LIBRARY SERVICES IN HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Transcription

1 LIBRARY SERVICES IN HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

2 CHAPTER 5 LIBRARY SERVICES IN HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 5.1 Introduction: Education, especially at higher level, has been described more as a process of learning than of teaching, signifying the self-efforts to be put in by students. Higher education includes all types of studies or training or training for research at the post secondary level, provided by universities or other educational establishments that are approved as institution of higher education by the competent state authorities. The core missions of higher education to educate, to train, to undertake research and to provide services to the community must be preserved reinforced and further expanded. Higher-educational institutions include not only universities and colleges but also various professional schools that provide preparation in such fields as law, theology, medicine, business, music, and art etc. Higher education also includes teachertraining schools, junior colleges, and institutes of technology. The basic entrance requirement for most higher-educational institutions is the completion of secondary education, and the usual entrance age is about 18 years. Institution of higher education, usually comprises of liberal arts and sciences colleges, graduate and professional schools and having the authority to confer degrees in various fields of study. A university differs from a college in that it is usually larger, has a broader curriculum, and offers graduate and professional degrees in addition to undergraduate degrees.

3 University is a place where heterogeneous collection of students along with their teachers of many interest gather for intellectual pursuits. Universities are considered vehicle for acquiring new technology or attaining new knowledge or achieving perfection in various scientific fields. Not only these universities are like a mirror, which reflect fire scene but have a dual role to perform to reflect the social scene and also give the direction to the society. University is one of the higher educational institutions which provide the Post Graduate degrees as well as Research and Development works. It conducts the degree examinations of the colleges under it. Wilson and Tauber have described the functions of the university as i. Conservation of knowledge and ideas; ii. Teaching; iii. Research; iv. Publication, v. extension and service; and vi. Interpretation (Wilson and Tauber, 1976). A university stands for truth, reason, tolerance and humanism. It helps in the progress of the universe and thereby adds to the well-being of the nation and the people. The fundamental values which the university aims to achieve are related to the contemporary changing society. The task of the university is no longer confined to the two traditional functions of teaching and advancement of knowledge. The functions are assuming new dimensions and depth. In the modem world, the broad function of the university are, briefly, as follows: to pursue the truth, explore and cultivate new knowledge and interpret the old knowledge and beliefs in the light of the contemporary needs and necessities; to strive to promote equality, liberty, fraternity and justice to the people and reduce social and cultural gap in the society by disseminating knowledge and information; 136

4 t o d i f f u s e a n d f o s t e r t h e r e a l v a l u e s a n d a t t i t u d e s a m o n g s t t h e t e a c h e r s a n d s t u d e n t s n e c e s s a r y f o r a t t a i n i n g g o o d c i t i z e n s h i p, c r e a t e a h a p p y a n d a s s u r i n g l i f e f o r t h e p e o p l e, b e s i d e s d e v e l o p i n g t h e s o c i e t y ; t o i m p a r t k n o w l e d g e t o t h e s t u d e n t s ( b o y s a n d g i r l s ) i n t h e f i e l d s o f s c i e n c e, a r t s, a g r i c u l t u r e, e n g i n e e r i n g, t e c h n o l o g y, m e d i c i n e a n d v a r i o u s o t h e r s u b j e c t s a n d g i v e p r o f e s s i o n a l s a n d v o c a t i o n a l t r a i n i n g f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e n a t i o n a n d t h e p e o p l e ; a n d t o g e n e r a t e a n d p r o v i d e t h e r i g h t k i n d o f l e a d e r s h i p i n a l l w a l k s o f l i f e i n t h e s o c i e t y f o r t h e u p l i f t o f t h e s o c i e t y a n d t h e n a t i o n. I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e s e f u n c t i o n s, t h e I n d i a n u n i v e r s i t i e s h a v e s p e c i a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s i n t h e c o n t e x t o f t h e e x i s t i n g s o c i o - e c o n o m i c m i l i e u o f t h e c o u n t r y. T h e s e a r e c h i e f l y t o a ) d e v e l o p a n d a s s i s t t h e s c h o o l s a n d c o l l e g e s i n t h e i r a t t e m p t a t q u a l i t a t i v e s e l f - i m p r o v e m e n t ; b ) i m p r o v e t h e s t a n d a r d s o f t e a c h i n g w i t h a v i e w t o s h a k e o f f t h e u n w a r r a n t e d o l d m y t h s a n d f a l s e b e l i e f s a n d r e d u c e t h e m o n o t o n o u s l o a d o n c h i l d r e n i n t h e e a r l y s t a g e s o f t h e i r e d u c a t i o n a n d r e m o v e t h e u n d u e p r o m i n e n c e g i v e n t o t h e t r a d i t i o n a l p a t t e r n o f e x a m i n a t i o n s ; c ) d e v e l o p t h e w i d e - r a n g i n g p r o g r a m m e s o f a d u l t e d u c a t i o n b y e v o l v i n g a l a r g e n e t - w o r k o f p a r t - t i m e a n d c o r r e s p o n d e n c e c o u r s e s ; d ) s e r v e a s t h e c o n s c i e n c e - k e e p e r o f t h e n a t i o n b y u n f o l d i n g t h e p e r s o n a l i t y o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l a n d e n c o u r a g e t h e d i v e r s i t y, v a r i e t y a n d d i s s e n t w i t h i n t h e h e l p f u l a n d l i m i t e d c l i m a t e o f t o l e r a n c e ; e ) c r e a t e a n d d e v e l o p a f e w c e n t r e s o f h i g h e r s t u d y a n d r e s e a r c h i n t h e c o u n t r y i t s e l f, c o m p a r a b l e t o t h o s e o f w e l l - k n o w n u n i v e r s i t i e s i n o t h e r p a r t s o f t h e w o r l d t o h e l p b r i n g e x c e l l e n c e o f k n o w l e d g e w i t h i n t h e c o u n t r y ( S a h a i, ). T h e c o l l e g e s h a v e p l a y e d t h e i r r o l e i n t h e u p l i f t m e n t o f h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n

