The UGC NET (University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test) for Library and Information Science is designed to assess the eligibility of candidates for the role of Assistant Professor or for a Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in Indian universities and colleges. The exam comprises two papers: Paper 1 and Paper 2. Here is a detailed overview of the syllabus and exam pattern for the Library and Information Science subject.
Mode of Examination
Mode of Examination The Examination shall be conducted in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode only.
Exam Pattern
Paper 1
- Objective: To assess the teaching/research aptitude of the candidate.
- Number of Questions: 50
- Total Marks: 100
- Duration: 1 hour (60 minutes)
- Type of Questions: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
- There is no negative marking for incorrect responses.
Paper 1: GENERAL PAPER ON TEACHING & RESEARCH APTITUDE
The main objective is to assess the teaching and research capabilities of the candidates. The test aims at assessing teaching and research aptitude as well. Candidates are expected to possess and exhibit cognitive abilities, which include comprehension, analysis, evaluation, understanding the structure of arguments, and deductive and inductive reasoning. The candidates are also expected to have a general awareness of teaching and learning processes in the higher education system. Further, they should be aware of the interaction between people, the environment, and natural resources, and their impact on the quality of life. The details of the syllabi are as follows:
Unit-I: Teaching Aptitude
- Teaching: Concept, Objectives, Levels of teaching (Memory, Understanding, and Reflective), Characteristics, and basic requirements.
- Learner’s characteristics: Characteristics of adolescent and adult learners (Academic, Social, Emotional, and Cognitive), Individual differences.
- Factors affecting teaching: Related to Teacher, Learner, Support material, Instructional facilities, Learning environment, and Institution.
- Methods of teaching in Institutions of higher learning: Teacher-centred vs. Learner-centered methods; Off-line vs. Online methods (Swayam, Swayamprabha, MOOCs, etc.).
- Teaching Support System: Traditional, Modern, and ICT based.
- Evaluation Systems: Elements and Types of Evaluation, Evaluation in Choice Based Credit System in Higher Education, Computer-based testing, Innovations in evaluation systems.
Unit-II: Research Aptitude
- Research: Meaning, Types, and Characteristics, Positivism and Post positivistic approach to research.
- Methods of Research: Experimental, Descriptive, Historical, Qualitative and Quantitative methods.
- Steps of Research.
- Thesis and Article writing: Format and styles of referencing.
- Application of ICT in research.
- Research ethics.
Unit-III: Comprehension
- A passage of text is given. Questions are asked from the passage to be answered.
Unit-IV: Communication
- Communication: Meaning, types, and characteristics of communication.
- Effective communication: Verbal and Non-verbal, Inter-Cultural and group communications, Classroom communication.
- Barriers to effective communication.
- Mass-Media and Society.
Unit-V Mathematical Reasoning and Aptitude
- Types of reasoning.
- Number series, Letter series, Codes and Relationships.
- Mathematical Aptitude (Fraction, Time & Distance, Ratio, Proportion and Percentage, Profit and Loss, Interest and Discounting, Averages etc.).
Unit-VI: Logical Reasoning
- Understanding the structure of arguments: argument forms, structure of categorical propositions, Mood and Figure, Formal and Informal fallacies, Uses of language, Connotations and denotations of terms, Classical square of opposition.
- Evaluating and distinguishing deductive and inductive reasoning.
- Analogies.
- Venn diagram: Simple and multiple use for establishing validity of arguments.
- Indian Logic: Means of knowledge.
- Pramanas: Pratyaksha (Perception), Anumana (Inference), Upamana (Comparison), Shabda (Verbal testimony), Arthapatti (Implication) and Anupalabddhi (Non-apprehension).
- Structure and kinds of Anumana (inference), Vyapti (invariable relation), Hetvabhasas (fallacies of inference).
Unit-VII Data Interpretation
- Sources, acquisition and classification of Data.
- Quantitative and Qualitative Data.
- Graphical representation (Bar-chart, Histograms, Pie-chart, Table-chart and Line-chart) and mapping of Data.
