changing landscape of libraries in rural areas: wakeup calls for librarian to come out from...

Shri Ram, PhD

Jaypee University of Information Technology, Solan, Himachal Pradesh

Changing Landscape of Libraries in Rural Areas:

Wakeup calls for Librarian to Come out from Libraries

Libraries and Information Services in Rural Areas

• Need to communicate with the people about library and its services

• Individual interest • Not possible to establish, but possible who are

already in service and spare some times for the rural people

• Libraries are not there but information services are always available

Various applications for various domains could be the information services in the field of:

• Agriculture• Education• Health• Employment• Government Schemes

http://toostep.com/debate/massive-bsnl-broadband-plans-to-connect-rural-india---will-t

How this Could be Impacting on Rural Information System

The information services could be in the form of e-Agriculture Application with essential info:– Market price of cash crops– Demand and supply of their products in city– Transportation charges– Government plans and schemes for farmers– Banks/ FIs schemes and loan plans for farmers– Product market areas– Forums about cultivable soil, crops, diseases in crops and interacting

platform to find the solution– For Example : Creating awareness of KISAN Mandi and its benefits

1800-180-1551 Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/agri-biz/call-centre-for-farmers-queries-gaining-popularity/article2099020.ece

Creating Awareness about Best Practices•Wheat Growing in Tillage System•Dual Crop Production

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-27/strategic-tillage/4785346

Giant Pumpkin

http://www.howarddill.com/premseed.html

Case studies on these premium seedsOrdering, Procedure, Facts etc could be a good option to create literacy

Compost

Village Ahmed Nagar, District Kheri (UP) Village Sansarpur, Kheri (UP)Village Prayagpur, Distt Behraich (UP)Village Maigra, Distric Gaya

International Volunteer Center - Library

Some initiative have already taken place in rural areas

http://www.jacindia.org/rural-libraries-project.html

• 17000 ft is committed to setting up much needed Active Libraries in each remote school of Ladakh

• Designed as colourful, live, interactive spaces for learning and sharing, each library have– Colourful racks and easy access for books– Easy reading Books in Hindi & English, by Indian publishers for 5 to 13 year olds.– Simple educational games and puzzles for challenging young minds

• Active Libraries will be managed by 17000 ft trained Library Facilitators through a hub/spoke model– Librarians to conduct periodic reading and activity programs and facilitate book

exchanges between schools– Maintain records and assess reading levels and monitor performance of each school

Libraries@17000ftPromoting the joy of books and love of reading in Ladakh

http://www.17000ft.org/volunteer-main-page.html

17000 ft Libraries Activities around the library

Story Telling to Villagers Reading clubs by village youth

http://www.17000ft.org/volunteer-main-page.html

School Library will also serve as Public Library

Change in Govt Policies

http://educationhp.org/education_code2013.pdf

Village Internet Kiosks

http://www.livemint.com/Specials/ZL02D4y3EqV0Gp4QmRyE5H/Make-government-kiosks-hubs-for-RTI.html

Internet Use in Rural Areas

http://yourstory.com/2012/09/internet-and-india-urban-india-checks-email-while-rural-india-uses-net-for-entertainment-report/

YouTube Videos for Better Agricultural Practices

Financial Information

Information about JOB Opportunity

Rural Health Information

• Application of ICT for providing knowledge to rural poor.

• Hub and spokes model. 10 VKCs around one hub; Linked by wireless internet.

• Located in schools, panchayats, temples etc.

• Information required for the farmers, fishermen is collected locally and made available on daily basis.

• Over 100 databases have been built locally.

Village Knowledge Centres (VKC), Pondicherry

http://www.mssrf.org/sites/default/files/VKC-Report.pdf

To Summarise

• Small steps in understanding the basic needs of the rural people

• Gathering Information about their needs• Providing the information supplemented with case

studies as maximum as possible• Evaluation of the impact• Fight for Justice through partnership• Wakeup and Fight for Your Recognition

“ For those in need, access to information by itself is often not enough to solve a person’s problems. Very often the information has to be linked to action and this requires the involvement of a variety of community groups, self help organizations and the like”

British Librarian, Dr B Usherwood

Shri Ram, PhD

Deputy Learning Resource ManagerJaypee University of Information TechnologyWaknaghat, Solan-173 234, Himachal Pradeshshriram2576@rediffmail.com

@shriram2576

Thank You For Your Attention

Questions?