Bihar to Recruit Over 6,500 Librarians in Government High Schools After 15-Year Gap

KKN Gurugram Desk | In a long-awaited decision, the Bihar government is preparing to fill over 6,500 vacant librarian posts in government high schools across the state. The move comes after a 15-year recruitment freeze, which had left many qualified candidates waiting without employment opportunities.

The Education Department is in the final stages of preparing a new recruitment rulebook, which is expected to be approved by the State Cabinet in June 2025. Once sanctioned, the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) will be provided with the official roster to initiate the formal hiring process.

This announcement has generated widespread interest among Library and Information Science graduates, many of whom had been waiting for years—some even past the age limit—for recruitment opportunities in the public education system.

Key Highlights of the Recruitment Plan

• Total Librarian Vacancies: Over 6,500

• Recruiting Authority: Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC)

• Eligibility: Bachelor’s Degree in Library and Information Science (B.Lib.I.Sc)

• Rulebook: New recruitment guidelines under final preparation

• Cabinet Approval Expected: June 2025

• First Recruitment in 15 Years: Last hiring round held in 2010

• Proposed Exam Alignment: Recruitment may take place alongside TRE-4 teacher recruitment

New Recruitment Rules Under Preparation

According to officials from the Bihar Education Department, the recruitment process will be governed by a new set of service and eligibility rules. This policy revision is aimed at:

• Ensuring transparency in the recruitment procedure

• Aligning qualifications and service conditions with national standards

• Providing equal opportunity to qualified candidates

Once the rulebook is finalized, it will be forwarded to the State Cabinet for approval, after which the BPSC will receive the recruitment roster. The actual hiring process—including application notification, examination, and appointment—will commence shortly thereafter.

Eligibility Criteria for Librarian Posts

To apply for these librarian vacancies, candidates must fulfill the following minimum criteria:

• Academic Qualification:
  A Bachelor’s Degree in Library and Information Science (B.Lib.I.Sc) from a recognized university or institution is mandatory.

• Age Limit:
  Although the current upper age limit is presumed to be 40–45 years, candidates are demanding an extension to 50 years given the long recruitment gap.

• Domicile Requirement:
  The vacancies are expected to prioritize Bihar residents under the state reservation policy.

Why This Recruitment Matters: Addressing Long-Standing Gaps in School Infrastructure

The absence of librarians in Bihar’s high schools has been a major bottleneck in academic resource access. Despite having dedicated libraries in many institutions, the lack of trained personnel has rendered these facilities underutilized.

By recruiting over 6,500 librarians, the government aims to:

• Improve academic infrastructure across secondary schools

• Ensure organized and accessible library systems

• Promote reading culture and research among students

• Provide employment opportunities to Library Science graduates

Recruitment Timeline: What to Expect Next

TRE-4 and Librarian Recruitment May Be Merged

Sources suggest that the librarian recruitment may be conducted in conjunction with the upcoming TRE-4 (Teacher Recruitment Examination). This means that both teaching and librarian positions could be filled through a unified exam and process, which would streamline logistics and reduce redundancy.

If merged, the recruitment drive would become one of Bihar’s largest public school hiring campaigns in recent years, targeting educators and library professionals alike.

Student Voices: Frustration, Hope, and Demand for Age Relaxation

The news has been met with mixed emotions among aspirants. While many are relieved that the hiring process is finally beginning, others are frustrated by the long delay, which has rendered several qualified individuals ineligible due to age constraints.

Aspirants Speak:

• Santosh Kumar: “We’ve waited over a decade. My qualification is still valid, but now I’m past the age limit.”

• Priyanka Kumari: “The government should increase the upper age limit to 50 years. It’s unfair to disqualify us for no fault of our own.”

• Sarita Kumari: “I completed my Library Science degree in 2011 and have been waiting since then. Teachers were recruited, but librarians were ignored.”

The demand to revise the upper age limit is gaining momentum, with several student unions and advocacy groups preparing to file memoranda to the Education Department and Chief Minister.

Expert View: Library Professionals Essential for Holistic Education

Education experts argue that trained librarians play a crucial role in shaping critical thinking, reading habits, and academic research skills among students.

“Without professional librarians, school libraries are just book storage rooms. This recruitment is essential to bring academic integrity and structured knowledge access back to schools,” said a senior education consultant in Patna.

Need for Librarians in Middle Schools Too

Another concern voiced by educators and aspirants is that only high schools are being considered for librarian appointments. Experts suggest that the government should also plan for library staff in middle schools, especially in semi-urban and rural regions where students have minimal access to digital resources.

“Introducing part-time librarian roles or mobile library vans for middle schools could significantly improve early-stage literacy and curiosity,” said a librarian working in a private school in Muzaffarpur.

Digital Integration: Librarians in the Age of EdTech

In 2025, librarians are no longer just custodians of physical books. Their roles have expanded to include:

• Digital resource management

• Online database access

• Information literacy instruction

• E-book and journal curation

The new recruitment policy is expected to address these evolving roles and may include training modules in digital literacy, online research skills, and educational software.

After 15 years of policy stagnation, the Bihar government‘s decision to recruit over 6,500 librarians marks a progressive and necessary step in strengthening the state’s education system.

It also opens long-awaited job opportunities for thousands of graduates who have pursued Library and Information Science in the hope of serving in public education.

While there are concerns over age limits and reach, the overall response remains hopeful. Once the Cabinet approves the new rulebook, the process will move into high gear, with BPSC expected to take charge of a fair, transparent recruitment drive.

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