Department of Library & Information Science
Department of Library & Information Science
Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences
The Department of Library Sciences — the first in Pakistan to offer a professional degree in this discipline — was established in 1956. The Masters in Library Science (M.L.S.) was introduced in 1962, and since 1982 the department has been known as the Department of Library and Information Science, with information control and management becoming integral to its studies.
A computer lab for cataloguing was established in 1984 — the first computer laboratory across all Library and Information Science schools in Pakistan and within the Faculty of Arts at the University of Karachi. Founder chairman Dr. Abdul Moid was the first Ph.D. holder in Library Science from the USA (1964). Professor Dr. Anis Khurshid, a renowned teacher of the department known as the father of modern librarianship in Pakistan, received the President's Award for Pride of Performance.
The curriculum is regularly revised in coordination with national and international library schools to keep pace with the demands of modern librarianship. Teaching includes lectures, practicals, presentations, group discussions, study tours and extension lectures, with assessment based on semester examinations, projects, assignments, reports and oral presentations.
Careers"Pakistan's first professional degree program in Library Science, home to the country's first LIS computer laboratory."
Department of Library & Information Science University of Karachi
Career Opportunities
Opportunities are open in public and private sectors, with government offices typically offering BLIS/BS degree holders BPS 16-17 and MLIS holders BPS 17 and above.
- Pakistan's first professional Library Science degree, established 1956
- First LIS computer lab in Pakistan (1984)
- Strong government-sector placement (BPS 16-17+)
Introduction
Chairperson: Dr. Rafat Parveen Siddiqui (Assoc. Prof)
The Department of Library Sciences, the first ever to offer professional degree in Pakistan in this discipline, was established in 1956. Masters in Library Science (M.L.S.) was offered from 1962. Since 1982 the department is known as Department of Library and Information Science, and information control / management became an integral part of the studies. Computer lab for cataloguing was established in 1984. This was the first computer laboratory in all Library and Information Science Schools across Pakistan as well as the Faculty of Arts, University of Karachi.
The founder chairman, Dr. Abdul Moid was the first Ph. D. holder in Library Science from the USA (1964). The Presidents’ Award for the Pride of Performance has been awarded to Professor Dr. Anis Khurshid, a renowned teacher of the department, known as the father of modern librarianship in Pakistan.
The Process of revising and updating the curriculum is a regular feature and the department remains in touch with national and international library schools to moderate the curriculum so that the demand of the modern librarianship be met.
Teaching and Assessment:
Teaching at the department includes lectures, practical, presentations, group discussions, study tours and extension lectures. Assessment is based on evaluation of performance in the semester examinations along with various projects, assignments, reports and oral presentations.
Career Opportunities:
The need of a trained person to control and to search relevant information in the modern time has become a necessity. Opportunities for outgoing students are open in public and private sector and packages offered are better in comparison to other professions. In government offices, BLIS / BS degree holders are offered 16 – 17 (BPS) and MLIS 17 (BPS) and above.
Faculty
Associate Professors
Dr. Rafat Parveen Siddiqui
Assistant Professors
Dr. Naveed-e-Sehar
Dr. Muhammad Waseem Zia
Lecturer
Mr. Rashid Ali
Ms. Rabia Aslam
Programs
Degree Programs Available
1. BS (4year Degree)
2. MPhil
3. PhD
Eligibility
- Intermediate in Science Arts or Commerce
- MLIS or MA (library & Information Science) or BS(4 year Degree)
- M.Phil
BS(4 year Degree)
M.Phil
Ph.D
Courses
B.S. 4 YEARS PROGRAM
| First Year | |||||
| 1st Semester | 2nd Semester | ||||
| Course # | Title of Course | Cr. Hr. | Course # | Title of Course | Cr. Hr. |
| 311/ 301 |
Knowledge & Information Environment | 03 | 312/ 302 |
Use of Books and Libraries | 03 |
| Second Year | |||||
| 411/ 401 |
Introduction to Library and Information Science | 03 | 412/ 402 |
Information Technologies in libraries | 03 |
| 421 | Library and Society | 03 | 422 | History of Books and Libraries | 03 |
| Third Year | |||||
