Call to revitalise public libraries echoes loud

‘Save public libraries and restore the reading habits’. This message resonated in a city hotel on Friday during the course of a two-day interactive session that was themed ‘Regional consultation on public library policy and state legislations’.

Organised jointly by the NASSCOM Foundation arm, Indian Public Library Movement (IPLM), and Union Culture Ministry nodal agency Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation (RRRLF), the session revolved around the avowed intention of ‘transforming public libraries into vibrant and inclusive knowledge spaces’.

According to Dr Shubhangi Sharma, Executive Director of IPLM, who deeply concerned over the declining patronage for public libraries, particularly in the wake of the emergence of digital technologies, likeminded people drawn from various spheres have come on a platform to work towards a single mission-revitalising the system and reviving the glory days of public libraries.

Giving fillip and bringing the readers to the libraries were the focus areas of the Movement, which has seen them tie-up with credible agencies in 25 States, as public library was a State subject.

She lamented that the importance of public libraries was getting diluted with the advent of social media. “With knowledge and information resting at the finger-tips of the digitally literate populace, the footfalls in the public libraries reduced sharply. At many places, they fell into disuse, existing as mere structures without any soul, services and, above all, users,” she stated.

IPLM was founded to resuscitate and bring their glory back as knowledge centres. Touching the right chord, RRRLF Chairman Brij Kishore Sharma stressed that public libraries could transform and usher in a knowledge-based society. “Public Libraries are people’s universities. A nation grows when knowledge grows and public libraries should contribute to the growth,” he said.

The first regional conference drew the participation of members from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry and Telangana. In Telangana, Digital Empower Foundation (DEF) is facilitating partner of IPLM working closely with the State government. IPLM also has a MoU with MS Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF).

After more similar exercises are undertaken in the north, east and western zones, a summarised list of recommendations will be prepared and submitted to the Union Ministry seeking a more vibrant national policy for public libraries.

RRRLF Director-General Arun Chakraborty pointed out that in order to cater to the online audience they proposed to establish a virtual library whereupon the user will be taken to the ‘actualities’ when it came to procuring of information.

He said that unlike the Google searches, which could also misguide, their virtual world would be effectively screened and segregated into various categories, including children, research scholars, students, senior citizens, among others.