What do we librarians do in this new connected world? towards a new Road Map!

What do we Librarians do in this new connected world? Towards a new Road Map!

Lbn.Rajashekhar Devarai

Chief Librarian, Asian School of Business Management, Bhubaneswar.

November 13, 2011

Based on different reports and surveys Robert Rego sums up the new connected world in the following ways :

1. By 2020 almost everything from cameras to tooth brushes will become connected adding upto 50 billion connected divices.
2. Technology will bring about huge changes in the way we work share and care about our fellow human beings.
3. 5 billion people will have broad band by 2016 and a majority of them will use the connectivity facility on their mobile phone.
4. For every on there has to be the solution that eases the digital life.  Taking into account the micro solutions and being able to offer the life changing technology at competitive prices is what we need and can all redefining the digital life style.
5. The mobile worker population will exceed one billion this year and 1.2 billion by 2013.
6. To enable a true digital life style one needs consumer cloud services platforms which encompasses various aspects of a digital life style.

How prepared are we as librarians to cater to and cope up  with this new and emerging digital life style of people. Should technologists, scientists and engineers migrate to librarianship for effective confrontation.  Should librarianship open its gates of admissionb to more of science and engineering graduates? Should we think of a four year Library Technology Programme for +2 students? What happens to the librarians who are trainined in age old LIS concepts inclined more towards paper and print?

At times we accept that our profession is at cross road…….. or is it that we are at multiple corss roads?  Knowingly or unknowingly every one of us (librarians) viz practitioners, teachers and scholars seem to be puzzled, taken aback, confused over the fast pace of technological changes that push us,  sideline us and rubbish us often.

It is indeed a challenge and opportunity as well.  Professions are never static these days.  Before they consolidate their status and position they are at cross roads very often.  And in the process they transform their intellectual assets and skills faster and faster.  Nbow this is the age of constant adaptation and change for modern active professionals and professions.  Librarinship is not an exception to this.  Sooner than later, with or without librarians the modern library / information knowledge clientele will find their appropriate professionals, tools and techniques to serve them to guide them and inspire them.  Digital life style is already in.  Librarians cannot afford to be away and aloof from this all pervading, all encompassing pressure and influence and invasion of digits.

Let us be awake and aware, lest we will be left behind many miles behind and we would be lost in the wilderness of global competitions and melt downs!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reference

1.      Robert Rego/You are connected.-Times of India, November 13, 2011

Librarians continue to be knowledge professionals. Would you like to communicate to the Principal Blogger of India Librarian directly? email to .- lotus5673@yahoo.co.in ; http://librarianraj.webs.com ; .- 1816gbgvTo

At Random From Lbn.Raj and Lbn.Susri

At Random From Lbn.Raj and Lbn.Susri

With the advancement of science & technology & world becoming smaller & smaller due to efficient transport & communication people are living far & wide. Individualistic tendencies are on the increase despite having high connectivities. People of all ranks & files at times feel & be lonely. This loneliness could be in terms of staying away from near & dear ones, it could be that being in society & circles people still come across situations & times when they get secluded & separated. Celebrities many a times face this problem. Inside their heart of hearts they feel isolated, secluded & desperate for care, love & affection.

What about the Librarian?

Is identity crisis close to the phenomena of being aloof & alone & secluded. The average person still is average of the title of “Librarian”, or “Granthapal” or “Pustakalayadyaksha” .Some one says he is a Librarian a common need to be explained on the role & work side of the Librarianship. It looks like, Librarians have endorsed this outlook & opinion of people in general. It is not uncommon for Librarians to fancy with innovative different & fictitious titles. When some one equates us with a teacher we feel happy, when some one equates us with a Manager or a Scientist or Scholar or Fabrician we tend to be happy & relieved. Is it what brings us close to identity crisis? When shall we learn to put our foot down to realize & assert in no uncertain terms on what we are & what we stand for, when shall we learn to stop fancying with misleading job titles? When shall we, come what may, realize that the core things & works that we are engaged in steadily pushing us to the centre phase. Can we not realize our uniqueness & import once before others? Come forward to endorse?

I hope & trust we do it sooner than later.

