Strategies For Rejuvenating The Academic Library As A Local Social Hub

Abstract

The academic library has been called the heart of the academic institute. In this context, it is important to understand the social contexts of the academic institutions and their libraries. While in metropolitan areas and big cities, there are large number of educational institutions, and each has a library or a library system; but in case of small cities and towns across the length and breadth of the country, there is generally one or two, or in a few cases more than two higher education institutions. In recent years, however, a large number of private institutions (colleges and universities) have come up in urban, semi-urban and rural areas and these institutions are also developing their library collections. But, one or two higher education institutions that have been there in a city/town are the ones that have moderately good collections. These are the only library facilities that are available in a small city/town. This is because public library system in India has not developed further in the small cities and towns, and in rural areas. In the digital age, where smartphones and internet connectivity is fast reaching semi-urban and rural areas; readers want a quiet place to read and study. This vacuum can be filled by the academic library. In fact, the academic library needs to reach out to its local community for serving them with their information needs, as well as making the institution a hub of social activities. A few outreach strategies are mentioned in this paper. These include providing library facilities to college/university alumni, eminent persons of the region, and other interested readers. Mechanisms for providing the facilities and rules governing such facilities can be developed by consultation with stakeholders. Another strategy is to invite eminent persons of the region who are settled outside the region to deliver a talk on a current issue whenever such persons visit their city/town. Every city/town has local and regional level non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and voluntary organizations and groups that work for specific causes. The academic library can provide a platform for them to reach out to its users as well as the local/regional society. In fact, the academic library can develop a database of such organizations and groups and can share that with those seeking such information. Strategies applicable in one area, or successful in a city/town may not necessarily succeed in another area. One facet of an academic library's expertise which can be harnessed is by providing information literacy skills to people in its local area. The role of the academic library is also to develop a database of success stories of social interaction at national and global levels. This paper provides with some suggestions for rejuvenating the academic library as a local social hub, and there is immense potential for this in the case of Indian academic libraries.