Re: [LIS-Forum] On rural and small public libraries

Dear Sir/Madam, Very interesting post. Public libraries should be strengthened and improved further. The work that has been done by Ms Uma Mahadevan Dasgupta after Panchayat libraries were taken over by Rural Development & Panchayat Raj Department from the Department of Public Libraries in Karnataka is highly remarkable. Most of the Panchayat libraries in Karnataka have completely transformed under her guidance. Now, Panchayat Libraries are well-equipped with latest technologies and very good print resources. It has become a go-to place for children, young and elders as well. Some libraries are treat to watch from outside. They have well painted and walls designed with folk paintings and pictures in many libraries.  One of the biggest failure of our LIS program in India was systematic neglect for public libraries in their curricula and research. Most of the LIS schools have not taken public libraries very seriously, and discussion on this very important public space is very scanty. Many times it was RRRLF or some other NGOs that have organized conferences or other scholarly meetings. One of the significant work that has come recently on public libraries was produced by Indian Institute for Human Settlement (IIHS) titled “A policy review for public libraries” authored by Pradip Balaji, and others. Though this paper has come from LIS professionals, LIS schools have not done much work on public libraries post 2000. It is time for LIS schools to consider public libraries seriously and do some interesting work which will help in reviving the public library systems in India.    I had an opportunity to write a small piece on public libraries in Karnataka on the occasion of world Copyright Day 2022 for a Kannada tabloid called Nanugauri.com. Some of the library images that had used in this piece were taken from Ms Uma Mahadevan Dasgupta’s twitter handle. Interested can access the piece in the following link: https://naanugauri.com/world-book-public-libraries-must-expand-their-service... ------------------------- With best wishes Vasantha Raju N.Mysore On Monday, 5 June, 2023 at 10:22:45 am IST, Subbiah Arunachalam wrote: Friends, These three not-so-recent booklets may be of interest to those of you who want to promote the culture of public libraries, esp. small and rural public libraries.* These may also be of interest to State Library Associations (e.g. KALA), State Directorates of Public Libraries, and public and school librarians. [* There are some pockets of excellence in India, e.g. the many rural and school libraries in different parts of Karnataka. Ms Uma Mahadevan Dasgupta, a civil servant (currently Addl Chief Secretary), hass played a key role in transforming not only the school and rural libraries of the state but also the lives of tens of thousands of children. You can learn about her work by following her on Twitter.] 1.  Guidelines For Rural/Urban Public Library Systems (3rd edition), Administrators of Rural and Urban Public Libraries of Ontario (ARUPLO), 2017. 2. Vavrek, Bernard,  *Rural and Small Libraries: Providers for Lifelong Learning*. Sponsored by the National Inst. on Postsecondary Education, Libraries, and Lifelong Learning (ED/OERI), Washington, DC. 1995. 34 pages. NOTE : One of eight commissioned papers presented at the conference "Public Libraries and Community-Based Education: Making the Connection for Life- Long Learning." 3.  *The State of Small and Rural Libraries in the United States* By Deanne W. Swan, Justin Grimes, and Timothy Owens.  Research Brief No. 5, September 2013.  Institute of Museum and Library Services, 1800 M Street NW, 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20036. www.imls.gov Best wishes. Arun http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4398-4658 http://www.researcherid.com/rid/B-9925-2009 -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.