(Inspiration: Peddlers of emotion/ Nona Walia., Times Life: Times of India, July 11, 2010)

Terminologies

1. Individual : particular; separate; characteristic of a particular person

or thing (Oxford dictionary)

2. lonely : isolated; unfrequented; uninhabited (Oxford dictionary)
3. secluded : away from company(Oxford dictionary)

4. desperate : having no hope(Oxford dictionary)

5. identity : condition of being a specified person; state of being

identical. (Oxford dictionary)

6. identity crisis : the condition of being uncertain of one's feelings about

Oneself. (yourdictionary.com)

7. fancy : faculty of imagination
8. innovative : being or producing something like nothing done or

experienced or created before (dictionary.com)

9. happy : feeling or showing pleasure or contentment
10. relieved : mitigate tedium or monotony
11. uniqueness : the quality of being one of a kind

(WordReference.ComEnglish Dictionary)

Lbn. Raj

Lotus5673@yahoo.co.in

http:// Indialibrarian

itl-blogspot.com

Lbn.Susri

Susri4p@gmail.com

Librarians continue to be knowledge professionals. Would you like to communicate to the Principal Blogger of India Librarian directly? email to .- lotus5673@yahoo.co.in .- 1816gbgv

Good news for Indians and Pakistani’s,

Good news for Indians and Pakistani’s, the secretary level talks between Salman & Nirupama seem to bring a fresh air for further talks! It will be worthwhile for everyone interested on India & Pak Relations to read these two books: The Idea of Pakistan By. Stephen P.Cohen (Pub & Place-The Brooking institutions, Washington ) and India as an emerging power By.Sumit Ganguly Ganguly (Pub & Place- Frank Cass Publishers, London)
Kalyani Panigrahi and Rajashekhar Devarai
(Source of inspiration : News item : June 25, 2010)

Librarians continue to be knowledge professionals. Would you like to communicate to the Principal Blogger of India Librarian directly? email to .- lotus5673@yahoo.co.in .- 1816gbgv

Librarianship as a profession

Dear Prof.Lloyd Wedes,




The first thing.........there was no such word as Professiology some time
ago. Second.........professiologists consist of sociologists, Social Scientists, economists,scientists,philosophers.....others and ofcourse librarians
as well. Accept Sociologists and few other social scientists......
.other scholars seldom get to study professions.........but they
engage mainly to study their own occupation and profession....
...as real stake holders. Librarians do double up as professiologists...
....and thier impressions on this topic and thier research findings ....
..are antogonistic. They dont tally. When librarians lecture in thier
associations......they fully endorse their occupation as a profession..
.....but in practice........and at personal/professional level..
....they endorse that theirs is not yet a full fledged profession.



There are few librarians who happen to be sociologists as
well. They are the real insiders....who can try to come closer to reality.........based on research. Fortunately or unfortunately......the scholars and Social scienitsts......
who represent society and people at large are sociologists.
........ and no others have neither interest not concern for such subjects.



I still remember my invited lecture at Hyderabad....
...on the topic of "Librarianship as profession". I was
literally stopped at every senetence by the socalled senior
LIS professionals. They contented that this topic is to be
addressed by some old retired librarians........presidents
of LIbrary associans........not a librarian who is junior.
My only fault was that........I was objective and was
basing my lecture.......on the resutls of studies......both by
librarians and sociologists...........



I can very well understand your feelings and apprehensions....
....I am not attesting the credentials of the methodologies
of professiologies.........but the fact is that they are studies
available. We are changing.........we are emerging.......
we are in right track...........we will ba a fullfledged profession.....
...sooner but not later. That is indeed a coveted title for us.....
..that brings us the much desired status......recoginition ...
... and indispensibility.



Shall we resolve to look at the researches done in this regard.........



best wishes



RajLibrarian

For more details follow the link...............http://www.linkedin.com/groupAnswers?viewQuestionAndAnswers=&gid=96413&discussionID=12516332&commentID=11171494&report%2Esuccess=8ULbKyXO6NDvmoK7o030UNOYGZKrvdhBhypZ_w8EpQrrQI-BBjkmxwkEOwBjLE28YyDIxcyEO7_TA_giuRN#commentID_11171494


Librarians continue to be knowledge professionals. Would you like to communicate to the Principal Blogger of India Librarian directly? email to .- lotus5673@yahoo.co.in .- 1816gbgv

Aragini

Kavana sankhe 3.

Aragini

Haadada manava … haadiside
Koodada manava koodiside
Aadada manava aadiside
Kuniyada manava
Gejjeyerisi
Tthaka tthaka kuniside.

Bharada hrudayava haguraagiside
Kangannina kampanu tampaagiside
Besage bisilanu beladingalaabiside.

Jagavella rangu rangu
Kaanisitu, sakhi
Nee kandaagininda.
Shabdagala hangillade
Vivariside nee
Eee
Preetiyarthava.
Nee nanna raani
Chinnada khani
Sakhee….nee nanna aragini.

Devrashan(18th October 2003).

Librarians continue to be knowledge professionals. Would you like to communicate to the Principal Blogger of India Librarian directly? email to .- lotus5673@yahoo.co.in .- 1816gbgv

Restless Union

Restless Union!

