Replies to This Forum

Permalink Reply by Dr. Badan Barman on December 6, 2013 at 4:39

I am hereby quoting the sentences of Tejas Shah, Librarian, VVP Engineering College, Rajkot with slight modification.

UGC prepared the draft “UGC [Approval of Colleges offering Technical Education by Universities] Regulations, 2013” and make it available over: http://www.ugc.ac.in/pdfnews/8410050_Draft-Regulations-on-Tech-and-... on 3rd December 2013.
In this document it is mentioned that library facility is needed for the technical colleges, but it excluded the very important role of library professionals in technical education. In simple, in the days to come no technical institutes will give emphasis on appointment of permanent librarian, they might work with the contractual library staff which will further degrade the quality of education and role of library professionals in the education system. It will also bring devastation to the library profession as a whole. This is the right time to raise voice against such discrimination and request to the UGC to clearly mention the need of at least one librarian in the UGC Revised Rule Column No.8.1, where otherwise it is mentioned that "Technical Colleges shall appoint teaching staff / Principal / Director and other technical supporting staff and administrative staff strictly in accordance with the methods and procedures of the concerned affiliating University, State Governments and Hon. Court directions if any and as applicable in the case of selection procedures and selection committees."

The last date of sending the suggestion for modification to the email id kpsingh.ugc@nic.in is on or before 9-12-2013.

This is very important for the future of library profession. Please do needful as and when we have the time to change it. There is no value of crying afterwards.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dr. Vinod Kumar on December 6, 2013 at 17:46

E-mail sent to kpsingh.ugc@nic.in

Subject:Avoid ambiguity for the appointment of Librarian in the Technical and other Professional Courses.

Sir,

This is in reference to the “UGC draft Regulations, 2013 on [Approval of Colleges offering Technical Education by Universities] and available at: http://www.ugc.ac.in/pdf. Please make it convenient to clearly mention the post of Librarian and DPE  w.r.t. educational qualification as per the UGC norms in Revised Rule Column No.8.1, in the absence of which the colleges may appoint  incompetent less qualified librarian on low salary just to earn profit but their profit will degrade the quality of education and role of library professionals in the education system. 

 

With regards

Dr. Vinod Kumar

Deputy Librarian,

Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology, Hisar-125001

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by harshendra yadav on December 6, 2013 at 20:02

Sir,

These might be the bad effects of not having a librarian in technical colleges------

1. Library might convert in a store room.
2. Students/research scholars will see them self standing in a square and asking where to go.
3. Teachers will lose good friend who show the right point to search material within a very less time.
4. Librarian provides a frame for library collection it’s like helping to identify a particular star in the sky.

And most important things what I feel is it will demolish the very important pillar of the “temple of learning” heart of the educational institute. Specially for technical institutions where collecting & providing latest information to students is very important.

Sir, sometimes assistant or an experience substitute can do everything but librarian works like a captain of a ship it holds the nerve/discipline of the whole cru & makes very important decision in a very crucial time.

So please do not degrade it, it will also vanished the efforts of Padamshree Dr. S R Ranganathan, Father of library Science.

 -Librarian Takshshila Instt. of Engg. & Technology

Jabalpur (MP)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tomy Varghese on December 9, 2013 at 18:19

 

 

Sir,

This is with reference to draft of regulations on Technical and Professional Education published in the web site for public for suggestion for improvement.

 

The following are the suggestions.

1)      The term “teaching staff” is quite vague. Instead of that, use the term ‘Academic Staff’ that includes College Librarian. The UGC had made National Eligibility in Teaching mandatory for The College Librarian. UGC is conducting the test for Library Science discipline along with other subjects twice in every year. Any discrimination will be deviation from the standards.

 

Since College Librarian’s job includes continuous user education, orientation etc., it is appropriate to define the College Librarian as teacher. Most of the universities around the world have adopted this line.  Many of the Indian Universities also defines College Librarian as teacher.

 

Government of Maharashtra in its statute to provide for the implementation of the revised pay scale and other measures for maintenance of standards in higher education (statute 2010) defines:-

 

            3.

 d) “ Teacher means full time approved Professor, Assistant Professor, Lecturer, librarian, director of physical education in any conducted/ affiliated or autonomous Engineering college, engineering/ technology faculties, departments of universities or other institutions of technical education including  Architecture and Pharmacy at degree or equivalent level”.

2) Academic Department Status for Library

The apex councils like AICTE and UGC are insisting to provide high end facilities in Degree level technical institution libraries. The apex councils like AICTE made it mandatory subscription for on line international journals to Library repository every year. That costs several Lacs of operational expenditure every year. So as books and other resources. In many colleges these facilities are poorly used. An evaluation system based on the effective usage of the Library resources is also suggested. Since the College Librarian is with a high academic qualification like NET, he/she may be entrusted for this. Sessional marks may include library usage also.

More than 25% of the total population visits or availing service of the College Library every day, in Degree level technical institutions. But most of the institutions consider the Library as an asylum for late comers, undisciplined students; to engage a teacher less class or completing assignments, records etc.  In most cases this is with the knowledge of the authorities of the college. Conferring academic status for College Libraries will certainly work wonders in effective utilization and allover developments of students.

3) Library Staffing

There is no standard available for Library staffing. Taking advantage of this vagueness, many Self supported Colleges are cutting short their expenses by neglecting Library staff requirements.  Hence   a comprehensive staff pattern and pay scale for staff of the College Library is suggested.

4) Promotion of Library Staff

College Librarian entering into service retires in the same designation and status. While, his teaching counterparts get timely promotion and status upgrade.  No time bound promotional formula is not known for the Librarian’s post. Even some  institutions with Post Graduate studies have Librarians only. Therefore a time bound as well as programme bound promotion for Library staff is suggested i.e. Colleges who have completed 4 years’ of function shall have a Senior Librarian at par with Associate Professor. Similarly Colleges, that are conducting PG programs shall have a Chief Librarian at par with Professor.

 

 

Suggested By: Tomy Varghese,

TC 10/375, Mannanthala P.O.,

Thiruvananthapuram.

Kerala Pin 695015.

Phone: 9496366559

Email: tomyvar11@gmail.com

 

                        

Attachments:

• Suggestions UGC.docx, 15 KB

• ▶ Reply