Dear Friends,

It has been noticed that various government engineering colleges of Odisha has invited tender to outsource "Library Assistants", which will hamper the growth and services of these libraries to a great extend and will cause damage to library resources.

Some question arises here in this context, which need to be addressed properly by the eminent LIS professors and professionals, more particularly of Odisha who heads various library committees and Commission of Odisha and India.

1. Are the nature of job of a "Library Assistant" is same same as plumber, sweeper, electrician, data entry operator or security so that it should be outsourced ?

2. How the library in charge (Librarian/Asst.Librarian) of these libraries (which are mostly one man show libraries) will rely on these outsourced library staff and leave the library on their hand in his/her absence? In that case what the college authority will not fix the responsibility of loss, damage and misuse of library resources on the library in charge?

3. If there is no provision of regular appointment of library staff in these engineering colleges, then why recruitment of library staff on contractual basis or appointment of Library trainees are not done, who can perform better than the outsourced staff since they remain under the direct control of the library in charge. Is it mean that the BPUT or the college authorities want to promote "CONTRACTORS" in the name of outsourcing?

4. What will be future of LIS students and professionals in such library environment?

5. How the teaching and research qualities of government engineering colleges of Odisha will improve in the absence of a good library or library services?

I request all LIS teachers, professionals and students and also the office bearers of Library Associations of Odisha to protest against this and send e-mail to the Secretary, Technical Education, Govt of Odisha, Vice Chancellor, BPUT, Odisha and Principals of Govt Engineering Colleges of Odisha to stop the practice of outsourcing of library staff for the larger interest of technical education of Odisha, LIS profession and libraries.

Thanks and regards

Dr Sunil Kumar Satpathy. Moderator: lisforum_orissa,

Source: lisforum_orissa: 14.10.2014