Rebuilding libraries-- Deccan Herald's Editorial on 14 March 2014

Rebuilding libraries-

The reading habit has certainly not vanished

The Union culture ministry’s programme to rejuvenate the library network in the country is a welcome step to reintroduce the role of books and reading in people’s lives. Its project, the national mission on libraries, was launched by President Pranab Mukherjee, who described a public library as a people’s university which should be accessible to all. The mission was conceived long ago but is only now being pursed and implemented. With a budget of about Rs 450 crore it seeks to improve the library system by setting up model libraries, creating a national virtual library, undertaking surveys and monitoring of the working of libraries and creating more capacities to cater to the needs of more people. These are laudable aims at a time when libraries are becoming dysfunctional due to various reasons.

There are 64,000 public libraries in India and almost all of them are in a state of disuse and disrepair. There have been attempts in the past to revive them and committees were set up to report on ways for revival. A central autonomous foundation was also established to create a national system and give assistance to libraries all over the country. The aims included modernisation, introduction of information technology to improve services and to create a national grid of libraries. Most of these efforts did not help much and the present initiative calls for better commitment and strategies to achieve results. Many public libraries are run like government offices with all the problems of bureaucratic indifference and even corruption affecting their functioning. The present plan is to improve the working of 5,000 libraries under the leadership of the foundation.

There is a view that the reading habit has declined and the availability of books on the internet has reduced the relevance of libraries. This is wrong. The habit is still strong and only the vehicles and tools of reading have changed. Books and libraries are relevant for vast numbers of people who do not have access to modern methods of dissemination of knowledge. The mission should target those who are deprived of opportunities and reading facilities, especially in small towns and villages. It should also develop services which will benefit physically and otherwise disadvantaged sections and the elderly. New ways to attract children to libraries should also be tried. Libraries have played an important role in changing society and its attitudes.

Source: Deccan Herald, Bangalore ed. Page no 10, Edit Section, 14 March 2014

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Launch of National Mission on Libraries Today ie 03 Feb 2014 by Hon'ble Shri Pranab Mukherjee, President of India

http://www.nmlindia.nic.in/

National Virtual Library of India

New Delhi: In a move that would deliver a world class library system, public libraries across the country are to be digitized and ramped up under an ambitious plan of the government to foster reading habits, facilitate research work and make people information-fluent.
 
Under the scheme, six libraries under the Culture Ministry, 35 Central Libraries in states and 35 District Libraries will be developed as model libraries, with emphasis on economically backward districts. In addition, 629 district libraries across the states would be provided network connectivity, facilitating their transformation from physical to virtual.
 
Anchored in the Culture Ministry, National Mission on Libraries (NML) will also create a National Virtual Library of India to facilitate a comprehensive database on digital resources with information generated in the country.
 
To be mounted at an expenditure of Rs 400 crore during the 12th Plan period (2012-17), NML is designed to benefit all categories of people -- students, researchers, scientists, professionals, children, artists, differently abled persons and neo- and non-literates.
 
Mr. Ravindra Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, said the objective of NML is to expand the learning capacity of the country and deliver a world class library system that provides information in a timely, efficient and convenient manner.
 
“Making information more accessible is now paramount in the library sector. Our libraries may be filled with books, but in the digital age, they need to provide access to information that is available online. Digital libraries provide speedy access to information and they also bridge barriers of time and space,” he added.
 
Approved by the government in November last year, NML was set up in pursuance of a report of the Sam Pitroda-headed National Knowledge Commission, which recommended an overhaul of the Library and Information Service sector.
 
Kolkata-based Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation (RRRLF) has been designated the nodal agency for the implementation of NML, a 10-member body headed by Prof. Deepak Pental, former Vice Chancellor of Delhi University.
 
“It is an exciting mission. Libraries continue to remain relevant in our lives. The challenge is not only to have large quantities of materials and resources, but to also make them available to people and empower them,” said Dr K K Banerjee, Director General, RRRLF.
 
NML intends to create a baseline data of libraries in India through a quantitative and qualitative survey of 5,000 libraries to collect detailed information on quality characteristics and performance indicators in terms of their traditional role as readership promoters and information providers. It would also be assessed whether these libraries meet the requirement of their patrons in the Internet era.
 
For setting up of the model libraries, existing libraries would be identified in consultation with the state governments to improve infrastructure and upgrade technology used by them. Efforts would be made to locate them along with educational institutions.
 
Further, a census is to be carried out on the resources available in the libraries. A study on the reading habits in different regions of the country and amongst the rural and urban communities has also been planned.
 
While the survey of libraries would be completed within one year, the other objectives of the scheme would be achieved by the end of the 12th Plan period.
“The content on NVL should be available to anyone who has access to the Internet. In new content generation, children’s needs should be given priority. Content will also be generated on skill development and matters concerning regional and local interest,” Dr Banerjee said, adding: “There is also need to create a ‘youth space’ in libraries – informal and comfortable with ICT facility.”
 
