Dr. Sabuj Kumar ChaudhuriAssistant Professor, Dept. of Library & Information

Sc, University of CalcuttaKrishanu Guha Majumder

Research Scholar, Dept. of Commerce, University of Gour Banga(Presented in DLIS, Vidyasagar University, National Seminar on

NML on 12th &13th March 2015)

Public Library System in WB Libraries are so essential for learning and for life, -

Molly Raphael

(after being inaugurated as ALA president at the 2011 Annual Conference in New Orleans.)

Ideology Suggests Libraries are the Heart And Soul of the Society.

Practice Defies.

We Never Bothered to Create Any ambiance So that it Becomes at Least Heart if Not The Soul.

Reboot the SystemUsers has 21st

Century needs

we are ready to serve them with the

19th Century Services

We must introspect to find out the root of the

present problem

Contd…

Libraries and the Society Should Have A Reciprocal Relation in the Developmental Process of Social Change.

Libraries are Supposed To Facilitate a Platform For Acculturation and Help Us to Prepare For the Ever Changing Society.

But Unfortunately Libraries Had Been the Soft Target For Budget Curtailment and Greatly Battered by Immediate Falling in Quality Services.

Is There Any Solution To Restore The “Lost Importance” of Public Libraries?

YES !COMPREHENSIVE MAPPING

of All Public Libraries and Community Libraries and Information

Centres

MAPPING OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES in WB It’s Historic! It’s a Landmark Initiative!

In 20 Districts of WB (Almost Completed)

MISSION OF MAPPING:• Understanding Present Status of Public Libraries in WB• Requirement Analysis• Chalking out Inclusive & Sustainable Plan For Present

and Future Public Libraries in WB• Bring coordinated, integrated and planned path of

literacy, mass education and social awareness

Contd…MAPPING TOOL: A 32 Points Questionnaire forExtensive (Qualitative & Quantitative) Data CollectionQuestions fall into broad 5 Categories:

1. Demographical Questions2. Physical Infrastructure related questions3. ICT Infrastructure related questions4. Collection Development related questions5. Financial Issues related questions

This Questionnaire will help us to identify the community needs.

Contd…Identification of Community Needs lead to need based new

Genre of Public Library Services Can Give Birth of a New

Form of Public Library- Public Library 2.0

Public Library 2.0

Need based Services

Identification

of Needs

Contd…

Proper Mapping With The Right Tool Can Bring An Inclusive and Sustainable Social Change.

Need Based Library Services Can Significantly Improves Our Quality of Life.

When We Able To Build Relationship With The Society, We Actually Build Society.

Mapping & Social ChangeMapping can bring Inclusive & Sustainable Social Change

Investment For The Future

To Execute Mapping Properly In the Society It Needs A Huge Investment in terms of money, time & human resources.

Mapping Is Not One Time Approach.

Rather It Should Be Continuous Based on The Needs of The Ever-Changing Society.

Like Any Investment, Mapping Needs Justification in the Scale of Cost-benefit Analysis For Long Term Goal.

and

The Vision Is To Initiate The Process of Inclusive Social Sustainability

Silver Lining…

• Without Sustained Financial Input No Policy Can Be

Implemented.

• Present Ongoing Mapping in 20 districts of West

Bengal Indicates Clearly that Govt. of West Bengal

has Rightly Recognized the Role of Public Libraries

as a Vector of Change and Reaffirms her Faith on it.

THANK YOU