Dr Prabhat Kumar Pandey: Teaching Librarian

Dr Prabhat Kumar Pandey: Teaching Librarian

This month’s featured librarian is Dr Prabhat Kumar Pandey who is Librarian & Head of the Department of Library and Information Science in Sarojini Naidu Govt. Girls P.G. (Autonomous) College, Bhopal (M.P.) and is also the president of MP Library Association. The interview was conducted through email by Dr Preeti Sharda, Librarian of Regional Institute of English, Chandigarh.

Dr Prabhat Kumar Pandey did Ph.D. in Library and Information Science from Dr H. S. Gour University, Sagar (MP) and also did PG in three different subjects. He is the recipient of Best Librarian Award 2016 conferred by South Asia Management Association- Thailand Chapter at Thailand. He is an expert in library automation, Information Retrieval, Institutional Repository, Digital Library and Open Source Software. He organized four National Seminars and Workshops on Library Automation and Research Methodology. He is the editor of International Journal of Information Library and Society (ISSN:2278-0386) and Chief Editor of E-Anveshan: An International Multidisciplinary Journal ISSN: 2395-5783 and President of Madhya Pradesh Library association. He has authored 10 books and has 112 research papers published in different indexed journals to his credit. He is associated with the teaching library and information sciences & practising librarianship; research of library and information from last 15 years. He is a life member of ILA, IASLIC, SIS and other Professional associations meant for the growth and development of Library professions nationwide. He was invited to China and Thailand to deliver special lectures on LIS Education.

Dr Preeti Sharda (PS):      How did you think of choosing a career in Library Science?

Dr Prabhat Kumar Pandey (PKP):   My inclination towards the reading of epics like the Mahabharat and Ramayan promoted me to join the noble profession of Librarianship in future. My higher education in Science stream provoked me further to search for this profession and build it as a career.

PS:      You also did MA in Ancient Indian History & Archaeology. Did you want to become a historian?

PKP:   To get acquainted with the rich heritage and culture of our country I pursued MA in History and Archaeology, which in return helped me to be perfect in the multifarious subject of Library and Information Science.

PS:      Most of your works are on application Information Technology for Library and Information Science. Do you have any formal training for that?

PKP:   I obtained formal training on ICT in Libraries from various organisations like NISCAIR, Inflibnet, ICSSR, NISSAT, etc. and gained a working knowledge through a professional career of Librarianship. I also organised a number of conferences, workshops and training programmes on ICT application in Libraries.

PS:      A few of your works are not on library sciences which suggest that you do research on other subjects. How do you manage that?

PKP:   Library Science is a part of Social Science, which ultimately belongs to the Universe of Knowledge. By way of doing research in Library Science, I learnt to do research in other areas of Social Sciences and other disciplines.

PS:      What was your career path before coming to the Sarojini Naidu Govt. Girls PG Autonomous College?

PKP:   I started my professional Library Science career from Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism, Bhopal as Assistant Librarian in the year 1992-1993. After that, I got selected through MP PSC for college librarianship and served in different Government Colleges of Madhya Pradesh. At present, I hold the post of Librarian and Head, Department of Library and Information Science in Sarojini Naidu Govt. Girls PG Autonomous College, Bhopal since 2008.

PS:      In your time here, you’ve managed two positions: head of the library and Teacher of library sciences how do you manage. What are some things you enjoy about both of those jobs? Since your arrival at the college, what would you say is the biggest change that you’ve led or observed?

PKP:   Librarianship and teaching Library Science are complementary to each other. It becomes a unique opportunity and a chance for me to implement the basic knowledge of Library Science learnt through teaching in practical Librarianship and inculcate practical knowledge in the teaching of the subject. I enjoyed holding the dual positions. I observed a phased transformation in the academics of Library Science by way of conducting an in-house internship, publishing Library Science journal and another journal on multi-disciplinary subjects, enhancement in e-resources, digitisation of materials, library automation, conducted events and Library awareness programmes for faculty and students.

PS:      Did you make special efforts to enhance the accessibility of the readers to library resources and did you make efforts to bring more readers for your special collections? What are your thoughts about how access to collections has improved or changed during your tenure?

PKP:   Primarily, our library serves the information needs of students and faculty of the college, whereas for the access of the public to our special collections is need-based. To my personal belief and opinion, every library collection should be open to public access to fulfil the First Law of Library Science. In this regard, our college library has provided User ID and Password to every student and teacher to access the e-collection online from anywhere at any time.

PS:      What are some projects or accomplishments that you hope to be remembered for?

PKP:   As a President of Madhya Pradesh Library Association due to regular efforts under my leadership Department of Higher education Government of Madhya Pradesh advertised more than 300 posts of college librarians and 218 candidates from all over India were selected for college librarianship. Madhya Pradesh Government appointed me as Chairman of the Draft Committee for the formulation of "MP Public Library Legislation - 2018", I initiated College Library Automation movement in Madhya Pradesh in the year 2008 on SOUL software with the help of INFLIBNET.  Now, most of the Government, as well as private colleges, have automated through SOUL. I have been honoured with distinguished National level awards by Social Research Foundation Uttar Pradesh and Best Academic Librarian of the Year 2017 by LPA, New Delhi during International Conference at Goa University Goa for my contribution towards library modernisation in central India. Madhya Pradesh Library Association in association with other reputed Institution organised so many training programmes on new technology in LIS during my tenure. I have been felicitated by Ranganathan Society for Social Welfare and Library for my excellent service for the upliftment of library profession in Madhya Pradesh on June 8, 2018, at BIMTECH New Delhi. I have been also International Best Librarian of the Year South Asian Management Association Thailand during IC-IDSSIH October 10-12,2016. Also known for Editor of UGC approved bi-annual research journal International Journal of Information Library and Society ISSN 2278 - 0386 from 2012. 15 Ph. D. And 100 M. Phil. Awarded under my supervision and guidance. As a President of Madhya Pradesh library association struggle for LIS professional’s status pay scales and other problems.

PS:      Tell something about ‘Read Bhopal’ or ‘Padhe Bhopal’ Campaign.

PKP:   Read Bhopal is a campaign initiated by Governor of Madhya Pradesh to develop reading habit among students in IT age on 9th October 2018 from 8.30 to 9.30 am. As you know now a day, students are fond of mobile use and watching television instead of reading anything. In this one hour program, students have to read a book of their choice and mobile and other electronic gadgets are not allowed. It was initially started in government and some private colleges and Schools of Bhopal and afterwards every college started organising the Read Bhopal every week. The teachers of the college must be present during the program. Governor of Madhya Pradesh Anandiben Patel was honoured with the World Book of Record Award today at Raj Bhavan for the programme. Office Bearers of the World Book of Record Committee presented a certificate to the Governor.

PS:      Let’s move the discussion to the scenario and challenges of the library science professionals. There are many professionals with library and information studies degrees, which didn’t use to be the case. How do you think this is going to shape the profession? Are we moving towards a massively specialized profession?

PKP:   It is good for the profession because as society grows; we need more Librarians for upcoming Institutions/Libraries. But at the same time, Librarians need to understand the change in reading habits, user’s expectations and ICT applications. Syllabus of Library and information studies need to be based on tremendous changes that have taken place in Library and Information System/ services and as a whole.

PS:      Since we are well into the subject if you had a single piece of advice for an academic librarian, what would you say?

PKP:   In the modern era, Academic Librarian needs to be proactive. Need to be aware of the latest trends in the field of research, information science and need to deliver it back to the academic community effectively.