About National Library
The National Library is an institution of the Government of India under the Ministry of Culture. Under its programme "Young Professional Graduates from Library & Information Science as LIS Interns", it engages professional LIS graduates for one year to work in its language sections and divisions, including the Reading Room, Stack area, Acquisition division and Laboratory division.
Vacancy Details (Language-wise)
The National Library needs 25 (twenty five) LIS Interns, allotted across 23 languages. Hindi and Tamil have 2 interns each; every other language has 1. The total number of LIS interns and their language-wise allocation may be changed as and when required.
Who Can Apply
The same eligibility applies to all 23 language positions.
- Age limit: the age of the candidate must be below 35 years on the last date of application. The notice does not mention any age relaxation.
- Earlier interns: the Library does not engage the same Intern more than once. Candidates who have already completed their Internship programme at National Library shall not be considered.
- Language competence after selection: if, after final selection, an Intern is found not well competent in reading/writing the concerned language, a language board will be constituted, and on its recommendation the Library will terminate that internship with immediate effect.
Candidates should check the official notification for the full eligibility conditions of each language position.
Pay and Tenure
- The amount paid to the LIS Intern is to be treated as "Stipend": Rs 25,000/- (Rupees Twenty five thousand only) per month to each Intern.
- The stipend amount includes the medical insurance policy of the candidate. The candidate must obtain a compulsory medical insurance policy from a recognized insurance company for the period of the LIS Internship.
- The stipend will be paid within the 5th of every month.
- The internship lasts 01 (One) Year from the date of engagement of each Intern, with 40 hours per week of on-task activity.
- Five Day Week: all days except Saturday, Sundays and other public holidays followed at the National Library. Interns normally work at the Divisions posted from 9.30 am to 6:00 pm.
- There would be rotation duties on Saturdays/Sundays as well as week days (8.00 am to 8.00 pm), as per a roster prepared by the competent authority.
- 10 (ten) Casual Leaves can be availed in one year.
- Compensatory leave can be accumulated by working on Saturday, Sundays and other public holidays with prior approval; a maximum of two days in a month can be accumulated, and a maximum of five days can be availed at a time with the approval of the competent authority.
- After successful completion of one year, interns would be given a Completion Certificate with grading: Grade A+ Outstanding (85 marks and above), Grade A Excellent (75 to 84), Grade B Very Good (60 to 74), Grade C Good (50 to 59), Grade D Average (below 50 marks).
National Library Recruitment 2026 Job Description
The notice gives one list of typical areas of responsibility for all LIS Interns:
- Entry in MARC 21 format Cataloguing of books/ serials/other materials.
- Classification/Circulation system/ Preservation of materials.
- Acquisition System, DB Act System, Sorting section etc.
- Stack area/Books/Newspaper receiving section etc.
- Organization of materials and data, including Indexing and abstracting.
- Reference services/ Reading Room/ E-resource centre/ bibliographic section.
- Open Source Software in KOHA installation and entry.
- Assisting in monitoring, checking and supervising, under direction of ALIOs, the work performed by the trained manpower engaged by an outsourcing agency for retrospection data storage and technical processing of unprocessed books.
- Activities for specific groups (children and young adult reading and storytelling activities; outreach to researchers and scholars; information assistance to individuals with a disability).
- Other special sectional/divisional works as and when required.
- Attending/organizing NL regular seminar/ workshop/ exhibition etc.
- Work in every section of the National Library, including office administration/accounts, for exposure.
- Visit to other Libraries/ MoC organizations.
Work Targets
Targets start from the second month after joining, as interns first learn the processes through training at various divisions/sections. The monthly target is 300 for every language except English (400), for 11 months. The target set for one year is 3,300 per intern (4,400 for the English intern), giving 6,600 for Hindi and Tamil with two interns each and a total of 83,600 for all 25 interns.
- 75% of total working hours is to be spent reaching the target at the Internship Unit, and 25% in other sections/divisions/units as assigned by the Coordinators.
- If interns are engaged in checking and supervision of the outsourcing agency's work, their target will be increased by 150% of the fixed target.
- Target cannot be calculated when a special task is given, until the task is completed; urgent work may also be assigned by the coordinators.
Supervision and Reporting
- The Assistant Library & Information Officer (ALIO) of the concerned Language Section / Division supervises and guides each intern; the Language Division LIO also supervises.
- Interns would be trained with KOHA Open Source Software.
- Each intern maintains a daily report card in a diary, verified and counter-signed by the concerned ALIOs, and submits it every month.
- A compiled report is submitted every four months in hard copy and soft copy; the final one-year report is signed by all concerned LIOs/ALIOs and may be signed by the PLIO.
- A progress meeting of LIS Interns with all LIOs and ALIOs is held on the last Friday of every month under the chairmanship of the PLIO.
- Any shortfall of target must be duly signed by the Intern and the concerned ALIOs.
How to Apply for National Library Recruitment 2026
Applications for the LIS Internship must be submitted online through the link available on the National Library website; no hardcopy will be accepted. The notice's own "CLICK HERE FOR APPLY" link opens an online form. The notice does not print a last date for applying.
- Open the application link given on the National Library website (the notice's "CLICK HERE FOR APPLY" link).
- Apply for the position of the language you have proper knowledge of.
- Provide your e-mail address and mobile number; all intimation is given to candidates through e-mail only.
- Follow the National Library website for regular updates on the recruitment of LIS Interns.
Selection and Interview
Selection runs in this order: short-listing on merit, then an examination on LIS (MCQ), a practical exam and an interview. The Top-Scorer in each language would be selected as LIS Intern, and a panel would be drawn accordingly.
Short-listing
A Screening/Selection Committee scrutinises all applications and short-lists on merit, based on the highest percentage at Master of Library & Information Science, BLISC, Graduation, 12 Standard and 10 Standard. Short-listed candidates would be called for interview on a 1:10 basis (top 10 candidates by percentage) or any other criteria decided by the Competent Authority.
Marks Scheme
Total marks are 100: 45% weightage on Academic & Professional Qualification (Academic 15 marks, Professional 30 marks) and 55% weightage on the subjective, practical and interview stages.
Examination on LIS, Practical Exam and Interview
These stages carry 100 marks, reduced to 55%.
The notice does not mention the number of questions, the duration, negative marking or the dates of these stages.
Important Instructions
- Every LIS Intern should submit a Medical Certificate from Govt. Hospitals before joining.
- No TA/DA would be provided for joining as LIS Intern in National Library.
- Criteria relating to targets, supervision, job descriptions, certification and grading may be changed on the recommendation of an expert committee.
Important Links
