History of the Department

The Department of Library & Information Science with a view to equip the libraries with technical manpower in the State was established during the academic session 2002-2003. Prof. A K Sharma, Ex Vice-Chancellor formally inaugurated the Department on 20th August, 2002 at the Central Library of Mizoram University. The Department offered one year BLIS Course in 2002 followed by one year MLIS course in 2003. It is only 2004 when two new faculty members (Professor-1, Lecturer-1) joined the Department and took initiatives to combine both the courses with integrated MLIS Course of two years duration which was offered from 2005 academic session. The same year the Department also extended Ph. D. Program in Library & Information Science. Two more faculty members (Reader-1, & Lecturer-1) joined in 2005. The Department further took initiative to commence M. Phil. Programme in 2007 which was the first course not only in Mizoram University but in the North East Region as well. 

The integrated MLIS Course was revised and implemented with effect from the academic session 2011-12. It was revised in 2012-13 and adopted Choice Based Credit System as per the UGC instructions. The MLIS syllabus was further revised in 2015 as per the guidelines of UGC, The latest MLIS syllabus, 2015 is available here. 

The M.Phil and Ph.D course work syllabus was also revised in 2017 as per the latest guidelines of the UGC and credit system was adopted. The latest M.Phil and Ph.D course work syllabus, 2017 is available here. 

Right from the 2004 till date the Department organized a number of continuing education programmes like Seminars/Conferences/Workshops/Training Programmes, Refresher Courses so as to provide professional exposure and competency development not only for the benefit of Mizoram Library & Information Professionals but also at the Regional and National level. 

To trace a brief genealogy, the Department was functioning in a small rented building located in Chanmari in 2002 & 2003. It was only 2004, the Department was shifted to another rented building in Ramhlun Road which was comparatively more spacious than the old building. The Department moved to its own campus located at Tanhril in 2008 and started functioning till 2012 temporarily in School of Social Sciences. Now, it is functioning in its own two storeyed building. 

Right from the beginning, it was a great challenge to the Department to start an up-to-date and need based MLIS course, developing other infrastructure like Computer Laboratory, Department Library, and Learning Resources and strengthen with more Teaching and Non-teaching Staff. It was only in 2010, two more Lecturers joined the Department and as on date it has full strength with eight faculty members. As of now i.e, 2017, the Department is equipped with 8 faculties (Professor-4 and Asst. Professor-4), 1- Technical Assistant. The other staffs of the Dept. include 1- LDC, and 1- Peon.

Source: https://www.mzu.edu.in/index.php/academics/2013-09-19-20-59-55/lib-science