Chapter Suggestions and Conclusion. The public library is a people s university and a living force for

Transcription

1 Chapter Suggestions and Conclusion The public library is a people s university and a living force for education. It is an information center and a place where the people can make proper use of leisure. The old concept of public library has changed in the modem context. Today, public libraries conduct user surveys and studies to identify the demand. Being a dynamic institution it reaches out to the people through branches, book mobiles and deposit stations. It provides special reading materials to all sections and ages of the society and thus no segment of the society is left unserved. The public libraries hold a large stock of slides, film stripes, microfilms, gramophonic records, audio/video cassettes, microfiches, art prints and educational films'. The modem public library has penetrated deep into the societal life through socio-cultural, educational and economic activities. No cash deposit or guarantees are asked for and no subscription is charged. By inter-library lending one can have access to the entire book resources of the nation through the nearest unit. books. Another concept in public library service is its departmentalization" of Developments in the field of electronics and telecommunication have

2 95 revolutionized public library service. Book selections, book ordering, book processing, book circulation and recovery all have been computerized2. The public library in Nagaland has no doubt, still a long way to go in achieving its objectives along the modem lines. Yet the need of a good public library system is increasingly felt. To cope with the fast growing problem of literacy, to support adult education programmes, to help eradicate illiteracy, to bring political awakening amongst the people and thus involve them in the overall development of socio-economic conditions of the people, public libraries need special attention from the State government and the concerned authorities. Therefore, in the light of the above study of public libraries in Nagaland, some suggestions for improvement and development are put forward in the present chapter. 6.2 Physical Facilities The physical facilities of the library have a great deal to do with its usefulness. The modem public library is a community center for educational, recreational and cultural activities and therefore, its building needs to be a functional one so as to render efficient and convenient service to the readers.

3 96 Even a small but well planned building with necessary scope for future extension is preferable to a huge unplanned structure. Majority of the district and rural libraries in Nagaland suffer from the absence of adequate physical facilities. Some rural libraries do not even have proper reading tables or chairs. The following suggestions are put forth for their improvement so that libraries are in a position to provide better and efficient services to its readers: (1) The district libraries should have at least the following functional units namely, a general reading room which can accommodate at least 20 readers at a time, and a separate study room with a minimum accommodation for 5-6 readers, and a circulation or information counter to receive and answer queries of the clientele. Majority of the libraries in the rural areas are located in one room (the size of which varies from library to library) where all activities of the library is carried out. Provision for a separate study area for 3-5 persons would be an added feature so that readers can spent more time in the library. (2) Sufficient and comfortable furniture such as chairs and tables should be provided. Fittings and furniture should conform to some standard

4 97 specifications as far as possible. (3) Adequate provisions for lighting, heating and ventilation should be made. (4) Building maintenance: Dusting and cleaning of furniture and fittings and the building as a whole should be attended to on a regular and continuous basis. (5) Sufficient arrangement must be made in the libraries for regular cleaning and dusting of books and racks to ensure that they are always kept clean and tidy. 6.3 Staffing The staff, the books and the readers make up the fundamental trinity of a library. The success of a library largely depends upon the persons who are responsible for the effective use of a good collection of books in the hands of the reader. A library having good collections can not render best services to its readers without efficient and trained personnel. Thus for the fulfillment of desired objectives o f any library sincere and organized human effort is essential3. Presently, the whole public library system in the State has only three qualified staff with Masters Degree in Library Science. Therefore, with the view

