About the Department

Objective

The origin of Library and Information Science education in the University of Madras starts with the Summer School by Dr.S.R. Ranganathan, the then Librarian of the University in the year 1929 under the auspices of Madras Library Association. This led to the introduction of Certificate Course in Library Science by the University in 1931. In 1937, the Certificate Course was converted into Diploma Course. Dr.S.R. Ranganathan donated a Lac of rupees in the year 1957 (University’s Centenary Year) for establishing a teaching Department in the University. The Sarada Ranganathan Chair in Library Science in 1959, which was the first Professorship in Library Science in the British Commonwealth. Department of Library Science was established in 1960. And it has expanded as the Department of Library and Information Science in 1976. In 1989, two years integrated course in Library & Information Science was introduced. The nomenclature of the course changed from Master of Library & Information Science (MLIS) to M.Sc., (Library & Information Science) in 1993-94.

The nomenclature of the Department and the degree of the PG Programme was changed into Department of Information Science and M.Sc., Information Science during the academic year 2003-2004. Again the name has been changed to M.Sc., (Library & Information Science) in the academic year 2013-2014. In accordance with the UGC recommendation regarding the uniformity in nomenclature of the PG in Library & Information Science at the national level, the nomenclature of the degree was changed to as M.Lib.I.Sc. (Master of Library and Information Science) with effect from 2015-2016.

Mission

1. To impart quality higher education in Library and Information Science 2. To develop personnel with knowledge, skills and character leading to creating, maintaining and developing knowledge society.

Vision

1.To develop personnel with aptitudes and skills to face the challenges and needs of fast changing society. 2.To promote research and publications by imparting quality and social relevant knowledge. 3.To contribute knowledge to the discipline by research and publications. 4. To contribute innovative teaching and learning methods in Library and Information Science.

Our students have been placed in the Library & Information Centers of top Academic Institutions including Schools, Colleges, Universities and Research Organizations. Selected Special Libraries in which our students were placed are Clubs, YRG Care, RMRL, British Council and Media Libraries. In the Corporate Sectors including MNCs like Wipro Systems, InfoSys, Tata Consultancy Services, HSBC Ltd. EDUTECH & many others, our students have been placed successfully. Our students also have been placed in some reputed Volunteer Organizations too.

This Department is the First Department in the country to have been awarded with SAP status since 1996 and in 2001 SAP Phase II was approved and completed in 2006. The two phases of SAP is completed. Presently the Department has moved into UGC-SAP-DRS III for the period 2007-2012. The thrust areas for the SAP supported activities include: Digital Libraries & E-publishing. Under the SAP Project the Department has undertaken a project entitled “Digital Archiving of Publications of University of Madras”. The objective is to digitize all the publications of University of Madras. Under SAP, a series of Seminars/Workshops are conducted annually to benefit the Library and Information Professionals, Scholars and Students.