Undergraduate LIS Education in Pakistan: an Overview Muhammad Ijaz Mairaj* Kanwal Ameen** Abstract The paper gives an account of undergraduate level library and information science education in Pakistan including independent certificate courses, an optional subject at intermediate and bachelor level, and bachelor program of Allama Iqbal Open University. The paper is based on the literature review and personal communications with selected professionals. There appeared gap in local literature regarding contemporary state of undergrad level education. The review of literature and senior professionals suggested that radical changes are necessary in policies, programs and curricula of different programs at undergraduate level to raise the quality of education. Keywords: Library education-Undergraduate; Library and information science education; Training of paraprofessional library staff; Allama Iqbal Open University; Pakistan Introduction For centuries librarianship was considered an apprenticeship requiring some practical training within the library and formal education was not considered necessary. The invention of printing press in the mid- 15th century resulted in mass book production. Collection size of libraries began to grow rapidly. Hence, the need for more trained librarians was felt. However, the emergence of library education as a distinct discipline at university level started in 1886 at the University of Gottingen in Germany. Columbia College, now known as Columbia University, was second to start library education program which was designed by Melvil Dewey in 1887. The University of the Punjab, Lahore has the distinction                                                              * Librarian, Punjab Institute of Cardiology, Lahore. Email: [email protected] ** Professor & Chairperson, Department of Library and Information Science, University of the Punjab, Lahore. Email: [email protected] Undergraduate LIS Education  to be the third university in the world and trend setter in subcontinent that started library education and training in 1915 (Qarshi, 2006). LIS education is now offered at all levels from undergraduate to PhD in the world. While graduate and post graduate education aims to prepare library professionals and experts, undergraduate LIS education trains the paraprofessional staff. It also provides basic education for the future library professionals. Based on the literature review and personal communications with experts, this paper aims to review the development of LIS education at undergraduate level after 1947, and to explore the present scenario. It also identifies weaknesses of the system in order to furnish suggestions for improvement of the quality. Development of LIS Education at Undergraduate Level Pakistan came into existence in 1947. Government had gross challenges ahead, so education sector could not get due attention of the authorities. Despite certain constraints, library educators and professionals made commendable efforts for the promotion of library education at postgraduate level. Little attention was paid to the library education at undergraduate level. Following is a preview of the undergraduate LIS education status in Pakistan. It comprised of following three forms. 1. Certificate courses in library science 2. Library science as an optional subject 3. AIOU’s Bachelor of Library and Information Science 1. Certificate courses Certificate courses are generally offered by regional professional associations. These courses of three to six months duration are designed for paraprofessional staff working in libraries and usually consist of the core subjects which are taught by part-time teachers. The medium of instruction is Urdu which is the national language of Pakistan. Students of these courses mostly depend upon lectures, notes or some elementary textbooks in Urdu language (Haider, 1981). Punjab Library Association introduced certificate course at undergraduate level in 1948. This was the correspondence course Muhammad Ijaz Mairaj & Kanwal Ameen started at Lahore. The pattern of this course was the same as conducted by British Library Association (Khurshid, 1992). This course continued till March 1951 and there were no facilities for library education and training in Pakistan until 1952 (Siddiqui, 1976). Haider (1996) narrates the situation of libraries and library education, when Pakistan came into existence in the following words: The migration of Hindu library workers to India made the situation worse leaving no alternative for the existing libraries except to close their doors. Contrary to this only few Indian Muslim librarians opted for Pakistan. There existed an acute shortage of qualified manpower. This was most seriously felt at Karachi, then the seat of the Government, where the various ministries had build up libraries. To meet this deficiency Karachi Library Association, formed in 1949 at the initiative of some migrant librarians, started in 1952, a certificate course of four months duration. (p.213) L.C. Key came in 1955 as a Colombo Plan consultant to the Government of Pakistan. He also recommended to initiate certificate courses for the training of sub-professionals with the assistance of University of the Punjab (Khurshid, 1992), but his recommendations were never implemented. Pakistan Bibliographical Working Group (PBWG) in Karachi started a six month duration undergraduate course titled as “Diploma in Special Librarianship and Bibliography” in 1960. Confusion was created due to its title as it was declared diploma course. At that time