Library Education in Pakistan:

Library Education in Pakistan:

Abstract

The paper gives an account of undergraduate level library and

information science education in Pakistan including independent

certificate courses, an optional subject at intermediate and bachelor

level, and bachelor program of Allama Iqbal Open University. The paper

is based on the literature review and personal communications with

selected professionals. There appeared gap in local literature regarding

contemporary state of undergrad level education. The review of literature

and senior professionals suggested that radical changes are necessary

in policies, programs and curricula of different programs at

undergraduate level to raise the quality of education.

Keywords: Library education-Undergraduate; Library and information

science education; Training of paraprofessional library staff;

Allama Iqbal Open University Pakistan.

History of library education in over all world

 For centuries librarianship was considered an apprenticeship

requiring some practical training within the library and formal education

was not considered necessary. The invention of printing press in the mid-

15th century resulted in mass book production. Collection size of libraries

began to grow rapidly. Hence, the need for more trained librarians was

felt. However, the emergence of library education as a distinct

discipline at university level started in 1886 at the University of Gottingen

in Germany. Columbia College, now known as Columbia University, was

second to start library education program which was designed by Melvil

Dewey in 1887. The first American school of librarianship opened at Columbia University under the leadership of Melvil Dewey, noted for his 1876 decimal classification, on 5 January 1887 as the School of Library Economy. The term library economy was common in USA until 1942, with the library science predominant through much of the 20th century.The first textbook in the United States was the Manual of Library Economy which was published in 1929. In 1923, C. C. Williamson, who was appointed by the Carnegie Corporation, published an assessment of library science education entitled, "The Williamson Report," which designated that universities should provide library science training. This report had a significant impact on Library Science training and education. Library research and practical work, the area of information science has remained largely distinct both in training and in research interests.

In more recent years, with the growth of digital technology, the field has been greatly influenced by information science concepts. In the English speaking world the term "library science" seems to have been used for the first time in India in a book in 1916 in the Punjab Library Primer written by Asa Don Dickinson and published by the University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.  This university was the first in Asia to begin teaching 'library science'. The Punjab Library Primer was the first textbook on library science published in English anywhere in the world

Library education in Pakistan

The University of the Punjab, Lahore has the distinction

to be the third university in the world and trend setter in subcontinent that

started library education and training in 1915 (Qarshi, 2006).

LIS education is now offered at all levels from undergraduate to

PhD in the world. While graduate and post graduate education aims to

prepare library professionals and experts, undergraduate LIS education

trains the paraprofessional staff. It also provides basic education for the

future library professionals. Based on the literature review and personal communications with experts, this paper aims to review the development of LIS education at  undergraduate level after 1947, and to explore the present scenario. It also identifies weaknesses of the system in order to furnish suggestions for improvement of the quality.

Development of LIS Education at Undergraduate Level Pakistan came into existence in 1947. Government had gross challenges ahead, so education sector could not get due attention of the authorities. Despite certain constraints, library educators and professionals made commendable efforts for the promotion of library

education at postgraduate level. Little attention was paid to the library

education at undergraduate level. Following is a preview of the

undergraduate LIS education status in Pakistan. It comprised of following

three forms.

1. Certificate courses in library science

2. Library science as an optional subject

3. AIOU’s Bachelor of Library and Information Science

   Certificate cource in different institutions in Pakistan

Certificate courses are generally offered by regional professional

associations. These courses of three to six months duration are designed

for paraprofessional staff working in libraries and usually consist of the

core subjects which are taught by part-time teachers. The medium of

instruction is Urdu which is the national language of Pakistan. Students

of these courses mostly depend upon lectures, notes or some

elementary textbooks in Urdu language (Haider, 1981).

Punjab Library Association introduced certificate course at

undergraduate level in 1948. This was the correspondence course

started at Lahore. The pattern of this course was the same as conducted

by British Library Association .This course continued till

March 1951 and there were no facilities for library education and training

in Pakistan until 1952. the situation of libraries and library education, when Pakistan came into existence in the following words: The migration of Hindu library workers to India made the situation worse leaving no alternative for the existing libraries except to close their doors. Contrary to this only few Indian Muslim librarians opted for Pakistan. There existed an acute shortage of qualified manpower. This was most seriously felt at

Karachi, then the seat of the Government, where the various ministries had build up libraries. To meet this deficiency Karachi Library Association, formed in 1949 at the initiative of some migrant librarians, started in 1952, a certificate course of four

months duration. L.C. Key came in 1955 as a Colombo Plan consultant to the

Government of Pakistan. He also recommended to initiate certificate courses for the training of sub-professionals with the assistance of University of the Punjab but his recommendations were never implemented. Pakistan Bibliographical Working Group (PBWG) in Karachi started a six month duration undergraduate course titled as “Diploma in Special Librarianship and Bibliography” in 1960. Confusion was created due to its title as it was declared diploma course. At that time three universities (University of the Punjab, University of Karachi and University of Peshawar) were also conducting a one year Post Graduate Diploma Course in Library Science. The diploma holders of PBWG

joining the profession demanded same pay scales which were granted to the librarians having diploma from universities. This confusion prevailed till 1973. Pakistan Library Association (PLA) formulated standards in 1972 for granting accreditation and pressurized PBWG to change the name of this course. PBWG then changed the name of the course to Higher Certificate in Librarianship.

