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School Libraries in India: Present-day Scenario

Prof. Preeti Mahajan, (2010)

"Conclusion A library is a storehouse of information and a key to the knowledge, but the era of information technology revolution has relegated the librarians especially in schools to the background. The audiovisual media specially the Internet has lured the budding readers away from the printed works like the Pied Piper. There is a great need for the upliftment of school libraries in India. If the reading habits of the students have to be changed, the conditions of the school libraries have to be improved. For this purpose, the central as well as the state government, the school authorities, the school librarian and the teachers will all have to work together. Firstly, the government of India must ensure that the school library has a well-stocked active collection managed by a qualified librarian. For this purpose, a school library legislation should be passed as soon as possible Secondly, the positive attitude of the school principal is very important. He should clearly lay down policies regarding the school library services including its goals, priorities and services as well as its relation to the school curriculum. In fact, CBSE has recently brought out a book entitled „Organizing school libraries – Guidelines'. It provides useful information for the school principals to upgrade their school libraries and make them more functional. They should organise their school libraries according to the guidelines provided. The school librarians in India must play a positive role of being the information providers. Librarians must assist the teachers and students to search out their information needs, critically evaluate the materials and use technological means to synthesize their findings into new knowledge . Hence, they must become proficient in the use of the new technologies themselves first to promote them and instruct students and teachers in their use. They must expand their traditional service environment to that of computer-based data and sophisticated information-seeking strategies. He must analyze their learning and information needs, to locate and use resources and to communicate the same to their users. They must develop policies, practices, and curricula required by the students for information literacy. As such, they have to work closely with the teachers in planning and implementing learning programs that will equip students with the skills necessary to succeed in a constantly changing social and economic environment. They can also make use of the resources that are available on the Internet including „Resources for School Librarians' ( http://ww.sldirectory.com ) that indicates resources on learning and teaching, information access, program administration, technology, education and employment as well as continuing education, „Advocacy toolkit' of AASL ( http://www.ifla.org/V11/s11/pub/s11_AdvocacyKit.html ) , International Children's Digital Library ( http://www.icdlbooks.org ) ,etc. The school librarian should also make a webpage of the school library highlighting the collection, OPAC and other services provided. Moreover, the school libraries in India should also become members of International Association of School Libraries and should send their details to it for inclusion of their name in the list of school libraries that is available online at http://www.iasl_slo.org/schoollibs.html The library associations at the state as well as the national level can also play a very important role in the development of school libraries in India. Indian Library Association should support international initiatives to promote school library activities and should promote the importance of school libraries through their publications. These should support research in school librarianship and undertake projects to help school libraries to effective perform the information literacy program . Such an agency should highlight the basic responsibilities of the school librarians as well as the responsibilities of the teachers and the school authorities towards the library by drafting standards keeping in mind the requirements of the present day school students. Regional workshops should also be conducted to promote best practices in the school libraries. However, in the absence of set standards, the school librarians in India can use IFLA/UNESCO school library guidelines for framing up various policies. Indian School Library Association should be established on the pattern of other such associations the world over that should bring out a directory of school libraries, hold regular conferences for interaction amongst the school librarians and must bring out a journal featuring various aspects of school libraries. Last but not the least, a network of school libraries can also be established."