three universities (University of the Punjab, University of Karachi and University of Peshawar) were also conducting a one year Post Graduate Diploma Course in Library Science. The diploma holders of PBWG joining the profession demanded same pay scales which were granted to the librarians having diploma from universities. This confusion prevailed till 1973. Pakistan Library Association (PLA) formulated standards in 1972 for granting accreditation and pressurized PBWG to change the name of this course. PBWG then changed the name of the course to Higher Certificate in Librarianship (Khurshid, 1992). Jamia Institute of Education started a training program for teacher librarians at Karachi in 1961. The duration of this course was six weeks. PLA sponsored this course for one year. It started again in 1966 Undergraduate LIS Education  in collaboration with the Department of Library Science, University of Karachi and continued till 1972. The duration of this program was changed from six weeks to two months and then to three months in 1969. PLA authorized the Central Public Library Bahawalpur in 1961 to conduct a certificate course to meet the needs of libraries. The course, designed for junior librarians, could not survive longer. Only 10 people were awarded certificates (Khurshid, 1979). PLA planned to initiate a certificate course in Lahore through Punjab Library Association in 1962 for undergraduates. The Certificate in Library Science (CLS) was started in Lahore. Mian Altaf Shaukat was the Director of this course and devoted his whole life for successfully running it for more than 35 years. Initially the class was held once a year but due to increased demand of trained paraprofessional staff, Punjab Library Association decided, in 1973, to start two sessions of six month duration each (Punjab Library Association, 2003). Federal Library Association started a certificate course of six month duration in the city of Rawalpindi to meet the needs of paraprofessionals for the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The course was started in cooperation with Pakistan National Centre in 1972 and was provisionally accredited by Pakistan Library Association (Khurshid, 1979). An Institute of Library Science was established in Karachi in 1973 to conduct undergraduate courses. It offered courses at two levels i.e. Certificate and Junior Diploma in Library Science but it failed to complete even one session. Pakistan-American Cultural Centre started three month Library Science course in 1974. This was an adult education program and only 11 students were admitted (Khurshid, 1979). Professional commitment and dedication of Mian Altaf Shaukat influenced librarians like Mr. Ahad Siddiqui, Mr. Muhammad Rafique Chaudhry and Mr. Mahboob Hussain Khan. They motivated Mian Altaf Shaukat to start CLS training class at Rawalpindi also to meet the demand of trained paraprofessional staff in libraries. This course was started in 1983. It was recognized by the Department of Libraries, Ministry of Education, Government of Pakistan in 1986 (Punjab Library Association, 2003). Both CLS courses in Lahore and Rawalpindi are being conducted on regular basis twice in a year and are identical regarding curriculum, admissions, commencement of classes and examinations. Professional librarians teach these courses on honorary basis. Mr. Maqsood Ali Kazmi is the Director of these certificate Muhammad Ijaz Mairaj & Kanwal Ameen programs. (M. A. Kazmi, personal communication, May 23, 2009). The Department of Libraries also recognized and approved the certificate course conducted by PBWG in 1986 and provided space for the class room and an office in Liaquat Memorial Library Building at Karachi. Mr. Rais Ahmad Samdani is the present Director of this program (Pakistan Bibliographical Working Group, 2008). This program is also being conducted regularly. The Education Policy announced by the Government of Pakistan in 1972 included the establishment of People’s Open University in Islamabad. The university was established in 1974 and was renamed as Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) to pay homage to national poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal on his hundredth anniversary in 1977. AIOU is based on distance learning education system. This university introduced a program of “Certificate in Librarianship” in 1985. The purpose was to provide trained paraprofessional staff to perform different supporting tasks in libraries. The program is of six months (one semester) duration. Two sessions are held each year. The students who pass higher secondary (Intermediate) are eligible for the admission (Allama Iqbal Open University, 2009c). This course is being conducted on regular basis since its inception. 2. Library science as optional subject Library Science has been introduced as an optional subject in colleges in all four provinces of Pakistan. Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (2009) has described the objectives of introducing Library Science as an optional subject as follows: 1. To develop interest in reading materials and their use in libraries and to promote reading habit among the students. 2. To create among students a better understanding of the usefulness of libraries in their studies and their dynamic role in a fast changing society. 3. To develop among the students the skill to make effective use of library resources and services including library equipments so that irrespective of the career that they may later on choose for themselves, they can derive maximum benefit out of the library. Undergraduate LIS Education  4. To acquaint students with the literature of Islam and Pakistan. 