What is Library & Information Science: Full Form, Course Duration, Admission 2025, Colleges, Salary & Scope

Bachelor of Library and Information Science is a bachelor's programme in the field of Library Science. Training professionals who can effectively manage information resources, deliver library services, and aid in the organisation and retrieval of information is the main objective of Bachelor of Library and Information Science.

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A Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) is a professional degree that prepares individuals for careers in the field of Library and Information Science. The MLIS programme includes coursework in areas like information organisation, information policy, research methods, and technologies used in the field. Students may also have the opportunity to specialize in a particular area of interest, such as children's literature, academic libraries, or digital archives.

Graduates of Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) course can work in a many settings, including libraries, museums, archives, corporations, and government agencies, where they will be responsible for tasks such as organizing and cataloging materials, developing and managing databases, assisting patrons with research, and providing information literacy instruction.

Shiyali Ramamrita Ranganathan (S.R.Ranganathan), he was born on Aug. 9, 1892, in Shiyali, Madras, India. He was an Indian librarian and educator who was considered the father of library Science in India and whose contributions influenced everyone throughout the world and he died in Sept. 27, 1972, Bangalore, Mysore.

Though pursuing Diploma in Library and Information Science after class 10th is not a possibility, students who have successfully cleared 10+2 with 50% marks will be able to pursue a Diploma in Library and Information Science. The fee structure ranges between INR 3,000 to Rs 60,000 depending upon the college and university.

Kishori Raman PG College, Krishna Kanta Handique State Open University, Vardhaman Mahaveer Open University, Adesh University, etc., are among some of the top colleges that offer the course. After successfully completing the course, students can become Librarian, Library Assistant, Assistant Librarian Integrated Library System Administrator, Library Services Manager, Outreach Librarian, Director of Content Acquisition,  etc..

Entry-level jobs in libraries may become available to those with a certificate in library and information science. Here are a few points related to the scope of certification courses in library and information science. 

•  It equips workers with abilities for jobs involving shelving, circulation, and customer service.
• Information management opportunities are available in several industries.
• Database administration and other IT skills essential to libraries are covered in the curriculum.
• A bachelor's or master's degree will help further education, that can help enhance professional opportunities.

Students can refer to the points below to know the different levels of courses in Library and Information Sciences:

BLibSc: A Bachelor of Library Science (BLibSc) is a one-year degree that is offered by various universities and colleges. Students take the course after completing their graduation in any discipline from a recognised university. Students should have secured a minimum of 50% in their graduation.

MLibSc: A Master of Library Science (MLibSc) is a one-year degree that deals with advanced library principles and information Science and practices. The candidate needs to have done their Bachelor in Library Science (BLibSc) in order to get admission in MLibSc. The student must have secured a minimum of 45% in aggregate to be eligible, which should be from a recognised university.

PhD in Library and Information Science: The course duration is 2-3 years. Candidates must have completed their PG degree or M.Phil in relevant discipline from a recognised university to be eligible to pursue a PhD in LIS. They must have a minimum aggregate of 55% in the respective master’s degree course. 

There's a requirement for different documents during the admission process of (the LIS) library and information Science program: Some required documents generally include Mark sheets and certificates of qualifying exams (10+2 for Bachelor's, degree certificates for Master's) Transfer certificates and migration certificate (for students from other institutions) Entrance exam scorecard (if applicable) Passport-size photographs Caste or category certificates (if applicable). 

Each Institution offers a different fee structure, depending on the type, the level and the location of the course where you are going to study.

Here are the levels of courses:-

• Bachelor's: Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 50,000 annually.
• Master's: Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 1,00,000 annually.
• PhD: Depends on the university but typically ranges from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 1,00,000 per year.

Candidates need to follow the below-mentioned steps which are as follows:

Look for University offering a Course in Library and Information Science: The first step one needs to make is to find out which universities are offering BLibSc or MLibSc. Check the eligibility criteria, seats offered, fees and details.

Apply for the Course: Candidates then need to apply for admission after getting to know the university offering the programme. Fill up the details as required and pay the application fee. The application forms are available for a limited period of time so the candidate is advised to know the details way in advance.

Mode of Admission: Universities and Colleges will either conduct entrance exams for admission or offer admission through merit.

Results: Selected candidates make the merit list. The student has to get the desired rank and percentage, to be eligible for admission if appearing for an entrance exam.

Counselling: The candidate will have to appear for the counselling session conducted at the university to book their seat, submit their documents and pay the fees to seal admission.

For the M.Lib.I.Sc. program at the School of Studies in Library & Information Science, entrance exams other than the ones mentioned above may be accepted depending on the institutes' policies. The university's own entrance test and national-level entrance tests such as UGC NET, SLET, and other state-level tests are most commonly accepted for admission tests that evaluate the knowledge and aptitude of candidates in library science. For the most up-to-date and accessible information, it should be confirmed on the website of the institution or with the admissions office what entrance exam is required.

The eligibilty of UGC NET for Library and Information Science needs a highlight here:

Students must have a Master's degree in Library and Information Science with atleast 55% marks, 50% for reserved categories.

Final-year Master's students are also eligible, provided they complete their degree within the specified time.