5 The big size colleges with PG Classes is another higher educational institution, which provides the bachelor degree and diplomas. In this category the college conducts bachelor degree courses as well as the post-paduate depees. Besides, it provides the 12th standard courses also which are rather part o f school education. Medium size colleges are those colleges which provide only the bachelor depee courses as well as the 12th standard courses. Newly established colleges are those colleges which provides the bachelor degree as well as the 12th standard courses but due to lack of manpower, financial assistance and buildings etc. its jurisdiction is limited. 5.2 Role Of Library In Higher Education: Library s role in education is not confined to elementary and secondary only. Rather, it is much more important in higher education. A library is an essential prerequisite for successful implementation of higher educational propams. No formal educational propam can be successful without the help and cooperation of library. The Kothari Education Commission ( ) was found very much serious about importance of library in higher educational institution stating that, nothing could be more damaging to a- powing department than to neglect its library, give to it a low priority. The library should be an important centre of attraction of college and university. The rate of social and technological change is demanding and increased emphasis on the educational role of libraries, both as complementary to formal education and as the natural home for nontraditional learning. As a neutral, non threatening environment for learning, libraries have already created an optimum condition on which learning may take place. The objectives of a library in an institution 138

6 of higher education, as set out by the Education Commission (1966) are to provide the resources necessary for research in the field of special interests to the college, to aid the teacher in keeping abreast of developments in his field, to provide library facilities and services necessary for the success o f all formal programs of instructions. Higher educational libraries are experiencing the impact of fundamental changes in the educational infrastructure. Technological, educational and social transformation effect organizational structure of the institution. Higher educational libraries need to change along with the change and development taking place in the new educational system. The purpose of higher educational libraries today is not only to support the works of scholars but simultaneously to meet the needs, demands and expectations of yesterday, today and tomorrow - of students and ensure their developments as individuals. From this stand point, a restructuring is essential for higher educational institution. 5.3 Academic Library: An academic body, be it a college, university or any institution of higher learning is rightly described as a community where scholars and teachers are the head, students are the body and library its heart. The body cannot perform its proper functions efficiently in case its heart is weak and has not developed fully. The role and image of academic library in an academic institution is advocated by the educationists, education commissions and committees of the government of India from time to time after the independence. They also suggest that the qualitative academic pursuit needs healthy organization of academic library which may transmit the nascent and modem thought for satisfying the intellectual needs and interests of academic community. An academic library organized by an academic institution, with the view of a heart, nerve centre or as 139

