Library calling at Delhi Book Fair

The hugely popular Delhi Book Fair is back - this time, with a larger number of publishers, books as well as visitors. And the organisers, Federation of Indian Publishers (FIP) is taking the opportunity to promote the concept of ‘public libraries.’ Taking a cue from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s National Knowledge Commission, which recently came out with recommendations for encouraging such libraries, the book fair is popularising the idea of setting up and visiting ‘community libraries’ this time.

On the occasion, Sudhir Malhotra, President, FIP, explained, “For the last 60 years or so, our government has been focusing on spreading literacy. Now, the next logical step is of course from becoming a ‘literate society’ to a ‘knowledge society.’ For the same, it is important that we set up libraries in each neighbourhood. People should come, read and share knowledge in such spaces.”

“Unfortunately, the current condition of such libraries in India leaves much to be desired. Book launches and readings take place in five-star hotels while our libraries look like inactive, old and dying spaces intimidating for even avid book readers. It is this scenario which we wish to change through encouragement to all three parties - publishers, library professionals and readers.”

In the same spirit, FIP has set up an innovative ‘Library pavilion.’ The pavilion describes the benefits of a community library – providing inexpensive information to people from all strata, documenting the history of a community through artefacts, oral stories, digitised documents, monographs etc., helping ‘generate knowledge’ by teaching readers to edit Wikipedia, write blogs etc. as well as becoming a sanctuary for local arts and crafts.

Further, the pavilion traces the history of the ‘Library movement in India’ through presentations on the Raja Ram Mohan Roy Library in Kolkata, Library of the Asiatic Society in Mumbai, JRD Tata Memorial Library in Bengaluru, Rampur Raza Library in UP and many more. Apparently, JRD Tata Memorial Library is considered the best on scientific and technical information in India while Rampur Raza library is a treasure house of Indo-Islamic learning.

Seminars are also scheduled on the subject of public libraries. A panel discussion, including Padma Shri writer Dr Shyam Singh Shashi, Hindi litterateur VR Jagannathan and KP Singh, stressed on factors like children focusing on TV, mobiles and computer and ‘scoring in exams as compared to holistic learning’ leading to deceased interest 

in libraries.

On the other hand, a board comprising - the chief librarian of UNO Dr RK Sharma, president of Indian Library Association Dr Ashu Shokeen and assistant professor in DU Dr Shailendra Kumar emphasised on the need to modernise libraries, digitise them as well as provide regular training and upgradation of library professionals. Catch more on the subject at the fair in Pragati Maidan till August 31.

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