5. To promote interest among students for lifelong education and help them to develop into good citizens. 2.1. Library Science at Intermediate level. Introduction of Library Science as an optional subject at intermediate level in all four provinces of Pakistan was an important development in Pakistani librarianship. It was aimed at preparing more dedicated and devoted professionals and paraprofessionals in future. The efforts to achieve this goal were started in 1974. Anwar (1992) writes about this development in the following words: During the Pakistan Library Association’s term at Lahore (1974- 75), a different approach was decided upon. It was felt that the introduction to library science as an additional subject (100/75 marks as against 200/150 marks for elective subjects) designed to teach the use of information and libraries at both intermediate and bachelor’s level will result in: • Creating lecturer positions in colleges • Educating users of information • Exposing the general student body to the profession • Motivating potential recruits to the profession. (p. xiii) PLA approached the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE), Lahore for inclusion of Library Science as optional subject. The Board accepted the proposal in 1974 and constituted a committee to design the syllabus with Dr. Mumtaz A. Anwar as its Chairperson. The committee proposed that the Board will not allow colleges to offer the course before the appointment of lecturers and publication of textbook for the course (Anwar, 1992). Once the inclusion of Library Science at undergraduate level was approved in Lahore, there was a need to go further with mutual cooperation to avail this opportunity for other provinces. Anwar (1992) writes about this development in Sindh as under: The proposal was later on misused in Sindh and pressure was exerted on authorities to introduce library science as an elective subject at both intermediate and degree level. The proposals were hastily approved and teaching begun without any planning. Muhammad Ijaz Mairaj & Kanwal Ameen Working college librarians, who were happy to label themselves as lecturer started teaching. No new jobs were created. No textbook at that time was available. Graduate of these ill-planned courses were to join the profession with weak subject background. (p. xiv) Due to lack of planning, it took several years to start teaching of Library Science as an optional subject in Punjab despite the approval by BISE Lahore in 1974. Mrs. Farkhanda Lodhi, librarian and a well-known literary person, started teaching Library Science at Intermediate level in Government College for Women, Lahore in 1987, but Education Department stopped the program. Later on, Inter Board Committee of Chairman (IBCC) allowed for teaching Library Science at Intermediate level. The committee also allowed conducting the examination for the same from session 1991-92 and all BISEs of the Punjab circulated the notification. Consequently, a number of colleges in Punjab started teaching Library Science. However, Department of Public Instructions (DPI) Colleges stopped Principals of these colleges to teach Library Science at intermediate level with the objection that if librarians started teaching, the library services in colleges would suffer (Nazir, 1992). PLA and Punjab College Library Association (PCLA) continued their efforts which rewarded in 1995 when Government of the Punjab allowed all BISEs to teach Library Science at Intermediate level. The teaching work was assigned to librarians working in college libraries till the availability of lecturers. Library Science as an optional subject at Intermediate level was started in Sindh. Karachi Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education allowed teaching library science as an optional subject in 1976. (R. A. Samdani, personal communication, October 4, 2009). In NWFP, it was introduced in 1994. However, it is being taught in Higher Secondary Schools only in contrast with Punjab and Sindh (H. Rehman, personal communication, November 5, 2008). In 2002, Balochistan Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BBISE) allowed Intermediate and Degree Colleges to introduce Library Science as an elective subject at intermediate level from academic year 2003. (Balochistan Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, 2002). Late Mir Hassan Jamali, the then Chairman, Department of Library and Information Science, University of Balochistan, performed a fundamental role regarding this achievement (A. R. Qaisarani, personal communication, November 27, 2007). The library science as an optional Undergraduate LIS Education  subject at intermediate level is being offered to the regular students in all four provinces of Pakistan. However, one of the fundamental aims, i.e., creating lecturer positions in colleges could not be achieved. 