7 a power house may satisfy the intellectual needs and interest of academic community as well as the five laws of library science, propounded by Dr. S. R. Ranganathan ( ), the father of library and information science in our country. These are - 1. Books are for use 2. Every reader his/her book 3. Every book its reader 4. Save the time of reader and staff 5. Library is a growing organism Academic libraries are intended to develop human skill, building up of character, generate the self confidence and inculcation of values of young children at their most impressionable age providing them peaceful inviting environment, where they can devote most of their time in enquiring, conforming the facts. The quality of the tasks of teaching, taught and research work based on healthy academic library can easily be differentiated from the non-based academic tasks of an academic institutions. The Calcutta University Commission ( ) recommended that, it is right and proper that the university should provide great libraries and great laboratories of research with great scholar to direct them. It further recommended that, the university librarian ought to be functionary of great importance ranking with university professor, and having a place in the supreme academic body of the university. In this respect, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan University Education Commission ( ) observed that the library is the heart of all the university s work; directly so as regarding research work and indirectly as regards its educational works which derives its life from research. 140

8 Similar view have been expressed by Mehrotra Committee of University Grants Commission of Higher Education (1986) and it has emphasized the role of an academic library for the development of higher education. Indian higher education and academic library have developed considerably during the 1980 s and are today very different from what they were in ancient, medieval, pre-independence India. This has been made possible by the progress of higher education, the support to the libraries by the University Grants Commission and guidance of many academic librarians, including Dr. S R Ranganathan. 5,3.1 Purpose And Objective Of A n A cademic L ibrary: The purpose and objective of academic library, are very wide which provide support and contribution to education and research activities of their academic institution. These are as follows: To increase the image of an academy as a centre for excellence, especially in respect of information sources. To improve the quality of education at every level of teaching and learning. Increase the quantity of information available for students and others. Increase the value of information and help in its maximum use through support service. Increase the research output by faculty and research scholars through effective provision of information resources and the support services. Develop the role of information resources as an economic investment for obtaining funds for academy and its infrastructure. 141

9 Increase the cooperation in the use of information resources and help in the. development of networking. Increase the level of cooperation with other institution, industries, etc with respect of information resources. Increase the effective use of expenditure throughout the university in acquiring, producing and using information resources. Provide personalized database system for supporting the faculty and students. Protect and promote academy s interest with respect of external policies by developing its ability to use information resources in support of its academic responsibilities. Develop the means to assert that faculty and students have access to the technical information support needed to use information resources effectively. Develop single point access to the full range of information resources in the academy and its neighbourhoods. Establish personal policies for full range of staff concerned with information research. Process information directly to work station and resource utilization points and Project the academic s static s at a warefront development in term of information resources through educational, professional, technical and technological studies. In short, the library provides resources to encourage cultivation of curiosity, intuitive thinking, intellectual energy and live-long learning for the education community. Its main role is to provide information to teachers and learners. Academic library is a research, learning support entity in an academic environment. There are 142

10 various types of information services provided by academic library which have user to identify the topic for research, and the procedure for understanding, the knowledge already known and duly documented University Library: University library is the hub and foundation of the university s work. Now a days the university library has changed as information centre. It does great services to research scholars, administrators, teachers and students. It is an integral part of an institution of higher education. International Encyclopedia of Social Sciences defines universities as organization engaged in the advancement of knowledge; they teach, train and examine students in a variety of scholarly, scientific and professional fields. Dr. Radhakrishnan described the role of university library in the following words the library is the heart of all university s work; directly so, as regards its work, and indirectly as regards its educational works, which derives its life from research work. Thomas Carlyle has rightly stated that the true university of these days is collection of books. University is an institution where teaching and research are conducted in more than one discipline of universe of knowledge, and which has authority to award degrees, diplomas and certificates in their respective subjects. In the academic sense it is true that no effective work can be developed without a strong library as its heart. S. R. Dongerkery, emphasizing the importance of library in an academic institution in his own words, writes a well stocked and upto date library is a sine - qua - non for every modem university. It is the central workshop in the university which provides the students, the teachers, the scholars and the research workers with the tools required for the advancement as well as acquisition of knowledge. 143

11 The place of library in the university is partly academic and partly non academic. Rich collection of books attracts good faculty members, and a good faculty in turn attract good students. Thus, the reputation of a university always depends in academic collection of books and other materials. The university libraries have multi-faceted role to play. These libraries provide instructional material, recreational material, research material and textbooks, etc. and they also help in the university s extension and publication program. Emphasis is given to research in the area of thrust. Reference material is available in plenty for consultation. University library directs its activities towards the fulfillment of the objectives of the university, which are as follows: conservation of knowledge and ideas, teaching, research, publication, extension and service, and interpretation of research. The library exists not merely to help instructional function at the university, it does also a good deal in aid of research, which is another major function of the university. The library therefore, performs a variety of functions, by way of helping students with textbooks, reference books, and periodicals; by providing a large number of bibliographical tools and upto date literature on every subject for students, teachers and research workers, as well as by maintaining an efficient reference and information service. The university library serves as an important link in the chain between research and practice. It acts as the centre of all academic activities of the universities. It remains more than a library, laboratory and a workshop. University Grants Committee of UK (1921) observed that, the character and efficiency of a university may be gauged by its treatment of its central organ, the library. It regards the fullest provision for library maintenance as the primary and most vital need in the equipment of a university. 144

