The position of Assistant Librarian, Deputy Librarian, Librarian in University level organizations, and Librarian in College level organizations is at par with that of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Professor in Universities and Colleges in regards to entry qualification (NET/SLET/SET, Ph.D., API Score, etc.) and pay scale. Librarians are treated as Academic/Teaching Staff by UGC / AICTE. However, in a recent announcement by the UGC, Librarians are deprived of taking Major and Minor research project. As mentioned in the University Grants Commission Research Project for Teachers XII Plan Guidelines (2012-2017), “Only the teaching faculty of Library Science, Physical Education, Principals and Vice-Chancellors will also be eligible to participate in the scheme”, and as referred in University Grants Commission Minor Research Project for Teachers XII Plan Guidelines (2012-2017) “Only the teaching faculty of Library Science, Physical Education will also be eligible to participate in the scheme”. This is an injustice to the Library and Information Science professionals. It is disgraceful to find that in the XII Plan, Librarians are excluded from the eligibility to get research projects under the UGC; although they were eligible in the XI Plan. This exclusion is highly demotivating to the Library and Information Science professionals and may affect the whole education system of the country. If the Librarians are debarred from taking Major and Minor research project, the growth and development of the Libraries will face many hurdles.

            Libraries are very important part of an educational institute, and the people working in it are the backbone of that institute. Various committees have also cited the importance of libraries and library professionals. In this era of inter-disciplinary studies, information explosion and digital deluge, students learn more from various kinds of resources. The Librarians deals with the entire universe of knowledge and professional librarians are often acknowledged as "instructor of instructors". Only the librarians are looking after the acquisition, classification and supply of written information to the students, faculty and others in any kind of educational institution. If the librarians fail due to wrong policies it will retard the growth of culture and economy, and affect the quality of education in any type of educational institute.

In an initiative taken by LIS Links (www.lislinks.com), which is India’s largest social network for Library and Information Science professionals, a memorandum has been sent to Prof. Ved Prakash, Chairman, University Grants Commission (UGC), Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi detailing the disparities towards Library and Information Science professionals in the UGC guidelines for Major and Minor research project. The memorandum has been signed by 1216 number of Library and Information Science professionals from all over India covering representatives from each State and Union Territory. A copy of the letter is also sent to Dr. M. Mangapati Pallan Raju, Minister, Office of the Minister of Human Resource Development, Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Minister of State, Office of the Minister of State for Human Resource Development, and Shri Jitin Prasada, Minister of State, Office of the Minister of State for Human Resource Development.

            In the memorandum, the LIS Links appealed UGC and MHRD to look into the matter and try to uplift Librarianship in the Country by removing the disparity between teachers and library professionals. In the communication to UGC and MHRD, the LIS Links stated that while the whole world is appreciating librarianship and the role of libraries in furthering education, it cannot be considered an appropriate move by UGC that would degrade the quality in the whole education system of the country.

Note: This press release is sent to all the newspapers and TV Channels of India. However, I request all of you to kindly take necessary initiative so that the news is covered by all the local and national newspapers.

Indian Post: Speed Post Tracking Id of the Letters

1. Prof. Ved Prakash, Chairman, University Grants Commission (UGC), Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi: 110 002. Speed Post Tracking Number: ES625614187IN.

2. Dr. M. Mangapati Pallan Raju, Minister, Office of the Minister of Human Resource Development, Shastri Bhawan, C-Wing, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi-110001. Speed Post Tracking Number: ES625614195IN.

3. Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Minister of State, Office of the Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Shastri Bhawan, C-Wing, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi-110001. Speed Post Tracking Number: ES625614200IN.

4. Shri Jitin Prasada, Minister of State, Office of the Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Shastri Bhawan, C-Wing, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi-110001. Speed Post Tracking Number: ES625614173IN.

Keeping the Track of This Burning Issue

Post 1: Librarians are Not Eligible to Apply for UGC Major and Minor Research Project: http://lislinks.com/forum/topics/librarians-are-not-eligible-to-app...

Post 2: Draft Letter to UGC to Include Librarian in Eligibility to Apply for Major/Minor Research Project. http://lislinks.com/forum/topics/letter-to-ugc-to-include-librarian...

Post 3: Sign the Petition: Inclusion of Librarians in the UGC Major and Minor Research Projects. http://lislinks.com/forum/topics/sign-the-petition-inclusion-of-lib...

Post 4: LIS Links Press Release: UGC Major and Minor Research Project. http://lislinks.com/forum/topics/lis-links-press-release-ugc-major-...

Post 5: MHRD and UGC Reply: Librarians are not Eligible for UGC Major and Minor Research Projects. http://lislinks.com/forum/topics/mhrd-and-ugc-reply-librarians-are-...