- Data Interpretation.
- Data and Governance.
Unit-VIII Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
- ICT: General abbreviations and terminology.
- Basics of Internet, Intranet, E-mail, Audio and Video conferencing.
- Digital initiatives in higher education.
- ICT and Governance.
Unit-IX People, Development and Environment
- Development and environment: Millennium development and Sustainable development goals.
- Human and environment interaction: Anthropogenic activities and their impacts on environment.
- Environmental issues: Local, Regional and Global; Air pollution, Water pollution, Soil pollution, Noise pollution, Waste (solid, liquid, biomedical, hazardous, electronic), Climate change and its Socio-Economic and Political dimensions.
- Impacts of pollutants on human health.
- Natural and energy resources: Solar, Wind, Soil, Hydro, Geothermal, Biomass, Nuclear and Forests.
- Natural hazards and disasters: Mitigation strategies.
- Environmental Protection Act (1986), National Action Plan on Climate Change, International agreements/efforts -Montreal Protocol, Rio Summit, Convention on Biodiversity, Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement, International Solar Alliance.
Unit-X Higher Education System
- Institutions of higher learning and education in ancient India.
- Evolution of higher learning and research in Post Independence India.
- Oriental, Conventional and Non-conventional learning programmes in India.
- Professional, Technical and Skill Based education.
- Value education and environmental education.
- Policies, Governance, and Administration.
Paper 2: Library and Information Science
- Objective: To assess subject-specific knowledge.
- Subject: Library and Information Science
- Number of Questions: 100
- Total Marks: 200
- Duration: 2 hours (120 minutes)
- Type of Questions: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
- There is no negative marking for incorrect responses.
Unit – I
1. Data, Information, Knowledge, and Wisdom.
2. Information Life Cycle – Generation, Collection, Storage, and Dissemination.
3. Role of Information in Planning, Management, Socioeconomic, Cultural, Educational, and Technological Development.
4. Information Science – Relationship with other subjects, Information Society and Knowledge Society.
5. Communication – Concept, Types, Theories, Models, Channels and Barriers; Trends in Scholarly Communication.
6. Information Industry – Generators, Providers and Intermediaries.
7. IPR and Legal Issues – Categories, Conventions, Treaties, Laws.
8. Plagiarism: Concept and Types.
9. Right to Information Act (RTI); Information Technology Act.
10. National Knowledge Commission; National Mission on Libraries.
Unit – II
1. Historical Development of Libraries in India; Committees and Commissions on Libraries in India.
2. Types of Libraries – Academic, Public, Special and National.
3. Library Legislation and Library Acts in Indian States; The Press and Registration of Books Act; The Delivery of Books and Newspapers (Public Libraries) Act.
4. Laws of Library Science.
5. Library and Information Science Profession – Librarianship as a Profession, Professional Skills and Competences; Professional Ethics.
6. Professional Associations – National – ILA, IASLIC, IATLIS; International – IFLA, ALA, CILIP, ASLIB, SLA; Role of UGC, RRRLF and UNESCO in Promotion and Development of Libraries.
7. Library and Information Science Education in India.
8. Library Public Relations and Extension Activities.
9. Type of Users – User Studies, User Education.
10. Information Literacy – Areas, Standards, Types and Models; Trends in Information Literacy.
Unit – III
1. Information Sources – Nature, Characteristics, Types and Formats.
2. Sources of Information – Primary, Secondary and Tertiary; Documentary and Non-Documentary.
3. Primary Information Sources (Print and Electronic) – Journals, Conference Proceedings, Patents, Standards, Theses & Dissertations, Trade Literature.
4. Secondary Information Sources (Print and Electronic) – Dictionaries, Encyclopedias, Bibliographies, Indexing & Abstracting, Statistical sources, Handbooks and Manuals.
