Revising LIS Curriculum with Respect to ICT Application in

India

ASHIS BISWASLibrarian

Victoria Institution (College) Kolkata 700 009

Introduction

ICT has changed our life and work or rather our way of looking and taking things altogether and perhaps for good. Higher education is no exception. Today LIS professionals play a crucial role in the society in spreading not only the repertoire of past and present knowledge but also helps to gain an understanding about what is going to happen in the knowledge frontier in time to come. It has been necessary for the LIS professionals to have a thorough insight into all techniques of information handling with special emphasis on the application of ICT & web technologies in order to design, implement, operate and manage information system. If all these concepts are included in the BLIS & MLIS courses then there will be no need to opt for any other computer courses (e.g. PGDLAN) separately.

Scope of the Study For our work, we have taken the first three ranked LIS schools

according to US News and World Report 2009. These are Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois; School of Library and Information Science, University of North Carolina and School of Information studies, Syracuse University. We have analyzed their various course contents to find out the ICT contents and the respective papers. According to University guide 2010 of The Guardian under the subjects Media studies, communications and librarianship, University of Sheffield and Loughborough University are the top two ranked LIS School in UK. For Indian perspective we took some well known LIS Schools/ Department for our study. These are Calcutta University, Burdwan University, DRTC, IGNOU, NISCAIR, Banaras Hindu University, Delhi University etc. To make our study more comprehensive we have also checked the UGC model curriculum in LIS. After analyzing these courses and their ICT contents, we have tried to propose the best possible way to teach different areas of ICT at various LIS courses at various levels such as graduate or post-graduate levels at different universities in India.

Objectives

To show the integration of ICT & web technologies in the LIS syllabi to meet the present requirement.

To propose the restructuring of LIS courses to integrate the ICT and web technologies

LIS Curriculum : India

The typical course content at the BLIS level would be: Library and Society Classification (Theory and Practice) Cataloguing (Theory and Practice) Library Organization Information Sources and Services

With optional papers from: Information Retrieval Techniques Management of Library Services Computer Applications in Libraries

MLIS Programme

Common papers include : Information and Communication Process/Society Library and Information Management Information Sources, Systems and Services Research Methodology Application of information Technology Information Storage and Retrieval (ISAR) (Theory) Information Storage and Retrieval (ISAR) (Practical)

With optional papers from Preservation and Conservation of Library Materials Industrial/ Agricultural/ Health /Engineering /Research & Technical/

Public/ Academic/ Library and Information System and Services Community Information System and Services Technical writing Scientometrics and Informetrics Knowledge Management

LIS Curriculum : UK

The compulsory modules at the Masters level invariably include:

Information: Characteristics/use/ requirements Information Policy Information Sources, Organisation and retrieval Development of Information Products and Services

With optional papers from Knowledge Management Database Management system Digital Libraries

University of Sheffield and Loughborough University

Computer Systems Database Design Operating Systems, Network and the Internet Electronic Publishing

LIS Curriculum : USA

The Life Cycle of Information Information Behavior Information Resources, Services and Collections Organization of Information and Resources Information in Social Context Instructional and Training Strategies for Information

Professionals Research Methods and Statistics Management of Information Organizations Marketing of Information

Univ. of North Carolina, Univ. of Illinois and Syracuse University

Information Technology and Organizations Human Interaction with Computers Database Development & Management Internet & Network management Digital Libraries: Principles and Applications

Need for Curriculum Revision

Library and information professionals are increasingly working in a networked environment, dealing with library automation packages and web based information resources and services. Every LIS professionals irrespective of his future place of work must have knowledge and skills for handling information technology and the competency for creation and collection of information using the internet.

Contd…

But LIS schools in India are not able to adequately respond to emerging information scenario created by electronic publishing and dynamics of the knowledge society. Because of lack of adequate faculty strength several library schools are letting the courses go on as they are going on. The course revisions if any are undertaken with some patches here and there, whereas the present courses are required to be completely redefined and recasted keeping in view the contemporary information systems, global technological developments and local needs.