5 98 t o i m p r o v i n g t h e l i b r a r y s y s t e m a n d s e r v i c e s, e a c h l e v e l o f l i b r a r i e s s h o u l d a t l e a s t h a v e t h e f o l l o w i n g m i n i m u m n u m b e r o f p r o f e s s i o n a l, s e m i - p r o f e s s i o n a l, c l e r i c a l a n d u n s k i l l e d s t a f f S t a t e C e n t r a l L i b r a r y M a j o r i t y o f t h e s t a f f i n t h e l i b r a r y a r e n o n - p r o f e s s i o n a l s, a n d t h e r e f o r e, t h e r e i s a n e e d f o r m o r e l i b r a r y t r a i n e d s t a f f p a r t i c u l a r l y t o c a r r y o u t t h e t e c h n i c a l a n d r o u t i n e t a s k s o f t h e l i b r a r y w h i c h a r e p r e s e n t l y b e i n g p e r f o r m e d b y t h e L i b r a r i a n, t h e D e p u t y L i b r a r i a n a n d R e f e r e n c e L i b r a r i a n, s o t h a t t h e s e c a n d e v o t e m o r e t i m e t o o t h e r m o r e p r o f e s s i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e l i b r a r y. T h e p r e s e n c e o f a P r o f e s s i o n a l A s s i s t a n t w i t h a n M. L i b. S c, a n d a S e m i - P r o f e s s i o n a l A s s i s t a n t w i t h a B. L i b. S c. d e g r e e w o u l d e n h a n c e a b e t t e r a n d m o r e e f f e c t i v e s e r v i c e i n c a t e r i n g t o t h e v a r i e d r e q u i r e m e n t s o f t h e r e a d e r s D i s t r i c t L i b r a r i e s E a c h d i s t r i c t l i b r a r y s h o u l d h a v e a t r a i n e d s t a f f i n t h e c a p a c i t y o f L i b r a r i a n w i t h a B. L i b. S c, o r a p e r s o n w i t h a t l e a s t f i v e t o e i g h t y e a r s w o r k i n g e x p e r i e n c e a s a p r o f e s s i o n a l o r s e m i - p r o f e s s i o n a l a s s i s t a n t i n a g o o d l i b r a r y, a n d h a v i n g a t l e a s t a C e r t i f i c a t e i n L i b r a r y S c i e n c e. T h e L i b r a r i a n i s t o b e a s s i s t e d b y

6 99 at least two semi trained professionals to carry out the routine tasks, and a minimum of three non-professional staff Rural Libraries A person, who is a Matriculate or 10+2, or possessing a Certificate in Library Science, can be appointed as Librarian in the rural libraries. The rural Librarian is to be assisted by at least two-three subordinate staff, depending on tire size of the library in terms of collection and services provided. The subordinate staff with a basic knowledge of library activities, would go a long way in enhancing better efficiency in the library Training Facilities In-service training facilities to library professionals should be provided and encouraged as the quality of service of a library largely depends on the activities of library personnel. The State Government must set up training schools in library management and handling of information systems and services. If such facilities are not available within the State, provisions must be made to sent the staff outside and be trained on deputation.

7 100 The personnel programme of a library aims at securing of adequate and efficient staff in order to carry out the overall objectives of library organization. The staff management policy of different types of libraries will be influenced by their nature of services but their basic guiding principles will be the same. There is an absolutely essential need for a set of guiding principles which will assist the Librarian or the personnel executive of a library in the formation of personnel policies, procedures and programmes as well as in the solution of personnel problems4. The need for trained staff in adequate numbers is the need of the hour in the public libraries of the State today. This situation is more transparent in the district and rural libraries of the State where not a single professional staff is present. This calls for urgent and necessary step to be taken on the part of the State Government if public libraries are to play their role in disseminating information to the community efficiently and effectively. It is high time that the State Central Library took up centralized classification and cataloguing, but for the dearth o f qualified staff in adequate numbers who can undertake such activities.

8 Library Board/Committee The State Central Library and the District libraries under the Department of Art and Culture are looked after by a State Library Planning Committee headed by the concerned Secretary of the Department of Art and Culture. Although the rural libraries also come under the jurisdiction of this Committee, village libraries have their own Committee s who are responsible for the activities of the respective libraries. This situation has created difficulties in streamlining library activity in the State as various libraries have tended to exist individually according to their own convenience, particularly in the village level. Library committee s at various levels should be constituted by the State Government for the purpose of advising them on matters relating to libraries as they may refer to it. The two main reasons behind setting up a library committee are firstly, it brings library administration nearer to the people and, secondly, they bring to bear on the shaping of the library policy the specific knowledge and training of those major areas of interest which are primarily concerned with the success of library movement.

9 Functions of the Library Committee The role of the library committee is that of planner, organizer, financier and evaluator. The Committee s main functions should be 1. to formulate policies and objective of the libraries; 2. to make proper selection of books and periodicals; 3. to compile and revise rules and regulations for the best use of library resources including the hours of opening, admission to the libraries, condition of loan and fines; 4. to keep watch over the implementation of library policy by the library staff; 5. to check library accounts and expenditure, prepare estimates of anticipated expenditure and apportion of the library budget; 6. to plan the overall library development programmes and activities; 7. to appoint Sub-Committee s for staff recruitment, staff welfare and financial provision, etc., for carrying out committee s business more expeditiously; 8. to act as liaison between the library and the public; and, 9. to evaluate progress and performance.