5. Tertiary Information Sources (Print and Electronic)- Directories, Year Books, Almanacs.
6. Reference Sources – Bibliographical, Biographical, Educational, Language and Geographical.
7. Electronic Information Resources – Subject Gateways, Web Portals, Bulletin Boards, Discussion Forums /Groups.
8. Databases: Bibliographic, Numeric, Full text, Multimedia; Open Access Databases.
9. Institutional and Human Resources.
10. Evaluation of Reference Sources and Web Resources.
Unit – IV
1. Community Information Services.
2. Reference Service – Concept and Types; Referral Services
3. Alerting Services – CAS, SDI, Inter Library Loan and Document Delivery.
4. Mobile based Library Services and Tools – Mobile OPAC, Mobile Databases, Mobile Library Website, Library Apps, Mobile Library Instructions, Augmented Reality, SMS Alerts, Geo-Location, Reference Enquiry.
5. Web 2.0 and 3.0 – Library 2.0- Concept, Characteristics, Components; Instant Messaging, RSS Feeds, Podcasts, Vodcasts, Ask a Librarian
6. Collaborative Services- Social Networks, Academics Social Networks, Social Tagging, Social Bookmarking.
7. Web – Scale Discovery Services
8. National Information Systems and Networks: NISCAIR, DESIDOC, SENDOC, ENVIS, INFLIBNET, DELNET, NICNET, ERNET, National Knowledge Network (NKN), Biotechnology Information System Network
9. International Information Systems and Networks: INIS, AGRIS, INSPEC, MEDLARS, BIOSIS, ERIC, Patent Information System (PIS), Biotechnology Information System (BIS).
10. Library Resource Sharing and Library Consortia – National and International
Unit – V
1. Universe of Knowledge – Nature and Attributes; Modes of Formation of Subjects.
2. Knowledge Organisation – Classification – Theories, Cannons, and Principles; Simple Knowledge Organisation System (SKOS), Taxonomies, Folksonomy, Trends in Classification.
3. Mapping of Subjects in Library Classification Schemes – DDC, UDC and CC.
4. Knowledge Organisation: Cataloguing – Cannons and Principles; Centralized and Co-operative Catalogue; Library Cataloguing Codes: CCC and AACR – II.
5. Standards of Bibliographic Record Formats and Description – ISBD, MARC 21, CCF, RDA, FRBR, Bibframe.
6. Standards for Bibliographic Information Interchange & Communication – ISO 2709, Z39.50, Z39.71.
7. Metadata Standards: Dublin Core; MARC21, METS, MODES, EAD.
8. Indexing Systems and Techniques: Assigned – Pre coordinate; Post-Coordinate; Derived- Title-based; Vocabulary Control.
9. Abstracting – Types and Guidelines.
10. Information Retrieval System – Features, Components, Models and Evaluation.
Unit – VI
1. Management – Principles, Functions and Schools of thought.
2. Library and Information Centers Management – Book Selection Tools and Principles; Library Acquisition, Technical Processing, Circulation, Serial Control, Maintenance and Stock Verification; Preservation and Conservation; Hazards and Control Measures of Library Materials.
3. Human Resource Management – Planning, Job Analysis, Job Description, Job Evaluation, Selection, Recruitment, Motivation, Training and Development, Performance Appraisal; Staff Manual.
4. Financial Management in Libraries – Sources of Finance, Resource Mobilisation, Budgeting Methods; Cost Effective and Cost Benefit Analysis, Annual Reports & Statistics; Library Authority and Committee.
5. Project Management – SWOT, PEST, PERT / CPM.
6. Total Quality Management (TQM) – Concepts, Principles and Techniques, Six Sigma; Evaluation of Services of Libraries and Information Centers.
7. Library Building, Furniture and Equipments; Green Library Building; Information Commons; Makers Space; Security and Safety.
8. Management Information System (MIS), MBO, Change Management, Disaster Management, Crisis Management.
9. Knowledge Management – Principles, Tools, Components and Architecture.
10. Marketing of Library Products and Services – Plan, Research, Strategies, Mix, Segmentation, Pricing and Advertising; Management Consultancy.
