The public library system in India: challenges and opportunities

2005 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 180-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maitrayee Ghosh
2017 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-105
Author(s):  
Lisbeth Worsøe-Schmidt

The aim is to investigate how digitisation and in particular e-books have changed relations between private players and public institutions within the Danish book world through a case study of eReolen, a private-public partnership functioning as common platform for public libraries’ lending of e-books in Denmark. Traditional and new models of the book world are discussed as the basis of understanding relations between the players. A new way of analysing the field outlined by literary sociologist, Professor Johan Svedjedal, is adopted. The main conclusions are that the lending of e-books has disrupted the traditional understanding and interaction between the public library system and the commercial book market. In addition, the Danish library system through the partnership has taken on a new function in relation to the commercial market, namely acting as the engine in building a market for Danish e-books.


IFLA Journal ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Șerbănuță

For almost half a century Romania was under a totalitarian regime. In times of severe censorship and information control the communist regime promoted public libraries. This paper will present the main phases of the public library system development and discuss how the state’s emphasis on providing large collections of books influenced library services. As part of an oral history project, this paper will use memories of people who worked in public libraries of various sizes in the 1970s and the 1980s, archival documents and secondary sources to contribute to a more nuanced discussion about the recent history of Romanian public libraries. What were the phases of the development of the national library system and how important was the library collection for the institutional survival of the public library? The paper will also discuss the collection development policy and contrast it with the impoverished professional development within the library system.


Author(s):  
Jarmo Saarti ◽  
Pirjo Tuomi

From civic educator to a market place - the institutional definitions of the public libraries’ tasks and its development during the Finnish independence The development of the Finnish public library system can be divided into four phases. During the first two, the Swedish reign and the period of the Autonomy, the library was mainly for the upper classes and for the academic use. The trend to strengthen the library as a key actor in the educational system of the newborn independent Finland meant that the public library became an institution. This started to break down from the 1990’s onward with the implementation of the new public management techniques and with the integration of the library system as one of the key players in the information society development. The paper discusses the role of the Finnish library system in the system of the fictional literature and analyses the changes that have happened during the Finnish history. Keywords: public libraries, policies, institutional role, public role


1997 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 4-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anja Lollesgaard

Art libraries in Denmark mostly fall into one of two categories: art departments’ in public libraries, and research libraries attached to colleges, universities, and museums. Librarians in research libraries are in many cases scholars in their own right, while library staff at the Kunstakademiets Bibliotek are responsible for the Bibliografi over dansk kunst (sadly not published since 1981) and for Danish contributions to the BHA. The Royal Library and some art libraries hold collections of visual resources and of archival materials; in addition, there is an autonomous national archive of Danish artists, Weilbachs arkiv. An art librarians’ section of Bibliotekarforbundet (the Union of Danish Librarians), Kunstfaggruppen, was initiated by art librarians in public libraries, but is open to other art librarians too; Danish art librarians also work together within ARLIS/Norden. Professional training in Denmark is largely confined to general librarianship; art librarians in public libraries tend to be trained librarians with a personal enthusiasm for art, whereas librarians in research libraries are in some cases graduates but are not necessarily trained librarians. While the public library system took advantage of standardization, automation, and networking, the research libraries could not so readily embrace change, but two recent initiatives are beginning to bring libraries of all kinds together — DanBib, the Danish online union catalogue, formed in 1995 by merging the two separate databases for public and research libraries which both originated in the 1980s, and Kulturnet Danmark, a government-sponsored scheme involving the Internet.


2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-248
Author(s):  
Josie Barnes Parker ◽  
María-Dolores Marín-Jiménez ◽  
José-Pablo Gallo-León ◽  
José-Antonio Gómez-Hernández

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (8) ◽  
pp. 26-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheshagiri Kulkarni ◽  
M. Dhanamjaya

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study globally successful public library systems with reference to their infrastructure, physical space, services, collection, processes, finances and best practices and recommend models, structure and minimum standards for smart public libraries of the upcoming 100 smart cities of India. Design/methodology/approach An email with 14 questions was sent to 50 public library system across the world. A sample of n = 18 responses were received. Findings The finding suggests that all the libraries have a central library and a good network of branch libraries across respective cities with adequate staff and collection to cater to the needs of the public. The size of the central library varied from 8,000 m2 (Cologne Public Library) – 86,000 m2 (Boston public library) and average size of the branch library varied from 200 m2 (Aarhaus) – 1,582 m2 (Barcelona). Monthly average users varied from 96,000 (Moscow) – 1.5 million (Toronto). Social implications The Indian public library system remains uneven throughout the country with varying levels of legislation, financing and quality of library services. Even a room with few books is considered as a library. The results of this study will help develop a quality public library system of global standard and ensure that libraries are transformed into knowledge hubs. Originality/value This study is a unique exploration in which different types of libraries are defined in terms of physical space, service, staff, collection based on a global model which ensures uniform growth and development of public library systems in upcoming smart cities of India.


Nature ◽  
1928 ◽  
Vol 122 (3062) ◽  
pp. 39-39
Author(s):  
S. C. B.

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