10 Computer Application in Libraries Library automation means the application of machines to perform the several routine, repetitive and clerical tasks involved in different library functions and service. It is an important factor for increasing efficiency, accuracy and speed on the work of an institution. Computers have come to play an important role in the management of libraries. are: Some of the areas in which the public libraries in the State can automate 1. Acquisition o f Publications: It comprises of book selection, ordering, receiving and follow-up for pending orders. Manual procedures are time- consuming. Through computers allocation of funds, books on specific subjects can be maintained. Pending orders can very well be pursued by computerization by which reminders can be sent automatically. 2. Circulation Systems: It comprises o f issue and return of books, issue of borrower cards, reminders to over due books, reservations, renewals and collection of overdue charges and inter-library loan accounts. Computerization will perform all the functions very well. Manual systems are time consuming and very difficult to maintain2*5.

11 Acquisition o f Periodicals: It includes (1) Ordering (2) Renewals (3) Reminders (4) List preparation (5) Back volume sets (6) Duplicate lists (7) Union list of periodicals. 4. Information Storage and Retrieval: Database creation and updating compilation of bibliographies, SDI, online searching, keyword index of standard terms, etc. 5. Online Search: On line searching offers many advantages, some of them are: - Online searching is much faster than manual search. - It covers wide range of databases through networking. - The search strategy can be conveniently changed according to the needs - Recent information can be easily identify (-ied) and shifted from the data files. The cost is comparatively less when compared to others56.

12 105 Many software packages for various applications in the field of library and information services and management are commercially available. Some of the important library packages available are: 1. CDS/ISIS: Information storage and retrieval systems for computerized management of structured databases. National distributor in India isnissat. 2. INMAGIC: Functions include cataloguing, acquisitions, circulation, serials, online catalogue retrieval. 3. MIN ISIS: Useful in creating, maintaining and searching library and information databases. Supports both text and index searches, controls indexing terms. 4. BOOK: Supports all major library functions including circulation control, cataloguing, acquisition, serials control, etc. Software is in COBOL language. 5. LIBSYS: Supports almost all activities relating to acquisition, cataloguing, circulation, serials and articles alert. LIBSYS

13 106 is the most comprehensive library software package available in India today. 6.6 Need for Effective Public Library System Funding a library, designing programs to meet community needs and creating community awareness of the library have always been difficult challenges. contexts. These challenges persist, often appearing in new and unfamiliar This awesome task can be carried out only when there is an effective and efficient public library system in the State. For a better and improved library system in Nagaland, some suggestions are put forth taking into consideration the provisions as laid down in the National Policy on Library and Information System (1985)1: 1. The most important tasks before the Government is to establish, maintain and strengthen the free public libraries in the State and enable them to work as a system. 2. The main thrust in this area should go to the rural public library. A village or a village cluster with an adequate population should have a community library which will also serve as an information center. Resources of different

14 107 agencies engaged in the work of public health, adult education, local self- government and such others may be pooled to build up this composite center. 3. The community library should also importantly cater for adult education and make audiovisual aids available to attract the illiterate villagers. 4. The district library should serve as an apex library for each district with public libraries at city, town and village levels constituting important components in the district library system. In addition to the usual services to be rendered by it, it should also provide for learning facilities and recreation for the handicapped. Wherever possible, district libraries and comparable city public libraries should provide literature in Braille. The district library and branch libraries should also arrange mobile and circulating library services within its area wherever it is necessary and feasible. Special services should be rendered to hospitals, prisons and the infirm in their homes. 5. Each public library should have a section for children and, in addition, separate libraries for children with attractive books and audiovisual supporting material should be established wherever possible. 6. The district library will take the leadership in establishing linkages between all other public libraries of the district and work towards resource-sharing within the area.

15 The key role of public libraries as chief sustaining agencies of distance education should be recognized and they should be adequately equipped with the relevant resources for this purpose. 8. All the libraries within the State should form part of a network extending from the community library of the village through intermediary levels to the district and to the State Central Library. This State network should be eventually connected with the national level. 9. The role of the State Central Library is crucial in networking and the establishment of uniform library procedures within the State. The State Central Library has to perform as the coordinating agency for public libraries in the State. 10. To bring about this development of the public libraries in the State it is vital to enact library legislation. Finances for library development should be found by the State either from general revenues or from local taxation. A public library system envisages grouping of various public library units and providing linkages among them. It will be an integrated statewide network of public libraries. It allows for free flow of bibliographic resources and services among various public library units. It is suggested that the public library units in the state from State Central Library to the village libraries need to be

