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The website is designed to serve Library Science, and its Professionals who are now and for them who will be. I have collected the information regarding this profession so people can know more about this profession, and to tribute our PAK LIS Pioneers. I hope that it will be convenient for "LISIANS".
Library Science & Librarianship, An Overview
The principles and practices of library operation and administration, and their study called "Library Science". Libraries have existed since ancient times, but only in the second half of the 19th century did library science emerge as a separate field of study. With the knowledge explosion in the 20th century, it was gradually subsumed under the more general field of information science.
By the second half of the 19th century, Western countries had experienced such a proliferation of books of all sorts that the nature of the librarian’s work was radically altered; being well-read was no longer a sufficient characteristic for the post. The librarian needed some means of easy and rapid identification as well as strong organizational and administrative skills, and the necessity for specialized training soon became clear. One of the earliest pioneers in library training in the United States was Melvil Dewey, who established the first training program for librarians in 1887. These training programs in the United States evolved into graduate programs in library education accredited by the American Library Association (ALA; founded 1876).
In the 20th century, advances in the means of collecting, organizing, and retrieving information changed the focus of libraries, enabling a great variety of institutions and organizations, as well as individuals, to conduct their own searches for information without the involvement of a library or library staff. As a result, universities began to offer combined graduate programs in library science and information science. These programs usually provide a master’s degree and may provide more advanced degrees, including doctorates. Particulars of admission and course requirements vary from school to school. In the United States and Canada, the appropriateness of graduate programs in library and information science in preparing students to become professional librarians is still ensured by accreditation by the ALA. Increasingly, however, graduates of these programs are finding themselves qualified for a variety of professional positions in other parts of the information industry.
In many countries the furtherance of librarianship and library systems is promoted by national and regional library associations.For example, in addition to its promotion of library service and librarianship, has an extensive publishing program and holds annual national conferences. Professional associations of a similar nature exist throughout the world.
LIS History Of Pakistan
Pakistan, born on 14 August 1947 as an independent nation as a result of the partition of British India, was denied its rightful share of the common library resources built up over the years during British rule. All the major libraries of British India happened to be located in those areas which after partition became part of present day India. Even more disquieting is the fact that libraries which were in the territories now called Pakistan suffered a heavy loss at the hands of their Hindu employees migrating to India. The city of Lahore, once the “cradle of the library movement” had become inactive because of sad events following independence. Pakistan inherited only two libraries of significance on the eve of independence. These were the Punjab University Library and the Punjab Public Library, both located in Lahore. It may be pointed out that for many years the Government did not pay attention to this sector because of other national priorities. In fact, librarianship was neglected. The establishment of the Directorate of Archives and Libraries in 1951 to administer the development of libraries was the only significant step on the part of the Government in this direction. Under such circumstances the lead was taken by a few individuals who founded the Karachi Library Association in 1949, which started a certificate course of short duration to meet the urgent needs of library manpower in the country. This was followed by the formation of the Pakistan Bibliographical Group in 1950 with assistance from UNESCO. Taking advantage of these developments, some of these men of wisdom tried to focus the attention of the government to the need for the development of libraries through the pages of their first professional journal, Modern Librarian. These individual efforts did not produce tangible results; however, they did convince the Government of the need for library planning in the country. Consequently, L.C. Key of Australia was invited under the Colombo Plan to prepare a library development plan for the country. Key submitted his report in 1956 . The Key Plan did not materialize; yet it did influence the thinking of librarians in the country. This is evident in library developments that took place in the second half of the 1950s, particularly in Karachi, then the capital of the country. Of these developments mention may be made of the formation of the Pakistan Library Association and the establishment of the Pakistan Scientific and Technical Documentation Center, both in 1957; launching of publication of Pakistan Library Review (1958) and the promulgation of the Basic Democracy Order (1959). But the most important event of this decade was the institution of the Post–Graduate Diploma Course in Library Science in August 1956 at the University of Karachi, followed by the University of the Punjab in 1959. It must be added here that these early historical developments were possible only through the initiative and efforts of a few individuals. The library profession in Pakistan owes much to them.
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