Department of Library and Information Science

Our mission is to impart state of the art education and training to develop human resources who are fully capable of managing the information resources to render right information to the right person at the right time.
The department of Library Science was set up in 1971 at the Old University Campus and a Certificate course in Library Science was started. The Department shifted to the new campus, in the newly constructed University library building in the year 1980. The certificate course continued from session 1971-72 to 1983-84. Beginning with the session 1983-84, the B Lib Sc programme was introduced by the University. From the session 1985-86, the Department also started the M Lib Sc and PhD programmes in Library Science. Since then the Department of Library Science is functioning as Postgraduate Department of Library Science, under the Faculty of Social Sciences. In 1998, the Department shifted to a separate newly constructed wing on the ground floor of the Central Library of the University of Jammu. The department is recognized as Programme Study center of Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi since March 31st, 1995, for its BLIS and MLIS programmes. In January 1999, The Department was also recognized as Study Centre of the National Open School, New Delhi for its CLS programme.

Information has become an integral part of all aspects in modern-day life and in the knowledge society. Acquiring the necessary skills for the effective utilization of information and information sources is imperative for every knowledge worker - from the highest level of governmental decision-making to the lowest decision-making individual entrepreneur. The faculty of the Department of Library and Information Science educates men and women at the master's, bachelor's, and doctoral levels to become leaders in libraries, archives, and information/knowledge centers; conducts research to advance the information sciences; and performs public service to support the information professions and the public good. The M Lib Sc degree program provides graduates with a foundation of professional knowledge and skills as well as opportunities for specialized study in Agricultural Information System, Medical Information System, Business Information System, Social Science Information System and Information Technology Applications to Libraries.
Furthermore, the Internet, and World-Wide Web in particular, is changing the way people communicate with one another, do business, exchange ideas, study and transmit information. We all know that the right information at the right time is essential for good decision-making. A working knowledge of the Internet and its applications, as well as the know-how of information management, therefore is an essential skill needed in the modern corporate world.

The Department of Library and Information Studies at University of Jammu has responded to the challenges of these changes. We acknowledge the possibilities that exist in the new electronic information environment for a person to develop into an entrepreneur who can process and add value to information for market needs, who can use information technology to achieve a competitive edge, and who can utilize information to improve productivity, create new marketing opportunities and identify challenges to develop new information products.

Students after graduation in library and information science have a wide choice of options to choose and can plan their career according to their aptitudes. As a Librarian students after qualifying in their professional degrees will find openings in University, College and School libraries, Public libraries, Museums, and Cultural Institutions, Government Institutions and Information Centres besides Companies and business houses with large information handling requirements.

With the emerging knowledge society and information technology playing the key role in information management, there are immense opportunities and considerable scope to diversify into high tech areas such as database generation and management, development of digital library resources, the Internet resources organization and assistance, developing virtual libraries, system analysis, electronic publishing, corporate and even free lance consultancy and marketing of Information products and resources.