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Do Libraries Withering Away?
One free day as I was roaming in the lanes of south ex in New Delhi, I say a beautiful library I went to inquire about this library as soon as I went inside this library, I was awestruck with its beauty, grandness, well maintained books in shelves, complete peace and serenity..I was lost for a moment before I asked the person on desk about how to get books issued from there. Suddenly, I came to know that this library was shut down due to continuous loss and also due to lack of financial support for this library to grow up and “keep up” with this dynamic environment. I was thinking that this was the death of entire intellectual property.
Here some example how actually libraries are withering away:
1. The burning of the Jaffna library: was an important event in the Sri Lankan civil war. An organized mob of Sinhalese origin went on a rampage on the nights of May 31 to June 1, 1981, burning the Jaffna Public Library. It was one of the most violent examples of ethnic biblioclasm of the 20th century. At the time of its destruction, the library was one of the biggest in Asia, containing over 97,000 books and manuscripts.
2. The Burning of Alexandria: Alexandria was founded in Egypt by Alexander the great his successor as pharaoh, ptolomyll soter, founded the museum or royal library of Alexandria in 283 BC. The museum was place of study which included lecturer area of gardens, a zoo and shrines for each of the nine muses as well as the library itself. It has been estimated that at one time library of Alexandria held over half million documents from Assyria, Greece, Persia ,Egypt, India and many other nations. Over 100 scholars lived at the museum full time to perform research, write, lecture or translate and copy documents. The library was so large it actually had not her branch or” daughter” library at the temple of Serapis.
The burning of the library of Alexandria by Preston Chesser the loss of the ancient worlds single greatest archives of knowledge the library of Alexandria has been lamented for ages. But how & why it was lost is still a mystery. The mystery exists not for lack of suspects but from an excess of them. The first person blamed for the destruction the libraries none other than Julius Ceasor himself. In 48 BC, Ceasor was pursuing pompey in to Egypt when he was suddenly cut off by an Egyptian fleet at Alexandria greatly.
3. Non compliance: 914 government: added libraries to shut down
[Express new service: Mumbai, Thursday march- 7-2013. ]
Readers who use public libraries in the state may be in for a round shock with Maharashtra government planning to shut down 914 government –aided libraries for flouting rules. The state government had recently commissioned a survey of government-aided public libraries across the state, “We found gross violations at nearly 914 libraries, which we will shut down. The violations include running the library only on paper without adequate facilities for patrons’ inspite of getting state grants,” Ministry for Higher & Technical Education Rajesh Tope said.
The state has 12500 government- founded public libraries for which the state ear marks a grant of Rs-60 crore. The state had decided to inspect the libraries last year. Public libraries are recognized & are given grant-in-aid by the directorate of libraries under the Maharashtra public libraries (recognition for grant-in-aid & building equipment grants) Rules,1970. They are grouped into 4 categories based on number of books & periodicals as well as facilities available for readers. As many 914 of them however, did not comply. The government announced that “we will save around 6-7 crore by shutting down these libraries. This money can be used to improve others,”
4. The Achievements of Automation: Considerable improvements in access to sources of scientific, technical & other information have already occurred through automation. It is reasonable to accept the MEDLARS data base of the national library of medicine. 1964 at the first such data base to be widely used in the provision of information services. It is now estimated that there are in excess of more 50,000 data bases / data banks used routinely in the provision of various types of information services, more and more of these are becoming readily accessible on-line
Here I personally observed some reasons why actually libraries are withering away??
• Nowadays users are reluctant and devote most of the time in goggling what we people call as “GOGGLING EFFECT”, before coming to the library as it may be a waste of their precious time in searching the books on the shelves in the library.
• Nowadays smart phones and GPRS enabled mobile phones replaced the so called traditional libraries as though m-libraries are on the way to provide a speedy service to users.
• Easy to access through online
• We can get information by sitting in home or on the way through internet.
• The ICT plays a vital role in our life too.. Day to day it is changing so rapidly that once we acquire one database or software, the next version is ready in the market with extra features and modules and I think we are unable to cope with this demanding technological skills
• There is no need of any membership card in online accession.
If you all have any other information related to this issue.. please share !!!
