UGC-NET – Paper II: Library and Information Science (Code: 59)
Exam Cycle: June 2026
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════
COURSE OVERVIEW
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Subject Name: Library and Information Science
Subject Code: 59
Conducting Body: National Testing Agency (NTA)
Paper Type: Paper-II – Library and Information Science
Total Marks: 200
Total Questions: 100 MCQs
Mode: Computer Based Test (CBT)
Duration: 3 Hours (Paper I + II combined)
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════
COMPLETE LIST OF UNITS
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Unit I: Data, Information, Knowledge and Wisdom.
Unit II: Historical Development of Libraries in India; Committees and Commissions on Libraries in India.
Unit III: Information Sources – Nature, Characteristics, Types and Formats.
Unit IV: Community Information Services.
Unit V: Universe of Knowledge – Nature and Attributes; Modes of Formation of Subjects.
Unit VI: Management – Principles, Functions and Schools of thought.
Unit VII: Computer Technology – Character Representation (ASCII, ISCII, Unicode).
Unit VIII: Library Automation – Areas, Planning, Selection of Hardware and Software, Implementation and Evaluation; Standards for Library Automation.
Unit IX: Research – Concept, Purpose, Functions, Scope and Ethics; Types of Research – Basic and Applied, Interdisciplinary and Multidisciplinary.
Unit X: Academic Library and Information System.
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════
UNIT-WISE DETAILED SYLLABUS
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Unit I: Data, Information, Knowledge and Wisdom.
Topic 1: Data, Information, Knowledge and Wisdom.
• Data
• Information
• Knowledge
• Wisdom
Topic 2: Information Life Cycle – Generation, Collection, Storage and Dissemination.
• Generation
• Collection
• Storage
• Dissemination
Topic 3: Role of Information in Planning, Management, Socio-economic, Cultural, Educational and Technological Development.
• Planning
• Management
• Socio-economic Development
• Cultural Development
• Educational Development
• Technological Development
Topic 4: Information Science – Relationship with other subjects, Information Society and Knowledge Society.
• Relationship with other subjects
• Information Society
• Knowledge Society
Topic 5: Communication – Concept, Types, Theories, Models, Channels and Barriers; Trends in Scholarly Communication.
• Concept
• Types
• Theories
• Models
• Channels
• Barriers
• Trends in Scholarly Communication
Topic 6: Information Industry – Generators, Providers and Intermediaries.
• Generators
• Providers
• Intermediaries
Topic 7: IPR and Legal Issues – Categories, Conventions, Treaties, Laws.
• Categories
• Conventions
• Treaties
• Laws
Topic 8: Plagiarism: Concept and Types.
• Concept
• Types
Topic 9: Right to Information Act (RTI); Information Technology Act.
• Right to Information Act (RTI)
• Information Technology Act
Topic 10: National Knowledge Commission; National Mission on Libraries.
• National Knowledge Commission
• National Mission on Libraries
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Unit II: Historical Development of Libraries in India; Committees and Commissions on Libraries in India.
Topic 1: Historical Development of Libraries in India; Committees and Commissions on Libraries in India.
• Historical Development of Libraries in India
• Committees and Commissions on Libraries in India
Topic 2: Types of Libraries – Academic, Public, Special and National.
• Academic
• Public
• Special
• National
Topic 3: Library Legislation and Library Acts in Indian States; The Press and Registration of Books Act; The Delivery of Books and Newspapers (Public Libraries) Act.
• Library Legislation and Library Acts in Indian States
• The Press and Registration of Books Act
• The Delivery of Books and Newspapers (Public Libraries) Act
Topic 4: Laws of Library Science.
• Laws of Library Science
Topic 5: Library and Information Science Profession – Librarianship as a Profession, Professional Skills and Competences; Professional Ethics.
• Librarianship as a Profession
• Professional Skills and Competences
• Professional Ethics
Topic 6: Professional Associations – National – ILA, IASLIC, IATLIS; International – IFLA, ALA, CILIP, ASLIB, SLA; Role of UGC, RRRLF and UNESCO in Promotion and Development of Libraries.
• ILA
• IASLIC
• IATLIS
• IFLA
• ALA
• CILIP
• ASLIB
• SLA
• Role of UGC
• Role of RRRLF
• Role of UNESCO in Promotion and Development of Libraries
Topic 7: Library and Information Science Education in India.
• Library and Information Science Education in India
Topic 8: Library Public Relations and Extension Activities.
• Library Public Relations
• Extension Activities
Topic 9: Type of Users – User Studies, User Education.
