[LIS-Forum] Standard for Library for standard library

From: "subhayu dan" Date: Thu, April 16, 2015 8:22 am SUBJECT: Standard for Library for a standard library – a discussion for making of a dedicated and mandatory standard for libraries of self-financed engineering and management colleges in India. Proposition (hypothesis) Through the requirements for establishing a new library and its upbringing based on requirements and satisfaction of users and accreditation bodies, self financed engineering and management college librarians find themselves in need of a more useful, more specific and more detail set of standard for such college libraries. Why ? This need has emerged from specific problem in acquiring resources and providing services in library, problem in organizing manpower and their synchronization with resources and services, problem in considering cost effectiveness, problem in synchronization of all aspects of library with minimum standards laid down by affiliating bodies and in addition devaluation of those initiatives and measures taken by library which are not included in standards. However, fundamental problem is interlinked in nature. It’s a problem of synchronization. If librarians focus on standards and norms then cost effectiveness is dropped, if we focus on cost effectiveness then standard is violated, if standard is violated then a college cannot be established. And there is library, a vital organ which is always under scanner of affiliating bodies, which has to synchronize all three - standard, cost effectiveness and users’ need. A useful, specific and detailed standard only for library with a mix of input and output based philosophy is really needed to regulate and synchronize all those which have been mentioned just now. Presently, AICTE standard is being widely followed for mentioned purpose. All engineering colleges have to depend on and follow AICTE standard for setting up of new library and upbringing of the same. Without AICTE’s norms all self financed college libraries would have been taken different shapes and created such discrete structures that you would hardly find any similarity among them. To that extent AICTE’s norms though appreciable but present norms for libraries need a re-evaluation. In particular, AICTE’s standards and norms are specifically not for library but it’s a standard for setting up or renewal of institutes in India named ‘All India Council for Technical Education Approval Process Handbook’ in which a little portion is spared for libraries. Process Handbook covers aspects such as area, seating, software and hardware, books, journals, digital library initiative, e-books, manpower and few others of an engineering college library. Either these norms can be sharpened by addition of so many new features and so structured that it can focus all key areas and can capable of addressing fundamental issues of a college library or initiative can be taken to create a detailed, useful and specific standard only for such college libraries. A new standard specifically for libraries need to set by respective ministry of Government of India for regulating such new genre of libraries those originated from self financed technical colleges by keeping in view the technological progress, knowledge proliferation, global changes in terms of socio-economic development and demand in market. Even the assessment system of National Board of Accreditation is not capable enough to handle the intense issues of library and the resulting consequences. NBA talks only on content of the library than its birth and upbringing. The contemporary engineering and management college system in India is facing increased fluctuating enrolment, changing educational policies, and financial pressures leading to recession of budgets by the college management. On the other hand, there is a change in the arena of information. The current trends in electronic publishing, the impact of Information Technologies in providing easier and swifter access to data and information through networks. Consequently, there has been enormous variation in the growth and development of the engineering college library system of India. Under these circumstances, how well the present college libraries are prepared to meet the challenges are matter of discussion. There are considerable differences in the quality of library service offered in engineering colleges throughout the country. Hence, assessment and evaluation of these libraries by focusing on the library’s mission, infrastructure, finance, administration, services, etc., is necessary to find out how far they have succeeded in giving quality services by effectively using their resources in a given environment. Such assessments, against standards, are useful to corroborate what has been expected and to measure the real situation.

From and at this point our discussion starts

1. Is there a need of creation of new standard only for self-financed engineering and management college libraries? For example, CBSE Guidelines for their school libraries. 2. If you have faced any problem then participate and contribute. 3. When did you face the problem – during establishing new library or during its upbringing? 4. Mention those specific areas of AICTE’s Approval Process Handbook where you think need editing or changes or addition. 5. Discussion would be fruitful if you simply state the problem that you faced along with your probable solution. (All library personnel are being requested to participate in this discussion and give their valuable insights) -- Shubhau Dan Assistant Librarian (Library in Charge) Future Institute of Engineering and Management Kolkata - 700150