2.2. Library science at Bachelor level. The efforts for introducing Library Science as an optional subject at Bachelor level were also started in 1974. University of the Punjab took the first step when the Board of Studies in Library Science recommended the inclusion of Library Science as optional subject at Bachelor levels in 1974. It was subsequently approved by the Academic Council in January 1975 but no further progress was made for the preparation of curriculum. After gap of several years, the efforts were restarted in 1990 when Mrs. Farkhandha Lodhi wrote a letter to the then Vice Chancellor, University of the Punjab, to introduce the subject of Library Science at B.A. /B.Sc. level. Vice Chancellor referred the letter to Board of Studies for consideration. Board of studies accepted the proposal and formed a committee for preparation of curriculum. Mr. Afzal Haq Qarshi chaired this committee. The committee prepared the draft of curriculum and submitted to the Board of Studies (Nazir, 1992) but the matter remained pending and no further progress for the approval of curriculum was made. In February 1991, University Grants Commission (UGC), later renamed as Higher Education Commission (HEC), formed a committee comprising of Dr. Abdul Sattar Chaudhry, Dr. Sajjad ur Rehman, Mr. Mahmood Hassan, Mr. Shaheen Majid and Mr. Ishtiaq Ahmad for reviewing the draft prepared by the committee formed by Board of studies, University of the Punjab. The committee submitted its recommendations in April 1991 which were approved and published by the UGC (Nazir, 1992). In Sindh, University of Karachi introduced Library Science as an optional subject at B.A. level in 1979 (R.A. Samdani, personal communication, October 04, 2009). University of Balochistan approved the curriculum of Library Science as an optional subject at B.A. level in 2006 and issued the notification in 2007 (University of Balochistan, 2007). Mr. Rehmat Khan Baloch, the then Incharge, Department of Library and Information Science, University of Balochistan was instrumental in getting this approval. This course is being offered to the regular students only. (A. R. Qaisrani, personal communication, November 28, 2007). Library Science as an optional subject at B.A. level has not been offered so far in NWFP. (H. Rehman, personal Muhammad Ijaz Mairaj & Kanwal Ameen communication, November 05, 2008). University of the Punjab has recently approved the launching of Library and Information Science as an elective subject at B.A. Level. Curriculum for the same has also been approved by the Syndicate of the University. However, lecturer positions for teaching LIS at undergraduate level have not been created by Government of the Punjab so far which may actually hinder this positive decision (University of the Punjab, 2009). The library science as an optional subject at B.A. level is also being offered to regular students only. 3. AIOU’s Bachelor of Library and Information Science Allama Iqbal Open University offers Bachelor of Library and Information Science (BLIS) as a distance learning program. This program was started in 1988. The duration of this program is two years. The minimum requirement for admission is Intermediate Certificate in Arts, Science or Commerce. Allama Iqbal Open University (2009a) describes the objective of Library and Information Science as a distance learning program as “to produce skilled manpower in the field of Library and Information Science which may run every kind of library or help professional library staff”. Curriculum The curricula of different undergraduate programs of Library Science are discussed in the following. Certificate courses Certificate course by Punjab Library Association. It is of six month duration and held twice a year, in April and November. The admission requirement is Secondary School Certificate (Matriculation). The curriculum of this course is given below. 1. Introduction to classification (Theory and practical) 2. Introduction to cataloguing (Theory and practical) 3. Bibliography, book selection and reference work 4. Library organization and administration (Punjab Library Association, 2003, p. 11) Certificate course by PBWG. This certificate course was of six month duration and continued till 1986. The curriculum of this course was Undergraduate LIS Education  as follows: 1. Role of library in the community 2. Library operation 3. Applied classification 4. Applied cataloguing 5. Reference and information work (Khurshid, 1992, p. 25) Khurshid (1992) was of the view that “the textbooks used for the courses were more or less the same which are the recommended readings for Master’s program” (p. 25). The new curriculum of the Higher Certificate Course in Library Science includes seven papers. Each paper carries 100 marks. The details are as under: 1. History of book and libraries. 2. Library operation / role of computer in the library 3. Classification (Theory and practical) 4. Cataloguing (Theory and practical) 5. Reference service and information work 6. Bibliography and indexing 7. Viva voce / Library journal viva (50 marks each) (Pakistan Bibliographical Working Group, 2008, p. 6) Certificate in Librarianship by AIOU. This certificate program is of six month (one semester) duration. Admission is offered twice a year. Two full credit courses are required to pass. The eligibility for admission is Intermediate Certificate (Higher School Certificate). Urdu language is used for the course material but students can use English for assignments / examination. This program is based on distance learning. The curriculum is as under: 1. Organizing library resources (Full credit) 2. Library services (Full credit) (Allama Iqbal Open University, 2009c) Library science as an optional subject Intermediate. This course is designed for Intermediate students as an optional course of two years duration consisting of 200 marks. It comprises of two papers each containing 100 marks. Minimum requirement is Matriculation (Secondary School Certificate) in Arts, Science or Commerce. The curriculum of Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education for Library Science as an optional subject at