• Type of Users
• User Studies
• User Education
Topic 10: Information Literacy – Areas, Standards, Types and Models; Trends in Information Literacy.
• Areas
• Standards
• Types
• Models
• Trends in Information Literacy
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Unit III: Information Sources – Nature, Characteristics, Types and Formats.
Topic 1: Information Sources – Nature, Characteristics, Types and Formats.
• Nature
• Characteristics
• Types
• Formats
Topic 2: Sources of Information – Primary, Secondary and Tertiary; Documentary and Non-Documentary.
• Primary
• Secondary
• Tertiary
• Documentary
• Non-Documentary
Topic 3: Primary Information Sources (Print and Electronic) – Journals, Conference Proceedings, Patents, Standards, Theses & Dissertations, Trade Literature.
• Journals
• Conference Proceedings
• Patents
• Standards
• Theses & Dissertations
• Trade Literature
Topic 4: Secondary Information Sources (Print and Electronic) – Dictionaries, Encyclopedias, Bibliographies, Indexing & Abstracting, Statistical sources, Handbooks and Manuals.
• Dictionaries
• Encyclopedias
• Bibliographies
• Indexing & Abstracting
• Statistical sources
• Handbooks
• Manuals
Topic 5: Tertiary Information Sources (Print and Electronic)- Directories, Year Books, Almanacs.
• Directories
• Year Books
• Almanacs
Topic 6: Reference Sources – Bibliographical, Biographical, Educational, Language and Geographical.
• Bibliographical
• Biographical
• Educational
• Language
• Geographical
Topic 7: Electronic Information Resources – Subject Gateways, Web Portals, Bulletin Boards, Discussion Forums /Groups.
• Subject Gateways
• Web Portals
• Bulletin Boards
• Discussion Forums /Groups
Topic 8: Databases: Bibliographic, Numeric, Full text, Multimedia; Open Access Databases.
• Bibliographic
• Numeric
• Full text
• Multimedia
• Open Access Databases
Topic 9: Institutional and Human Resources.
• Institutional Resources
• Human Resources
Topic 10: Evaluation of Reference Sources and Web Resources.
• Evaluation of Reference Sources
• Evaluation of Web Resources
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Unit IV: Community Information Services.
Topic 1: Community Information Services.
• Community Information Services
Topic 2: Reference Service – Concept and Types; Referral Services.
• Concept
• Types
• Referral Services
Topic 3: Alerting Services – CAS, SDI, Inter Library Loan and Document Delivery.
• CAS
• SDI
• Inter Library Loan
• Document Delivery
Topic 4: Mobile based Library Services and Tools – Mobile OPAC, Mobile Databases, Mobile Library Website, Library Apps, Mobile Library Instructions, Augmented Reality, SMS Alerts, Geo-Location, Reference Enquiry.
• Mobile OPAC
• Mobile Databases
• Mobile Library Website
• Library Apps
• Mobile Library Instructions
• Augmented Reality
• SMS Alerts
• Geo-Location
• Reference Enquiry
Topic 5: Web 2.0 and 3.0 – Library 2.0- Concept, Characteristics, Components; Instant Messaging, RSS Feeds, Podcasts, Vodcasts, Ask a Librarian.
• Library 2.0- Concept
• Characteristics
• Components
• Instant Messaging
• RSS Feeds
• Podcasts
• Vodcasts
• Ask a Librarian
Topic 6: Collaborative Services- Social Networks, Academics Social Networks, Social Tagging, Social Bookmarking.
• Social Networks
• Academics Social Networks
• Social Tagging
• Social Bookmarking
Topic 7: Web – Scale Discovery Services.
• Web – Scale Discovery Services
Topic 8: National Information Systems and Networks: NISCAIR, DESIDOC, SENDOC, ENVIS, INFLIBNET, DELNET, NICKET, ERNET, National Knowledge Network (NKN), Biotechnology Information System Network.
• NISCAIR
• DESIDOC
• SENDOC
• ENVIS
• INFLIBNET
• DELNET
• NICKET
• ERNET
• National Knowledge Network (NKN)
• Biotechnology Information System Network
Topic 9: International Information Systems and Networks: INIS, AGRIS, INSPEC, MEDLARS, BIOSIS, ERIC, Patent Information System (PIS), Biotechnology Information System (BIS).
• INIS
• AGRIS
• INSPEC
• MEDLARS
• BIOSIS
• ERIC
• Patent Information System (PIS)
• Biotechnology Information System (BIS)
Topic 10: Library Resource Sharing and Library Consortia – National and International.
