Chronological History of LIS Education in India (UGC NET SET JRF & Librarian exams )
Pre-Independence Era (Before 1947)
1911 – Baroda Library Training School
Sayaji Rao Gaekwad II, the Maharaja of Baroda, invited American librarian William Allenson Borden to develop the state library system. Borden initiated the first library training program in India, marking the inception of formal LIS education in the country.
1915 – Punjab University Library School, Lahore
Asa Don Dickinson, another American librarian, was appointed by Punjab University to organize its library and initiate a training course. He started a three-month certificate course in library science, which was later extended to six months. This was the first university-level library science course in Asia and the second in the world after Columbia University.
1920 – Andhra Desa Library Association Training
The Andhra Desa Library Association began conducting informal training programs for library workers in Vijayawada.
1929 – Madras Library Association (MALA) Certificate Course
MALA initiated a regular certificate course in library science, which was taken over by the University of Madras in 1931.
1937 – University of Madras Post-Graduate Diploma
The University of Madras converted its certificate program into a one-year postgraduate diploma in library science, setting a model for future LIS courses in India.
1941 – Banaras Hindu University (BHU) Diploma Course
BHU started a one-year diploma course in library science, becoming the second Indian university to offer such a program.
1943 – University of Bombay Diploma Course
The University of Bombay initiated a diploma course in library science, primarily for working professionals.
1945 – University of Calcutta Diploma Course
The University of Calcutta started its diploma course in library science.
Post-Independence Era (After 1947)
1946 – Department of Library Science, University of Delhi
Established with the efforts of Dr. S. R. Ranganathan, Prof. S. Dasgupta, and Sir Maurice Gwyer, this was the first full-fledged Department of Library Science in India.
1947 – Aligarh Muslim University B.Lib. Course
Aligarh Muslim University became the first institution in India to start a Bachelor of Library Science (B.Lib.) course.
1948 – University of Delhi Master's Program
The University of Delhi introduced a Master's program in Library Science, further advancing LIS education in India.
1949 – University of Delhi Ph.D. Program
The University of Delhi started the first Ph.D. program in Library Science in the British Commonwealth.
1951 – First Ph.D. Awarded
D. B. Krishna Rao was awarded the first Ph.D. in Library Science under the guidance of Dr. S. R. Ranganathan.
1955 – Indian Association of Special Libraries and Information Centres (IASLIC)
IASLIC was founded to promote the development of special libraries and information centers in India.
1962 – Documentation Research and Training Centre (DRTC), Bangalore
Established under the auspices of Dr. S. R. Ranganathan at the Indian Statistical Institute, DRTC became a premier research institute for library and information science.
1972 – M.Phil. Program at University of Delhi
The University of Delhi introduced the first M.Phil. program in Library Science in India.
1972 – Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation (RRRLF)
RRRLF was established to promote library development in India.
1991 – INFLIBNET Centre
The Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET) Centre was established to facilitate academic communication among Indian universities and colleges.
1990s – Expansion of LIS Education
The 1990s saw a significant expansion in LIS education, with the establishment of various programs and institutions across the country.
2013 – National Mission on Libraries (NML)
The Government of India launched the NML to modernize and digitally link libraries across the country.
Key Contributors to LIS Education in India
Dr. S. R. Ranganathan (1892–1972)
Regarded as the father of library science in India, Dr. Ranganathan's contributions include the Five Laws of Library Science and the Colon Classification system. He played a pivotal role in establishing LIS education in India, including the Department of Library Science at the University of Delhi and the Documentation Research and Training Centre in Bangalore.
William Allenson Borden
An American librarian invited by the Maharaja of Baroda, Borden initiated the first library training program in India in 1911.
Asa Don Dickinson
Another American librarian, Dickinson started the first university-level library science course in Asia at Punjab University in 1915.
Evolution of LIS Courses in India
Certificate Courses
Initiated by various library associations and universities in the early 20th century, these courses laid the foundation for formal LIS education.
Diploma Courses
Universities like Madras, BHU, Bombay, and Calcutta started diploma courses between the 1930s and 1940s.
Bachelor's Degree (B.Lib.Sc.)
Aligarh Muslim University introduced the first B.Lib.Sc. course in 1947.
Master's Degree (M.Lib.Sc.)
