Thursday, May 29, 2008

Mysteries



AT RANDOM WITH MYSTERIES!

The cosmos is full of life, energy and activity and mysteries. We many a time tend to think that, thinking like this is as if a waste. Forgetting that our very birth and existence is no less a mystery. We come across many a times friends saying, “Life has become monotonous, no change, no thrill and no enjoyment….., I am sick of this stand still state of affairs”. Why do we normally feel like this. The thing is , we become so much outward…and objective and physical and realistic…. That we miss the cosmic reality which we come across many a times…at every walk and action and moment of our day today lives. Is it not a wisdom to look beyond what is visible….what is implied….what is between the lines. When we plan our life so much….use latest method of time management… to achieve what we want to achieve…..cosmos interferes with or without our awareness…..we adopt to those things which are given to us….we don’t know really…when and how…nature gives us….what we think was due to us. The balance that we strike in life between what we want to do, how much we are able to do. …..how much is realized of what we wanted to do…how many things that we wanted to do and achieve have not happened indeed, ……the balance that strikes in these trials and tribulations…..is it wholly or partially only due to our so called own initiatives?






The way we behave in society is no less a mystery. How many times we don’t wonder on our own acts and activities. How many times we confess for doing wrong things…..that looked wrong to us….after what has happened. How many times do we not succeed in making others believe on exactly the opposite of what we did…..and what we thought! How many times did we not take pride in boosting ourselves of our so called fallacious success….misleading others on what was utterly wrong according to our own conscience! We take pride in doing right things. We take pride in not doing…..and proving that we did it. We take pride in encouraging others to achieve. We take pride in encouraging others to go wrong. We feel sad that we could not get hold of the comforts of life. We feel sad that others are more comfortable than us.
How many times do we realize that we become sad and happy for the same distractions and achievements in life.

Mysteries are more mysterious than we think. Mysteries are more abundant than we think. The greatest mysteries are in and around us…..no need to go far off to Himalayas!

Life is mysterious. Life is wonderful. If on the way of life, we miss the understanding and realization of thrill, uncertainty, doubt and discomfort……we really have missed a lot….we are going to miss a lot. Before it is too late…..be busy….do things…come up in life….be

significant……….but…but……don’t miss life itself…which is another name for mystery!.........
MYSTERIES ARE MYSTERIES..MYSTERIES ARE WORTH CELEBRATIONS!

Jeevipriya, 30th May 2008, 12.25pm


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Wednesday, May 28, 2008

society


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28052008

A Song Offering by
Rabindranath Tagore
(Source : Gitanjali/Rabindranath Tagore.-New Delhi : Indialog Publications, 2002)

“…..you sit there smiling”

I boosted among men that I had known you. They see your pictures in all works of mine. They come and ask me, “Who is he?” I know not how to answer them. I say, “Indeed, I cannot tell.” They blame and they go away in scorn. And you sit there smiling. I put my tales of you into lasting songs. The secret gushes out from my heart. They come and ask me, “Tell me all your meanings.” I know not how to answer them. I say, “Ah, who knows what they mean!” They smile and go away in utter scorn. And you sit there smiling. And you sit there smiling.

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Assembly

28052008 : Assembly : Blogger


A Song Offering by Rabindranath Tagore
(Source : Gitanjali/Rabindranath Tagore.-New Delhi : Indialog Publications, 2002

“Thou hast made me endless….….”

Thou hast made me endless, such is thy pleasure. This frail vessel thou emptiest again and again, and fillest it ever with fresh life. This little flute of a reed though hast carried over hills and dales, and hast breathed through it melodies eternally new.

At the immortal touch of thy hands my little heart loses its limits in joy and gives birth to utterance ineffable.

Thy infinite gifts come to me only on these very small hands of mine. Ages pass, and still thou pourest, and still there is room to fill.

“Thou hast made me endless….”

oooOwOooo


THOUGHT

If there's a book you really want to read but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it

Toni Morrison (American Writer, Teacher and Editor. Won the Pulitzer Prize for Beloved; won Nobel Prize for Literature, 1993, b.1931)

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Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Knowledge is power




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Professionalism and Librarianship




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ILA seminar at DDE - Hyderbad




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food


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education


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profession






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Monday, May 26, 2008

books and knowledge and information



BOOKS

I've traveled the world twice over, Met the famous; saints and sinners, Poets and artists, kings and queens, Old stars and hopeful beginners, I've been where no-one's been before, Learned secrets from writers and cooks All with one library ticket To the wonderful world of books. ~ Anonymous ~
SOURCE
http://www.richmond.k12.va.us/readamillion/readingquotes.htm


OVERABUNDANCE OF INFORMATION

What information consumes is rather obvious: it consumes the attention of its recipients. Hence, a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention and a need to allocate that attention efficiently among the overabundance of information sources that might consume it.Herbert Simon, economist


KNOWLEDGE

Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information on it.Samuel Johnson
(1709 - 1784), quoted in Boswell's Life of Johnson






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Library is not a shrine...!


________________________________
Dear all ...!!!!
_______________________________



Cousins, Norman

The library is not a shrine for the worship of books. It is not a temple where literary incense must be burned or where one's devotion to the bound book is expressed in ritual. A library, to modify the famous metaphor of Socrates, should be the delivery room for the birth of ideas - a place where history comes to life.
ALA Bulletin
Source : http://www.angelfire.com/tx/StatBook/libquot2.html