• Library Resource Sharing
• Library Consortia – National
• Library Consortia – International
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Unit V: Universe of Knowledge – Nature and Attributes; Modes of Formation of Subjects.
Topic 1: Universe of Knowledge – Nature and Attributes; Modes of Formation of Subjects.
• Nature
• Attributes
• Modes of Formation of Subjects
Topic 2: Knowledge Organisation – Classification – Theories, Cannons, and Principles; Simple Knowledge Organisation System (SKOS), Taxonomies, Folksonomy, Trends in Classification.
• Theories
• Cannons
• Principles
• Simple Knowledge Organisation System (SKOS)
• Taxonomies
• Folksonomy
• Trends in Classification
Topic 3: Mapping of Subjects in Library Classification Schemes – DDC, UDC and CC.
• DDC
• UDC
• CC
Topic 4: Knowledge Organisation: Cataloguing – Cannons and Principles; Centralized and Co-operative Catalogue; Library Cataloguing Codes: CCC and AACR – II.
• Cannons
• Principles
• Centralized Catalogue
• Co-operative Catalogue
• Library Cataloguing Codes: CCC
• Library Cataloguing Codes: AACR – II
Topic 5: Standards of Bibliographic Record Formats and Description – ISBD, MARC 21, CCF, RDA, FRBR, Bibframe.
• ISBD
• MARC 21
• CCF
• RDA
• FRBR
• Bibframe
Topic 6: Standards for Bibliographic Information Interchange & Communication – ISO 2709, Z39.50, Z39.71.
• ISO 2709
• Z39.50
• Z39.71
Topic 7: Metadata Standards: Dublin Core; MARC21, METS, MODES, EAD.
• Dublin Core
• MARC21
• METS
• MODES
• EAD
Topic 8: Indexing Systems and Techniques: Assigned – Pre-coordinate; Post-Coordinate; Derived- Title-based; Vocabulary Control.
• Assigned – Pre-coordinate
• Post-Coordinate
• Derived- Title-based
• Vocabulary Control
Topic 9: Abstracting – Types and Guidelines.
• Types
• Guidelines
Topic 10: Information Retrieval System – Features, Components, Models and Evaluation.
• Features
• Components
• Models
• Evaluation
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Unit VI: Management – Principles, Functions and Schools of thought.
Topic 1: Management – Principles, Functions and Schools of thought.
• Principles
• Functions
• Schools of thought
Topic 2: Library and Information Centers Management – Book Selection Tools and Principles; Library Acquisition, Technical Processing, Circulation, Serial Control, Maintenance and Stock Verification; Preservation and Conservation; Hazards and Control Measures of Library Materials.
• Book Selection Tools and Principles
• Library Acquisition
• Technical Processing
• Circulation
• Serial Control
• Maintenance and Stock Verification
• Preservation and Conservation
• Hazards and Control Measures of Library Materials
Topic 3: Human Resource Management – Planning, Job Analysis, Job Description, Job Evaluation, Selection, Recruitment, Motivation, Training and Development, Performance Appraisal; Staff Manual.
• Planning
• Job Analysis
• Job Description
• Job Evaluation
• Selection
• Recruitment
• Motivation
• Training and Development
• Performance Appraisal
• Staff Manual
Topic 4: Financial Management in Libraries – Sources of Finance, Resource Mobilisation, Budgeting Methods; Cost Effective and Cost Benefit Analysis, Annual Reports & Statistics; Library Authority and Committee.
• Sources of Finance
• Resource Mobilisation
• Budgeting Methods
• Cost Effective Analysis
• Cost Benefit Analysis
• Annual Reports & Statistics
• Library Authority and Committee
Topic 5: Project Management – SWOT, PEST, PERT / CPM.
• SWOT
• PEST
• PERT / CPM
Topic 6: Total Quality Management (TQM) – Concepts, Principles and Techniques, Six Sigma; Evaluation of Services of Libraries and Information Centers.
• Concepts
• Principles
• Techniques
• Six Sigma
• Evaluation of Services of Libraries and Information Centers
Topic 7: Library Building, Furniture and Equipments; Green Library Building; Information Commons; Makers Space; Security and Safety.
• Library Building
• Furniture
• Equipments
• Green Library Building
• Information Commons
• Makers Space
• Security
• Safety
Topic 8: Management Information System (MIS), MBO, Change Management, Disaster Management, Crisis Management.
• Management Information System (MIS)
• MBO
• Change Management
• Disaster Management
• Crisis Management
Topic 9: Knowledge Management – Principles, Tools, Components and Architecture.
