Libraries are not in the construction business

 Libraries are not in the construction business


Social constructionism, constructivism, post-structuralism, standpoint epistemology, deconstructionism….ever heard of these? Chance are, if you’ve taken a look at some of the recent literature in the philosophical aspects of librarianship, you’ve come across these and/or similar theories. Variously lumped together under the aegis of postmodernism, these theories are distinct, yet they are united through a common belief that we have no epistemic access to a mind-independent reality. Some of these theories go even further and claim not only that we can’t know anything about the world outside of ourselves, but that there isn’t even an objective, mind-independent reality at all—reality is subjective. In effect, these theories advocate various forms of relativism. I’ve criticized this type of relativistic thinking in previous posts, but perhaps it’s time to clarify. Specifically, I want to explain why relativism, in all of its forms, is harmful to librarianship. This type of thinking is self-refuting, it impedes learning, it disenfranchises those who most need our help, it obstructs social progress, and it erodes the value of libraries in society.

L for Library (by Marie Lebert, translated by Jane Golding)

       A decidedly humorous account of my professional life in Normandy and Jerusalem at the end of the twentieth century, before I discovered the internet and left for San Francisco. The first part concerns the city library in Granville, with its dust and old books, before it was transformed into a beautiful media library. The second part concerns two libraries in Jerusalem, one with its cardboard boxes and the other with its computers. This account was inspired by an older version that was published in a printed magazine. It is dedicated to my colleagues past and present.

Old City libraries in Hyderabad India cry for attention

Old City libraries in Hyderabad cry for attention
Housed in dilapidated buildings with infrequent supply of electricity, shortage of staff and facing space crunch due to increasing number of old books, the government libraries in the Old City are crying for urgent attention.

Hyderabad district has about 90 libraries of which 40 are located in the Old City, reflecting that once this part of the twin cities had a vibrant reading culture. Today, the condition of these libraries is a deterrent for visitors.

How digital technology makes the library invisible to scholars

Nobody cares about the library: How digital technology makes the library invisible (and visible) to scholars

In an information landscape increasingly dominated by networked resources, both sides of the librarian-scholar/student relationship must come to terms with a new reality that is in some ways more distant and in others closer than ever before. Librarians must learn to accept invisibility where digital realities demand it. Scholars must come to understand the centrality of library expertise and accept librarians as equal partners as more and more scholarship becomes born digital and the digital humanities goes from being a fringe sub-discipline to a mainstream pursuit. Librarians in turn must expand those services like special collections, support for data-driven research, and access to new modes of publication that play to their strengths and will best serve scholars. We all have to find new ways, better ways to work together. 

Why Are We Boycotting Elsevier?

Why Are We Boycotting Elsevier?

Walking away isn't always easy. It means we won't be able to submit our work to many journals, some of them with strong reputations. We may have to turn down review requests from friends who serve as editors. We may have to explain to tenure and promotion committees that our choices were made to further knowledge, and furthering knowledge is at least as important as building our reputations. This is why we should congratulate all those who are willing to put their tenure on the line to do the right thing.

Free Online UGC NET Guide in Library and Information Science

Hi my dear friends,

    We designed and develop a "Free Online UGC NET Guide in Library and Information Science" over the fallowing (http://www.netugc.com) website. The guide book consists of more than 250 articles on each and every topic of the NET syllabus. It also provides objective questions and answers in accordance with the latest UGC Norms. This is a complete guide to National Eligibility Test (NET) Examination of the University Grants Commission in Library and Information Science. While using the guide book kindly use the Search Button / Box to Locate theInformation or use the Navigation / Browsing Options Located in the Right Hand Side Bar.

   I would love to have constructive feedback from the well-wishers also will be highly obliged if you kindly forward this guide book to the NET aspirants.
 

Thanking you,