Views: 1015
Replies to This Forum
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Permalink Reply by MANIC PERUMAL on
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Sir
The reason to destroy Jaffna library is that " The Library had so many evidences which containing that Tamil people first survived in Srilanka and many tamil literature manuscripts". The Sinhala mob with military security destroyed that Library.
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Permalink Reply by Ajit P on
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Dear Mr. Manic Perumal ji,
Thank you for the addition of your comment...Ya i got this information in one of the blogs a few months back..-warm regards,
Ajit P.
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Permalink Reply by raaga on
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Dear Ajit,
Will libraries exists in the coming years is the question which we professionals might have thought or discussed among ourselves. We have quite good turn over of users in the week ends.in our library. Most of the them enter only with their laptops and charging cable. After they sign the register, the next question which I need to answer is " Mam, Where can i find the plug point?"
A day when we had no power to charge the lap tops, we had absolutely no users too. Internet and technology rules our libraries but I can strongly stress the point that "Human intellectuals can never be replaced by technology". Would like to mention the quote of Neil Gaiman, "Google finds out a million of answers, while a librarian finds you the right answer". What an inspiring quote to motivate ourselves ? The existence of libraries really lies in the hands of responsible and dedicated staff. I can say though some may disagree, "Librarians are poor in marketing their libraries". We need to promote atleast within our limits and borders. We can't find an excuse to it. Marketing and finding revenue to run the libraries will help us to sustain and serve in the future.
Burning of Jaffna library is purely political and succeeded attempt to erase the ethnic history of the tamil people and their civic rights. Libraries are the symbols of culture and intellectual asset of any nation. Burnt libraries shows the victory of powerful hands.
Why Alexandria library is burnt has been deeply discussed in the book called " The Vanished Library" by Luciano Canfora. Reviews of the book say why it is burnt includes so many mysteries in it. It is another topic to discuss.
When public libraries are shutting their doors citing reasons of budget, as a common man, everyone has the right to question the government. A contradictory decision and policy of the government i can say. At one side, Knowledge commission recommends to expand public libraries all over the nation. At another side, a state government says it has no money to run the libraries. Read some where, an investment in knowledge will pay the interest ever. The professional bodies should raise an alarm in this issue and we need to wake them up when they don't do.
Libraries are essential and won't wither away at any time. Even Lancaster who predicted "Paperless Society" proved wrong. Hope, our friends will strive hard to flourish libraries.
with regards,
Raaga
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Dear Ms. Raaga Ji,
When I completed my graduation, I wished to do Biomedical sciences in my University. I took the admission in that specified subject and at that time Biomedical Sciences was a new course introduced in our university and there were no one to tell me about this stream. The next day i went to my sisters' home as though they both were having a Masters degree in library science and were working at Indias' Best University as Associate Professor in Library Science.
She asked me, "Hey Aji, you can get admitted to Library Science rather than Bio-Medical'. I knew that she will be giving me the best advice in my career by I replied saying that Didi, although i wanted to be a MBBS doctors but i was not able to score the marks, so i thought of going for this profession and be a scientist one day and will try to bring out some very good medicines at the least cost. But I knowing it very clear that no one will be a back-up for me if i choose this medicine stream. Finally, befor joining the course,I was reading about this library profession in Wednesdays' Times Ascent newspapers and later proud to choose this wonderful profession and I was very happy when i delivered my first online and reference service to one of the District Magistrate wife who came to our section asking for some Bank Scam related articles and books. I had a chat with her and i came to know that she got this as a dissertation topic. She gave a beautiful smile and said "THANK YOU". That was my first salary and you call it "job satisfaction".
Now coming back to your views, as you said the users coming to u asking the plugin for for their laptops. We all know that this generation users' are reluctant and wanted every information instantly. Even now mobile technology is entered in library services and very soon there there will be a "MOBILE CORNER" Sn within the library, if the wanted the specified information within the IP ranges of the University/ Inst.
Thank you for your useful tips to servive us in this so called technological era where by this we are creating Union catalogues, Digitilzation and marketing skills so as to reach the desired users. The professional bodies should raise an alarm in this issue and we need to wake them up when they don't do and I will add you comment that first we have to be united then only we are going to survive today and tomorrow.-warm regards,
Ajit P.