The University of Delhi started the first Master's program in 1948.
M.Phil. and Ph.D. Programs
Advanced research programs were introduced, with the first Ph.D. awarded in 1951 and the first M.Phil. program started in 1972 at the University of Delhi.
Current Scenario
Today, over 100 universities and institutions in India offer various levels of LIS courses, ranging from certificate to doctoral programs. The field continues to evolve with advancements in information technology and digital resources.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) on the topic "Library and Information Science (LIS) Education in India", based on previous trends in UGC NET, KVS, NVS, SET, PSC Library Science exams.
20 MCQs on Library and Information Science (LIS) Education in India
1. Which was the first library training program in India?
A) Punjab University
B) Baroda Library Training School
C) Madras Library Association
D) University of Delhi
✔️ Answer: B
2. Who initiated the first library training program in India in 1911?
A) Dr. S. R. Ranganathan
B) Asa Don Dickinson
C) William A. Borden
D) Maurice Gwyer
✔️ Answer: C
3. Which university offered the first university-level library science course in Asia?
A) University of Madras
B) Punjab University, Lahore
C) University of Delhi
D) Banaras Hindu University
✔️ Answer: B
4. Who started the course in Library Science at Punjab University, Lahore in 1915?
A) Dr. S. R. Ranganathan
B) William Borden
C) Asa Don Dickinson
D) B. S. Kesavan
✔️ Answer: C
5. Which university first awarded a Ph.D. in Library Science in India?
A) University of Delhi
B) Aligarh Muslim University
C) BHU
D) University of Madras
✔️ Answer: A
6. Who was the first person to receive a Ph.D. in Library Science in India?
A) D. B. Krishna Rao
B) Dr. P. N. Kaula
C) Dr. Ranganathan
D) N. Guruswamy Naidu
✔️ Answer: A
7. Who is considered the Father of Library Science in India?
A) S. Dasgupta
B) B. S. Kesavan
C) Dr. S. R. Ranganathan
D) S. Parthasarathy
✔️ Answer: C
8. Which university was the first to start a Bachelor's degree (B.Lib.Sc.) in India?
A) University of Delhi
B) Aligarh Muslim University
C) Banaras Hindu University
D) University of Madras
✔️ Answer: B
9. The University of Delhi started a Master’s Degree in Library Science in which year?
A) 1946
B) 1947
C) 1948
D) 1950
✔️ Answer: C
10. Which organization established the Documentation Research and Training Centre (DRTC)?
A) UGC
B) RRRLF
C) Indian Statistical Institute
D) NASSDOC
✔️ Answer: C
11. DRTC was established in which city?
A) Delhi
B) Madras
C) Bangalore
D) Kolkata
✔️ Answer: C
12. The Department of Library Science at the University of Delhi was established in:
A) 1946
B) 1947
C) 1948
D) 1950
✔️ Answer: A
13. Who was instrumental in founding the Department of Library Science at DU?
A) Asa Don Dickinson
B) Dr. S. R. Ranganathan
C) William Borden
D) B. S. Kesavan
✔️ Answer: B
14. Which organization supports LIS development through grants to public libraries?
A) INFLIBNET
B) NASSDOC
C) RRRLF
D) IASLIC
✔️ Answer: C
15. The full form of INFLIBNET is:
A) Indian Library Network
B) Information and Library Network
C) Indian Federation of Libraries
D) Information Federation for Libraries
✔️ Answer: B
16. The first M.Phil. in Library Science was started by which university?
A) BHU
B) University of Madras
C) University of Delhi
D) University of Bombay
✔️ Answer: C
17. Who established the DRTC in Bangalore?
A) Dr. S. R. Ranganathan
B) Dr. P. N. Kaula
C) Dr. B. S. Kesavan
D) S. Dasgupta
✔️ Answer: A
18. In which year was the INFLIBNET Centre established?
A) 1985
B) 1988
C) 1990
D) 1992
✔️ Answer: B
19. National Mission on Libraries (NML) was launched in which year?
A) 2011
B) 2013
C) 2015
D) 2018
✔️ Answer: B
20. Which university started a regular diploma course in LIS in 1937?
A) University of Calcutta
B) BHU
C) University of Madras
D) University of Bombay
✔️ Answer: C
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