Jamia Institute of Education started a training program for

teacher librarians at Karachi in 1961. The duration of this course was six

weeks. PLA sponsored this course for one year. It started again in 1966

in collaboration with the Department of Library Science, University of

Karachi and continued till 1972. The duration of this program was

changed from six weeks to two months and then to three months in 1969.

PLA planned to initiate a certificate course in Lahore through

Punjab Library Association in 1962 for undergraduates. The Certificate in

Library Science (CLS) was started in Lahore. Punjab Library

Association decided, in 1973, to start two sessions of six month duration

each (Punjab Library Association, 2003).Federal Library Association started a certificate course of six month duration in the city of Rawalpindi to meet the needs of paraprofessionals for the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The course was started in cooperation with Pakistan National Centre in 1972 and was provisionally accredited by Pakistan Library Association.An Institute of Library Science was established in Karachi in 1973 to conduct undergraduate courses. It offered courses at two levels i.e. Certificate and Junior Diploma in Library Science but it failed to complete even one session. Pakistan-American Cultural Centre started three month Library Science course in 1974.

Library science as optional subject

Library Science has been introduced as an optional subject in

colleges in all four provinces of Pakistan. Federal Board of Intermediate

and Secondary Education (2009) has described the objectives of

introducing Library Science as an optional subject as follows:

1. To develop interest in reading materials and their use in

libraries and to promote reading habit among the students.

2. To create among students a better understanding of the

usefulness of libraries in their studies and their dynamic role

in a fast changing society.

3. To develop among the students the skill to make effective

use of library resources and services including library

equipments so that irrespective of the career that they may

later on choose for themselves, they can derive maximum

benefit out of the library.

4. To acquaint students with the literature of Islam and

Pakistan.

5. To promote interest among students for lifelong education

and help them to develop into good citizens.

Library Science at Intermediate level

Science as an optional subject at intermediate level in all four provinces

of Pakistan was an important development in Pakistani librarianship. It

was aimed at preparing more dedicated and devoted professionals and

paraprofessionals in future. The efforts to achieve this goal were started

in 1974.

PLA approached the Board of Intermediate and Secondary

Education (BISE), Lahore for inclusion of Library Science as optional

subject. The Board accepted the proposal in 1974 and constituted a

committee to design the syllabus with Dr. Mumtaz A. Anwar as its

Chairperson. The committee proposed that the Board will not allow

colleges to offer the course before the appointment of lecturers and

publication of textbook for the course .Once the inclusion

of Library Science at undergraduate level was approved in Lahore, there

was a need to go further with mutual cooperation to avail this opportunity

for other provinces. Anwar (1992) writes about this development in Sindh

as under. The proposal was later on misused in Sindh and pressure was

exerted on authorities to introduce library science as an elective subject at both intermediate and degree level. The proposals were hastily approved and teaching begun without any planning. Working college librarians, who were happy to label themselves

as lecturer started teaching. No new jobs were created. No textbook at that time was available. Graduate of these ill-planned courses were to join the profession with weak subject background.

Due to lack of planning, it took several years to start teaching of

Library Science as an optional subject in Punjab despite the approval by

BISE Lahore in 1974. Mrs. Farkhanda Lodhi, librarian and a well-known

literary person, started teaching Library Science at Intermediate level in

Government College for Women, Lahore in 1987, but Education

Department stopped the program. Later on, Inter Board Committee of

Chairman (IBCC) allowed for teaching Library Science at Intermediate

level. The committee also allowed conducting the examination for the

same from session 1991-92 and all BISEs of the Punjab circulated the

notification.

Library Science as an optional subject at Intermediate level was

started in Sindh. Karachi Board of Intermediate and Secondary

Education allowed teaching library science as an optional subject in

1976.in NWFP, it was introduced in 1994. However, it is being taught in Higher

Secondary Schools only in contrast with Punjab and Sindh,In 2002, Balochistan

Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BBISE) allowed Intermediate and Degree Colleges to introduce Library Science as an elective subject at intermediate level from academic year 2003.

(Balochistan Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, 2002).

