrative position in any kind of library. If you want to go for Ph.D.
then Gauhati University, Assam University or Indira Gandhi National Open
University are there to come at par your expectation.
f) NET / SET: A
National Eligibility Test (NET) or State Eligibility Test (SET) in Library and
Information Science can help one get a teaching position at a college or
university or an administrative position in the rank of Librarian, Assistant Librarian
in a college or university library.
g) Specialization: Some librarians have an additional degree in the area in which
they specialize. Many librarians take continuing education classes to keep up
with changing technology. Programme like Post Graduate Diploma in Library
Automation and Networking (PGDLAN), Diploma in Digital Library, Postgraduate
Diploma in Intellectual Property Law and Practice, etc may help in this regard.
5. Job Avenues in Library and Information
Science: There are tremendous job opportunities for the
Library and Information Science professionals. One can choose to work from a
school to the university system and from a news channel to the world’s renowned
internet based companies. They can also choose to become a teacher or a
librarian. In general the job opportunities in the field of Library and
Information Science can be categorized into the following-
a) Academic
Library: School / College / University / IIT / IIM
b)
Public Library: National, State, District, Rural
c) Special
Library
i) Medical or Hospital
ii) Research and Development Centres. For
example: ICSSR, BARC, etc.
iii) News Agency: TV Channel, Newspaper, etc.
iv) Banking Sector: Reserve Bank of India, State
Bank of India, etc.
v) Indian Railways
vi) Museum and Archives
vii) Traditional Companies: For Example: Oil
India Limited
viii) International Centres. For example
UNESCO, WHO, etc.
ix) Government Ministries Including Central and
State
x) Firms related to Database, E-Journals,
E-Books, Indexes, Abstracting
xii) Internet Based Companies: Google, Yahoo,
Facebook
d)
Entrepreneur
i) Be an Information Broker / Information Consultant / Free-lancer
ii) Develop Subject Specific Websites and Make Money from
Advertising
iii) Create Paid Contents / Paid Membership Websites
iv) Provide Paid Library Services
v) Be a Vendor of Reading Materials, Library Materials / Furniture
vi) Write to Get Paid
vii) Start an Online Business
viii) Provide Training to Others
6. Contributors to Library
and Information Science: Many practicing librarians
do not contribute to LIS scholarship but focus on daily operations of their own
library systems. Other practicing librarians, particularly in academic
libraries, do perform original scholarly LIS research and contribute to the
academic end of the field. On this basis, it has sometimes been proposed that
LIS is distinct from librarianship, in a way analogous to the difference
between medicine and doctoring. In this view, librarianship, the application of
library science, would comprise the practical services rendered by librarians
in their day-to-day attempts to meet the needs of library patrons. Some other
scholars are of the view that the two terms do not make any distinction and can
be treated as synonyms.
7. Conclusion: The
library and information science deals with all aspects of information and
knowledge which includes acquisition of materials, classification and
cataloguing, searching tools, information retrieval, preservation and
conservation of documents and so on. The library and information science
closely related to all other subjects. It forms its own foundation by taking
the help of some other subjects.
How to Cite this
Article?
APA Citation, 7th Ed.: Barman, B. (2020). A comprehensive book on Library and Information Science. New
Publications.
Chicago 16th Ed.: Barman, Badan. A Comprehensive Book on Library and Information Science. Guwahati:
New Publications, 2020.
MLA Citation 8th Ed: Barman, Badan. A Comprehensive Book on Library and Information Science. New
Publications, 2020.

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