Librarianship Redefined

Librarianship Redefined Geeta Rani Sharma, Librarian, Govt Girls Degree College Sewapuri, Varanasi

Library Readers Resources Staff

Librarian One who liberates from: Ignorance Distance Barriers Limitations

SO • Be

Happy

• •

&

Keep

because You Are In

a

Library

Smiling

Custodians of knowledge Information Scientists Knowledge Managers Knowledge Engineers

Knowledge Is Power

BUT

…..we, the librarians, are “hurt souls”

………….. These are nothing,

but

hear

The sighs, we often take &

Reasons are many • • • • •

Identity Crisis So-called autonomy Undue interference Loads of work Denial of even basic rights and • Many more, which are still – – –

Unsaid Undefined unidentified

Will we still say Knowledge Is Power ?

Because we are Custodians of knowledge Information Scientists Knowledge Managers Knowledge Engineers ???

So, what looks easiest • To locate responsible people to be held guilty and….. …….if we could do something

Does the road end here? • Are we • destined to bear the grunt? • OR • Ready to face the music?

Lets answer some simple questions • Where do we stand? • Are we ourselves not guilty? • Are we prepared for the future to come? • What do we plan to keep pace with the ever advancing technology and resultant professional challenges? • Do we devise the techniques to tackle the inevitable in-house problems or just laments that nothing can be done?

Some Examples

Case history 1Acquisition • Problem •. • Solution •. • Result •.

Case history 3Collection Development • Problem: • Same list in third consecutive year • Multiple copies of English medium books • Solution: • Presented the common lists • Prepared the related statistics • Result: • The list was cancelled

Case history 2-Staffing • Problem: • No support staff • Solution: • Networked the college students; provided incentives and awarded them with special prizes • Result: • Proper functioning of library and reading room services

An ironic case historyBudget • Problem: • Prefixing by vested interests • Solution: • Convinced the authorities regarding the repercussions • Result: • Things went in favour up to the maximum extent possible

What needed is • Self –realization – – – – – –

Assess our potential Overcome our weaknesses Empowering our strength areas Keep ourselves updated Be techno-savvy Keep pace with time

In fact • Librarians are made of some exclusive stuff • Who can face the tide of time • -can take up the challenges • -can survive on their own terms & conditions