12 5.3.3 College Library: T h e c o l l e g e l i b r a r y h a s b e e n g i v e n i m p o r t a n t p l a c e i n t h e s c h e m e o f h i g h e r l e a r n i n g. T h e s t a n d a r d o f t e a c h i n g a n d s t u d y h e a v i l y d e p e n d s u p o n t h e q u a l i t a t i v e a n d q u a n t i t a t i v e s e r v i c e s r e n d e r e d b y t h e c o l l e g e s. T h e l e a d e r s o f t o m o r r o w s p e c i a l l y t h e y o u t h a r e t r a i n e d i n c o l l e g e s a n d u n i v e r s i t y. T h e a c t u a l k n o w l e d g e c o m e s t h r o u g h t h e i n t e n s i v e u s e o f k n o w l e d g e c o n t a i n e d i n t h e b o o k s c o l l e c t i v e l y. S m a l l c o l l e c t i o n s o f s e n s i t i v e l y c h o s e n b o o k s m a y w o r k w o n d e r s i n t h e l i f e o f s t u d e n t s. C o l l e g e l i b r a r i e s a r e p r i m a r i l y m e a n t f o r s u p p l e m e n t i n g i n s t r u c t i o n a l m a t e r i a l t o t h e s t u d e n t s a s w e l l a s t e a c h e r s. I t a l s o p r o v i d e s l i m i t e d r e f e r e n c e s e r v i c e. R e a d i n g r o o m f a c i l i t i e s, m a k i n g a v a i l a b l e r e c r e a t i o n a l m a t e r i a l s a n d f a c i l i t i e s f o r t h e b o o k b a n k s, e t c. a r e i t s a d d i t i o n a l u s e s. C o l l e g e l i b r a r i e s a l s o p r o v i d e o p p o r t u n i t i e s t o i t s m e m b e r s t o c u l t i v a t e r e a d i n g h a b i t s. B u t v e r y f e w s t u d e n t s m a k e u s e o f i t i n t h e r e a l s e n s e. E v e n t h e t e a c h e r s g e n e r a l l y d o n o t u s e t h e l i b r a r y f a c i l i t i e s. P r o f e s s i o n a l c o l l e g e s c o u l d b e e x c e p t i o n t o t h i s o b s e r v a t i o n. T h e w o r l d h a s g i v e n a n i m p o r t a n t p l a c e t o c o l l e g e l i b r a r y i n e d u c a t i o n. W i t h i n t h e p u r v i e w o f A c a d e m i c L i b r a r y S y s t e m, c o l l e g e l i b r a r i e s i n N o r t h E a s t e r n r e g i o n a r e p l a y i n g a n i m p o r t a n t r o l e i n d i s s e m i n a t i n g i n f o r m a t i o n a m o n g s t t h e u s e r s o f t h e s e l i b r a r i e s. I n o u r s t a t e, s c h o o l l i b r a r i e s a r e n o t p r o p e r l y o r g a n i z e d d u e t o l a c k o f p r o p e r l i b r a r y p o l i c y o f t h e e d u c a t i o n d e p a r t m e n t. H i g h e r s e c o n d a r y s c h o o l s a r e a l s o h a v i n g n o l i b r a r i e s a t t h e i r d i s p o s a l e x c e p t a f e w. O n l y t h e u n i v e r s i t i e s a r e h a v i n g p r o p e r l y o r g a n i z e d l i b r a r i e s. S o t h e r e e x i s t s a g a p b e t w e e n t h i s t w o s i t u a t i o n a n d t h e c o l l e g e l i b r a r i e s a r e b r i d g i n g t h i s g a p b e t w e e n n o l i b r a r y e n v i r o n m e n t a n d f u l l y o r g a n i z e d l i b r a r y s y s t e m. A s s u c h, i t h a s t o p l a y a c r u c i a l r o l e i n e n a b l i n g t h e u s e r s t o h a v e p r o p e r 145

