BLI-221
                              Library, Information and
                                            Society
        Indira Gandhi
        National Open University
        School of Social Sciences
        Block
        4
        LIBRARY AND INFORMATION PROFESSION AND
        RELATED AGENCIES
        UNIT 11
        Librarianship as a Profession           5
        UNIT 12
        Ethical Issues in Librarianship        31
        UNIT 13
        Role of Professional Associations      49
        UNIT 14
        Organisations and Institutions Involved in the Development
        of Library and Information Services    81
                                          Programme Design Committee
                                          Prof. Uma Kanjilal (Chairperson)               Prof. S.B. Ghosh, Retired Professor
                                          Faculty of LIS, SOSS, IGNOU                    Faculty of LIS, SOSS, IGNOU, New Delhi
                                          Prof. B.K.Sen, Retired Scientist               Prof. T. Viswanathan, Retired Director
                                          NISCAIR, New Delhi                             NISCAIR, New Delhi
                                          Prof. K.S. Raghavan, DRTC                      Dr. Zuchamo Yanthan
                                          Indian Statistical Institute, Bangalore        Faculty of LIS, SOSS, IGNOU, New Delhi
                                          Prof. Krishan Kumar, Retired Professor         Conveners:
                                          Dept. of LIS, University of Delhi, Delhi       Dr. Jaideep Sharma
                                          Prof. M.M. Kashyap, Retired Professor          Faculty of LIS, SOSS, IGNOU, New Delhi
                                          Dept. of LIS, University of Delhi, Delhi       Prof. Neena Talwar Kanungo
                                          Prof. R.Satyanarayana                          Faculty of LIS, SOSS, IGNOU, New Delhi
                                          Retired Professor, Faculty of LIS
                                          SOSS, IGNOU, New Delhi
                                          Dr. R. Sevukan (Former Faculty
                                          Member) of LIS, SOSS
                                          IGNOU, New Delhi
                                          Programme Coordinators                                      Course Coordinator
                                          Prof. Jaideep Sharma and Prof. Neena Talwar Kanungo          Prof. Jaideep Sharma
                                          Course Preparation Team
                                          Unit No(s)       Unit Writer(s)                             Course Editor
                                          11,12            Prof. R.S.R. Varalakshmi                   Prof. Jaideep Sharma
                                          13               Dr. Dinesh Gupta
                                          14               Dr. J.P. Singh
                                          Internal Faculty
                                          Prof. Jaideep Sharma
                                          Prof. Neena Talwar Kanungo
                                         Print Production                       Secretarial Assistance         Cover Design
                                         Mr. Manjit Singh                       Ms. Sunita Soni                Ms. Ruchi Sethi
                                         Section Officer (Pub.)                 Mr. Manoj Kumar Sharma         Web Designer
                                         SOSS, IGNOU, New Delhi                 SOSS, IGNOU                    E Gyankosh, IGNOU
                                         September, 2013 (Second Revised Edition)
                                          Indira Gandhi National Open University, 2013
                                         ISBN-978-81-266-6513-6
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                                         by the Director, School of Social Sciences.
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      BLOCK 4 LIBRARY AND INFORMATION
              PROFESSION AND RELATED
              AGENCIES
      Introduction
      LIS is a profession. Like any other profession its members possess specialised
      knowledge and skills that they apply for the benefit of the society. They exist to
      serve the information needs of the public. LIS professional associations exist to
      guide the progress of the profession in the right direction. There are other agencies
      also involved in its growth and development. The Block presents a detailed
      discussion on all these aspects.
      There are four Units in this Block.
      Unit 11 Librarianship as a Profession presents a detailed discussion on whether
      LIS is a profession or not. Difference between a vocation, an occupation and a
      profession has been presented. It also discusses the characteristics of, and
      developments in the LIS profession.
      Unit 12 is titled Ethical Issues in Librarianship. Every profession has ethics of
      its own that helps it to function effectively. LIS profession too has ethics
      formulated by its professional associations. This Unit discusses ethics
      promulgated by different LIS associations.
      One of the important characteristic of any profession is the existence of
      professional associations. Professional associations exist to give the profession
      a direction and monitor its progress. A professional association maintains
      standards in the profession, gives forum to the professionals to ineract and update
      themselves professionally. Unit 13, Role of Professional Associations describes
      role, functions and activities of LIS associations in India, U.S.A. and U.K.
      There are many organisations and institutions that work towards the development
      of libraries and information centres. They promote libraries and information
      centres and coordinate and undertake the development of their services. These
      range from inter-governmental to governmental to autonomous as well as
      voluntary organisations. Their nature varies from advisory, to those giving
      financial assistance, to those involved in providing services. Unit 14
      Organisations and Institutions involved in the Development of Libraries
      and Information Services, dwells on some of these organisations discussing
      their functions, programmes and activities and role in the development of libraries
      and information centres.
     Library and Information
     Profession and Related
     Agencies
     4