Ever increasing tentacles

of passion multiplying......

Deep up and down

into the unknown

a wild journey

deep into the valley

across life and death......

as it was, is and would be;

out of this manifest and latent

Interplay and intersection of love into lust

Good into bad

Light into darkness

And visa versa.

Yes they get lost.....

to each other

Non stop(?)...........

To win battles

Across life and death

Ever spreading red carpets

For new comers

And Bidding farewel

To those approaching the Exit.

Yes they fight their wars Across

Life and death in union

Indeed

A Restless union.

-Rajashekhar Devarai

(Original Source - Independent Spirit Weekly Bidar : March 28, 1989)

Librarians continue to be knowledge professionals. Would you like to communicate to the Principal Blogger of India Librarian directly? email to .- lotus5673@yahoo.co.in .- 1816gbgv

A book review on Biotechnology, IPR and Biodiversity/M.B.Rao and Manjula Guru

Devarai, R. S.2008. "Biotechnolgy, IPRs and Biodiversity/M.B.Rao and Manjula Guru.,New Delhi: Dorling Kindersley (Pearson Edn), 2007,pp229,Rs.6oo" : A Book Review.- Akruti Journal of Infrastructure.- 1(3)April 2008.,pp250-251.
________________________________

It is indeed a challenging task to author a book on the three contemporary topics, viz., ‘Biotechnology, IPRs and Biodiversity’ together placed in relation to each other. The authors M.B.Rao and Manjula Guru claim to have brought out their diverse and multidimensional deliberations on the topics cited above in unison and in interaction and inter relation with each other. One can notice ample of literature on the topics of Biotechnology (BT), Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) and Biodiversity (BD). This literature cuts across disciplinary boundaries, covering various issues with diverse facets. The topics BT, IPR’s and BD have become so common in the media and professional literature, that these have become part and parcel of common sense and conventional wisdom.

It is in this background that the authors in one go, have attempted to analyse the details of the concerns and commitments of the developed and developing countries about issues pertaining to Science, Technology, Policy, social/survival issues directly or indirectly related to BT, IPRs and BD. The book is spread out in ten chapters. Chapter 1 covers the topic ‘biotechnology’ with emphasis on its positive and negative impacts on society. In Chapter 2, the authors give an overview of disastrous effects of Genetically Modified Food (GMFs) and the laws enacted by various countries in this regard for mitigating their harmful effects. Chapters 3 and 4 deal with biotechnology, patent law and the role played by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for the conclusion of a ‘binding agreement’ on the conservation of Plant Genetic Resources. Authors lay a special emphasis on the fact that the FAO’s role in this regard did not yield desired results due to opposition of the developed countries. Rao and Guru dwell on issues and concerns like : the need to preserve biodiversity, agreements on the conservation of Flora and Fauna and protection of ecosystems/habitats, backgrounds which led to the signing of the historical Convention on Biodiversity (CBD), The Cartegena Protocol on Biosafety etc in Chapters 5-10. All through the chapters, the authors skillfully glide from science, social science, social work, law to technology easily with ample of comfort to explain the general concerns pertaining to BT, IPR & BD.

The text is a good blend of the experience, exposure and credentials of the authors. Mr. Rao is an advocate and a senior bureaucrat. Ms.Manjula Guru is an advocate at Delhi High Court. She is a member of the American Association of Agricultural Economists. Both of them have number of papers and publications to their credit. The authors are successful in educating the reader on BT, IPR & BD. They have tried to highlight the critical issues like biodiversity laws, vested interests of the developed countries on IPRs and Patents, marginalization of the indigenous people, vested interest of MNCs etc which are a matter of great concern to both developed and developing countries. The authors have crisply brought out the fact of USA not signing the CBD. They have highlighted USA’s concerns over its MNCs and their ‘Biotechnology business’, than about the concerns and issues of developing countries.

By and large the book is a narrative and probably a result mainly of the reading, scholarship and experience of the authors. No study or survey seems to form the base of the deliberations by the authors. Nevertheless this book on Biotechnology, IPRs and Biodiversity is a welcome addition to the already burgeoning list of books in this field. The authors’ efforts are appreciable., as they are successful in sensitizing and raising the curiosities of the readers to know more in this regard.

Rajashekhar Devarai
_________________________
JAIN’S SEZ MANUAL 2007 by Abha Jain, India Investment Publications, New Delhi, April 2007, pp 410, Rs. 470
Indian Special Economic zones (SEZs’) are zones within the territory of India that operate on a global paradigm of business practices, regulatory framework and enjoy the freedom to do business and trade without government restrictions. They have access to all the advantages pertaining