 The eligibility criteria for admission to a Library and Information Science (LIS) programme in India depends on college and level of program: Bachelor of Library and Information Science (BLISc): The candidates must have completed 10+2 in any stream from a recognised board, some universities may also have minimum percentage requirements. Master of Library and Information Science (MLISc): Here the candidates should have a bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised institution. Some institutions prefer or require a Bachelor of librarian information Science ( BLIS) degree PhD in Library and Information Science: All the students must have completed a PG degree or M.Phil in a relevant discipline from a recognised university with a minimum of 55% in their master's degree.

There are different topics where you learn about different aspects of LIS, so here I am giving the syllabus that typically covers:

• Library Management and Administration
• Information Sources and Services
• Cataloging and Classification
• Information Technology in Libraries
• Research Methodology
• Digital Libraries and Digital Resources
• Information Storage and Retrieval
• Knowledge Organization and Processing
• Library Automation
• Communication Skills and User Education

Yes, of course, LIS programs include some of the practical components, especially in terms of cataloguing, classification and library automation, you can see that they deliver practical sessions and theoretical sessions, also many universities require internships or filled trading in libraries to provide hand-on experiences and to train the student in the course time only.

We learn different subjects in lis course in which we learn everything in detail but also there are elective subjects that can vary, but some common options include:

• Archives and Manuscript Management
• Knowledge Management
• Information Literacy
• Library Networking and Resource Sharing
• Academic Librarianship
• Special Libraries and Information Centers

Library and Information Science is a course that's available on UG, PG and Diploma levels. Most of the top colleges in India offer this course. The colleges mentioned in the table are listed alphabetically and not in any order of ranking hierarchy.

The list of top government colleges offering Library and Information Science courses are:

The average salary of a Librarian after working for some years and gaining relevant experience is INR 4.70 LPA. The starting salary for a Librarian in India is INR 2.40 LPA while the highest salary is INR 11.31 LPA. The monthly salary that Librarians get compensated is INR 19,452 to INR 21,124 in India.

There are different colleges that offer library and information Science courses in India, that have tremendous academic skills and which really turned out fruitful for students out there.

Notable institutions include: Daulat Ram College, Delhi,   Hansraj College, Delhi, Amity University, Noida, Christ University, Bangalore, Hindu college Delhi etc.

Some of the job profiles are Librarian, Library Assistant, Law Librarian, Deputy Librarian, Assistant Professor, etc. Students can see the table below to know the average annual salary of each job profile:

One can become a librarian, academic librarian, research analyst, digital archivist, information analyst or even work in historical museums after completing a course in Library and Information Sciences.

·       National and State Libraries

·       Various universities

·       Schools

·       Colleges

·       Institutions

·       Tata Consultancy Services

·       Lawyers association

Yes, Library and Information Science is an impressive career. Students pursuing an Library and Information Sciences degree gain knowledge of a range of topics related to library and information administration, such as cataloguing, information organisation, retrieval of data, collection management, digital libraries, and information technology. It also open doors for students to venture into the research field in the same. The graduates can earn an average salary between INR 4 Lacs to INR 6 lakh.

Yes, students can pursue PhD in Library and Information Science, if they fulfill the eligibility and clear the entrance exam  UGC NET,  GATE,  JEST, etc. Aspirants can check the table below to know the eligibility, fees, admission process, fees, and salary of PhD courses:

B.Lib.I.Sc is a one-year course that is divided into two semesters. The course mainly deals with the preservation and maintenance of libraries. All the interested candidates need to complete their Bachelor's degree in any discipline with at least 50-55% marks to pursue this one-year course.

Some colleges also require students to sit for an entrance examination before they qualify for admission to that particular college. Given below are some highlights of B. Lib. Sc:

The estimated total pay for a School Librarian is INR 25,415 per month, with an average salary of INR 25,000 per month. These numbers represent the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges.

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There are many skills that a student would need to pursue Library and Information Science courses. Some of these are:

• Management: Managing a library requires organizational and management skills to efficiently systemize the books, research papers, etc.
• Creativity: Library and Information Science professionals require creativity to reach out to, build and retain a community that provide resources for services and programs. 
• Technology:  Library and Information Science professionals need to have digital literacy and learn about new technology to manage resources with ease and in a way that it is convenient to track.

Hope this helps you!

The full form of LIS courses is Library and Information Science Courses. It is a 1-3 year degree, that can be pursued as a certificate, UG, PG, or PhD.  LIS ( Library and Information Science) professionals maintain documents recording the history, culture, events, literature, and knowledge acquired by the human race. 

The Library and Information Science courses will certify you to pursue a career in jobs as a Cataloguer, Librarian, Teacher, Digital Resource Manager, Archivist, Records Manager, etc.  

Here are a few benefits of studying library course:

• Learning library science gives people the tools they need to efficiently handle information.
• Librarians make resources and knowledge more accessible.
• Organising and conserving information is made easier with an understanding of library systems.
• Research methodologies and information retrieval strategies are taught in library courses.
• In the fields of education, research, and community development, librarians are indispensable.
• Libraries are centres of knowledge, intellectual activity, and cross-cultural interchange.