Dept to start network connectivity in libraries
ITANAGAR, Aug 12: The public libraries department is going to start network connectivity in at least 10 public libraries across the state shortly, under the National Mission on Libraries (NML).
“Under the NML, five to 10 public libraries in the state will be given internet connectivity to benefit all categories of readers, including students, researchers, professionals and children, by providing them with speedy access to digital information service,” Public Libraries Director Jotom Borang announced to a gathering of library personnel – mostly junior librarians from districts – on the occasion of National Librarians’ Day at the state central library here on Sunday.
National Librarians’ Day is observed on 12 August every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr SR Ranganathan (1892-1972), who is considered to be the father of library science in the country.
Urging the district librarians to be sincere and better prepared to serve the patrons, the director said, “We have to make the district libraries as ‘model’ library by providing access to the huge resources of information and knowledge.”
He announced that from next year onwards, two best librarians would be selected and felicitated on National Librarians’ Day. He also said officials from the directorate would inspect the district libraries twice a year, in a bid to create a sense of competition among the librarians for the honours.
KK Pandey, librarian at the research directorate’s reference library, said the librarians would have to be innovative in this digital age.
“With the advent of new technologies, reading habits of some of our patrons have changed and, therefore, we should be innovative to stay relevant,” he said.
He suggested inter-linking the public libraries for better monitoring, and meeting the needs of techno-savvy people by giving them greater access to reliable information.
Junior librarian from Miao, UN Singh, called for promoting digital library to meet the needs of readers. He said, however, that the importance of traditional libraries has not lessened yet in the digital age.
A workshop on library management was held in the latter part of the day.
Attending the workshop as resource person, Himalayan University (Itanagar) lecturer B Lego spoke on modern library management, while junior librarian De shared his knowledge about the Melbourne Public Library service, and Public Libraries Deputy Director Yanga Rigia Ete spoke about the public library services in Arunachal Pradesh.
Earlier, the gathering paid tributes to Dr Ranganathan by lighting a lamp in front of his portrait.
In Namsai, administrative officials of the district offered floral tributes to the portrait of Dr Ranganathan and discussed his philosophy in the context of societal development leading to a knowledgeable society.
Appreciating the public library movement in the state under the leadership of Director J Borang, DC RK Sharma advised the gathering to encourage one and all to be “library-oriented.”
Sharma and ADC B Talukdar later felicitated librarians S Mukherjee and Christina Namchoom.
