CHANGING ROLE DYNAMICS OF LIBRARY & INFORMATION SCIENCE (LIS) PROFESSIONALS IN THE DIGITAL ERA: STUDY OF NAVSARI AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY

M.G. THAKKAR¹, K.D. TANDEL²*
¹Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, 396450, Gujarat, India
²Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, 396450, Gujarat, India
* Corresponding Author : kailashagrilib@nau.in

Received : 04-02-2023     Accepted : 26-02-2023     Published : 28-02-2023
Volume : 15     Issue : 2       Pages : 12217 - 12221
Int J Agr Sci 15.2 (2023):12217-12221

Keywords : Digital Era, Institutional Ranking, Library, Library and Information Science (LIS) Professionals, State Agricultural University (SAU)
Academic Editor : Dr Hemangi Mehta, Dr L.M. Anka, Dr K.N. Kandpal, Altino Choupina, Dr C.K. Patel
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : Authors are thankful to Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, 396450, Gujarat, India
Author Contribution : All authors equally contributed

The new face of the higher education landscape in India and across the world has come up with profound changes in the working of the libraries and consequently ‘Library and Information Science (LIS) Professionals’. Gone are the days of the widely prevalent and equally criticized traditional academic setups; wherein the LIS professional, typically termed as Librarian, was considered as yet another ‘avoidable cost centre and administrative function’ and he/she was not taken seriously enough as a ‘valued contributor’ to the overall process of imparting quality education. Today in the digital era, Library and Information Science (LIS) professionals are ideally considered as one of the strongest pillars of any premier academic setup. Given the multitude of roles being played by these LIS professionals and considering the ever increasing importance of multifaceted evaluation of quantitative and qualitative aspects of library in institutional ranking at the national and international level, the institutions of higher education like Universities will have to create congenial work culture for the LIS professionals. In this context, this Conceptual Review Paper, utilizing the published theoretical literature analyzed with a practical orientation, discusses the changing face of libraries and changing role dynamics of LIS professionals in general and in Agricultural Universities in particular. The paper highlights salient features and achievements of consistent National Award winning Central Library of one of the State Agricultural University (SAU) located in the coastal region of the vibrant Gujarat State in India, that is, Navsari Agricultural University

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