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Friday, May 23, 2008

kala elections

KARNATAKA STATE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION (KALA)Details of the election for the year 2008-2010 of the KARNATAKASTATE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION (KALA) Date 5-5-2008 The following nominations were received for the election of Office Bearers and Executive Committee Members for KALA.Office Bearers:President : Dr.I.K. Ravichander RaoTwo Vice Presidents : Mr. Francis Jayakant : Mrs.Usha Mukunda : Dr. S.B.Kittur(Three nominations for two posts)General Secretary : Mr.Anand ByrappaJoint Secretary : Mr.Rajendra BabuTreasurer : Mr.PuttabasavaiahExecutive Committee Members 1. Mr. Shivanna 2. Mr. Abdul Rehman 3. Dr.I.R.N. Goudar 4 Dr.K.N.Prasad 5. Mr.V.L.Kalyan 6. Mrs. Poornima Narayan 7. Mrs. Gayatri Sen. 8. Mr.ChikkamallaiahThe General Body meeting of the Karnataka State Library Association (KALA) was held at the City Central Library, RPC Layout, Bangalore.The meeting was presided over by Dr.Nagana Goudar, the President KALA. After the formal presentation of the activities of the Association, income & expenditure statement, detailed discussion was held regarding the presentation.The Election process started at 6-30 pm.There were single contestants for the posts of President: Dr.I.K.Ravichandra Rao Secretary: Mr.Anand ByrappaJoint Secretary: Mr.Rajendra BabuTreasurer: Mr.PuttabasavaiahTherefore the candidates were elected unopposed.There were three candidates for the two posts of Vice president.Ballot papers were given & members were asked to cast their votes.Mrs. Usha Mukunda, polled 31votes,Mr. Francis Jayakant polled 27 votes andDr. S.B. Kittur polled 17 votes.Mrs. Usha Mukunda & Mr. Francis Jayakant were declared elected for the two posts of Vice PresidentFor the Executive Committee: Mr.Shivanna, Mr. Abdul Rehman, Dr.I.R.N.Goudar, MrV.L.Kalyan, Mrs. Poornima Ranganath, andMrs.Gayathri Sen were elected unopposed.According to the Bylaws of KALA contestants seeking election for the Governing Body(GB) or Executive Committee(EC) must be physically present at the time of election.Therefore the nominations of Dr.K.N.Prasad and Mr.Chikkamallaiah for EC could not be considered, as they were not present at the time of polling. The following three candidates were elected to the Executive Committee by the members present by show of hands: Mr. Ramananda proposed by Mr. Rehman seconded by Mr.Kalyan was declared elected. Dr. S.B. Kittur proposed by Dr. I.R.N. Goudar &seconded by Dr Kemparaj was declared elected.Dr. P.V. Konnur proposed by Mrs.Gayatri Sen. seconded by Mr. Francis was declared elected.The meeting adjourned with formal vote of thanks. (Sd) Mrs. Sita Lakshmi Chinnappa Election Officer Karnataka State Library Association--------------------------------------------------------------------------Dr. I.R.N. Goudar Tel: 91-80-25086081Sci F & Head, Information Centre for 91-80-25235315Aerospace Science and Technology Fax: 91-80-25268072National Aerospace Laboratories E-mail:http://in.mc946.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=goudar@css.nal.res.inAirport Road, BANGALORE-560 017 Indiahttp://www.icast.org.in/staff/goudar.html

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kala election

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Librarian - Vaza Fernanda in her Library



You can reach Vaza by this email address : fernandavazmerlin@yahoo.com.br


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Extended Library Hours / Rajashekhar and Kanyakumari


Extellded Library Hours/Rajashekhar Devarai and Kanyakumari.-Indian Journal of Information, Library and Society, V10, N 3-4, July.- December 97

To access the full text of the article click on the active link.
Picture-image of the work room of the library : courtesy - Vaza : Librarian

gvgb 1816

Empathy in Public Librarianship / Kalyane V L and Rajashekhar Devarai


EMPATHY IN PUBLIC LIBRARIANSHIP:
A SUBJECTIVE AND QUALITATIVE
ANALYSIS
v. L. Kalyane
and
Rajashekhar S. Devarai

[Problems and prospects of public librarianship are discussed
from a personalised. human. subjective and critical point of
view in this paper. It is suggested to both Librarian and public
to empathise for each others benefits and get prepared to step
into the year 2)01. It is hypothesi sed that empathy in public
librarianship may lead towards paving way for a fullfledged
library information profession and an effective information
literate society.]

Key Words :
Empathy; Public Ubrarianship; Ubrarianship; Profession
Empathy:

