Re-engineering Public Library services for the networked

community in the Indian context

Parameswarn N.Vimal Kumar V.

Asian School of Business Technopark

Thiruvananthapuram

Redefining The Role Of Public Libraries In India :The Knowledge Society Imperatives,

 6 - 8 August 2008,Thiruvananthapuram, India

An overview of Indian Public library scenario

• Public library development is state responsibility

• 15 states passed library legislation• Majority of public libraries located in

rural areas. • Poor resource allocation• Little emphasis on the adoption of

ICT• Lacking the service of professionals

Relevance

• Center of cultural life

• Support the development of reading skills

• Free access of reading materials

• Community meeting place

• Supports community groups and activities

Real role of public libraries

Social Mission Free access

Center of education

Information and continuing education for

-working groups

-neo literates,

-working groups

-physically handicapped

Public libraries in changing context

Changing life style of community members

Globalization

Television, telephone, Cable TV

Influence of Internet-One Stop Shop for

communication

information and entertainment

Influence of Internet on the community

• Best place for knowledge sharing-Podcasting-Blogs-Wiki

• Free and quality information

-Open access journals-Open courseware (IGNOU

eGyankosh)-Virtual libraries (Internet Public

Library)-Public Library of Science

• User friendly searching tools- Google Scholar- Intute- INFOMINE

Social Networking

Reengineering public library services

• Architecture

• Technology

• Planning

Library architecture

• Virtual presence in web

• Physical and virtual collections

• Delivering services through online

Technology Management

• Powerful tools

-email, Instant messaging, SMS, Podcasting

• Effective to communicate with large groups• Utilize latest technological developments• Adopt cost effective technology• Use technology to stay local

Successful planning

• Continuous learning from users -user survey, user information studies

-sharing trends.

• Forecasting the community needs-environmental scans

• Planning services for academic, business and culture

Public libraries in community economic development

• Work with community business projects• Promote and explain business collection and services• Make use Internet for marketing local business• Invite groups and committees to hold their meetings in

the library.

Benefits to Public Libraries From Economic Development Activities

•Greater visibility among business community

•Expansion of services to non-traditional users

•Increase of donations in the forms of money and equipment

•Libraries contribute to growth of their towns.

Conclusion

• Library leaders must encourage change• New technologies are cost effective• Technology change the nature and delivery of

library service• Internet is not a replacement for the public

library• Public libraries still have social mission• Technology enable public libraries to live their

mission.

Thank You