Department of Library & Information Science

Contact

Third Floor, Asutosh Building, 87/1, College Street,
Kolkata - 700 073, Phone :2241 0071

Year of Establishment
1945

Department at a Glance

In 1943, the Inter University Board of India resolved that graduates of any stream would be eligible for admission to the Librarianship courses conducted by the Indian Universities. About the same time a library sub–committee was formed by the University of Calcutta. On August 17, 1944 the syndicate of the university considered the resolutions of the sub–committee to the effect that “The University will institute a Diploma course in Librarianship every year. The course including the examination will extend over one year beginning in the month of January.” Admission to the course was open to the graduate only and the intake was limited to 15 students only. A Librarianship Training Committee used to be appointed every year to run the course, as there was no separate Department. The arrangement called the Librarianship Training Department under the administrative control of Library Department (i.e. the University Librarian) was placed with the Faculty of Arts. The first Dip. Lib. Training Programme started in January 1945. In 1959, the Training Department was separated from the Library Department and was renamed as “Department of Library Science”. A separate and independent Faculty for Post – Graduate Studies in Library Science was created under which the department was placed. From the 1969-1970 session the “Diploma” was replaced by Post Graduate Degree of Bachelor of Library Science (B.Lib.Sc). In 1998 the department has been renamed as the Department of Library & Information Science offering the course called Bachelor of Library & Information Science (BLISc). The department is presently under the Faculty of Post – Graduates Studies in Education, Journalism and Library & Information Science.

Courses Offered

Bachelor of Library and Information Science (B.L.I.Sc)

Preamble The first Diploma in Librarianship (Dip.. Lib.) Training Programme started in January, 1945. From the 1969 - 1970 session the “Diploma” was replaced by Post Graduate Degree of Bachelor of Library Science (B.Lib.Sc). In 1998, the department has been renamed as the Department of Library & Information Science and the course is being called as Bachelor of Library & Information Science (BLISc). Intake of students in the course is 110 at present. Objectives The main objective of BLIS course is to make a student competent with basic information skills, both traditional and modern. • The students will be prepared as efficient, progressive, humane professionals with initiative, drive and integrity. Eligibility to sit for Admission Test Any person having an Honours Degree (10+2+3 pattern) or master Degree or a degree (even if without Honours degree at Bachelor level) in a technical subject (of the pattern 10+2+4 or 10+2+5) such as medical Science, Engineering, Law etc. of this University or having an equivalent degree of any other University or Institute recognized by this University will be eligible for admission to the BLIS course, the persons appearing in the final Part – II Honours Examination will also be allowed to sit for the Admission Test. But their admission to BLIS will be subject to the condition of securing Honours Degree when the result comes out and also of being in the admission list for BLIS course on the basis of Admission / Merit Test. Duration One year Classes Normally the classes are held in the evening. But classes may also be held during normal working hours. Distribution of subjects I. Library Information & Society (Th) II. Library Management (Th) III. Library Classification Theory (Th) IV. Library Classification Practice (Pr) V. Library Cataloguing Theory (Th) VI. Library Cataloguing practice (Pr) VII. Information Sources & Services (Th) VIII. Information Sources & Services (Pr) IXA Computer Application in Library & Information Science (Th) IXB Computer Application in Library & Information Science (Pr) Beginning of Session The session starts in August / September before the Puja vacation and after publication of results of B.A. / B. Sc. Part – II Honours of the University of Calcutta. The Admission Test is to be completed in June.

 

Master of Library and Information Science(M.L.I.Sc)

Preamble The Master degree course was introduced in 1973. The classes started in 1974 and the first batch of successful students came out in 1976. The name of the course was Master of Library Science (M.Lib.Sc.). It has been a 2 – year course at par with other master degree courses of the Calcutta University. With the passage of time, the field of information and library science and management is growing in many dimensions and the usefulness and necessity of a Master degree course is being appreciated. In 1998 the course is renamed as Master of Library & Information Science (MLISc). Intake of students in the course was initially ten (10), which has been increased to twenty - two (22). Objectives The students will be prepared to take up the information challenges of the coming years. • The students will be prepared to take up leadership position in both the traditional types of information institutions e.g., academic libraries and most modern and futuristic types of information institute e.g., as database managers, or information specialists. • The students will be prepared in such a manner that they may be capable of taking up self-employment in information field. • The students will be prepared to make themselves fit in varied types of information work such as HRD, information dissemination or in house editing and publishing information system management, e – marketing, community development, R & D in information field, teaching and training, etc. Admission Any person having a Bachelor degree in Library & Information Science / Library Science / Information Science or a equivalent degree from a recognized university or institution may apply for the said course. Normally the students passing out of the B.L.I.S. course of the University of Calcutta in most current session will given preference. Duration Two years Classes Normally the classes are held during normal working hours. Distribution of subjects Part I Paper – I Information and Communication Process (Th) Paper – II Management of Information System & Services (Th) Paper – III Information Sources, Systems and Services (Th) Paper – IV Research and Quantitative Methods (Th) Paper – V Application of Information Technology (Th) Part II Paper – VI Application of Information Technology (Pr) Paper – VII Information Processing & Retrieval (Th) Paper – VIII Information Processing & Retrieval (Pr) Paper – IX Technical Writing and Information Repackaging (Th) Paper - X Special Paper (any one of the following) Options Paper – X(i) Preservation & Conservation of Library Materials Paper – X(ii) Comparative & International Librarianship Paper – X(iii) Manuscript and Archival Materials Management System Paper – X(iv) Document Production Process Paper – X(v) Industrial Library & Information System Paper – X(vi) Agricultural Library & Information System Paper – X(vii) User Educational & User Studies Paper – X(viii) Library & Information Science Education Paper – X(ix) Community Information System & Services Paper – X(x) Informetrics Beginning of Session For Part I the first working day of the month of January every year. For Part II immediately on completion of Part I examination.

 

Faculty Members

Research Work

Major thrust areas in which Research activities are being actively pursued :

Bibliographic Control
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Cataloguing
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Community Information Services
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Digital library
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Information Management System
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Knowledge Management
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Library Management
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Natural Language Processing
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Public Libraries
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Scientometrics & Informetrics