Empathy is a stable approving attitude of one person
towards other people, groups or socjal phenomena that takes the
form of affability I goodwill, and admiration and stimulates
communication* reciprocal att9ntion and mutual help. Sympathy
normally arises on the basis of common views, values, interests,
anq moral ideals. In interpersonal relations, sympathy is a factor
of human integration and maintenance of psychological comfort.
Rapport is designated as close interpersonal relations based on a
high degree of community of thoughts, interests and feelings.
Empathy:
The term 'empathy' was introduced by Edward Tichener,
who combined in it various similar ideas about sympathy and.
Theodor Lipps' concept of imaginative entry into another
person's feelings. The following specific forms of empathy are
distinguished: common emotional experience, i.e., experiencing
1.
2.
Scientific Officer, SO (Publication), Library and Information
Services Division, BARC, Trombay, Bombay-400085.
Assistant Librarian, Directorate of Oilseeds Research, RaJendranagar,
Hyderabad 500 030. India
K-31
-
v. L. KALYANE AND RAJASHEKHAR S DEvARAI
by an individual of the same emotional states as those experienced
by another person by identifying oneself with him, and
sy~~athy, i e., emotions experienced by an individual and
elicited by another person's feelings. An important characteristic
of e~pathy which distinguishes it from other forms of comprehension
(taking roles, decentration, etc.) is its weakl'l developed
reflexive aspect, or closure within immediate emotional experience.
Empathic abilities of individuals were found to grow with
greater life experience. Empathy is actualised more readily when
individuals' behavioural and emotional responses are similar, and
also in highly anxious. individuals. In a system of interpersonal
relations characteristic of a developed collective, the subject of
empathy develops a stand of active interference designed to
eliminate frustrations in other members of the collective.
An attempt is made in this paper to apply concept of
empathy in public librarianship towards reading public.
Every man is a unique being, Along with the features and
characteristics shared with other people i.e., the universal ones,
but only gradually, with the help of adults and through his own
activity, becomes an individual through socialisation. As for the
adults influence" the decisive role in this process is played by
education w~ich is purposeful, planned, professional and institutionalized
Besides Jhe educationar influences, there are also
environmental agencies affecting the developing individual.
These are external influences However, the development of the
individualism is also" influenced by its own self inner activity,
throtJgh individual characteristics and the way external influences
are interpreted, which- results in internal attitudes affecting the
way further, and external influences are understood.
Worlds of Knowledge
Popper ( 1972) characterized three "worlds" of knowledge :
we can call the physical world (world 1); the wor1d of our
.conscious experiences ( world 2) and the world of the logical
contents of books, libraries, computer memories, and such like
88 I ndian J our, Inf. Lib. & Sac.
EMPATHY IN PUBLIC LIBRARIANSitip
(world 3). It can readily be seen that popper's world 3 is the
province of the librarian; moreover, librarians act as intermediaries
between the documents comprising world 3 and .the information
needs of their patrons, needs that Popper would characterise as
belonging to world 2, or the world of thought processes. Using
Popper's typology, one can say that information seeking behaviour
is an- attempt to incorporate world 3 objects, i. e., products of
thought, into world 2 states of mind, i e., thought proccsses.
Furthermore, if the information seeker is a scholar, information or
knowledge retrieved from world documents may be used in the
creation of new knowledge that when recorded, published,
acquired. and stoied, .will in turn become part of Popper's world
3~ Librarians are responsible for acquiring. guarding, grading,
organising and keeping humanity's inteflectual and cultural
heritage for continuous usage of generations to follow.
Needs:
Taylor (1968) distinguished between four levels of needs
giving rise to the inquiries put by the user :
1. Visceral need, which is the vague sense of a gap in
knowledge and is expressed only in terms of vague dissatisfaction.
2. Conscious need, which is mental description of an ill-
'defined area of indecision. 3. F (jrmalized need, where the user
has a better appreciation of the ambiguities and can give a more
precise and formalised statement of his question. 4. CQmpromised
need, where the user reformulates his need in terms of the
capabilities of the source.
Need is tricky to define. It may sometimes be expressed
in demands and then in circulation statistics. But if it remains
unexpressed, then the responsibility falls upon the librarian to
know what is needed by public, common man. The responsibility
assumed here by the librarian towards his client is
tremendous,
The task of assessment of information needs of common
man is a tedious job as the category is so heterogenous a group.
V7, NI-2, J anuary-J une 1994 89
v. L. KALYANE AND RAJASHEKHAR S DEAVRAI
No agency is working towards this end. Though; Radio, Films,
Audio & Video cassettes carry lot of information value, they are
being used more and more for entertainment by the common
man. Due to information explosion in every endeavour of human
life and due to availability of alternative sources of information
in different forms. it has become highly impossible for the
common man to take his own decisions. Only a library,
information professional can come to his rescue either by adding
economic value to information or by governmental provision of
information in a large scale (Devarai and Damodaram, 1993).
Australian Library Journal of September, 1964, reported the
following principles as basic and distinctive of the obligations
and responsibilities of a librarian within a democratic
community:
1. The Librarian has a responsibility to keep open the
channels of communication at tlis disposal so that he may
discover and serve the needs and interests of his community.
2. Having regard to his resources, to the special needs of
his locality and the purpose of his library the librarian should
not, in the acquisition and use of library material, exercise
discrimination against an author or a reader on grounds of race,
sex, religion or political affiliation.
3. The function of the Librarian is to promote reading
and to cater for interest in all facets of knowledge, literature and
contermporary issues, including those of a controversial nature,
but not to promote or ;;uppress particular ideas and beliefs.
4. The selection of books for libraries is not a form of
censorship. It presumes the right of the reader to read books
widely and to form his own judgement, and it is designed to
achieve this.
5. The librarian should resist attempts by individuals or
organised groups within the community to determine what
library materials are to be or not to be, available to the users of
the library.
90 Indian Jour. Inf. Lib. ~ Soc.
EMPA Tgy IN PUBL[C LIBRARIANSHTP
6. The Librarian must obey the laws relating to books
and libraries but it the laws or their administration conflict with
the principles put forward in this statement he should be free to
move for the amendment of these laws (statement of principles
on freedom to read, 1964).
To enhance usage and readership of the library, Librarian
should on a continuous basis take up the work of research into
the needs and interests of his community. Need based
collection becomes meaningful and hence -leads to more usage
and participation. librarians should come out with objective
methodologies of book selection by which they can keep themselves
away from discrimination against an author or a reader on
grounds of race, religion or political affiliation. As mentioned
above at point 3, Librarian should not use..his judgement on
whether or not people should read particular titles. Let people
or rather the actual readers and members of the library decide
what they actually want to read in the Library.
The public library serves a geographic/political region
usually quite diverse in constituency. This is the source of much
difficulty in collection development. Should the comm.unitY to
b~ given exactly what it asks for ? What if different segments of
the same community are at odds in what they demand of the
library ? It may be impossible to buy everything "they'l want
assuming it is possible to determine what it is. Community protiling"
became a :-popular method of determining the order to
predict its needs and wants. Decisions still must be made concerning
the priorites whenever there is a conflict. Will only the
loudest requests be heard ? What about those who are unable
to attend the library or those who are unaware of all the services
