A Case Study Of District Central Library

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

Dr. B. D. Kumbar, [1] Mr. Manohar Lamani2, Mr. Anil Talawar2

Abstract

This paper discusses the public library as a community Information Centre with Special reference to District Central Library, Dharwad. It proposes a re-focusing of public libraries towards the idea of an information centre, to contribute towards community development by satisfying the information needs of citizens. This new vision of the public library as an information centre creates greater links and integration between the public library and its local community. Public libraries and community development would seem like an unlikely combination, especially in the Dharwad District in the context of services in public libraries to provide added value information; this will be of great importance in justifying the existence of the public library within its surroundings.. However, what does seem more realistic is the setting up of community information Centres in every nook and corner of the district

Keywords: Public Library, Community Information Centre, District Central Library

Introduction

Information is so essential that it has become part of every human being. All human beings have information need, either individual or collective. And it is information transfer and information revolution through which cultural change; socio-economic development of a nation is possible. Information is that basic need of life, which helps in the proper fulfillment of other needs such as food; shelter etc. for its survival and growth. Hence it can be rightly said that without information, survival and development of any community is not possible. Therefore it is the basic responsibility of any welfare government to provide information services to communities. But in India, this important task of providing Community Information Service (CIS) is performed by many governmental, non-governmental voluntary organizations in their own way. There is no single agency to collect, reorganize, store and disseminate community information in a suitable form as per the requirement of different communities. In this context, Public libraries, being the library of Community Information Centre can play an important role in providing effective Community Information Services.

Public libraries are primarily institutions of basic learning having a mission which involves in providing collection and services to meet information needs of local community. These serve as local gateway to knowledge and information and provide conditions for lifelong learning, community development and independent decision making by an individual. Majority of population in India lives in rural areas where new technologies are not within the reach of people, that is why a gap has widened between information rich and information deprived community. To reduce this gap is one of the challenging task of the public libraries in general and CIS in particular.

Public Library System

Public Library is popularly known as the people’s university. Public Library System, as the name implies, is user-friendly system as anybody can make use of this system without any discriminating on the basis of caste, creed, sex, religion, age, community and status. Dr. P.N. Kaula stated that, "Public Libraries came up as institutions for the masses, where the illiterates were educated with the aid of pictures, stories and demonstrations, lectures and readings from the epics and other literature of our country and where the newly educated were helped to widen their knowledge with the aid of selected books on various subjects and education through literacy classes was imparted to women and children also through magic lantern, puppet shows and theatre".

2.1 Public Library- Definition

Public Library has been explained differently by different experts depending upon the importance they give to its objectives. However, the most widely accepted definition of a public library was formulated by UNESCO in 1949 which was later revised in 1972 (UNESCO, 2004).

According to UNESCO Public Library manifesto, the definition of a public library is as follows:

Public Library is financed for the most part out of public funds.

It charges no fees from users and yet is open for full use by the public.

It is intended as an auxiliary educational institution providing a means of self education which is endless.

It houses educative and informative materials giving reliable information freely and without partiality.

Community Information Centre (CIC): The Concept

Community Information (CI) is the combination of two terms i.e. Community and Information. The term "Information" is used to identify many concepts; hence it is extremely difficult to define it precisely. Normally, information is a message (facts), communicated by a communicator to a receiver. It is the product of human action in mind, which may be in the form of abstract or concrete. Therefore it is the raw material that is used in knowing, making decisions, taking actions, thinking and learning. Reid defines information as "a process rather than as material. Data only becomes information by the act of imparting it."1 Information can be regarded as data, which can be transmitted between individuals, and each individual can make use of it in whatever form he/she wants. When information becomes publicly recorded, it becomes objective knowledge available to all.

Community Information (CI) is the information for the survival and growth of the community or it is that information which is required by the member of the community to make effective use of the available resources around them. In this context Kempson has rightly defined CI as "information of self-reliance and self-determination". Thus CI is that information which helps to solve their day to day problems related to survival such as health, education, housing, legal protection, sound economic development, political rights etc and also to participate in social, political, cultural, legal and economic progress of the society either individually or collectively.

The information services through which community information (CI) is provided to communities is called Community Information Centre (CIC).

3.1 Definition:

Kahn (1971) stated that the purpose of community information is to connect public users with a problem or request to the relevant organizations that can answer their questions or needs and to supply service providers with feedback from users. That is, community information is not

passive, but has an active purpose – connecting users with answers.

