Page 13 - DLIS406_ACADEMIC_LIBRARY_SYSTEM

Academic Library System

Notes helps the students to realize their strengths and weaknesses by instilling self-awareness, decision
making skills, planning skills, personality development etc. At present there is a greater need
to provide career guidance services in the college libraries. Many developed countries have
well developed career guidance plans in their educational system from the school level. In
India, such planning is not undertaken effectively. In higher education institutions libraries
are meeting mostly the career information needs of the students through informal and few
formal means. Hence, there is a need to plan and organize this sector.
Information and communication technology has influenced the way in which career guidance
is provided to the graduates and other adults. Western countries are undertaking many research
activities in the area of career guidance as they realize its importance and see it as a key tool
for personal development and to connect person and occupation based on the interest and
aptitude of the individual concerned. They use software packages like SIGI3, SIGI PLUS,
DISCOVER etc. to provide career guidance.

Notes These facilities are not in use in Indian higher educational institutions. Though
career guidance is a century old concept recently it becomes an important issue
world wide in view of the changes in the economy brought about by globalization,
privatization and emergence of ICT.

Information is at the core of career guidance and education; indeed, it tends to prevail over
other guidance function. In an academic institution, library is the focal point where staff and
students are energized and empowered with knowledge. Libraries ought to extend their support
in all spheres of knowledge and by providing career information in the library it will be
helping the users to have an aim in their lives. A quality career service can help the students/
graduates to find out their interests and abilities and to attain their dream job in the society.
As a quality career resource centre, library can take pride in the development and well-being
of its users. To achieve this library staff should strive and adapt according to the signs of the
time. It is necessary to provide career information literacy to the graduates so that they will
be equipped with the knowledge about how to seek, evaluate and select career information
and this may lead to better decision making for the quality of their future life.

2.1 Role of College Librarian in Career Guidance

To conduct guidance job efficiently librarian should train himself. In this regard Wiley and
Andrew (1955) opined that to efficiently perform this role in the guidance program, the librarian
should:
1. Familiarize him with the services of the guidance program.
2. Secure and file unbound occupational and educational information.
3. Maintain an “occupational shelf” for bound materials.
4. Make the library a laboratory for pupils seeking guidance materials.
5. Acquaint counselors and teachers with new guidance materials reaching the library.

6. Cooperate with administrators, counselors, and teachers in making the library a service
point for knowledge acquisition and career development.

8 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY