Overview
Librarians and information scientists manage information resources across academic libraries, public libraries, corporate knowledge centres, legal and medical libraries, and the rapidly growing digital information ecosystem. India's university and college libraries (UGC mandates a qualified librarian at each), the Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation network of public libraries, the Parliament Library, corporate research libraries (TCS, Infosys, McKinsey, Big 4), and the growing data-curation and information-architecture roles at tech companies provide credible employment. The profession has been modernising rapidly with digital library systems, institutional repositories, and information literacy programmes.
Day-to-day responsibilities
Catalogue and classify books, journals, and digital resources using DDC, LCC, or CCC schemes; manage library management systems (Koha, KOHA, LibSys, SOUL, Alma); develop collection policies and acquisitions; provide reference services to users; teach information literacy and research skills; manage institutional repositories (DSpace, EPrints); negotiate database subscriptions (Web of Science, Scopus, JSTOR, Elsevier); support faculty research and student learning; preserve special collections and archives.
Skills required
- Library cataloguing and classification (DDC, LCC, CCC)
- Library management systems (Koha, LibSys, SOUL, Alma, Aleph)
- Reference services and information literacy
- Institutional repositories (DSpace, EPrints)
- Database management (Web of Science, Scopus, JSTOR)
- Metadata standards (MARC, Dublin Core)
- Digital preservation
- Information architecture
Education path
Bachelor of Library and Information Science (B.Lib.I.Sc, 1 year post-graduation) and Master of Library and Information Science (M.Lib.I.Sc, 1 year). MPhil and PhD in Library and Information Science for senior academic and research roles. UGC NET (Library and Information Science) for Assistant Professor eligibility. Top programmes: DU, JNU, BHU, AMU, DRTC Bengaluru, NISCAIR Delhi, Madras University.
Career progression
- 1Library Assistant (0-3 yrs)
- 2Assistant Librarian (3-8 yrs)
- 3Deputy Librarian (8-13 yrs)
- 4Librarian (13-20 yrs)
- 5University Librarian / Director of Libraries (20+ yrs)
Top employers in India
Useful certifications
- B.Lib.I.Sc + M.Lib.I.Sc
- UGC NET (Library and Information Science)
- PhD in LIS for academic roles
- Koha / DSpace certifications
- CILIP (Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, UK)