A lot is expected from Librarians and why not, the profession is such (if we believe), but are we living up to their (our users/readers), or even our own expectations? A BIG question.
Please read the following email from Mr. Jayantbhai Meghani, a highly learned multi faceted literate to Ms. Pragnyaben Pathak, Librarian at IPR Gandhinagar.
(used with permission)
"Dear Pragnyabahen,
Nice to have a few words from you. You seem to have collected a lot of papers. The one by Yashvantbhai very succinctly tells what the world expects from trained librarians. We teach of a lot of theory and techniques, neglecting practical aspects of a librarian's job. Our students know very little about our literature in different subjects, our learned societies and institutions, our periodicals. The students holding master's degree know about IFLA and DRTC, but they have not any idea what National Book Trust does, how Gujarat Itihas Parishad functions, what are their principal publications. They do not know, and they are not required to know -- because that is not covered in the syllabus! I have seen Gopaldas Patel managing Gujarat Vidyapith Library in a much much much efficient and organised way than any of the librarians since him. He knew a lot more about the world of knowledge, about notable books in all subjects. When Kanubhai was in charge of library science courses at Vidyapith, I could persuade him to introduce a paper of Sahitya Parichay that included outline knowledge about books in various subjects and about scholarly and publishing institutions but they could not find teachers and the paper was dropped after two years! It is a pity that the masters of present day have no idea about critical editions of Mahabharata and Ramayana, about the great dictionary of Sanskrit being created on historical principles, about the National Bibliography of Indian Literature (not INB), about the Bhandarkar Institute, about Central Institute of Indian Languages, about Indian Science Institute, about Indian Institute of Advanced Studies. Pragnyabahen, tame to nasibdar chho ke ek bahu j samruddh sansthamam kam karo chho, pan juo, Gujarat University has no librarian, after Manibhai Prajapati retires, what will happen to Uttar G Univ. Library? Bhavnagar Univ. Library has to do with only two technically qualified people, and the entire library runs with six people including class iv staff.
On the whole the picture is so disappointing. Please excuse me for sharing such gloomy views. In the situation, we are so happy when we find exceptional good experience, but what about the whole lots that come out of the universities?
Jayant"
This mail speaks a lot about the status of our profession, what's your say. Please excuse me for the satire - "Picture bahut Gloomy hai mere dost"
Posted by saroj175@gmail.com
Please read the following email from Mr. Jayantbhai Meghani, a highly learned multi faceted literate to Ms. Pragnyaben Pathak, Librarian at IPR Gandhinagar.
(used with permission)
"Dear Pragnyabahen,
Nice to have a few words from you. You seem to have collected a lot of papers. The one by Yashvantbhai very succinctly tells what the world expects from trained librarians. We teach of a lot of theory and techniques, neglecting practical aspects of a librarian's job. Our students know very little about our literature in different subjects, our learned societies and institutions, our periodicals. The students holding master's degree know about IFLA and DRTC, but they have not any idea what National Book Trust does, how Gujarat Itihas Parishad functions, what are their principal publications. They do not know, and they are not required to know -- because that is not covered in the syllabus! I have seen Gopaldas Patel managing Gujarat Vidyapith Library in a much much much efficient and organised way than any of the librarians since him. He knew a lot more about the world of knowledge, about notable books in all subjects. When Kanubhai was in charge of library science courses at Vidyapith, I could persuade him to introduce a paper of Sahitya Parichay that included outline knowledge about books in various subjects and about scholarly and publishing institutions but they could not find teachers and the paper was dropped after two years! It is a pity that the masters of present day have no idea about critical editions of Mahabharata and Ramayana, about the great dictionary of Sanskrit being created on historical principles, about the National Bibliography of Indian Literature (not INB), about the Bhandarkar Institute, about Central Institute of Indian Languages, about Indian Science Institute, about Indian Institute of Advanced Studies. Pragnyabahen, tame to nasibdar chho ke ek bahu j samruddh sansthamam kam karo chho, pan juo, Gujarat University has no librarian, after Manibhai Prajapati retires, what will happen to Uttar G Univ. Library? Bhavnagar Univ. Library has to do with only two technically qualified people, and the entire library runs with six people including class iv staff.
On the whole the picture is so disappointing. Please excuse me for sharing such gloomy views. In the situation, we are so happy when we find exceptional good experience, but what about the whole lots that come out of the universities?
Jayant"
This mail speaks a lot about the status of our profession, what's your say. Please excuse me for the satire - "Picture bahut Gloomy hai mere dost"
Posted by saroj175@gmail.com
Posts