Late Mir Hassan Jamali, the then Chairman, Department of Library and

Information Science, University of Balochistan, performed a fundamental

role regarding this achievement .subject at intermediate level is being offered to the regular students in all four provinces of Pakistan. However, one of the fundamental aims,

creating lecturer positions in colleges could not be achieved.The efforts for introducing

Library Science as an optional subject at Bachelor level were also started in 1974. University of the Punjab took the first step when the Board of Studies in Library Science recommended the inclusion of Library Science as optional subject at Bachelor levels in 1974. It was subsequently approved by the Academic Council in January 1975 but no further progress was made for the preparation of curriculum. After gap of several

years, the efforts were restarted in 1990 when Mrs. Farkhandha Lodhi wrote a letter to the then Vice Chancellor, University of the Punjab, to introduce the subject of Library Science at B.A. /B.Sc. level.

In Sindh, University of Karachi introduced Library Science as an

optional subject at B.A. level in 1979 (R.A. Samdani, personal

communication, October 04, 2009). University of Balochistan approved

the curriculum of Library Science as an optional subject at B.A. level in

2006 and issued the notification in 2007.

Mr. Rehmat Khan Baloch, the then Incharge, Department of

Library and Information Science, University of Balochistan was

instrumental in getting this approval. This course is being offered to the

regular students only. (A. R. Qaisrani, personal communication,

November 28, 2007). Library Science as an optional subject at B.A. level

has not been offered so far in NWFP.

University of the Punjab has recently approved the launching of Library and Information Science as an elective subject at B.A. Level. Curriculum for the same has also been

approved by the Syndicate of the University. However, lecturer positions or teaching LIS at undergraduate level have not been created by Government of the Punjab so far which may actually hinder this positive decision (University of the Punjab, 2009). The library science as an optional subject at B.A. level is also being offered to regular students only.

AIOU’s Bachelor of Library and Information Science

Allama Iqbal Open University offers Bachelor of Library and Information Science as a distance learning program. This program was started in 1988. The duration of this program is two years. The minimum requirement for admission is Intermediate Certificate in Arts, Science or Commerce. Allama Iqbal Open University (2009a) describes the objective of Library and Information Science as a distance learning

program as “to produce skilled manpower in the field of Library and Information Science which may run every kind of library or help professional library staff.

                                 UNIVERSITY OF PESHAWAR

University of Peshawar was established; Central library, University of Peshawar was inaugurated in 1951.Academic faculties and libraries needed trained library scientists. who could manage and establish the departmental libraries. For this purpose Department of Library and Information Science was established in 1962. It initially started postgraduate diploma course (DLIS), on part time basis. In spite of lack of funds, teaching faculty, building, etc, the Master's Degree programme in Library and Information Sciences was started in 1983-84. Since its inception, the department has produced more than 2000 library and information science graduates, serving at National and International level. The department is located on the 3rd floor in the new constructed building of Sheikh Muhammad Taimur Academic Block at slot 13 (East Wing)

UNIVERSTIY OF KARACHI

Established in 1956, the Department of Library Sciences was the first ever to offer professional degree in Pakistan in this discipline. Masters in Library Science (M.L.S.) was offered from 1962. Since 1982 the department is known as Department of Library and Information Science, and information control / management became an integral part of the studies. Computer lab for cataloguing was established in 1984. This was the first computer laboratory in all Library and Information Science Schools across Pakistan as well as the Faculty of Arts, University of Karachi.

The founder chairman, Dr. Abdul Moid was the first Ph. D. holder in Library Science from the USA (1964). The Presidents’ Award for the Pride of Performance has been awarded to Professor Dr. Anis Khurshid, a renowned teacher of the department, known as the father of modern librarianship in Pakistan.

                       University of punjab

 
In this disciplithe Department is the oldest seat of learning in Asia established in 1915 by an American Librarian, Asa Don Dickenson, to offer a Certificate in Librarianship

The world’s first textbook on the subject was also published in 1916 by the PU. In the past, the Dept. has gone through the changes in nomenclature from Librarianship to Library Science to Library and Information Science to Information Management. The Certificate course was upgraded to Diploma in 1956 with revised courses and duration, and 2 year Master program started in 1974. The research education program (MPhil and PhD) was introduced in 2005, meeting all HEC requirements. Pujab university research contribution is recognized throughout Pakistan as the leading one with unmatched scholarly environment and facilities.

Conclusion

 Quality LIS education at undergrad level is important for preparing foundation of library and information professionals as well as for training paraprofessional staff for libraries. The reviewed literature and personal communications with selected professionals establishes that regular LIS programs at Intermediate and Bachelor level could contribute effectively, if suggested pre-requisites were met properly. The present courses at undergraduate level offered by different library associations, colleges and distance learning programs of Allama Iqbal Open University do not meet the desired quality standards, and are not up to the mark. There is a need to streamline all undergraduate programs and their curricula to meet the needs of paraprofessional staff working in libraries. We can also conclude that in order to run these programs successfully, there is a need to employ full-time faculty members, prepare and provide adequate reading material, update curriculum and establish well-organized libraries