Integration of ICT & Web Technologies in LIS Syllabus

Paper-1: Fundamentals of ITUNIT1 - Computer Hardware and Software

Basics: Von Neumann Architecture, Computer Generations, Classification of Computers, Computer Organisation

Data Representation: ASCII, BCD, UNICODE & Numbering systems (Binary, Octal, Hexadecimal)

Processor Types: CISC, RISC File Formats: Image, audio, video, text Memory Hierarchy: Register, Cache, RAM, ROM, DRAM, Flash

Memory Secondary Storage: Characteristic of Hard disk and CD-ROM, DVDs,

Pen Drives, Cartridge Tape Drives etc. IDE, SCSI Interfaces Printers: Types and characteristics Scanners: Types and Characteristics

Paper – 1 (contd…)

UNIT 2 – Operating System (OS) Types of OS: Serial Processing, Batch processing,

Multiprogramming OS, Distributed OS and Network Operating System

File Systems: FAT, NTFS, UNIX File system

Lab Work MS Windows: Installation and configuration of

Windows, application, device drivers, printers, creating users and groups, file sharing, system settings

Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint

Paper-2 : Programming, DBMS and SQL

UNIT 1 – Principles of ProgrammingGenerations of languages, Assemblers, Interpreters and

Compilers

Algorithms, Flowcharts, Pseudo Codes

Centralised processing and Client Server architecture, N-tier Architecture

Software Development Life Cycle

Paper – 2 (contd…)

UNIT 2 – DBMSIntroduction

File based systems and their limitationsDB approach, database models

Architecture

Three level architecture of DBMS Elements of DBMS: Host language interface, precompiler, DDL, DML, File

manager, DB manager, DB Administration, Data dictionary, Data files and indexes

Entities, attributes, relationships, ER diagram Relation model: Domains, attributes, tuple, relations Keys: Primary keys, foreign keys, indexes Conversion of ER diagram to relational database Normalization: 1NF, 2NF, 3NF, BCNF

Paper – 2 (contd…)

UNIT3 – Structured Query Language

CREATE, SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, GRANTING PERMISSIONS, VIEWS, CURSORS, TRIGGERS

Lab Work MYSQL/SQL Server : Installation and configuration of

MYSQL/SQL server, database design and creation, SQL commands, Assigning roles and Permissions to users, Functions, Indexing

Paper – 3: Library Automation and Fundamentals of Internet

UNIT 1 – Library Automation

Basics : Library automation software, OPAC, Retrospective Conversion Techniques

Automating Identification Methods : Bar coding, RFID

Selection criteria for hardware and software Library Automation Software : WINSIS,

JAVAISIS, WWISIS, SOUL, LIBSYS,

Paper – 3 (contd…)

UNIT 2 – Fundamentals of Internet Introduction to computer Networks, uses Classification : LAN, MAN, WAN: Internet, Intra-

net, Extra-net Networking Models : ISO OSI, TCP/IP reference Model Network Topologies : Bus, Ring, Star, Mesh

Lab WorkIn hand practice of Library Software, Creating OPAC and

Retrospective conversion of data, Use of Barcode.

Paper -4: Digital Libraries and Digital Preservation

UNIT 1 – Digital LibrariesOverview of Digital Library Definition, Need for a digital library, Types Components of a digital library – Collection, network, organization, browsing

and interfaces Advantages and limitationsDigitization and Tools Techniques of digitization, resolution, imagingFormats Character sets such as Unicode Files and Formats of documents, images, video, audio, etc Conversion from one format to another Usage of XMLMetadata Role of metadata and metadata types; Standards (Dublin-core)Digital Library Software D-Space, Greenstone etc

Paper – 4 (contd…)

UNIT 2 – Digital Preservation Overview, Need, challenges, DP strategy –

migration, replication, computer archeology, standards, Universal virtual computers, DP metadata and Institutional Repositories.

Creation of Digital Libraries Process of planning, creating and managing a

digital library Lab Work Installation, configuration and working in of

Greenstone/D-space.