• Principles
• Tools
• Components
• Architecture
Topic 10: Marketing of Library Products and Services – Plan, Research, Strategies, Mix, Segmentation, Pricing and Advertising; Management Consultancy.
• Plan
• Research
• Strategies
• Mix
• Segmentation
• Pricing
• Advertising
• Management Consultancy
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Unit VII: Computer Technology – Character Representation (ASCII, ISCII, Unicode).
Topic 1: Computer Technology – Character Representation (ASCII, ISCII, Unicode); Computer Hardware, Software; Storage Devices; Input and Output Devices.
• Character Representation (ASCII, ISCII, Unicode)
• Computer Hardware
• Software
• Storage Devices
• Input Devices
• Output Devices
Topic 2: Types of Software – System Software, Application Software.
• System Software
• Application Software
Topic 3: Programming Languages – Object Oriented, Procedural, High Level, Scripting; Web Languages.
• Object Oriented
• Procedural
• High Level
• Scripting
• Web Languages
Topic 4: Telecommunication – Transmission Channels, Mode, and Media, ISDN, PSDN, Multiplexing, Modulation, Standards and Protocols.
• Transmission Channels
• Mode
• Media
• ISDN
• PSDN
• Multiplexing
• Modulation
• Standards
• Protocols
Topic 5: Wireless Communication – Media, Wi-fi, Li-fi, Satellite Communication, Mobile Communication.
• Media
• Wi-fi
• Li-fi
• Satellite Communication
• Mobile Communication
Topic 6: Computer Networks – Topologies, Types of Networks – LAN, MAN, WAN.
• Topologies
• LAN
• MAN
• WAN
Topic 7: Internet – Web browsers, WWW, E-mail; Search Engines, Meta and Entity Search engines.
• Web browsers
• WWW
• E-mail
• Search Engines
• Meta Search engines
• Entity Search engines
Topic 8: Internet Protocols and Standards – HTTP, SHTP, FTP, SMTP, TCP/IP, URI, URL.
• HTTP
• SHTP
• FTP
• SMTP
• TCP/IP
• URI
• URL
Topic 9: Hypertext, Hypermedia, Multimedia, Video conferencing, Virtual Reality, Augmented Technologies.
• Hypertext
• Hypermedia
• Multimedia
• Video conferencing
• Virtual Reality
• Augmented Technologies
Topic 10: Data Security, Network Security, Firewalls, Cryptographic Techniques, Anti-virus software, Anti-spyware, Intrusion Detection System.
• Data Security
• Network Security
• Firewalls
• Cryptographic Techniques
• Anti-virus software
• Anti-spyware
• Intrusion Detection System
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Unit VIII: Library Automation – Areas, Planning, Selection of Hardware and Software, Implementation and Evaluation; Standards for Library Automation.
Topic 1: Library Automation – Areas, Planning, Selection of Hardware and Software, Implementation and Evaluation; Standards for Library Automation.
• Areas
• Planning
• Selection of Hardware and Software
• Implementation
• Evaluation
• Standards for Library Automation
Topic 2: Barcode, RFID, QR Code, Biometric, Smartcard: Features and Applications.
• Barcode
• RFID
• QR Code
• Biometric
• Smartcard
• Features
• Applications
Topic 3: Digitization – Planning, Selection of Materials, Hardware, Software, Process, Issues.
• Planning
• Selection of Materials
• Hardware
• Software
• Process
• Issues
Topic 4: Digital Library: Genesis, Characteristics, Types, Architecture; Standards, Formats and Protocols, DOI.
• Genesis
• Characteristics
• Types
• Architecture
• Standards
• Formats
• Protocols
• DOI
Topic 5: Digital Preservation – Need, Purpose, Standards, Methods, Techniques, Projects (National and International).
• Need
• Purpose
• Standards
• Methods
• Techniques
• Projects (National and International)
Topic 6: Digital Library Initiatives – National and International.
• Digital Library Initiatives – National
• Digital Library Initiatives – International
Topic 7: Institutional Repositories – Need, Purpose, Types and Tools; Institutional Repositories in India; ROAR, DOAR, SHARPA-ROMIO.
• Need
• Purpose
• Types
• Tools
• Institutional Repositories in India
• ROAR
• DOAR
• SHARPA-ROMIO
Topic 8: Content Management Systems – Architecture, Data Integration, CMS Software – Selection, Implementation and Evaluation.
• Architecture
• Data Integration
• CMS Software – Selection
• Implementation
• Evaluation
Topic 9: Application of Artificial Intelligence, Expert Systems and Robotics in Libraries; Social Mobile Analytics Cloud (SMAC); Cloud Computing.
