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| Role Of Public Libraries In Society | | | Vijay GarG | 1/18/2021 10:37:53 PM |
| (i) the imparting of knowledge and skills;
(ii) the inculcation of values; and
(iii) the imparting of vocational skills.
There is both formal and non-formal education. Formal education is the one that an individual attains by enrolling himself in an educational institution like a school or a college or a university and through constant teacher-student contacts. In non-formal education there is no such institutional base for education; you educate yourself through courses offered by distance education mode, with the help of either other methods of learning or through self-study.
Formal Education: Every institution of formal education, be it a school, a college or a university, should have a library attached to it. It should have a collection of books relevant to its courses of study. Students should be encouraged to read books and imbibe the knowledge contained in them. At the earlier stages of education like the school, this should be done to supplement classroom teaching. At later stages, particularly in colleges and universities, the focal point of learning should gradually shift from the classroom to the library. It is through the extensive reading of a variety of books bearing on a subject that a student will be able to acquire in-depth knowledge of the subject. By being able to analyze and compare different viewpoints as expounded in different books, a student will be able to develop his capacity for analytical and critical thinking. This will enable him to formulate independent viewpoints and opinions. The role of the library in fostering the intellectual development of students cannot be over-emphasized.
Apart from school, college and university libraries, the public libraries to have a responsibility to support formal education. For this purpose, the public library must stock books and other material of an academic nature suitable for students and teachers of educational institutions in its area and make the books, etc., available to them. It must be remembered in this context that a public library should serve everyone in its community and it should not ignore the requirements of teachers and students who form part of the community.
Non-Formal Education: In non-formal education where the help of the teacher is minimal, it is the library that is the main resource. Students here have, by and large, to acquire knowledge through self-study. Libraries of formal educational institutions as well as public libraries have a significant role to play in this respect: The former should throw open their facilities to students of non-formal education in such a manner that the interests of their primary clientele are not adversely affected. Universities, as the bodies that lay down academic standards and conduct examinations in the field of higher education; have a special responsibility in this regard. They should try to make their library services reach as wide a clientele as possible including students of non-formal education. One way to make this possible is to establish branch libraries of the main university library at different places within its jurisdiction and making them accessible to the entire academic community in the area including students of non-formal education.
But the main responsibility of supporting non-formal education rests with the public library system. Everyone should have access as a matter of right to the public library. A public library should try to discharge this responsibility by acquiring books and journals suited to the needs of the students of non-formal education in its area. The development of a sound public library system is an essential pre-requisite for the successful implementation of all non-formal educational programmes.
If the library needs of the students of non-formal education are not met by academic and public libraries, the result would be that the students would take to cheap guide books. The inevitable consequence of this substitute will be a steep fall in the standards of education.
Education of Illiterates: If one is an illiterate person, do you think that he/she is unable to get the benefits of education? Not at all. Literacy is only a means of education, not education -itself. It is, no doubt, the most important means, and not having it is a serious handicap. But we have today many other effective means that modern technology has brought into existence. The audio-visual media, especially the video tape, have made it possible for education to be brought to your doorstep. It is a special responsibility of the public library to work for the education of the illiterate people in its community through. such media: It should also organise learning clubs and other programmes of oral communication for educating its illiterate clientele.
In India where illiteracy is as high as 47.79 % (according to the 1991 census), this responsibility assumes great importance and vast dimensions. The public library's important role in this regard and the need to prepare it adequately to discharge its role should never be lost sight of
Education of Working Groups: The library has an educational role in another sense also. It should stock books relevant to the needs of people engaged in different vocations in its area. By reading such books they will become better informed and educated in their areas of work and will be able to increase their work efficiency. This will lead to greater productivity. The public library has to play a contributory role here also.
Education of Physically Handicapped: The establishment of educational institutions for physically handicapped persons is a special and mandatory responsibility of society and the government. Appropriate learning and teaching materials are acquired by these types of institutions, such as books and other types of learning kits for the blind, in addition to other physical facilities. Libraries attached to these institutions have the responsibility of stocking these types of library material and help these unfortunate persons use them and thus get them educated and rehabilitated in society. |
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