Journal of Information and Knowledge (Formerly SRELS Journal of Information Management)

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An Examination of the Role of Public Libraries Addressing Social Inclusion in India


Affiliations
1 Centre for Social Inclusion and Inclusive Policy, Mysore University, Mysuru – 570006, Karnataka, India
     

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The major objectives of libraries are not just providing books. In today's world, the public library has a vital responsibility in providing services to all excluded groups in the society. This study examines the actual services provided by the public libraries to support social inclusion of different communities. This study was conducted using questionnaires in selected libraries in south Karnataka districts. This study has found lack of sufficient awareness about the role of libraries in inclusive development, and a lack of training, among the library staff towards different social inclusion aspects in the studied public libraries. Some of the social inclusion related services like employment information ; information for farmers, special services for senior citizens, training for competitive examinations, SC/ST cell, health information, awareness about community development programmes, awareness about various Govt. schemes are not being frequently provided in any of the studied libraries. Also libraries are facing shortage of fund. The Government also should provide enough autonomy and funds for such special activities.

Keywords

Community, Development, Exclusion, Inclusion, Library, Social.
User
About The Author

D. C. Nanjunda
http://www.kkhf.org
Centre for Social Inclusion and Inclusive Policy, Mysore University, Mysuru – 570006, Karnataka
India


Notifications

  • Apotiade, JK (2002). National, State, and Public Libraries. Ibadan: Distance Learning Center.

  • Fourie, PI (2007). Public Libraries Addressing Social Inclusion: How We May Think in Proceedings on World Library and Information Congress: 73rd IFLA General Conference and Council, Durban, South Africa, 19–23.

  • Harande, YI (2009). Information Services for Rural Community Development. In: Nigeria, Library Philosophy and Practice; 8(4), p. 69−78.

  • Man, TH (2007). Social Inclusion and Public Libraries: Is The Ability To Empathies An Essential Attribute aor Community Librarians to Better Serve their Ethnic Minority Users? A Case Study of Highfield Library and Its Chinese Community, Master’s Thesis, University of Sheffield, UK.

  • Catalina Escobar (2013). Social Inclusion Policy: The Role of Public Libraries in Latin American and Caribbean Development, Presented During Spark 2013: 4th Global Forum on Telecasters.

  • National Knowledge Commission (2007). Libraries, Gateways to Knowledge: A Roadmap for Revitalization. New Delhi: Government of India.

  • Bhattacharjee, R. (2002). Public Library Services in India: Systems and Deficiencies, Public Libraries Section — Country Report: India, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, Available at: http://www.Ifla.Org/VII/S8/Annual/Cr02-In.Htm.


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  • An Examination of the Role of Public Libraries Addressing Social Inclusion in India

Abstract Views: 373  |  PDF Views: 13

Authors

D. C. Nanjunda
Centre for Social Inclusion and Inclusive Policy, Mysore University, Mysuru – 570006, Karnataka, India

Abstract


The major objectives of libraries are not just providing books. In today's world, the public library has a vital responsibility in providing services to all excluded groups in the society. This study examines the actual services provided by the public libraries to support social inclusion of different communities. This study was conducted using questionnaires in selected libraries in south Karnataka districts. This study has found lack of sufficient awareness about the role of libraries in inclusive development, and a lack of training, among the library staff towards different social inclusion aspects in the studied public libraries. Some of the social inclusion related services like employment information ; information for farmers, special services for senior citizens, training for competitive examinations, SC/ST cell, health information, awareness about community development programmes, awareness about various Govt. schemes are not being frequently provided in any of the studied libraries. Also libraries are facing shortage of fund. The Government also should provide enough autonomy and funds for such special activities.

Keywords


Community, Development, Exclusion, Inclusion, Library, Social.

References