Paper -5: Internet Concepts, Resources and ServicesUNIT 1 – Fundamentals of Networking Switching Techniques : Circuit Switching, Packet

Switching Network Devices : NIC, Modem, Amplifier,

Repeater, Hub, Bridge, switches,

Router, Wi-Fi devices Network connectivity : Dial-up, Leased Line, ISDN, RF

etc. Network Addressing : MAC address, port

address, Domain address, IP address

Protocols and Services : IP, TCP, DNS, SMTP, PoP, FTP, Telnet, HTTP, search

Engine, Proxy, Firewall, Web server

Network Security : Authentication, Firewall, IDS, Virus, Spywares,

Maintenance

Paper – 5 (contd…)

UNIT 2 – Resources Search Engines : Introduction, categories: Primary,

Meta, specialized Search Engines, hybrid, subject

gateways, Directories, Open source software: concepts, Licensing

Searching Techniques : Basic search, Advanced search: Boolean operators, Proximity operators, wild cards, phrases

Evaluation : Capabilities: Search Results, Relevance ranking

UNIT 3 – Services World Wide web, web servers, Proxy Servers, Domain name Servers,

Email, Conferencing: Audio and Video, Chat & instant message, User

Groups, Discussion Board, Bulletin Board

Paper – 5 (contd…)

UNIT 4 – Web 2.0 & Web 3.0 Technologies

UNIT 5 – Website Development

Introduction, Principles of Web design, software Tools, Markup Language: HTML,

DHTML, XML: Syntax & commands, Text, tables, Images, Links, Frames, Style sheet

and layering. Scripting Languages

Paper – 5 (contd…)

Lab WorkNetwork Basics Installation and sharing of Resources on network: Files, printers, scanners Installation and configuration: Mail Clients, Web Servers,

Database serversUse of Web2.0 & Web3.0 Technologies in library servicesCreating Web Pages Using MS FrontPage/ Macro media dream weaver Formation of text, headings and lists, working with images and sounds Creating Links, Using Tables, frames and FormsScripts Basic structures; Connecting with databases for updating and

retrieving informationLinux Basic commands, creating users and groups, changing permissions,

pipes, filters, Redirection

Restructuring LIS courses to Integrate ICT & Web Technologies

BLIS

Year Paper included

1st “Fundamentals of IT”

2nd “Programming, DBMS & SQL”

3rd “Library Automation & Fundamentals of Internet”

MLISYear Paper included

(1st sem + 2nd sem) “Digital Libraries & Digital Preservation”

Unit 1: Digital Libraries (Lab work)

Unit 2: Digital Preservation (lab work)

3rd sem “Internet Concepts, Resources & Services”

Unit 1: Fundamentals of Networking

Unit 2: Resources

Unit 3: Services (lab work)

4th sem Unit 4: Web 2.0 & 3.0

Unit 5: Website development (lab work)

Suggestions

Awareness regarding the new ICT based job opportunities in the field of LIS should be created in India.

An ICT based LIS Curriculum Framework for India should be developed.

With ICT leaving a marked impact on the way libraries work and delivers its services, we propose that all the related ICT concepts for LIS courses may only be taught in proper manner if these are offered in a structured way (semester system) of 3 years Bachelor’s degree and 2 years Master’s degree in LIS education in India like other academic programmes.

Contd..

Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) should be introduced to offer academic freedom to the students at undergraduate level, especially in the choice of subjects among various disciplines as computer science or IT.

LIS education providers should have to learn to cooperate and collaborate with their counterparts to move forward and work as team to cover the way for globalization of LIS education.

Recommendations of the National Knowledge Commission and UGC should be implemented properly in this regard.

Final Thought

The inclusion of ICT components is important in LIS curricula for better information management, yet several other conventional components such as user education, community information service, knowledge organization, marketing of LIS education and services, nature and growth of universe of knowledge, etc. are equally important for developing learners as competent and confident professionals to manage the new information environment.