available to them ? Reflecting the predominent community, views
might have no room for the expression of minority intests. The
selection of each alternate must reduce the overall depth to
which the predominant view can be explored or some minority
views may be edged out completely Society will pay for what
it needs and that library budgets have been restrained because
V7. Nl-2. January-June 1994 91
V. L. KAL y ANE AND RAJASHEKHAR S DEV ARAI
libraries have not been ke"eprng abreast of society's needs for
information. The problem is of librarian and the members
(citizens) to understand each other and to assume roles in empathy.
This could be one of the best theoretical models by which
best results could be expected. Librarians should educate people
about what they can do to help people for their welfare. He has
to educate people as to how he can participate in the very process
of development and struggle for existence by his tools and
techniques of acquiring and organising information. The phenomenon
of sociological determinism should prevail both over the
librarian and the public so that they start realising their mutual
dependence for survival. Hov"ever, very little is known of users
needs for information, of rhe uses of library information, 'of the
characteristics of users.
Public Library:
Comte (1977) gives us two definitions of the public
library. The institutional definition corresponds to the legal
conception of the latin countrie.;, where those institutions dependent
upon adm!nistrative authorities are qualified as "public".
The functional definition is linked to the Anglo-American tradition
of the "Public Library" and refers to any library "whatevar
its origin or legal status, working towards the creation of a
reading public. "Here it is no longer a question of public
libraries but of libraries for the reading public where the main
objective is giving immediate and direGt service to all the members
of a given community whatever, their educationai intellectual or
cultural level, and irrespective of ethnic group, religion, philosophic
or political conviction (wiele, 1991 ).
From the fifties onwards, modern public libraries were set
up almost everywhere chaiacterised by: 1. an educational function,
2. a cultural function and 3. the information function.
Libraries should strengthen the process of negating the tenden..
cies of cultural monism by their vast stoie house of information
and knowledge "systems. Public libraries alone can reach everyone
In the dissemination of information. as they are -open for
.92 Ind.ian Juur. Inf. Lit..& Soc~
EMPA.THY IN PUBLIC LlBRARTANSHIP
common man or for that matter anyone and everyone. The
future status and position of librarians and their practice depends
on how keenly and sincerely they address and focus themselves
on the information needs of common man (Devarai and Damodarm,
1993). The Delhi Public library, which was opened in 1951 with
the supcort of UNESCO and of the Indian Government, was- the
first modern public library in India. III the developing countries
emphasis is on the spread of literacy and primary education. No
public library can be considered satisfactory, unless it provides
facilities for children's lending reference and local history department.
These four departments involve the handling of all types
of library material, .a~dthe staff are called upon to discharge
some of the responsibilities for the flow of.; information which
are associated with the general librarian, documentation officer .
archivist and information officer .
Public Library Mission Statement (PLMS)
American Library association ( 1979) issued the public
library mission statement which is an important document in
redefining the library and librarian's function in the overall information
process. It outlines access not just as subject a-ccess but
also from myriad of directions aliowing not only the facts but
also the wisdom in the record to be retrieved. The agenry (i. e.
the library) would facilitate cross connections within the record,
among many disciplines, literacy forms, and period of history.
The. catalogue as the mechanism of access has an even more
demanding job to perform. The indexer is to indicate whatev:er
about a book is significant representative, and relevant, shows
its character, wisdom or subject usefulness. Access to information
has evolved into access to wisdom. Whereas any pocket of
facts and data can be considered information, it requires judgement
to deterime what is wisdom. This is a call for many steps
beyond current professional responsibility. Librarians should
build up their plofessional knowledge base and value system in
such a way that they deal with ease the problems of clash of
moralities between the right to privacy, the need to know and
V7 r ,,~1-2, J anuar.v' .J une 1994 93
V. L. KALYANE AND RAJASHEKHAR S DEVARAI
the freedom of access to information explained by Chipman
(1990). Yet as if in compensation for the increased load the
librarian must bear the long-term goal of comprehensiveness in
collection development is set to rest. The library is to house
"authentic information" of sound factual authority, and to help
people to separate ecological truth from the accel6rating currents
of propaganda and special interest. In light of the information
professional's special position and abilities, his or her responstbi-
Hties are expanded officially through the mission statement to
include erasure of unimportant things. What is preserved is that
which is significant relevant and representative. These are
intriguing words because they bank steeply against the open
doo~ nondiscriminating trend of the library. Significant,
representative and relevant all require selectivity and alter the
overall balance of the collection. A minority view may be
significant for example in its opposition to the main view or in
being indicative of a new trend. The Librarian is mediator and
populariser respectful of the total record but selecting the best
on every side of an issue. Though at no time is the Librarian
released from the responsibility of fair treatment to all difference
in view, yet he is released from the troublesome notion that (5)
he must be neutral.
.~
The responsibility of Librarians i~ .greater than ever before,
because in order to select representative' portions of the overall
picture of knowledge, they must be aware of the totalityof
universe of knovv'ledge.
The Public Library Mission Statement can be seen as a big
,step towards the resolution of value conflicts in the profession
and specifically in the task of collection development. Considerably
more thought must now be given to establishing a firm
professional value base. This measure is not only essential to
our decision making process but also provides a firm stand from
which to assess equitably the fair representation of the diverse
value systems lying for expression in our collections. Other value
~4 Inaian Jour. lnf. Lib~ &.Soc.
EMPATHY IN PUBLfC LIBRARIANSHIP
systems can be represented fairly if vv'e are open in our understanding
of our non professional values.
The Librarian cannot merely be an informer but naturally
is an educator as well. An educator must evaluate and make
decisions answayed by community interest. Contrary to the se.fimage
as neutral transmitter' the Librarian/educator must use
some independent system of value upon which to base decisions.
Desire for neutrality yet necessity for evaluation causes tension
between practice and policy decisions.
Case ( 1984) says, "The Library clinging to supposedly
objective and autf1oritative materials is boring and has an
artificially limited clientele. Libraries can be and should be
controversial, inspiring, and infuriating",
The American Eibrary Association ( 1985) announced goars
that include "ameliorating or solving the criticar problems of
society. This means making decisions regarding the revel of the
Ubrary's invorvement in particurar social causes. rntense
professionar debate revolves around the major themes of sociar
responsibirity. The outcome affects the bias with which
Librarians decide which views are important for their Library
corrections. Pr ins ( 1991) reported that the generar pubric is
unaware of the sociar responsibirities of ribraries for instance
regarding the individuars rights of access to information, therefore,
the status of the profession is low. Users of ribraries have
row expectations as to the quality of the services of Libraries
resurting in a row statu s of the profession. There is a severe
rack of professionar readership. And if there is, it is dependent
on persons instead of 'Professionar culture'. Wirson ( 1988)
\A.hife examining the reasons for the low profire of libraries and
low expectation of the community of its library service suggests
fer low librarians to participate activery in local government
programmes and in decision making.
Access to information must be unimpeded and that its
flow should be assured. There can be no denial of this
