Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Libraries need to be modernized' that was published in Newsband

Libraries need to be modernized

The spread of e-books are endangering the future of libraries in India. Recently, the government came up with the National Mission on Libraries and the enhanced allocation of Rs 400 crore in the Twelfth Five-Year Plan to strengthen the library movement. This is a welcome initiative and its ambitious objectives could help rediscover the importance of libraries.

Our libraries need to be modernized. Information technology needs to be introduced to improve services and interlink libraries. There is a need to find ways to improve our libraries

Today we find that there is a lack of interest among the people to read books and journals. One of the significant section in our society those who prefer to read are students; in the present time, like the education packages their parents buy for them, the institution where they study is providing them with a capsule formed study material and a laptop. They don't want to read out of their curriculum which is prescribed by their institution. In school library, students surf internet. Even student from the faculty of language and literature don't need to extend their reach to library.

In this digital era, smart phones with internet connectivity use is burgeoning, laptops are being given freely by some state governments, smart classes wave are sweeping the major cities, personal computer with internet facilities are become common household gadgets and most of the knowledge sources are in digital formats. Digital format of the books is capable of giving more insightful read with animations kind of technology. Indian libraries which are repository of paper bound books ought to digitize all of it and should augment the already existing digital content, and should disseminate it to public.

Libraries can be replaced with an 'Information centre' where other than paper books, e-books, internet surfing etc. can be added. Also there is a need to encourage the teens and the college-goers to avail these facilities. Not only in villages, but also in Metro Cities, there is a need to

establish small libraries. Libraries on a Mohalla level would be of help and can transform the society into a better lot.

Libraries are light houses of knowledge and this treasure should be preserved in the best possible manner. The National Mission envisages digitization of libraries. This is a laudable idea because it will be helpful for those who are doing research works to access distant libraries. Moreover, if such a thing happens, our public libraries will attract more from the 'generation next' who are supposed to have lost in the social network world.