In terms of information content Toop and Forejt (1993) defined community information as

follows:

Information in whatever form (e.g. leaflets, posters, videos etc.), which is produced and disseminated by organizations directly concerned with people’s welfare and leisure activities. These organizations may produce information on health, benefits, culture, sport, etc., usually free of charge.

Need For the Study:

The social system is undergoing a vast change with the development of information generation and information technology, which has clearly divided the society into two groups i.e. ‘have’ and ‘have not’. The ‘have not’ group has lead to the formation of a section called ‘disadvantaged’ and the people under this group are not in a position to help themselves. In this context, there is high need for community information service to help this group of people.

Lack of access to information i.e. both public and private information is one of the major drawbacks for community development. Access to information leads to deprivation from a certain standard of life. In addition, lack of access to governmental information leads to low participation in governmental processes and programmes which hampers the developmental process of a community and nation.

In the present information age, information is considered to be a prime resource, a product and thereby a need. Hence, the problem of developing countries is not merely economic poverty but also information poverty, which should be met on a priority basis. Such kind of productive, survival and developmental information is called Community Information (CI) which is crucial for socio economic development of a community.

Objectives of the Study:

To identify the organizational Structure, availability of information resources, and users of the District Central Library, Dharwad;

To identify the quality of services being provided by the District Central Library, Dharwad;

To determine the present status of manpower / personnel working in District Central Library, Dharwad;

To identify the problems faced by the District Central Library, Dharwad in terms of resources

and

To identify the information needs of the user community, and to examine whether they are getting the right information or not.

District Central Library, Dharwad: A Profile

With the enforcement of the Karnataka state public Libraries act on 1st April 1966 and as per the notification issued by the Karnataka government and the provision made in the act, the District Central Library, Dharwad came into exist during 4th Five Year Plan (1969-1974) in 1974 with the first chief librarian J. C. Mahashetti.

The District Central Library Dharwad is an apiary of intellectual’s activities. Since its very inception it has carved a niche for itself in academic, literary and social circles of the city beautiful. The library has a regular flow of visitors representing a cross-section of the population of this region. The library has given a positive thrust to book-culture and related activities.

Organizational Structure:

Chief Librarian

Librarian

Librarian

Librarian

Assistant Librarian (05)

Library Assistant (13)

Library Attender (03)

District Central Library Network in Dharwad District

Central (Head) Office in Dharwad.

There Are Five (5) District Central Library Branches are working in different places in Dharwad District. Such as Kundgol, Kalaghatagi, Hebsoor, Annigeri and Navalgund.

There Are 127 Panchayat Libraries of District Central Library, Dharwad are serving in the rural part of the district.

Users of District Central Library:

Total Membership of the District Central Library Dharwad is 20.500 among them daily users are 5525. The following are the broad categories and their percentile:

Table-1 Membership of DCL with total members and percentage

S. No

Categories

Total Members

Percentage

1

Children’s

3075

15

2

Students

8200

40

3

Home Makers

1025

5

4

Age Old Persons

1025

5

5

Academicians

2050

10

6

Police Men

410

2

7

Medical Persons

2050

10

8

Teachers

2050

10

9

Politicians

615

3

The table-1 provides the clear picture about the membership of libraries with different categories and percentage also, students with 40%. They are main users of the public library resources in the rural areas, followed by the children, academicians, medical practioners and others.

Collection of DCL:

Collection is the base for each and every library for which District Central Library is not an exception. The sound collection is very much essential to deliver reliable information to user community. District Central Library Dharwad has the total collection of books approximately 5 lakh, around 100 Journals and Magazines and Daily News Papers. The detailed information about the collection the data is presented in Table-2

Table-2 Collection of DCL

Year

Books

Journals And Magazines

News Papers

2010-11

251459

54

6

2011-12

311546

55

8

2012-13

498965

60

9

The table-2 indicates that the growth in collection of district central library, Dharwad. During 2010-11 the collection of books were 2 and half lakh, during 2012-2013 it has been increased near to 5 lakh, through this we can come to know that the library concentrating more on procuring books than journals and magazines as well as users of the DCL also using more books than journals and magazines.