V7 J NI -ZJcl anuary-J 'tIne 1994 ')5
Vo Lo KAt VANE AND RAJASHEKEAR S DEVARAI
individual opportunity in a truly free societY, no withholding of
information whether by intent or by dereliction in provision.
Censorship :
Censorship-the purposeful, systematic denial of access
to certain works or ideas-is repugnant to Librarianship. To be
meaningful, librarians' vigilance against censorship can embrace
even discomforting ideas.
Censorship is on the rise across the country, in the form
of challenges and subsequent removal of books from Library
shelves, as well as throughout the world in more explosive
forms, such as the Salman Rushdie death threat. But there also
are more subtle forms of censorship involving the erection of
barriers to access that stem the free flow of ideas and their
Incorporation, for better or worse, by individuals.
The relationship of censorship and librarians probably is
clearest and most immediate to those whose responsibilities lie
in collection development, especially in selection of materials.
Hence, the tensions inherent among conflicting professional
goals and idea's that ask librarians to be simultaneously neutral
and proactive, objective and subjective.
In making c:hoices, a librarian fails to select a great many
books. He is bound by budget and space restraints to do so.
This is not an act of cencorship in and of' itself. It is censorship
only when there is a celiberate attempt to suppress alternate
views. Censorship can be taken to mean removal of a book from
the Library's collection; locking it away in a vault for safekee~
ping; failure to select it f.r professionally unjustifiable reasons;
or hiding access to it through incomplete or wrong classification
or poor indexing or poor shelving.
Although the Library profession uphord strongly' the principle
of free expression, sometimes difficulties arise when
individuals or groups of individuals within the profession do not
wish to endorse the views expressed in the books they select.
96 Indian Jour. Inf. Lib. & Soc
EMPATHY IN PUBLIC LIBRARrANSHTP
The Freedom to Read Foundation, an organization techn ically
sQparate yet associated with the Intellectual Freedom Committee
of the American Library Association, produce d the Freedom to
Read Statement (.American library Association, 1953). The most
relevant of its statements are: .'Publishers, librarians, and bookselrers
do not need to endorse every idea or presentation
contained in the books they make available. It would confrict
with the public interest for them to establish their own
political, moral, or aesthetic views as the sole standard for
determining what books should be published or circulated.
Access to Fiction Literature.
For some reason, Librarians who would stronglyoppose.
denying access to a work of literature because its content being
controversial are nevertheless indifferent about having the same
work made content accessible, forgetting perhaps that inade.
quate or incomplete indexing can be as much of a bar to access
suppression. If a user who wants to find fictional depictions of
insanity cannot do so due to lack of subject access, has not
access been denied as effectively as if the material had been
censored ? Similarly, if a user knows only that he would like
tO read a novel "about" a given subject, how will name8and.
title access help that user.
In a recent article about the biblio;Jraphic control of nonbook
materials, Richard Smiraglia describes Patrick Wilson's
conceptual framework for bibliographic control and contends that
it can be seen as the basis for a theoretical construct. Of Wilson,
Smiraglia (1987) writes: He suggests the existence of two
domains of bibliographic control, which he refers to as descriptive
and exploitative. Descriptive control is used to organise a bodyof
bibliographic objects. Exploitative control is the ability to make
the best possible use of a body of knowledge. Wilson sees
exploitative control as the superior, if unattainable, of his "two
kinds of power"; descriptive control as the inferior, if more
readily available.
V7, NI-Z, J anu1ry .June 199'f 97
v. L. KAL y ANE AND RAJASHEKHAR S DEV ARAI
Exploitative control is what users need. Descriptive control
is what we have in our libraries to guide them. The various
orderings of the objects provide pathways to understanding the
relationships among the works they contain, thus offering the
user some opportunities to make the best possible use of a body
of knowledge.
Extending Smiraglia's thesis to fictional materials, one can
argue that names, title and single generic access for multigeneric
works do not constitute appropriate descriptive control for fiction.
Without enhanced catalog access, what Smiraglia terms the
user's "Pathway" to works of the imagination is partially
obscured, with name, title and sometimes genre as the only
signposts. Name and title access, though immensely valuable,
especially to those already knowledgeable about literature, is
simply not adequate for the non-experts needs. For example, a
reader interested in fictional works "about" the British Raj might
easily find works such as the 'Raj Quartet', or even' A passage
to India', whose title gives clues to their common subject, but
without topical access, the same reader would probably not know
that the novel 'Staying On', the Comic Sequel or ironic postscript
to scott's monumental tetralogy # also- geals with the conse.
quences of British rule in India. Finally, it does not say much for
present day bibljographic control practices that public library
users should have to depend on a marketing device of the
publishing industry, namely a book. dust jacket, to gain
descriptive control of fiction, while users of academic libraries,
fiction collections do not even have dust jackets to guide them.
It must be remembered, however, that in order to be
retrieved from documents and used in the creation of new know~
ledge, information has to be found, but unless fiction is indexed
according to topical content, as non-fiction is, information
contained in it may remain forever undiscovered.
If enhanced catalogue access to fiction were provided,
however the objectives of the subject catalogue as enumerated
by Cutter, would at last be achieved. At the same time, "the
Indian Jour. Inf. Lib. & Soc.
98
EMP A THY IN PUBLIC LIBRARIANSHIP
convenience of the public". whose members often approach
fiction by topic, would truly be served. Whether used for escape,
entertainment, experience or enlightenment, as a source of
pleasure, knowledge, information, or art, fiction merits more
comprehensive access than it is presently accorded in our
libraries, and more particularly in public libraries.
Document Supply:
Document supply is a basic, although comparatively small
part of the freedom of access to information to which librarians
and information scientists are so dedicated. The fact that a
particular document is. not available in a given geographical area
should not prevent the. person wanting it from obtaining it. This
is part of the basrc work of the International Federation of Library
Associations and Institutions (IFLA) programme for Universal
Availabilityof Publications (Line, 1978).
Objective Neutralism
Librarianship is a phiIasaphicalIy independen~ profession,
as far as librarians disaffirm explicitly allegiance with any particular
interest group, so as to serve all groups equally. .Berninghausen
(1979), suggested that professional statements are geared
towards developing a "view of the librarian as a neutral professional
functioning in a neutral institution. The Latent Social
Id'entities* of Librarians (e.g., sex, religion and ethic identifications
etc.) hinder this process of objective nutralism. As average
social beings Librarians confirm themselves to the peoples'
conception (society) and rating of themselves and that they find
it increasingly difficult to come out of their Looking Glass
Selves*"{: where by theyare pictured in a low social profile.
* Concept discussed by Sociologist A. W. Gouldner for conveying a
social identification or role held by a member of a formal organisation
that is officially regarded as irrelevant to the organisation but
which nevertheless influences the organisations functioning.
"* "* Concept developed by C. H. Cooley in his work "Human nature
and the Social Order -1902".
V7, Nl-2' January-June 1994 99
V. L. KAL y ANE AND RAJASHEKHAR S DEV ARAI
However, Miller (1955) had expressed the hope that "objective"
views of an issue should be collected: "We can and must see
that the public is provided with unbaised material on the
subject". The necessary alternative, however, is to priorotise
between all the choices, to decide what merits a place.
Public Libraries for All =
In democratic societies governments are obliged to
provide access of information to all of their citizens throughout
the world through a network of libraries. The year 2001 will be
characterised by:
1
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
demand by people for a library information centre at their