13 i d e a a b o u t l i b r a r y p o t e n t i a l i t i e s a s w e l l a s t o s h o u l d e r t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f d i s s e m i n a t i o n o f i n f o r m a t i o n. M o s t o f t h e c o l l e g e l i b r a r i e s h a v e a w e l l d e v e l o p e d l i b r a r y w i t h a g o o d c o l l e c t i o n o f t e x t a n d r e f e r e n c e b o o k s, b a s e d o n t h e s u b j e c t s b e i n g o f f e r e d i n u n d e r g r a d u a t e a n d g r a d u a t e c o u r s e s. W i t h t h e a p p o i n t m e n t o f q u a l i f i e d l i b r a r i a n s, t h e s e r v i c e s o f c o l l e g e l i b r a r i e s h a v e i m p r o v e d s i g n i f i c a n t l y. G r a n t i n g U G C s c a l e t o t h e q u a l i f i e d c o l l e g e l i b r a r i a n s b y t h e G o v e r n m e n t o f A s s a m i s a n i m p o r t a n t d e v e l o p m e n t t o w a r d s i m p r o v e m e n t o f l i b r a r y s e r v i c e s i n t h e s t a t e. T h e c o l l e g e l i b r a r i e s i n t h e N o r t h E a s t p a r t i c u l a r l y i n A s s a m a r e n o t l a g g i n g b e h i n d i n t h e i r e n t h u s i a s m a b o u t t h e n e w t e c h n o l o g y t h a t i s b e i n g i n t r o d u c e d i n t h e i r l i b r a r i e s. T h e y a r e n o t a v e r s e t o i t a n d a r e e a g e r t o d e v e l o p t o m e e t t h e c h a l l e n g e. I t r e m a i n s t o b e s e e n h o w e v e r, h o w w e l l t h e y c o p e w i t h t h e s i t u a t i o n. 5.4 Higher Education In North East India: T h e h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n s y s t e m i n N E s t a t e s c a n b e u n d e r s t o o d f r o m t h e f o l l o w i n g t a b l e : S t a t e N o. o f U n i v e r s i t y N o. o f C o l l e g e s T o t a l E n r o l m e n t W o m e n E n r o l m e n t A r u n a c h a l P r a d e s h , , A s s a m 0 6 * , 1 6, , N a g a l a n d , , M a n i p u r , , M i z o r a m , , M e g h a l a y a , , T r i p u r a , , S i k k i m , , N o r t h E a s t , 1 6, , 1 6, A l l I n d i a , ( m i l l i o n ) 3 0, 1 2, * including ITT, Guwahati Source : Ministry o f HRD Annual Report,

14 The above table shows that out of the total 273 universities in India the states in the NE Region have 14 universities. Assam alone has 6 universities followed by Manipur with 2 universities and rest of the states have one university each. Similarly, of the 12,600 colleges in India, the NE States have 541 colleges making 4.5% of the total number of colleges in the country. Assam has 328 colleges followed by Manipur (65), Meghalaya (47) ad Nagaland (35). Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim have least number of colleges, that is, 8 and 7 respectively. The student enrolment in the states of the region per college is about 529 while it is 653 in case of mainland. The student enrolment in higher education in the states varies rather widely. The highest enrolment is in Assam followed by Manipur and Tripura. The states of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim have the least number of students enrolled in higher education. The proportion of women enrolment in higher education in country is 35.45%. The situation in NE states is slightly different. The states like Tripura, Meghalaya and Sikkim have more than 40% women enrolment. Mizoram which has the highest literacy rate next to Kerala in the country and highest in the region has 43% women enrolment. The participation of students in higher education is highest in Manipur (9.42%) which is remarkable when compared with the overall participation rate (6.9%) of the country. 5.5 Higher Educational Institutions In Assam: Assam has largest number of educational institutions in North Eastern region with five universities. Gauhati University, Dibrugarh University, Assam Agricultural University (Jorhat), Assam University (Silchar), Tezpur University besides the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati. The state also has three engineering colleges, three medical colleges, one each pharmaceutical, nursing, dental, ayurvedic college. The state has 328 colleges, more than 260 degree colleges some of which are also conducting 147

15 Master Degree programs. The state is also having number of engineering, polytechnic and other academic institutions. There are about 2000 high and higher secondary schools. Most of these academic institutions have established libraries attached to them being managed generally by qualified professionals, a few of the libraries are properly organized, the rest are not 148