The Sarva Shikshana Abhiyan and Karnataka Jnana Ayoga give utmost importance to the library services in primary and high schools recognized by the Government of Karnataka schools. They have even stressed on building reading habit and guidance on use of information at the elementary level. The authors have analysed the data pertaining to 30 Higher Secondary Schools in Mysore city. The findings of the study are shared as experiences and the key research trust areas are identified. This paper is an attempt to place before the library community about the understanding of these public or government institutions, their perception of “school libraries”. It is also shown how much employability chances are lost for library graduates in school libraries. Finally an attempt has been made to study the road map of the school libraries for their development.

1. The Status of Higher Secondary School
Libraries in Mysore District: A Study
Dr. Sunil M.V.
Librarian, SDMIMD, Mysore

2. Higher Secondary Schools in Mysore District
4142 Government of High
Schools in Karnataka
204 in Mysore District
168 in Rural Mysore Region
36 in Urban Mysore Region
Source: DISE, 2009

3. Higher Secondary Schools Libraries in Mysore District
Library Facilities
138 (82.35%) – Rural
30 (83.35%) – Urban
10% of the total fee
Source: DISE, 2009

4. What we want to know?
In Urban
Higher Secondary
School Libraries …
 Current Status
 Fund Flow and Utilization
 Use of Libraries

5. Current Status
12 authorities said
they have library in
a Almeria or
Cupboard either in
Head Masters Office
or Staff Room
Library Hours
Newspapers
Existence of
Furniture
Librarian
Journals
Building
Teacher
(for 30)
Results
Library
Library
Library
Survey
Books
Responses 12 0 0 0 12 0 21 0
Overall % 40% 0% 0% 0% 40% 0% 70% 0%
% to Fund
57% 0% 0% 0% 57% 0% 100% 0%
Utilization

6. Fund Awareness
Government Other
Funding Funding
Awareness of
Funding 21 6
Overall % 70% 20%

7. Fund Utilization
Fund
Utilization Books Journals Newspapers
Responses
21 9 0 21
Overall %
70% 30% 0% 70%
% to Fund
Utilization 100% 43% 0% 100%

8. Library Usage
Future
Students Use Staff Use
Perspectives
Responses 0 21 0
Overall % O% 70% 0%
% to Fund
0% 100% 0%
Utilization

9. To conclude…
80% Higher Secondary Schools have libraries!
 What is a school library?
 10% of fund?
 Reports, Surveys and Recommendations ???
• Young minds are deprived of a simple functional library
• No qualified librarians / teacher librarians
• Detailed study of premier reports and recommendations
• Awareness about school libraries

10. Many thanks
Sunil M.V.
Librarian, SDMIMD, Mysore
sunilmv@sdmimd.ac.in / sunilmysore@gmail.com
http://sunilmysoresays.blogspot.com