clan, tribe, colony, village, street and so on;
demand by people for access to information from wherever
it is available;
demand by people to get the desired information in a
desired form and format instantaneously;
demand by people to expect librarians active involvement
in the generation of diverse tailor made information
products;
demand by people to the'library information professionals
to participate actively in development programmes as an
"
active participant;
People expectation of librarians 10 assume the roles of
knowledge system experts and knowledge engineers;
a sitllation of information sociery wherein library information
professionals scale high in their social profiles;
a situation of helplessness and a state of chaos on the
part of general and specialist people in the wake of
tremendous information being generated every moment;
a stage of development wherein the librarian has to retain
best of his conventional knowledge (Library techniques
and procedures) and the best of contemporary information
sciences;
jOO Indian Jour Jnf. Lib. & Sac.
EMPA THY ]N PUBLIC LIBRAR I ANSIiiP
10.
1;c1
12.
a- ~tage of development wherein information is consolidated
and packaged into different levels of understanding
and technicality sold out for money like any other goods,
in the market;
a'stage of development wherein in the absence of relevant
information living in the year 2001 i.e. in an information
society becomes practically impossible;
a point 1 stage ot take off for library profession by proving
their social relevance, necessity and-indispensibility.
Hence the year 2001 is full of hopes for the Librarians.
Librarians have to shoulder the greatest of the responsibilities to
enter into the 21 st ceh~t1Jry. The secret of the success lies in
servicing and reachIng anyone and everyone in society.
"
Librarians should make their presence felt in every nook and
corner of the ~Iobe, The long wish of the librarians to acquire
the status of a fullfledged profession remains a dream if we
enter into the year 2001 can information society) unprepared. It
is a time for every Librarian to make a bit of personal sacrifice
both in cash and kind. This is the only way by which Librarians
can convince people and clients that the year 2001 will be an
information society and that V'.'ithout a minimum level of information
living becomes horrible. Librarians have to convince
people and make them understand the vital importance of informati.
on and libraries. Librarians should take up a mass campaign
for people regarding awareness about information and libraries.
Librarians should pledge to educate people and make them
information literate before entering into the year 2001.
.Public Library movement should become a peoples movement.
As long as people don't reali se the importance of
information and the importance of being literate to use
information, public library movement would not become a people's
mov;ement. Here..lies the role--of the" librarians to make, people
realise,the.importance of being literate and the importance of
us~"g information fot culture, development and entertainment. A
day should come when people realise that without information
V7. N-I-Z.Jan'tIary-June 1994 101
v. L. KALYANE AND RAJASHEKHAR S DEVARAI
in-the form of a book, casette or in the form of a radio or a T. V.
programme, living a meaningful and purposeful life is impossible.
This dream could be realised only by having a library information
centre at every street, village, town and city and in every slum
and colony and moholla. It is enough if Librarians convince the
general public that they need information for their own development
and welfare. Once they get convinced the problem" is
solved for ever. Public library movement becomes a peoples
movement. People will come forward to pay for library services
in the form of tax and they will not allow any form of diversion
of funds from library head to some other heads. That day should
be marked in golden letters for Library and information profession.
From that day onwards there will be no necessity of
looking back for library and information professionals. People
themselves will come forward to recognise the services of
librarians by way of according the status, salary and recognition
long due to them.
EMPATHISE
The future status and position 01 librarians and their
practice dep&nds on how keenly' and si ncerely they address and
focus themselves on the information needs of common man.
..
Professiologists are. still not' convinced ~bout the fullfledged
status of Librarianship as a professional calling (Devarai and
Damodarm, 1993). Out of the two systematic studies/research
done on library profession in India, one considers I ibrary science
to be a semi-profession (Jaiswal, 1990) and the other observes
it to be a fast developing profession (Chopra, 1986). The
reasons for the low profile libraries and librarianship are many.
The future is hopeful in the wake of new support of information
technologies for accelerating library services.
All these days people have suffered a lot allover the world
in the absence of a well developed up-to-date library service
and secondly in absence of proper support, patronage and
102 Indian J our. Inf. Lib. ~ Sac.
EMP A THY IN PUBLIC LmRARIANSHlP
recognition of public in general. Alas t Even to this date
somebody has to awaken them and make them understand that
they had undergone a lot of suffering1.
Librarians are still not clear as to why people don't accord
due status and recognise their servjces. And people are still not
clear about the potentials of information and to what the
Ubrarian is upto and as to why he needs more and more of their
attention, money, recognition and status. Answer lies not in
accusing each other. Empathy is the only answer. Both
Librarians and people have to empathise. The sooner they do it,
the better. This can. lead them towards unlimited possibilities of
understanding each" other, paving way for a healthier Library
Information Profession and a better library.;.information service to
public.
REFERENCES:
I.
2.
3.
American Library Association (1953). Freedom to Read, Westchester
Conference, ALA and American Book of Publishers Council.
American Library Association (1979). Public Library Association,
Goals, Guideline~ and Standards Committee, The Public Library
Mission Statement and its imperatives for service, Chicago.
American Library Association (1985). Goals and Priorities, ALA
Handbook of Organization. Chicago. p. 203.
Berninghausen (D.K.) (1979). Intellectual Freedom in Librarianship :
Advances and Retreats, Advances in Librarianship. V 9. New York :
Academic, p.23.
4.
Case (P). (1984). Libraries shoqld be controversial! Reprinted in
Librarians for Nuclear Arms Control Almanac, 1 : 2.
5.
Chipman (Lauchlan). (1990). Access to information: social and
political issues. Austr61ian Library Journal, 39 (4) : 340-349.
6.
Chopra. (H. R.). (1986). Study of Librarianship as a profession in
India. P. 85-92. Iff Library and Information Science in India: Current
trends in India: Prof. S. N. Srivasta.va Festschrift Vol. edited by
Pavan K. Gupta & Usha Pavan. Jaipur, RBSA.
7.
Comte, (H). (1977). Les Bibliotheques publiques en France, Presses dB
L' ENSB.
8.
V7 , NI-2, eTa nuary-J un~ 1994 103
v. L. KAL y ANE AND F-AJASH~KHAR S DEV ARAI
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
Deva1"ai, (R, S.) and Damodaram. (T). (1993). Information for the
common man and the future of Librarlanship : a critical analysis.
Indian Journal of Information, Library and Society ,6 (1-2). P. 84-92.
Hayes, (S). (1992). Enhanced catalogue Access to Fiction, A Prelimina1'
Y Study, Library Resources & Technical Services, 3G (4) : 441-459.
Intner, (S. S.). (1984). Censorship in Indexing, The Indexer 14 : 105-
108.
Jaiswal, (P. K.). 1990. Librarianship and bureaucratic organisation
: a study in the sociology of Library profession in India.
New Delhi: Co
Line, (M. B.). (1978). UAP aI\d inter library lending, IFLA Journal.
4 (2) : 118-121.
Miner, (M). (1955). Citizens too: Librarians as Disseminators and
Guardians of Knowledge Must Help Communities Meet their
problems, Library Journal, 80 : 834.
Popper, (K. R.). (1972). Objective Knowledge: An Evolutionary
Approach, London: Clavendon, p. 74.
Prins, (H). (1991) Status, image and reputation of Librarianship s
results of an empirical study, J. of Lib & Inf. Sci.16 (1), 11-24.
Smiraglia. (R). (1987) Bibliographic Control Theory and Nonbook
Materials,'. in Policy and Practice in Bibliographic control of Nonbook
Media, Chicago: Americ.an Library Assn., p. 11.
Taylor, (R. S.). (1968). Question-negotiation and information seeking
in Libraries. Colle~e & Research Libraries, 29, 178-194.
Wiele, (Nic Van de). (1991). Public Libr.aries, J. of Lib. & Inf. Sci.
16 (1) : 48-59.
Wilson, (Gray). (1988). People, puzzles and public libraries :
challenges facing public libraries. Australian Public Libraries and
Information Services 1 (3) : 186-194.
20.
.
104 Indian Jour. Inf. Lib~ & Sac.