• Application of Artificial Intelligence
• Expert Systems
• Robotics in Libraries
• Social Mobile Analytics Cloud (SMAC)
• Cloud Computing
Topic 10: Ontology – Tools (RDF, RDFS, Potege); Semantic Web, Linked Data, Big Data, Data Mining, Data Harvesting.
• Tools (RDF, RDFS, Potege)
• Semantic Web
• Linked Data
• Big Data
• Data Mining
• Data Harvesting
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Unit IX: Research – Concept, Purpose, Functions, Scope and Ethics; Types of Research – Basic and Applied, Interdisciplinary and Multidisciplinary.
Topic 1: Research – Concept, Purpose, Functions, Scope and Ethics; Types of Research – Basic and Applied, Interdisciplinary and Multidisciplinary.
• Concept
• Purpose
• Functions
• Scope
• Ethics
• Types of Research – Basic
• Applied
• Interdisciplinary
• Multidisciplinary
Topic 2: Research Methods: Historical, Descriptive, Experimental and Delphi.
• Historical
• Descriptive
• Experimental
• Delphi
Topic 3: Research Design – Selection of Research Problem, Review of Literature; Formulation of Research Problem; Hypothesis – Formulation, Types and Testing; Sampling Techniques.
• Selection of Research Problem
• Review of Literature
• Formulation of Research Problem
• Hypothesis – Formulation
• Hypothesis – Types
• Hypothesis – Testing
• Sampling Techniques
Topic 4: Methods of Data Collection: Questionnaire, Interview, Observation, Library Records, Scales and Checklist.
• Questionnaire
• Interview
• Observation
• Library Records
• Scales
• Checklist
Topic 5: Data Analysis and Interpretation – Presentation of Data; Statistical Methods/ Techniques.
• Presentation of Data
• Statistical Methods/ Techniques
Topic 6: Statistical Packages – Spreadsheet, SPSS, Bibexcel, ‘R’ Statistics.
• Spreadsheet
• SPSS
• Bibexcel
• ‘R’ Statistics
Topic 7: Research Report Writing and Citation Tools – Structure, Style, Contents, Guidelines; Style Manuals; Online Citation Tools; Reference Style Management Tools; Anti-plagiarism Tools; Evaluation of Research Report.
• Structure
• Style
• Contents
• Guidelines
• Style Manuals
• Online Citation Tools
• Reference Style Management Tools
• Anti-plagiarism Tools
• Evaluation of Research Report
Topic 8: Metric Studies in LIS – Bibliometrics, Scientometric, Webometrics, Altmetrics.
• Bibliometrics
• Scientometric
• Webometrics
• Altmetrics
Topic 9: Impact Factors – Journal, Institutional and Authors; h-Index, g-Index, i10 Index.
• Journal Impact Factors
• Institutional Impact Factors
• Authors Impact Factors
• h-Index
• g-Index
• i10 Index
Topic 10: Trends in Library and Information Science Research.
• Trends in Library and Information Science Research
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Unit X: Academic Library and Information System.
Topic 1: Academic Library and Information System.
• Academic Library and Information System
Topic 2: Public Library and Information System.
• Public Library and Information System
Topic 3: Special Library and Information System.
• Special Library and Information System
Topic 4: Health Science Library and Information System.
• Health Science Library and Information System
Topic 5: Corporate Library and Information System.
• Corporate Library and Information System
Topic 6: Agricultural Library and Information System.
• Agricultural Library and Information System
Topic 7: Engineering and Technological Library and Information System.
• Engineering and Technological Library and Information System
Topic 8: Archive, Museums and Oriental Libraries.
• Archive
• Museums
• Oriental Libraries
Topic 9: Community Information System.
• Community Information System
Topic 10: Information Services and System for Persons with Disability, Children and Women.
• Information Services and System for Persons with Disability
• Children
• Women
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════
EXAMINATION STRUCTURE
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Paper-II: Subject Specific Examination
- Total Questions: 100
- Total Marks: 200
- Question Type: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)
- Negative Marking: No
- Duration: 3 Hours (Combined with Paper I)
- Mode: Computer Based Test (CBT)
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════
SYLLABUS SUMMARY
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Total Units: 10
Total Topics: 100
Subject: Library and Information Science
Subject Code: 59
Exam Category: UGC-NET Paper-II
Source: Official NTA/UGC Syllabus
Status: “As per latest official syllabus”
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Linguistics (Code: 31)
Maithili (Code: 18)
Malayalam (Code: 22)
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════