NAAC Accreditation and Academic Libraries:Librarians’ Role Beyond Librarianship

Abstract

Assessment and Accreditation has been the instrument for quality assurance, measurement and sustenance in the Higher Education System. Performance of any educational system is measured by its Grade obtained in NAAC or NIRF or NBA and this acts as a motivating factor for student population to attract such institutions of higher learning. In an academic setup, Central Facilities especially Library and Information Centres occupy significance in obtaining better accreditation for its institute. Today Librarianship is an evolving and multi disciplinary in nature with its rich information sources both print and online sources to support learning, teaching, research and extension activities of the user community in the networked environment. Librarians now play an important role in IQAC and RUSA activities at universities and colleges, serving as Director– IQAC, NAAC Coordinator, RUSA Coordinator, and IT Coordinators. In this context, an attempt has been made to raise awareness of the vital role of librarians in the NAAC process, as well as to explore the inevitability of librarians in NAAC and the pursuit of Quality Excellence in Higher Education. Further, explores the role of librarians in allcriteria’s of the entire NAAC process and not confining to its Library component 4.2 of Criteria IV just 20 marks, but they can directly or indirectly can definitely play significant role in getting 303 marks plus out of 1000 marks in NAAC process.

Keywords: Total Quality Management,Quality Indicators, Library Performance