Central Department of Library & Information Science | Tribhuvan University

Central Department of Library and Information Science (CDLIS) is located at University Campus, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal. It operates under the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of Tribhuvan University (TU) and conducts postgraduate programs in Library and Information Science.

The department welcomes students from different academic backgrounds. Its academic work covers library management, information organization, information services, research, and the use of technology in managing and accessing information.

Key Highlights

• Established in 1995 (2052 BS) under the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Tribhuvan University.

• Located at University Campus, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal.

• Runs postgraduate programs in Library and Information Science.

• Offers the four-semester Master of Library and Information Science (MLISc.) program.

• Offers the two-semester Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in Library and Information Science.

• MLISc includes a month-long internship and compulsory research thesis.

• PGD includes a fifteen-day internship and report writing.

• Academic areas include library management, cataloguing and indexing, information retrieval, ICT, library automation, information sources and services, and research.

• Conducts research, seminars, workshops, consultancies, and professional activities in Library and Information Science.

• Headed by Assistant Professor Lila Nyaichyai, Ph.D.

History of CDLIS

The Central Department of Library and Information Science was established in 1995 (2052 BS). Its academic journey began with the Bachelor's Degree in Library Science, commonly referred to as B.Lib.Sc.

The TU Council established the Bachelor's Degree in Library Science on July 14, 1995. Classes began on November 15, 1995, with an initial intake of 22 students.

Dr. Madhusudan Karki served as the first Head of the Department. Earlier faculty members included Professor Dr. Mohan Raj Pradhan, Associate Professor Rudra Dulal, Associate Professor Bhim Dhoj Shrestha, Late Assistant Professor Nirmala Shrestha, and Late Assistant Professor Lila Dahal.

Master's-level Library and Information Science education became the next stage of the department's academic development. Tribhuvan University established the Master's Degree in Library and Information Science through a University Council decision in 1999, and the department began running the Master's course in 2002.

The Master's program later moved to the semester system, effective from February 2014.

Graduates of the department have worked in university administration, academic departments, libraries, government services, and other information-related positions. Examples associated with the department's history include professionals serving at Tribhuvan University, Tribhuvan University Central Library, government offices, academic departments, and the Parliament library.

Academic Programs

CDLIS runs Master's and Post Graduate Diploma programs in Library and Information Science at the University Campus in Kirtipur.

The MLISc curriculum is organized across four semesters with 63 credit hours. The course covers Library and Information Society, Library and Information Management, Information Control Techniques, Cataloguing and Indexing, Data Communication and Computer Network in Library Services, Information Processing and Retrieval, Information and Communication Technology, Information Sources and Services, Research Methodology, Quantitative Techniques, specialization papers, internship, and thesis work.

The PGD program follows a two-semester structure. Its academic areas include library management and administration, preservation of library materials, procurement and maintenance of books and journals, information management, library software, and information technology. The program also includes an internship and report-writing component.

Academic Focus

Library and Information Science at CDLIS covers both established library practices and the changing methods used to manage digital information.

The Master's program includes theoretical and practical study in information control, cataloguing, information retrieval, information and communication technology, library automation, information sources and services, and research.

Research is a defined part of the MLISc structure through Research Methodology, Quantitative Techniques, internship work, and a thesis.

The PGD program focuses on practical areas of library work, including the organization and processing of information, preservation of materials, library administration, information retrieval, and the use of library software and related technologies.

Internship and Research

Practical work forms part of both postgraduate programs offered by the department.

MLISc students complete a month-long internship and compulsory thesis work. The internship provides practical experience alongside academic study, while the thesis forms the research component of the Master's program.

PGD students complete a fifteen-day internship followed by report writing. This adds practical library experience to the two-semester diploma course.

Research also forms part of the department's broader academic work. Its activities include research in Library and Information Science, seminars, workshops, consultancy work, and professional activities related to the development of library and information services.

Departmental Functions and Professional Activities

CDLIS carries out academic and professional functions connected with Library and Information Science education and services. These include:

• training different categories of library and information personnel;

• supporting information services for users of different types and sizes of libraries;

• conducting research in Library and Information Science;

• providing Library and Information Science education for library and information workers;

• organizing seminars, workshops, research activities, and consultancies;

• providing professional guidance on policy and related Library and Information Science matters;

• contributing suggestions concerning library and information services;

• conducting faculty development programs;

• preparing proposals, programs, and professional advice for organizations and government offices working in information-sector development.

These activities connect the department's teaching role with research, professional practice, and wider work in the library and information sector.

Faculty

The department is headed by Assistant Professor Lila Nyaichyai, Ph.D.

Other faculty members are:

• Assistant Professor Nira Manandhar

• Assistant Professor Parbati Pandey

• Assistant Professor Sarita Gautam

Library and Information Science and Technology

Information and communication technology has changed how libraries store, organize, retrieve, and provide access to information. CDLIS addresses these areas through courses related to ICT, networking, information processing and retrieval, library automation, information sources and services, and digital library knowledge.

The academic structure also retains core areas of librarianship, including cataloguing, classification, information organization, library management, preservation, and information services.

This combination places traditional library functions and technology-based information work within the same academic discipline.

Campus Setting

CDLIS operates from the University Campus of Tribhuvan University in Kirtipur, Kathmandu. The department is located within a campus area that includes open space and a managed garden.

The Master's and Post Graduate Diploma programs are conducted from this Kirtipur location.

Contact Details

Institution: Central Department of Library and Information Science, Tribhuvan University
Location: University Campus, T.U., Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
Email: info@cdlis.tu.edu.np
Phone: +977-01-4331316
Website: cdlis.tu.edu.np