Read the e-age!
THE Internet and the world-wide-web have brought in new ways to gather information. This has changed people's approach to books, storing and retrieving information. And has, in turn, rationalised the job of the librarian. These changes are forcing students to look for an exciting career in library science.
The study can be called information science, says K. S. Raghavan, Professor and Head of the Department of Information Science, University of Madras. This career can be divided into many areas. Information science professionals collect, catalogue, index and store books, periodicals, microfilms, tapes, videos, palm leaves and slides.
Today, information is available in electronic form and is easily accessible. Library without books is already turning a reality. Today's library is more of an information resource centre where you have access to what you have in print form. Printed books are more reader-friendly but compact discs are more convenient as they remove across time and space barrier. So the electronically stored material has an edge over printed books. This has changed the role of the librarian, who has to be computer-savvy and adept at retrieving the required information. They also help to convert printed journals and books into an electronic form and give the readers an option of reading e-journals on their computers.
The University of Madras offers a Masters in Information Science, a two-year course covering four semesters, says Prof. K. S. Raghavan. Course areas include library planning and management, information systems processing and management, bibliography, classification/cataloguing systems, microfilming, archives management, preservation and conversation of manuscript, web page designing, technical writing, multimedia authoring tools and so on.
This course has a choice-based credit system that allows students of any programme to choose electives and supportive courses offered by any other department of the university.
Students are sent for internship during the period between the second and third semesters. Here, they study the role of librarian and library-functioning and will gain hands-on experience about the environment and are expected to submit a project report
They are offered two credits for the internship. During the fourth semester, they work on projects such as usage of cyber cafes, places of worship in Chennai, and so on.
Students from various disciplines can take up courses in library and information science. The minimum qualification needed will be a degree from any recognised university. They are selected for the course based on their marks in the qualifying degree examination and in the common entrance examination conducted by the university.
Prof. Raghavan says the students of the Information Science Programme can get employment as library assistants, indexing assistants and librarians in public libraries, universities, schools, educational institutions, and museums.
Lalithasai
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Education Plus
Chennai
Hyderabad
