Role of LIS Education and Competency Building for LIS Profession in the 21st Century

Abstract

Today Library is an important social agency for the growth of modern society. Library and Information Science (LIS) education in India goes through a turning point and has become a most fastgrowing subject with a multifaceted strategy. The four walls of the library are broadening and heightening by giving way to electronic environments; the LIS teachers and professionals should be up to date themselves or acquainted with different skills. This paper deals with the prominent role of LIS education and professionals in the Indian educational system. In India, the library system exists both traditional and digital environment. Today, the library provides both traditional learning and digital learning or E-Learning. Different library associations and different committees provide valuable suggestions for the development of library services. This paper also discusses the concept of competency as well as the need of training and developing of different skills for library professionals and give some suggestions for the developing of LIS education system to create the library environment in the 21st century up to the level.