16 109 linked to one another, so that it results in a hierarchical structure. The public libraries in each category function under the control of library in the next upper layer in the hierarchy Organizing Public Library Services The public library system as a social institution and as multimedia centers in the State have not been able to function for greater enlightenment of the society, and thereby, create a climate in which it can flourish. Public library services have not been able to serve the community and those people who are capable of directing their own education; to strengthen itself to use it as a powerful instrument of education; to be able to direct people to develop interest in reading; and to help adult education programme by serving the needs of the community. The rural part of the State is basically centered on agriculture. To carry knowledge and information to the vast rural mass is quite a challenging task, even if one wants to provide the basic information. Library being an informal educational center and social institution charged with the responsibility of carrying the knowledge to the doors of the needy, have not been effective and fruitful in utilizing its resources in reaching'this goal. J

17 110 Public library services should be organized in a phased programme both in the urban and rural areas through library legislation. The following methods may be adopted to introduce library services in the State: 1. To be most effective in small areas and in villages, library services need directions and guidance by linking them with social education movement and community development programmes initiated by the Government. 2. Where books are few, audiovisuals and other aids should be effectively provided and used in the library as other means of informal education. 3. Group activities in the form of orientation, library talks, library seminars, etc, as introductions to library services should be encouraged. 4. Public libraries should be made information centers and discussion on readings be encouraged. 5. Educated people in the community should participate in group meetings to extend their use of books by contact with readers of similar interests. 6. Library Associations (such as the Nagaland Library Association), should actively and vigorously campaign for development of a public library movement, and all members should take part in activities and promote library

18 Ill services by means of publicity and celebrating national library week Cooperation Among Libraries Cooperation and resource sharing between the different types of libraries namely, public, academic and special'libraries would have a positive and lasting impact in increasing efficiency and effectiveness of public library services in the State. This concept is presently non-existent. This is due to the lack of library awareness among the population. Special libraries, particularly the church libraries and religious institutions can contribute greatly in enhancing better library services. Majority of the churches in Nagaland and religious institutions have a library of its own whose services are available to the members of the particular church or institution. The collection of these libraries in addition to religious literatures, which form the majority of the collection, has literatures dealing in various fields. Public libraries should make efforts to establish inter-library relation with these libraries if they are to provide better services to its community. Due to the absence of such a system, libraries have tended to be isolated and their role as a center of information has been greatly undermined.

19 112 It is therefore desired that efforts be made in this direction to establish an effective Statewide networking system amongst the different types of libraries in the State if the libraries are to serve the people by making information easily accessible and readily available in the most effective manner. 6.9 Need for Library Legislation Library service is the responsibility of the Government, and as such it should be financed from public funds as it involve provision of adequate funds for rendering services. The State should formally and specifically recognize, first of all, its responsibility for a complete statewide library service. The State Government should at the earliest, step up the process of library legislation to an obligatory level, laying down the State s responsibility for ensuring the establishment and maintenance of the public libraries. It should be enacted by competent legislative bodies as soon as the needs and conditions of the community are studied and determined. reasons: The enactment of library law becomes necessary for the following

20 State-obligatory Library Service By means of library legislation, it is expected that the Government will be bound to provide public library service to its citizens, ensuring continued supply of adequate finance from the State which is vital for meeting initial investment for establishing library, providing services and also meeting the recurring expenditure of the library. 2. Library Network and Resource Sharing Legislation is an effective way of overcoming financial problems in networking as in the act there will be financial provision. The networking will help resource sharing. 3. Administrative Efficiency Library legislation will ensure administrative efficiency as in all public library acts provisions are there for various levels of administrative authorities. It will also ensure proper co-ordination and cooperation amongst the various library authorities.

21 Financial Support Library legislation provides for necessary financial support on a suitable and progressive basis. Moreover, the Government will be vigilant on library development. 5. Uniformity and Standardization There will be uniformity and standardization amongst the libraries regarding services, organization etc, as all the public libraries will come under one administrative set up and function as per stipulations in the Act. 6. Economic Development Through networking public libraries can link up with other types of libraries such as academic, special libraries etc, for the purpose of providing necessary information to the needy and give fill-up to production in all spheres of economic activities. This will help in increasing national wealth, and thereby standard of living. 7. Educational Boost The success of the enterprise of national reconstruction and increasing the standard of living of people ultimately rests on the quality of education. Adult education and distance education can be made successful if they are