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Permalink Reply by Abilash Achuthan on
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From an award-winning Oscar-nominated film team comes a new documentary exploring why Americans are using public libraries more than ever before and the high stakes for democracy if libraries become extinct.
Release: 2016 http://www.freeforalldocumentary.com/
http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2014/09/united-libraries-sup...
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Permalink Reply by Dhanya Sukumaran on
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Dear Professionals,
Libraries are the need of the society and right of the mankind.Libraries won't wither away at any time. Internet and related technologies can't destroy the Libraries.I hope ...People who like books and reading will fight for the existence of the Libraries .
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Dear Ms. Dhanya Sukumaran Ji,
Thank you for your boost-up comment and yes we will fight for the existence of our libraries.-warm regards,
Ajit P.
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Permalink Reply by Siddhartha Shankar Ray on
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Dear Sri Ajit, P.
I have gone through your post and sat grimed for a couple of minutes!! My young colleagues and the students and outside readers who often see me cheerful and enterprising [believe me, I always look cheerful & enterprising (courtesy: many of my very young readers!!) despite my age!!) were a bit confused in the abrupt change in my personality. They were anxious, curious and concerned too. They hesitated to approach me on the other side of the glass door of my room!! However, shortly I regained myself and came back to my normal being. Now one of my colleagues approached me and hesitantly asked me if I am alright. I replied in a somber voice, "You people seriously think of wrapping up of your belongings and try for a change of profession" the young lady went pale visibly and uttered, 'Why Sir, What Happened? .. We never...' I cut her short and replied 'Because the Libraries in the World and going to close down shortly'. Now she was relaxed and smiled and replied, 'Oh you were upset for this?' and she went away as if this was the most (un)natural thing she has heard very recently. I knew that she has gone to confide with her friends in the Library 'the most silly reason' for which I appeared to be upset!! As I started to do my usual jobs, some of the colleagues came to my room and for the next fifteen minutes, we had stormy debates on this issue. I was amazed to see that they appeared to be quite nonchalant for a presumably possible threat to their bread earning profession!! It came out from the debate that
(a) Certainly, the traditional concept and attire of the Libraries may change,
(b) Even the nomenclature too may be changed in the distant future but
(c) the concept of Libraries & their activities will stay and continue albeit with certain modifications, big or small!!
Yesterday, I attended a discussion Called National Seminar on "Knowledge - Creation, Extraction, Discovery and Delivery" convened by a leading Journal Management Company at an upcoming 5 star hotel in the city near my home where it was discussed that users find google search to be most easy method for searching for materials. They also opined that Libraries are OK but still net searching is more preferable because it is easy, convenient and time saving (meaning fast). Here you please take note of the three attributes which seems favourable over & above Libraries. They are 1. EASY; 2. CONVENIENT & 3. FAST
I presume that if the three attributes can be made applicable to the Libraries then the competition will be even.In that case the attire of the Libraries and their services and approaches to users especially need to be seriously revamped. Besides, Libraries should come up with certain specific ideas and anticipatory Tailor made aids so that users can experience 1. EASY, 2. CONVENIENT & 3. FAST consultation. This is not new though; the 4th. of the Great Five Laws of Library Science To save the Time of the Readers has adequately recommended this issue. It may appear quite bitter yet true that majority among us are rather reluctant (never-the-less, we HAD BEEN reluctant all through barring a few exceptions!!) Preparing, Maintaining users profiles and regularly Updating them with pertinent information and references are not difficult especially for libraries of research institutes but in practical sense how many of us do it regularly, even how many of the Librarians have the idea and knowledge about "Who is doing What" about the researchers of their own institutes? to know about the current phase of their research is a quite distant thought!! Amidst this environment how one can expect to sustain and amidst this environment how the Libraries are able to sustain with their due gamut? The e-materials are inevitable no doubt but a tailor- made list of pertinent references with full texts as links provide ample assistance to users. But they are seldom practiced in real life.