| 511 | Bibliographies and Bibliographical Control | 03 | 512 | Reference and Information sources and services | 03 |
| 521 | Collection development and Management | 03 | 522 | Library operations and Emerging Technologies | 03 |
| 531 | Introduction to Classification | 03 | 532 | Applied Classification | 03 |
| 541 | Introduction to Cataloguing | 03 | 542 | Applied Cataloguing | 03 |
| 551 | Administration and Management of Libraries and Information Centers | 03 | 552 | Indexing and Abstracting | 03 |
| 561 | Communication Skills and Professional Library Correspondence | 03 | 562 | Marketing of Library and Information Services | 03 |
| Fourth Year | |||||
| 611 | Comparative Classification | 03 | 612.1 | Information sources and literature of Humanities and Social Sciences | 03 |
| 621 | Digital Libraries | 03 | 612.2 | Information sources and literature of Science and Technology | 03 |
| 631 | System Analysis and design in Libraries | 03 | 612.3 | Information sources and literature of Islam and Pakistan | 03 |
| 641.1 | Public Library, Library legislation and systems | 03 | 622 | Cataloguing of Special Material | 03 |
| 641.2 | Children Librarianship, School library media centers | 03 | 632 | Information Storage, Processing and Retrieval | 03 |
| 641.3 | Special Librarianship | 03 | 642.1 | Archive management and Preservation | 03 |
| 651 | Research Methodology | 03 | 642.2 | Academic Librarianship | 03 |
| 661 | Planning of Library and Information centers | 03 | 642.3 | Medical Libraries and Librarianship | 03 |
| 03 | 652 | Knowledge Management | 03 | ||
| 03 | 662 | Comparative Libraries / Thesis | 03 | ||
M.PHIL COURSES
| First Year | |||||
| 1st Semester | 2nd Semester | ||||
| Course # | Title of Course | Cr. Hr. | Course # | Title of Course | Cr. Hr. |
| 711 | Quantitative Research Methods | 04 | 712 | Qualitative Research Methods | 04 |
| 721 | Research Writing skills | 04 | 722 | Research Seminar | 04 |
| 731 | User Studies | 04 | 732 | Metrics Studies | 04 |
| 741 | Advanced Referencing & Plagiarism | 04 | 742 | Information Ethics | 04 |
PH.D COURSES
| First Year | |||||
| 1st Semester | 2nd Semester | ||||
| Course # | Title of Course | Cr. Hr. | Course # | Title of Course | Cr. Hr. |
| 811 | Thesis / Dissertation: Guidelines | 03 | 812 | Advanced Information Retrieval System | 03 |
| 821 | LIS Curriculum Development | 03 | 822 | Digital Information Management | 03 |
| 831 | Computer Applications in Research | 03 | 832 | Independent Study | 03 |
Research
The Ph.D. program was initiated in 1967. The founder chairman Dr. Abdul Moid was the first Ph.D. in library science from USA in the year 1964. The department of library and information science is currently engaged in research. Research is actively pursued by the Faculty in their respective fields of interest. The students are required to produce research at various levels, ranging from short assignments to the optional Final year thesis. The department offered MPhil and Ph.D. Programs. There are 20 MPhil research Scholars and 15 Ph.D. scholars had successfully completed their research work from the department and currently 15 MPhil and 5 Ph.D. students are enrolled in respective programs.
Facilities
Seminar Library (Dr. Abdul Moid Memorial Library)
The seminar library (Dr. Abdul MoidMemorial Library) caters to the needs of the students as well as the faculty of the department, inaugurated in 1985. The library has more than 5000 books, 400 thesis and back volumes of 50 journals on library and information science. The library has a total capacity of 50 users. The timing of the library is from 8:30am. To 4:30pm. This library provide services to all the students, faculty members and research scholars.
Computer Lab
The computer lab in the department was established in 1984, named Dr. Anis Khurshid computer lab. The lab is equipped with 32 PC’s connected to internet and local area network. The lab provide ultimate access to major information resources. Students and faculty members can use the computer lab during office hours.
Cataloging and Classification Lab:
The department has a separate lab for practice of cataloging and classification. The lab is equipped with latest editions of DDC scheme, LCC scheme, LC subject heading list and sears list. There are more than 2000 books for practice of cataloging.
Contact
For further information please contact:
DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARY & INFORMATION SCIENCE
UNIVERSITY OF KARACHI, KARACHI-75270
Telephone: 99261300-06 Ext: 2249
Email: libraryscience@uok.edu.pk
Website: www.dlisuok.edu.pk
Apply to the Department of Library & Information Science
Undergraduate and postgraduate pathways are open through the University's admissions process.