22 planned as library oriented ones. Library legislation will help this as more qualified staff, facilities and services would become available to every library in the network. In addition to the above, legislation will also help in library planning, eliminate political dangers, ensure cultural and social progress, and provide for literate and responsive citizen. Thus broadly speaking, the law will lay down the structure o f the library system, ensure its development on an approved pattern and prevent its haphazard growth due to political and administrative changes. Libraries say something important about the communities that build them. There are many highly valued roles that libraries can fill in the 21'' century, but the most powerful will be the community information intermediary, a body that understands and has empathy with its community o f users, has deep understanding o f the information universe and its organization, and actively develops and promotes the mechanisms that link the two together. The state o f public library development in Nagaland has a very peculiar feature. A visit to the existing public libraries will show that a small fraction of the total book stock is out on loan at one time while the rest o f the collection stays on the shelves unutilized. Moreover, the practice o f charging enrolment fee

23 116 prevents persons of limited means from availing of the library facilities. A library s contribution to the quality of life is only marginal if its information services and collections are inadequate for even the most basic community needs. Good libraries well used will give a quality to our social life. But only a morally sound society can bring good libraries into existence and maintain their services for the benefit of their users. The stakes for public libraries in Nagaland are high. The success of the system may be defined not by expansion, but by survival. The public library that does service will be one that is well managed, has a clear definition of its role in society, and functions effectively in the information age. The impact that the library can have on local quality of life is apparent if a concerted effort is made by library and community planners to identify important goals supported by library activities. There are many ways to make the library an effective, visible, and direct participant in achieving community goals, for example; (1) education both formal and informal such as, adult education and retraining, out-of-classroom education cope with the problem of hard-core poverty10;

24 117 (2) identifying new forms of outreach programmes such as hospitals, businesses, nursing homes etc; (3) serving the public through serving public administration, for example, the library is in position to create or improve municipal information databases, either by directly performing various information tasks, or by serving as a consultant in systems development. Kenyon Committee of U.K.11 recorded some sixty four years ago that a public library is Center of intellectual life of the area it serves. The library of today is thus an institution of complex nature as far as its operations, objectives, management, services and sources of finance are concerned. It is concerned with the refreshment of man s spirit by the provision of books for relaxation and pleasure with assistance to the students and with provision of up to date technical, scientific and sociological information 12. The changed character of public libraries and the wide range of activities which these are performing today have made the library a social and cultural cent(er) and a cent(er) for satisfying the educational and informational needs of the society13. Library services is an essential part of a society and it is expected that both the Government and public should take the responsibility for its development in the same manner as it has responsibility for education and other

25 IIS essential social services, only than can libraries fulfill its purposes and goals and become a true community information center in the State. The library movement in Nagaland will be successful only when the State government, the professionals and the general public jointly bear their responsibilities. The Government should establish a good library network with all facilities and service points in every comer of the State. The responsibility of the professionals should be to give their maximum services to the community it serves, by following the ethics o f librarianship i.e., service before self. In addition to their normal work, the library professionals should initiate programmes for resource sharing, networking, cooperation and extension services. Ignorance o f the public is the major reason for the slow pace o f library development in Nagaland. If the public feel library services as a necessity, than it will certainly force the authorities to establish and maintain a good library system in the State. Given the library situation as it exists today in Nagaland, libraries still haw a long way to go in becoming an information and social center providing ample opportunity for the development o f correct social attitudes and unfoldment o f the personality o f the group, the nation and the society at large.

26 119 The library has an important place and function in society. It is a place where recorded knowledge must be gathered with the intention of disseminating it. A survey of the library system in Nagaland reveals that libraries have not played their role effectively to be community oriented due to various political, economic and social reasons. Libraries are closely related with community, hence the relationship between the library and the community it serves is of vital importance. In Nagaland the library movement does not seem to have struck root. Study of the relationship between the library and the community indicates that people have a general lack of interest towards this all important institution. The library likewise is also not playing its ideal role. Libraries have not been able to command respect in the society, and the library profession as such, appears to be largely unaware of, and unconcerned with the vitality of its role in molding and shaping the society. If the libraries in the State have to prove their worth as locators, organizers and disseminators of information to the right persons, at the right time, in the right form, the modem concept off information center or resource center will have to be assumed. Libraries have to realize that effective dissemination of information

27 120 depends largely on proper communication of worthwhile information, for the purpose of a library in modem society is to educate the society in the widest sense.