My Journal - LIS Course

a reflection on why have chosen to undertake this course and join the information professions 

As a school going kid, first office job I encountered was Librarian besides teachers. This was because my Aunty was one of the Librarians in the only Public Library in Bhutan. After 10th Standard, every winter break I used to volunteer at that Library where my Aunt worked. However, after 12th exam, I was qualified for Computer Science. Although it was not my interest, there was only so much we could do to change the subjects we take at College as the Library course was not being offered at the only college in Bhutan then.

However, I got to work at Parliament of Bhutan after completion of my bachelors degree as an ICT Officer where I was fortunate to have on one small Library under my division. As a Information and Communication Officer, I always felt that I was my duty to enhance the library at the Parliament . Moreover, our Library has lots of hardcopy collections which are very hard to refer to as nothing is been put in proper system other than simple DDC recorded manually in book. We also have lot of audio and video recordings from the Parliament session which couldn't be put to positive use.

Going back to my volunteer experience, It was in the year 1997 -2001, that I got to work at the Public Library in Bhutan. I vividly remember getting involved in circulation desk. It was typical collection of books and newspapers then. There were were only 4 regular staff and 2-3 volunteers including myself. We were all doing same thing whole day. Last year I went to the same Library, nothing has changed much in terms of infrastructure or collection but they have introduced some book reading program for school going children and some computer literacy program for anyone who comes to attend.

Like many others, library is perceived as collection of books maintained in register or some system which need not have any additional works to do after the completion of entry in register and shelf. Likewise, formal education qualification was not really considered important by many. Trying to take initiative to move to digital library, I proposed and introduced KOHA system as it was recommended by the IPU as widely used system. It was during this process, I knew about about many specials skills a librarian must have.

Confronted with numerous challenges, I seriously gave a second thought of having a proper professional qualification in Information and Library Practice to take these all to different level and make difference in life of information consumers at Parliament of Bhutan for better decision making.

Given chance, I would like to have opportunity to work with few Libraries here in Queensland to gain practical knowledge and experience to be well prepared theoretically and practically.