Growth in Expenditure:

District Central Library of Dharwad is directly funded by State Govt. The expenditure details of District Central Library, Dharwad is presented in table-3.

Table-3 Expenditure of DCL

Year

Expenditure On Books

Expenditure in Journals magazines and News Papers

2009-10

1,00,000

50.000

2010-2011

1,10,000

51.000

2011-2012

1,20.000

55.000

2012-2013

2,00,000

1,00,000

The data presented in table 3 shows that; the, more money has been spent for procuring of books rather than Journals/Magazines. Expenditure over books shows that users of public library are increasingly using books rather than Journals and Magazines. Table-3 provides information about the expenditure from 2009 to 2013. The data in the table also clearly indicates that the budget of District Central Library is increasing every year.

Services of District Central Library, Dharwad.

12.1 Reference Service-

District Central Library being provided Bibliographical and Documentation based services to its 20,500 users among approximately 2250 users per day. Further, it is also providing referral service to its user community

12.2 Circulation Service-

District Central Library also providing facility of books borrowing to home on the basis of membership charge. Three books can be borrowed for 15 days by a member. It is also providing facility of book reservation and renewal on telephone.

12.3 Competitive Books-

Competitive books are available for various competitive Examinations such as IAS, UGC-NET, Railways, Banks, UPSC and other Govt. Jobs etc.

12.4 Library at your door-step-

Library at your door-step facility is providing books on request to senior-citizens at their homes in Dharwad for which mobile van is used

12.5 Books on Demand-

District Central Library also providing books on demand.

12.6 Extension Services-

District Central Library of Dharwad Providing Some Extension Services Like, Book Exhibition, Debate Competition, Film Shows etc.

Providing CIS through Public Libraries in Dharwad: Problems:

As communities change, so do the information needs of the people. A resource center cannot continue to attract users without tailoring information and resources to meet the needs of the community. One of the most difficult but necessary activities in the provision of community information is the assessment of information needs. This must be done regularly, for libraries and information centers to remain relevant (Kaniki, 1994). There are a number of reasons why information needs assessments are not conducted. These include the indifference of library personnel, lack of staff and financial resources, and staff reluctance to conduct such assessments. Related and perhaps more critical is lack of knowledge of assessment techniques and the difficulty of developing simple but reliable methodologies.

The problems of providing CIS through public libraries are summarized below:

13.1 Gap between services and real information need:

One of the big problem is the providing CIS through public libraries is that there is a big gap between the services rendered and the actual requirement of the users. In all type of libraries this arises because the introduction of modern information services has tended to be based on, or derived from, traditional library services with no account being taken of the needs of the many and varied users, who are very seldom associated with the planning and operation of the services. In DCL, there is a lot of gap between services provided and information requirements.

13.2 Content of library services:

There is a gap between content of library services and the needs of users. Public libraries providing conventional services like reference, lending, open-shelf, reading room facilities, and so on. They are not providing CIS in any real sense.

13.3 Lack of understanding:

Library Personnel working in rural areas do not know what community people needs are and they have no interest to work towards user oriented services. Their understanding is related to funding or better management skills and frustration over the publics' non-use of library materials and services. As long as librarians remain book oriented, instead of information- and people-oriented, people will continue to ignore the library. Citizens may see the book as neither crucial to their survival nor important for their entertainment needs etc. Finally the personnel who are working in DCL branches and panchayat libraries neither they are not fully qualified nor trained.

13.4 Information may not reach people:

The information is not reaching the people who need it much. It has been argued that, there is a something problem with the delivery system; that is the right information may be available but it is not reaching the right people who need it.

13.5 Absence of Awareness of CIS literacy:

Community people do not have awareness of community information services. The public library users are not as familiar with the concept, like library personnel. The fault may be with the individual. The lack of motivation on the part of individuals to use information is a complicate issue. CIS literacy remains very low among people in the community and library personnel.

13.6 Insufficient library education and in-service training:

In India (Karnataka), In case of public Libraries they do not have recruited professionally fully qualified librarians as compared to developed countries. CIS is not taught in library science courses properly and this leads to a lack of proper planning to introduce community information service through public libraries.

13.7 Poor organizational structure:

The present study reveals that the organizational structure of the DCL Dharwad is not all satisfactory and non functional. Therefore, it is suggested that the state government in general and local self government in particular must give prime importance for the development of better organizational structure. Then only it is possible for the public libraries to introduce CIS In Karnataka.

