Status Of Children Libraries In Assam: An Analytical Study

Abstract

An aim of the study is to visualize current scenario of children libraries in Assam. The study has been carried out on a sample of twelve full-fledged children libraries drawn from different parts of the state using judgmental sampling method. Number of staff strength in the libraries found ranges between 1-4. Books collection in the libraries is in the range of 12000 to 15000 in two, 6000-9000 in two, 3000-6000 in three, while five libraries having less than 3000 collection. Average number of magazines in the libraries is found to be four. Children encyclopaedias are available in 2 libraries with one title each. CDs and DVDs are available in four libraries with highest 38 in one. Video game playing facilities are available in 2 libraries, TV sets in 5, computers in 6 libraries of which four with Internet facility. The availability of other learning aids viz. the Kindle Reader, Globe, Maps and Charts and other materials are there in all the libraries but in very poor in numbers in comparison to the number of daily users. Only two libraries are found to be using Library Management Softwares viz. Koha and SOUL. Number of registered users varies from 75 to 590, while daily users in the range of 40 to nearly 300. It is observed that most of the relatively well-organized libraries are in the urban and semi-urban areas. A note of suggestions has been lined up for betterment of the status of the children libraries.