Benefiting From Public Libraries

Public libraries have through time, changed and become full-blown learning centers where you get more than just a book read to kill time.

Time has brought about the need for libraries to adapt to modern trends of conveying information. These include powerful tools like CDs DVDs and Podcasts. Therefore, it is not a shocker if someone you know asked you to join a public library.

Getting people to visit a library calls for the person inviting them to also walk the talk. You can only be successful at inviting your kids to be visiting a library if you are yourself a frequent face in the library.

There are vast resources available at the library that you can use to lure your kids to be frequent visitors to the libraries. Encourage them with storybooks and movies.

Apart from learning, a library should also serve the recreation needs that visitors require. It should not be a classroom like atmosphere where you learn and leave at your pleasure. Read the rest of this entry »

Efforts Of Dr. S. R. Ranganathan For Public Library Legislation And Service- A Review

Dr. Shiyali Ramamrita Ranganathan was a visionary who realized the importance of library legislation for the promotion and development of library movement in India. He was a far-sighted person fully devoted to the cause of library and information science. He was fully aware regarding the role of libraries in the enhancement of education in any society. He understood the impact of educational advancement for the development of country and the effectiveness and utility of libraries to promote education.

In 1924, Dr. S. R. Ranganathan visited a number of public libraries during his stay in United Kingdom. These visits enabled him to study the system, functioning, funding and services of various libraries. As a consequence he was convinced that library legislation alone would provide a systematic, well-knit and efficient public library service. Since public libraries are informal agencies of education, therefore it is obligatory for a welfare state to provide, maintain and develop a network of public libraries to meet the needs of the masses. A public library being essential a peoples’ institution is to be maintained out of public funds, which have to be collected most equitably. Only the government has got the power and authority to impose and collect taxes through legal sanction, hence library legislation is essential to collect the library cess. Thus it is apparent that it is imperative for the government to enact library legislation for the establishment and smooth functioning of a network of public libraries to cater to the educational needs of the general public.

Dr. S. R. Ranganathan was the first person in India who ever thought about the need for library legislation in 1925 after returning to India from England. He drafted a ‘Model Library Act’ and presented it for discussion at the First All Asia Educational Conference, which was held in Banaras on 27-30 December 1930. The participants of the conference were fully convinced with the advantages of draft legislation and the views of Dr. S. R. Ranganathan. This ‘Model Library Act’ was published by the Madras Library Association during the year 1936. He later on amended the draft Act twice- once in 1957 and again in 1972. This Model Library Act was introduced in the shape of Bill in the Madras Assembly in 1933, through Mr. Basher Ahmed Sayeed, the member of the Assembly an enthusiast of public library system. Read the rest of this entry »

Public Library Changes Over Time

Public libraries have evolved and changed with time, these days they will give you a full learning experience where you are not just reading.

The public libraries these days provide new technology and forms of conveying information that include the use of DVDs, CDs and other computerized multimedia. This is why people will encourage you to be a member of a library.

If you want to encourage your kids to start using a library, you should lead from the frontline. Be an example and start taking your kids to the library as you learn yourself. This way they will have some impetus.

If you can convince your kid that going to a library is fun, they will have no problem accompanying you. Do this through movies books and other resources they like.

As much as libraries were in the first place meant to be learning centers, they can also be a nice place to chill out and get entertainment.

Normally you would expect the blockbuster movies and widescreen features to be in DVD rental stores only. Right now, you can also have libraries that will rent out a good selection of current movie free to its members. Read the rest of this entry »