13.8 Lack of reading culture:

In Karnataka most of the people living in rural areas where as in case of Dharwad district also 60 % of people living in rural areas, Initially they are facing economic problem and they do not have good quality of life moreover they are illiterate so they have no culture of reading and libraries also not attracting them towards reading in general and developing reading culture in particular.

Suggestions:

14.1 Identification of Information need:

The LIS professionals have to recognize information needs of community through careful study. Acquisition of community information from all sources and in all forms. Therefore the established rule for obtaining and organizing these materials should be changed.

14.2 Proper Planning:

A comprehensive plan for development of the public library system in Dharwad district is needed. A bottom-up approach may be adopted, giving first priority to rural public, private, and other libraries. The government may take the leading role in close consultation with library associations and the universities having LIS schools.

14.3 Acquisition of Material:

The acquisition of reading materials should be on the basis of local and translocal community need and should be accurate, extensive and up-to-date. The acquisition and organization of such materials should be a regular housekeeping process.

14.4 Primary resources:

Public Libraries should provide primary resources like journals and magazines including national and local newspapers and magazines on a variety of topics. (E.g. business, health and lifestyle, gardening, science, nature, history, etc.)

14.5 Reference and General Information Services:

All public libraries should have "reference" section, containing books and other materials which can be consulted in the library. Reference section should be included resources such as dictionaries, directories, encyclopedias, government publications, business information, yearbooks and atlases. Some reference material, in particular business related material, should be available in CD-ROM or over the Internet. And also has to provide contact details and information on the services provided by the county council or corporation and by government departments, including social welfare information, etc.

14.6 Internet Services:

Present era is the Information Technology era in which ICT is playing a vital role so every public library should have computers and internet facility, because of that now the users are expecting that type of services. In a changed environment Internet Service is very much essential in a public library.

14.7 Non-book material:

The authorities of the public libraries should give a more emphasis for the acquisition of non-book material along with print material such as CD, Cassettes, DVD’s, tape, films and E Books etc.

14.8 Maintaining Directory:

Each public library should prepare directories on different aspects of human life such as health, education, transportation, tourism, etc and on different agencies, along with their activities and contact points of their locality to meet the general community information needs of the community.

14.9 Networking:

All public libraries in a state should be well connected through a networking system to share their resources. Further the state network should have connectivity to different regional, national, and international library networking system. The public library should keep close link between other governmental and non-governmental agencies, experts of different fields to collect and share resources. It will be helpful to solve specific problems of clientele of the community.

14.10Information about the community:

A guide should be prepared and made available to public, it should contain relevant information on the city, such as restaurants, banks, hospitals, picnic spots chemists' and laundries, etc. This type of information will be helpful for many users: new residents, visitors. etc.

14.11 Career Guidelines information:

Library should provide career guidelines information which helps the unemployed or those who are looking for new job opportunities. It should provide employment news paper; they have to display the news paper clippings of job opportunities.

All the above mentioned services are certainly going to be attracted by the users provided if the authorities of the public library must take minimum interest in implementation of the above given suggestion.

Conclusion:

In defining the concept of library, Rubakin, the famous Russian biblio- psychologist and educator opined that "it is not just a shop where books are to be had; it is an advisor, a guide, a friend. It must go out to reader, bring him in rather than wait for him to come of his own accord". A public library, being the library of the community is intended to provide functions of an advice center and local information center for the whole community rather than only offering books and other reading materials to readers.

There are many agencies alternative to public libraries to provide CIS such as Community Resource Centers, Community Information Centers, and Community Libraries etc. But these alternative centers seem to be serving a particular community information need or a particular interest group. In fact, it can be said that the inherent problem lies in the services of traditional public libraries are responsible for the emergence of such centers.

Public Library is the local gateway of information knowledge where the community can locate their information needs through its various services. It promotes the people irrespective of age, race, sex, religion, nationality or language. The District Central Library, Dharwad playing a crucial role and providing remarkable services to its users and encourages them to use its library resources and services. There are few services which are not provided by Academic Library but being provided by Public Library. However encouragement from the state government should be increased this is the need of the hour. Then only the public library services can be improved in rural areas. In turn public of rural areas can make use of the resources and services and they can involve in the socio economic, political development of a state/nation.