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Librarianship and the professional model : a sociological tutorial and critique / Rajashekhar Devarai and LSRCV Ramesh.







Devarai,R.S. and Ramesh, L.S.R.C.V.1999. Librarianship and the Professional Model : A Sociological tutorial and critique. Library Science with a slant to Documentation and
Information Studies
. Vol. 36, No.3, 1999.


An attempt is made in this paper to critically highlight some of the

sociological issues concerning
Librarianship (LIS) as a profession. Different theoretical

formulations are discussed.
Importance of the studies of sociology of occupations and

professions for librarians is
emphasized. Useful suggestions are offered towards

achievement of fulfledged status of
Librarianship (LIS) as a profession.

_______________________

Note : To access full text of the paper please click on

the active link above.

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Round The Clock Librarianship / Rajashekhar Devarai and V.L.Kalyane

Round the clock librarianship

Devarai, Rajashekhar S. and Kalyane, V. L. (1995) Round the clock librarianship, in Raju, A. A. N. and Ramaiah, L. S. and Laxman Rao, N. and Prafulla Chandra, T. V., Eds. New vistas in library and information science : papers in honour of Professor G.V.S.L. Narasimha Raju, pp. 142-149. Vikas Publishing House Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi.

Abstract :

The concept of Round the Clock Librarianship (ROCLOLIB) is one such opportunity of terminal and critical importance to librarians, which helps people (clients) in general and reassures them about the professional commitment and devotedness of librarians. Although the concept is old, it is an exercise here to analyse its importance for the overall image and status of the practice/occupation. The chapter discusses the proposal of opening Libraries for 24 Hours. It also points out the reasons for the ROCLOLIB like: provision of information as a beginning of solution of an individual/group problem, readership/usership of library resources, identification of the profession among society, librarian as a scholar, residential librarianship, emergency librarianship, accessibility of information as a fundamental right, and overall it is a dream, a slogan, and a movement.
________________________________________________________________

Professions are providing the required manpower forindusnialisation and development for both the developing andthe developed countries. Industrialising societies areprofessionalising. (Goode, 1960) Professions offer best of services,high level of commitment for public welfare, a high level oftechnical/scientific expertise. Public' s recognition of a profession andits privileges depend on what critical areas/tasks of the society theprofession is involved in. Professionals believe that the more theyshow their efficiency, service mindedness and expertise, the morethey will be recognised by people for higher incomes, rewards andstatus in society.Probably due to some systemic inherent weaknesses and lack ofprofessional commitment to the general public, some occupationsremain as occupations and some as semi-professions. Nevertheless,members of every progressive occupation/craft wish their practice toacquire the coveted title of a profession. It is a struggle amongst theoccupations/crafts/jobs to offer the best of their services to peopleand in turn to attract public attention to acquire more social status,physical facilities and financial rewards.If we view it from this sociological backgroud and context,librarianshipl is one such occupational category which is in thestruggle for attracting more and more public attention for higherK-43Round the Clock Librarianship 143financial rewards and social status. roughly. speaking, based on anoverview of the literature of library science from a sociological pointof view, it appears that librarians in general are not aware as to whatspecifically they should be doing at this juncture and what theyshould not be doing, to raise their occupation/craft to that of aprofession.The concept of Round the Clock Librarianship (ROCLOLIB) isone such opportunity of terminal and critical importance to librarians,which helps people (clients) in general and reassures them about theprofssional commitment and devotedness of librarians. Although theconcept is old, it is an exercise here to analyse its importance for theoverall image and status of the practice/occupation.Why should Libraries be open for 24 HoursReaders/users of libraries in general come from diversebackgrounds, interests and places. Two major difficulties/constraintsof the reader/user in using libraries are time and place. By the time anemployee comes home from office the library (if at all it exists)nearest to his home or office is closed. There are some librarieswhich close during lunch hours-a time when some workers/wardsmay wish to use the library. In general, most of the public librariesthe world over being open during day-time are ideal for all those whowork on a regular basis during night shifts only. Those of thelibrarians who empathise (Kalyane and Devarai, 1993) for public andthose of the librarians who have continued to be readers of libraries(other. than those where they are employed) can comprehend theproblems of distance (home and library ) and time.The present timings of the libraries are suitable for those whocan avail some of their working time towards reading and towardsaccessing information in libraries. The authors are of the firm opinionthat due to inconvenience of time many committed potential users areunable to make use of libraries, either for reading or for accessing aparticualr piece of information. Information is of critical importancein many areas. It has become an essential input for progress anddevelopment. Though information has acquired vital importance inall walks of common man (Devrai and Damodaran, 1993) its practiceis still not very much focussed on the common man and his needs.144 New Vistas in Library and Information Science..Practicing infonnation for the common man whole heartedly meansbringing libraries nearer to his home and work place and keepingthem open round the clock. If the constrain~ of spa.ce (distance) andtime (round the clock) are solved the day is not very far whenlibrarianship will be considered as one of the essential services andthe practice of librarianship will acquire the coveted title of a"fullfledge profession ". .The ROCLOLffi is a very comprehensive phenpmenon havingcrucial implications for the profession. As one of the corollaries itimplies that the librarians are to be on duty round the clock. In everysuccessful profession the professional status and standing is achievedby sheer hard work, devotion and sac...ifice on the part of thepractitioner, the best example being that of a doctor. If at all alibrarian is interested in his professional development he shouldcontinue to be a librarian round-the-clock. He cannot cease to be alibrarian the moment he comes out of his office library. According toLancaster (1978), "The future of the librarian ~ies outside the library,closer to the community to be served. Modern communicationtechnology makes the de-instutionalised librarians an inGreasinglyfeasible proposition. " If time demands, he should be able todischarge his duties anywhere and everywhere. Librarians round-theclockmeans:-Infonnativeness of the librarians out of their libraries, office;~ Practice of residentiallibrarianship after office hours.-Eagerness to help clients making emergency calls. by cuttingshon ones resting time (sleep);Emergence of private library homes by enterprisinglibrarians in the model of nursing homes;Emergence of emergency wards/counters in big public,private and research libraries for priorotising among thelibrary /infonnation services;-Emergence of librarian as an information resourceconsultant;Emergence of librarians as freelancepractitioners off the libraries.informationRound the Clock Librarianship 145All these hypothetical derivations will come true in the year2001 if librarians pledge to practice their profession as a way of life.Librarianship in the near future will become their way of lifeprovided they decide to study the professional model and understandthe process of emergence of a new profession so that they can do theneedful for their practice to achieve professional status. (Devarai andDamodaran,1993)Provision of Information as a beginning of solution ofan individual/group problemAccording to sociologists society is a web of social relationships.When we derive further social relationships may be explained interms of stimuli and responses resulting in varied interactions.By keen analysis one can find out that the information resourceforms the very base of human interactions resulting in varied socialrelationships. Lack of sufficient information may result in unhealthy,incomplete and lopsided social relationships. Provision of rightinformation at a right moment help to solve many an individual andgroup problems. The problem rarely realised is the recognition of theexpert information from a professional for the solution of individualand social problems. It is not that the society does not recognise theimportance of information in human relationships, the problem is, ithas not yet recognised a professional expert to offer this service.Though libraries and librarians do exist, they are far and wide. Tasknumber one is to bring libraries to every city, colony, village, clanand tribe and the task number two is to enhance the working hours,the best arrangement being to open round-the-clock. This eventuallyleads towards proliferation of de-institutionalised freelance informationspecialists located far and wide in society-reaching theunreached. This ideal situation of freelance practice of infonnation ispossible only when libraries are open round-the-clock. This helpspeople to be more informative and help librarians to be moreequipped to answer information queries.Bernard Barber (1963) defined professional behilviour in tennsof four essential attributes, "a high degree of generalised andsystematic knowledge; primary orientation to the community interest146 N ew Vistas in Library and I nformation Sciencerather than to individual self-interest; a high degree of self control ofbehaviour through codes of ethics intemalised in the process of worksocialisation and through voluntary associations organised andoperated by the work specialists themselves; and a system of rewards(monetary and honorary) that is primarily a set of symbols of workachievement and thus ends in themselves, not means to some end ofindividual self interest". In a nutshell, the success of the ROCLOLIBdepends on professional behaviour of the practitioners and thepriority to information given by public in their day to'day lives.There is no class/segment of the population which will not bebenefited by the ROCLOLIB. As indicated earlier, infor:mation formsthe very base of human interaction. The ROCLOLIB enhancesgeneral readeTship/usership in society leading towards progress,prosperity and development. The ROCLOLIB helps students,teachers, people engaged in agriculture, industry, housewives~professi-onals, etc. It opens a new chapter in the professional historyof librarianship. Invariably librarians become user-friendly and stantaking active interest in developmental activities. Iuespective ofclass, caste, creed, profession, level of education. the ROCLOLIBwill benefit both librarians and society immea-surably.IdentificationThe practice of the ROCLOLIB. brings forth issues and problemsof practical importance. When librarians work round-the-clock theyneed to be recognised in the mob. They need to be recognised asprofessionals in the library (office) and home library. Above all, deinstitutionalisedlibrarians need to be recognised, identified. Hencethe need of a specific dress and badge for the librarian (be hestationed or f~eelance). Again libraries everywhere are to beidentified and noticed by the adoption of a symbol and a light (foridentification at nights). By this a needy individual locates a librarywith least effort and fulfills his information needs without wastingmuch time. This is an ideal situation when a needy individual/groupjust locates librarians (be he on the road, mob or home) with leasteffort and fulfills his/its information needs without wasting time.Round the Clock Librarianship 147ROCLOLIB and Bibliotherapy: J;Jack to ScholarLibrarianBibliotherapy is used in medical practice to a limited extent inthe treatment of m~ntally-retarded patients. The librarians working inhopsitallibraries have joined their hands with doctors in the practiceof bibliotherapy. They have restricted themselves to the task ofprovision of information and reading materials. Can we think of alibrarian who prescribes authoritatively a particular package ofinformation and reading materials to his clients/users? For this thelibrarian needs to be a scholar first. Are we moving towards theconcept of a scholar librarian in this age of electronics and in this ageof libraries as global information centres? If at all it comes. true theROCLOLIB will be a boon to bibliotherapists and the scholarlibrarians who prescribe, reading material to solve individual/socialproblems.Residential LibrarianshipThe concept of the ROCLOLIB to all librarians gives furtherfillip to have their own libraries at their homes. This is the beginningof the emergence of residentiallibrarianship. If librarians along withtheir library associations come out with total commitment andsacrifice this dream may come true. Finance should not be a problemwhen we are all committed workers. This will automatically makeroom for the development of appropriate tools and techniquesrequired.The practice of the ROCLOLIB together with the moderndevelopments in information technologies and computercommunication networks opens up new vistas in informationprovision and individual libraries will emerge as global informationcentres.Librarians need to do research into those areas of human socialwelfare, where their information resources are of critical and tenninalimportance. We have to identify those areas, where a particularpackage of instantaneous information is sine-qua-non for the very148 Ne,w Vistas in Library and Information Sciencesurvival of an individual/group and society. Hence, hypotheticallyspeaking, a band of librarians will emerge who ~e specialised incoping up with high risk emergency calls for packaged and gradedinformation. Hence the genesis of emergency librarianship.Librarians however committed, sincere, and dedicated they are,cannot by themselves create conditions conducive for theROCLOLIB. People should come out and demand library services.They must realise reading/accessing information as one of theirfundamental rights in their own welfare for their own well being.What librarians can do is to perform an educational function ofmaking people aware of the importance of information resources fortheir progress and development. If librarians and people join hands itshould be marked as a "THE DA Y" of mutual benefits whereinpeople get the best of librarians services and wherein librarians willrealise their much-awaited s~tus as a 'fullfledged profession'.ROCLOLIB: Education, Training and SocializationIf the practice of the ROCLOLIB is to be materialised it has tobecome a slogan; it has to become a movement of the whole band oflibrarians allover the world. The concept and idea is to be introducedat different levels in a holistic manner. It should be incorporated ineducational and training programmes from certificate to Ph.D. levels.Through a wide ranging, programme of seminars, symposia andconferences the ide~ should be popularised. We have to make wayfor the process of socialisation to operate. The youngsters and newcomersare to be oriellted about the ROCLOLIB and reassure themthat librarianship is not an occupation/practice/vocation/craft but ameaningful/purposeful ~ ;,!y of life.Towards ROCLOLIB: A Dream, A Slogan, AMovementFor those who live in intellectual boundaries, for those whonever dream impossibles and for thosc who cannot outclasscontemporary thinking, the ROCLOLIB may seem like a far cry!' AnRound the Clock Librarianshipideal situation where/when librarianship beGomes a true way of life,the dream of ROCLOLIB may turn into .a reality, it may take theshape of a slogan and a movement. If we pledge to offer only the bestto the society, if we want to be at the helm of the affairs of thesociety, let us take this as a professional challenge! A day is not farwhen we can acheive this goal and in turn expect only the best ofsocietal benefits, financial rewards and due status in society and leapforward to become a full fledged profession.