Unit – VII
1. Computer Technology – Character Representation (ASCII, ISCII, Unicode); Computer Hardware, Software; Storage Devices; Input and Output Devices.
2. Types of Software – System Software, Application Software.
3. Programming Languages – Object Oriented, Procedural, High Level, Scripting; Web Languages.
4. Telecommunication – Transmission Channels, Mode, and Media, ISDN, PSDN, Multiplexing, Modulation, Standards and Protocols.
5. Wireless Communication – Media, Wi-fi, Li-fi, Satellite Communication, Mobile Communication.
6. Computer Networks – Topologies, Types of Networks – LAN, MAN, WAN.
7. Internet – Web browsers, WWW, E-mail; Search Engines, Meta and Entity Search engines.
8. Internet Protocols and Standards – HTTP, SHTTP, FTP, SMTP, TCP/IP, URI, URL.
9. Hypertext, Hypermedia, Multimedia, Video conferencing, Virtual Reality, Augmented Technologies.
10. Data Security, Network Security, Firewalls, Cryptographic Techniques, Anti-virus software, Anti-spyware, Intrusion Detection System.
Unit – VIII
1. Library Automation – Areas, Planning, Selection of Hardware and Software, Implementation and Evaluation; Standards for Library Automation.
2. Barcode, RFID, QR Code, Biometric, Smartcard: Features and Applications.
3. Digitization – Planning, Selection of Materials, Hardware, Software, Process, Issues.
4. Digital Library: Genesis, Characteristics, Types, Architecture; Standards, Formats and Protocols, DOI.
5. Digital Preservation – Need, Purpose, Standards, Methods, Techniques, Projects (National and International).
6. Digital Library Initiatives – National and International.
7. Institutional Repositories – Need, Purpose, Types and Tools; Institutional Repositories in India; ROAR, DOAR, SHARPA-ROMIO.
8. Content Management Systems – Architecture, Data Integration, CMS Software – Selection, Implementation and Evaluation.
9. Application of Artificial Intelligence, Expert Systems and Robotics in Libraries; Social Mobile Analytics Cloud (SMAC); Cloud Computing.
10. Ontology – Tools (RDF, RDFS, Potege); Semantic Web, Linked Data, Big Data, Data Mining, Data Harvesting.
Unit – IX
1. Research – Concept, Purpose, Functions, Scope and Ethics; Types of Research – Basic and Applied, Interdisciplinary and Multidisciplinary.
2. Research Methods: Historical, Descriptive, Experimental and Delphi.
3. Research Design – Selection of Research Problem, Review of Literature; Formulation of Research Problem; Hypothesis – Formulation, Types and Testing; Sampling Techniques.
4. Methods of Data Collection: Questionnaire, Interview, Observation, Library Records, Scales and Checklist.
5. Data Analysis and Interpretation – Presentation of Data; Statistical Methods/ Techniques.
6. Statistical Packages – Spreadsheet, SPSS, Bibexcel, ‘R’ Statistics.
7. Research Report Writing and Citation Tools – Structure, Style, Contents, Guidelines; Style Manuals; Online Citation Tools; Reference Style Management Tools; Antiplagiarism Tools; Evaluation of Research Report.
8. Metric Studies in LIS – Bibliometrics, Scientometric, Webometrics, Altmetrics;
9. Impact Factors – Journal, Institutional and Authors; h-Index, g-Index, i10 Index.
10. Trends in Library and Information Science Research.
Unit –X
1. Academic Library and Information System.
2. Public Library and Information System.
3. Special Library and Information System.
4. Health Science Library and Information System.
5. Corporate Library and Information System.
6. Agricultural Library and Information System.
7. Engineering and Technological Library and Information System.
8. Archive, Museums and Oriental Libraries.
9. Community Information System.
10. Information Services and System for Persons with Disability, Children and Women.
Conclusion
The UGC NET Library and Information Science exam requires a comprehensive understanding of both general and subject-specific knowledge. Candidates should prepare thoroughly, focusing on each section of the syllabus, to excel in the exam.
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