Under the constitution, “Library” is a State subject. Among the 16 states which have legislated on the subject so far, only eight have a reasonably good public library system.
“A major focus area of NML will be to improve the library system services and infrastructure of the states, which are lagging behind. The government is determined to make public libraries vibrant institutions and transform them into empowering and inclusive institutions,” said Mr. V. Srinivas, Joint Secretary, Culture Ministry.
 
Observing that the advent of digital technology and Internet connectivity has created two sections of ‘digital haves’ and digital have-nots’, he stressed that it is no longer a matter of choice but rather a compulsion to find ways and means of bridging the gap between the two sections. “Virtual library will go a long way in filling up the gap,” he said.
NML also envisages initiating need-based training programmes for various categories of professionals working in public libraries. It would also develop managerial skills and IT competencies in existing personnel in public libraries.

Rs 1,000 crore plan to link 9,000 libraries in India

In a bid to enable readers to easily access books and information, the Centre has decided to digitally link nearly 9,000 libraries across the country under the National Mission on Libraries (NML) at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore. 

Director of DELNET (Developing Library Network) and NML member H K Kaul told this to PTI here today. 

He was speaking on the eve of the three-day 15th national convention on 'Knowledge, Library and Information Networking' beginning here tomorrow. 

Read Full Story at: http://www.thehindu.com/

पुस्तक संस्कृति महोत्सव : चर्चा के केन्द्र में नालंदा और यहां पुस्तकालयों का इतिहास

वैचारिक प्रदूषण पर्यावरण के प्रदूषण से ज्यादा घातक

बिहारशरीफ, निज संवाददाता : रविन्द्रनाथ टैगोर के 150वीं जयंती के उपलक्ष्य में आयोजित पुस्तक संस्कृति महोत्सव में वक्ताओं ने कहा कि वैचारिक प्रदूषण पर्यावरण के प्रदूषण से अधिक घातक है। पुस्तकालय और समाज विषय पर विचार सत्र में बिहार पुस्तकालय के पुस्तकाध्यक्ष धु्रव सिंह, बनारस के युवा सन्यासी ओमाद अंक, शांति निकेतन के प्रो.सुभाष राय समेत प्रो.श्रीकांत सिंह, डा.के.नारायण, जयनंदन शर्मा एवं सुनील कुमार हिस्सा लिये। चर्चा के केन्द्र में नालंदा और यहां पुस्तकालयों का इतिहास रहा। कार्यक्रम में समाज में पुस्तक संस्कृति को बढ़ावा देने पर जोर दिया गया। वक्ताओं ने यहां तक कहा कि प्राचीन नालंदा विवि के पुस्तकालय को जलाने वाले बख्तियार खिलजी को कहीं न कहीं हमारे पूर्वजों का सहयोग रहा होगा। यह वैचारिक दोष का नतीजा रहा होगा।

चर्चा निर्माणाधीन यूनिवर्सिटी आफ नालंदा पर भी हुई। इसके स्वरूप तथा वीसी की नियुक्ति जैसे विवादित मुद्दों पर भी चर्चा से परहेज नहीं किया गया। अंतरराष्ट्रीय रंग कर्मी अरविन्द गौड़ ने कहा कि नालंदा के लोगों को जागरूक होना होगा तभी यहां की ज्ञान भूमि पर समृद्ध पुस्तकालय परंपरा वापस लौटेगी। श्री गौड़ ने पुस्तकालय एवं पुस्तक संस्कृति की पुर्नस्थापना में राष्ट्रकवि रामधारी सिंह दिनकर न्यास परिषद की भूमिका की सराहना की। उन्होने कहा कि इसी का देन है कि प्रधानमंत्री मनमोहन सिंह ने नेशनल मिशन आफ लाइब्रेरी का गठन किया। यह आजादी के बाद पुस्तकालयों की रक्षा के लिए उठायी गयी सबसे बड़ा कदम है। श्री गौड़ द्वारा निर्देशित तथा पदम भूषण सुश्री मल्लिका साराभाई द्वारा रूपांतरित नाटक अनसुनी का मंचन भी इस कार्यक्रम का महत्वपूर्ण हिस्सा रहा।

स्थानीय टाउन हाल में आयोजित इस कार्यक्रम का संचालन करते हुए न्यास के अध्यक्ष नीरज कुमार ने भी समाज तथा देश के विकास में पुस्तकों की महता पर विस्तार से प्रकाश डाला। कार्यक्रम का आयोजन भीमराव अम्बेदकर विचार के तत्वावधान में किया गया। परिषद के अध्यक्ष अमित कुमार पासवान, मिथिलेश सिंह, वीरेन्द्र प्रसाद, सुनील प्रसाद आदि ने महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभाई। मंच से घोषणा की गयी कि सरगणेश दत्त के गांव गोनावां-छतियाना में वहां के मुखिया के सहयोग से एक पुस्तकालय का निर्माण कराया जायेगा।

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