References

12.34.5The authors don't believe in the tricotomies of Librarianship/docwnentation/infonnation science. Hence. whereyer the wordlibrarian and librarianship is used in this paper they sh
Bernard Barber, "Some Problems in the Sociology of theProfessions", Daedalus: Journal of the American Academy of Artsand Sciences, 92.4,1963, pp. 669-689.

Rajashekhar S. Devarai and T. Damodaram "Ranganathan and theProfessional Development of Librarians: Study inProfessionology", University News 30.45, 1992, pp. 11-13.

W .J .Goode, "Encroachment, Charlatanism and the EmergingProfession: Psychology, Sociology and MedicLTle", AmericanSociological Review 25, 1960, pp. 902-914.

V .L. Kalyane and Rajashekhar S. Devarai, "Empathy in PublicLibrarianship: A Subjective and Qualitative Analysis", IndianJournal of Information, Library and Society. (Communicated).

F.W. Lancaster, Toward Paperless Information Systems, .~cademicPress, New York, 1978, pp. 153-159.6"!

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KNOWLEDGE MAKES YOU WITHSTAND ALL ADVRSITIES IN LIFE.

Librarianship is a noble profession.
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Bollywood, fun, friendship, sports and more. You name it, we have it.


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CHANGE Vs STABILITY

CHANGE V/S STABILITY

HUMAN MIND ALWAYS LINGERS BETWEEN A QUEST FOR CHANGE AND STABILITY. SOME SUCCEED TO STRIKE A BALANCE AND ARE KNOWN FOR THAT. SOME FAIL TO STRIKE THE BALANCE BETWEEN THESE TWO AND AND GO DEEP INTO ONLY ONE.......... ie SOME GO ON CHANGING.....SOME MAINTAIN HIGHEST STABILITY.

OPTIONS

1. ROLLING STONE NEVER GATHERS MASS!
2. STAGNANT WATER STINKS!
3. WHILE ROLLING....LET THE STONE REST A WHILE....ON THE ROAD TO
SUCCESS. MAKE WAY FOR THE WATER TO FLOW SOME TIMES....BEFORE
IT STINKS.......MAKE WAY FOR FRESH WATER TO GET IN SOME TIMES.

THE SO CALLED HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL BELONG TO ALL THE THREE CATEGORIES. PEOPLE FALLING INTO ANY OF THE CATEGORIES LISTED ABOVE HAVE SUCCEEDED. IT IS YOUR PASSION, QUEST AND DESIRE LEVEL THAT MATTERS...FOR YOU TO SUCCEED.

THINK, REFLECT.....AND ACT BY YOUR INTUTION......YOU ARE BOUND TO SUCCEED!
TAKE CARE..........BE SMILING......IT BRINGS A POSITIVE CHEMISTRY IN YOUR PHYSIC AND PSYCHE.

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Knowledge is power. Librarians continue to be knowledge professionals. Librarianship is a Noble profession.....gbgv...1816....