A Librarian plays an essential role to collect, organise, maintain the varied information in the form of books, videos, audios and digital files. Library and Information Science (LIS) is an interdisciplinary field that applies the practices, perspectives, and tools of management, information technology, education, and other areas to libraries.
The career in library includes areas like library and information systems management, classification/cataloguing systems, bibliography, documentation, preservation and conservation of manuscript, collection management, information systems and technology, research methodology, computer applications, reference, statistics and management, information processing, archives management, indexing, library planning, etc.
Roles And Responsibilities
- Select and purchase materials and prepare those materials by classifying them according to subject matter
- Use library systems and specialist computer applications.
- Supervise assistants who prepare cards, computer records, or other access tools that direct users to resources;
- Collect and organise books, pamphlets, manuscripts, and other materials in a specific field, such as rare books, genealogy, or music
- Co-ordinating with departmental academic staff, external organisations and suppliers
- Recruit, hire, train and terminate departmental personnel.
- Plan, administer and control budgets for the library.
- Establish operational policies and procedures.
- Participate in faculty and college committee activities.
- Represent institutions at community and campus events with other institution personnel during accreditation processes.
- Promote the university by participating in the community, which includes state and national events or meetings.
- Develop partnerships with industry and secondary education institutions.
Key Skills required
- Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL)
- Research Skills
- Organising Skills
- Cataloging Skills
- Communication Skills
- Ability to understand user’s needs
Types of Library Science professionals
- Library Attendant
- Library Assistant
- Semi-Professional Assistant
- Junior Librarian/Professional Assistant
- Assistant Librarian
- Deputy Librarian
- Librarian/Chief Librarian
- Researcher/Scientists/Application Specialist
- Consultant/Reference Librarian
- Cataloguer/Technical Assistant/Records Manager
- Director/Head Of Information Centre
- Senior Information Analyst
- Junior Information Analyst
- Senior Library Information Assistant
- Law Librarian
- Indexer
- Information architect
- Archivist
Career opportunities
- Public/Government libraries
- Universities/collages/schools and other academic institutions
- News agencies and organisations
- Private organisations and special libraries
- Foreign embassies
- Photo/film/radio/television libraries
- Information centres/documentation centres
- Companies and organisations with large information handling requirements
- Museums and galleries, which have reading rooms and research facilities
Law library/Special library, etc.
How To Pursue A Career As A Librarian
| Stream | Graduation | After Graduation |
| Class XII (any stream) | Bachelors in Library Science | Masters in Library Science |
| Class XII (any stream) | Diploma in Library Management |
Top colleges To Study Library Science
There are around 500+ universities in India which offer a course in Library Science. Here are a top few.
- Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi
- Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
- Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh
- University of Delhi, Delhi
- Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth, Varanasi
- Punjab University
- Gujarat University;
- Madurai Kamaraj University, Tamil Nadu
- Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu
- Arya Vidyapeeth Kanya Mahavidyalaya, Bharatpur (Rajasthan)
- Savitribai Phule Pune University
- Jadavpur University, Kolkata
- Delhi University ( Post-Grad Program)
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Business Data Analytics As A Career
This is a career I had fancied, once upon a time, because of my love for books!
L = Lassi
Wow, there’s a subject called Library science? Didn’t know this at all. Quite interesting post Aesha ji.
Thanks Atul ji .
Two of my close relatives did their Masters in Library Sciences and both have a very successful and rewarding career in the top IT industries in India as Librarians!
I wish to add University of Pune to the list of universities / institutes that offers quality programs in Library Sciences at UG and PG levels.
Thanks Anagha for sharing . I will update the post certainly.
You are really doing a great job by sharing such useful information.