Role of Librarians and Information Scientists in Plagiarism Control A Study of NIRF Ranked Engineering Institutions Ranked in 2020

Abstract

The study was conducted to ascertain the role played by librarians and information scientists in controlling plagiarism in NIRF ranked engineering institutions ranked in 2020. With the application of knowledge of various types of resources and technological tools, librarians and information scientists play vital roles in making the awareness and fighting the disease of plagiarism. The students, research scholars and more importantly the faculty should be aware of plagiarism and its detrimental effects on their practices on their study & research and future career as well. The major objective of this study was to recognise the role played by librarians and information scientists in curbing plagiarism. Keeping this in view, a few research questions were framed. The study surveyed 200 NIRF ranked engineering institutions ranked in 2020 where engineering programs are being conducted. The researchers of this study found that majority of the librarians and information scientists (81.82 %) think that awareness about plagiarism is quite important while 89.92 per cent of them also ascertained that their institutions have plagiarism policy, and most of the institutions are using Turnitin and/or Urkund Anti-Plagiarism detection tool as well. The Librarians and Information Scientists make their users aware about plagiarism by promulgating the information through various activities through the library portals/websites as well as social media services. It was found that total 68.18 per cent respondents believe that ‘Orientation Programs and training’ is quite significant methods to make them aware about regulations against plagiarism and can discourage such intellectual theft and infringement. The study also reveals that the librarians should frequently conduct meetings with Head of Department, Faculty members and educators to discuss the issue and also deliver lectures to the faculty members, researchers as well as students.