"Convenience" is the key factor of library operation [The Library Catalogue and Classified arrangement of books are ample evidences to beget users' convenience throughout centuries!!) with the advent of newer and newer means & aids, librarians have maintained this practice, Recordings in Clay tablets or papyrus leaves/stems replaced by handwritten manuscripts in palm leaves to papers and to computers at the present age. Strainous sheafing through voluminous abstracting/ indexing materials like Biological/Chemical Abstracts/Index Medicus of several years when replaced to a slick single CD-ROM, not only the readers' community breathed a sigh of relief, various cadres of library staff from the Library attendants to Librarians also were quite happy. Earlier it was an arduous job for the attendants to take out the fat bound volumes and carry them to consulting tables and replace them back to stacks ( and some time cleaning the dusts before carrying them to the tables!!) Similarly the persons consulting the volumes were relieved from tedious browsing of the dusty volumes.] when those materials were available in web based format, the job were more easier and convenient. searching became easy, compact and (human) error free. Users became dependent and obsessed with the web materials though at times, the web search provides significant percentage of irrelevant materials. Under such circumstances if a tailor-made list is provided to the users with links to the full text articles available for the institutes, it helps them lot. Most importantly, the dependence upon the Library increase manifold. This sustains the importance & thereby the existence of the Library.
The importance of Libraries and especially Public Libraries are well accepted in advanced countries as well. Their Libraries were subjected to automation much ahead of us; still their relevancy is intact in those countries. I have added a link to the extremely beautiful article of Eric Katz for your information. The article amply describes the important roles of Public Libraries tor enhancing Public Literacy so very important for a country like ours and it also exhibits why libraries should exist.
I apologise for being unnecessary lengthy. in replying to the post.
Sincerely,
Siddhartha S. Ray, Calcutta
http://beyondaccess.net/2014/09/08/how-public-libraries-can-support...
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Dear Siddhartha S. Ray Sir,
Thank you for the comments. Some five/six years back when i was browsing over the internet I came across a facinating title "Technology and Brains" and I enjoyed the reading of those similar articles. Later I came to know that Google Inc. has lauched "iGoogle" which we termed as "Integence Google". Though I tried this application of google for for other research works but was not happy with the role that artificial intellence placing the role, as though i was not getting the desired information with this application. I too had a few publications on this topic and was trying my best to get deep into this area. I wanted to do a project with with google on this topic but I frankly say that my IT skills are just an average in the present scenario. I wont be discussing on this topic as you are more aware.
Thanks for the comment "the concept of Libraries & their activities will stay and continue albeit with certain modifications, big or small!!". Though I feel, if you are assigned some task, you need somewhere-or-the-other a boost-up punch to move up or to copmplete that task. The weblink provided at your end is very much useful for me and for my colleagues who have gone through this post.
Sir, If the teacher is providing a valuable information and thus summarizing his life experiences in a single page then it will be called informative rather than lengthy.
Thank you once again..!-warm regards,
Ajit P.
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Permalink Reply by Babu RT on
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Sir
Central govt decides to implement National e-library system. Now itself job offer is very poor for our lib.sc field and even anyone gets the job the salary is very very poor and treated like attenders. If govt implements e-library system, colleges can manage the e library with system professionals and there is no need for library professionals.Our job will become a question mark?
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Dear Mr. Babu RT ji,
Thanks for the comment..! When I was reading you comment, I went to the flash back when Shri. Rajiv Gandhi ji (Ex-Prime Minister of India) introduced computer in the banks and oother sectors. I think I dont have to say much about it as though technology has and will be a friend of ours and depends as you programmed it for yourself.
Being a patent officer in one best research laboratories in India, I will be always busy at work and I do get complaints from my fellow friends who are there online at lislinks or gmail or facebook that i wont reply back to them. I will be having a headphone and listening to music while at work. It makes me to relax and work independently. But I personally believe that inner happiness is must to enjoy your world. Inner happiness will come if only two persons of ur life are happy. ie., At home your mother or wife and your boss at office..
I do keep a simple 2 rules for myself:
Rule No.1. Boss is Always Right.
Rule No.2. If Something goes wrong, then follow rule no. 1
Our job wont become a question mark or fullstop.. just give three dots after finishing ur task...Hope you got my point.
-warm regards,
Ajit P.
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