Re-engineering Public Library services for the networked community in the Indian context Parameswarn N. Vimal Kumar V. Asian School of Business Technopark Thiruvananthapuram Redefining The Role Of Public Libraries In India : The Knowledge Society Imperatives , 6 - 8 August 2008,Thiruvananthapuram, India

An overview of Indian Public library scenario Public library development is state responsibility 15 states passed library legislation Majority of public libraries located in rural areas. Poor resource allocation Little emphasis on the adoption of ICT Lacking the service of professionals

Public library development is state responsibility

15 states passed library legislation

Majority of public libraries located in rural areas.

Poor resource allocation

Little emphasis on the adoption of ICT

Lacking the service of professionals

Relevance Center of cultural life Support the development of reading skills Free access of reading materials Community meeting place Supports community groups and activities

Center of cultural life

Support the development of reading skills

Free access of reading materials

Community meeting place

Supports community groups and activities

Real role of public libraries Social Mission Free access Center of education Information and continuing education for - working groups -neo literates, -working groups -physically handicapped

Social Mission

Free access

Center of education

Information and continuing education for

- working groups

-neo literates,

-working groups

-physically handicapped

Public libraries in changing context Changing life style of community members Globalization Television, telephone, Cable TV Influence of Internet-One Stop Shop for communication information and entertainment

Changing life style of community members

Globalization

Television, telephone, Cable TV

Influence of Internet-One Stop Shop for

communication

information and entertainment

Influence of Internet on the community Best place for knowledge sharing -Podcasting -Blogs -Wiki Free and quality information - Open access journals -Open courseware (IGNOU eGyankosh) -Virtual libraries (Internet Public Library) -Public Library of Science User friendly searching tools Google Scholar Intute INFOMINE

Best place for knowledge sharing

-Podcasting

-Blogs

-Wiki

Free and quality information

- Open access journals

-Open courseware (IGNOU eGyankosh)

-Virtual libraries (Internet Public Library)

-Public Library of Science

User friendly searching tools

Google Scholar

Intute

INFOMINE

Social Networking

Reengineering public library services Architecture Technology Planning

Architecture

Technology

Planning

Library architecture Virtual presence in web Physical and virtual collections Delivering services through online

Virtual presence in web

Physical and virtual collections

Delivering services through online

Technology Management Powerful tools -email, Instant messaging, SMS, Podcasting Effective to communicate with large groups Utilize latest technological developments Adopt cost effective technology Use technology to stay local

Powerful tools

-email, Instant messaging, SMS, Podcasting

Effective to communicate with large groups

Utilize latest technological developments

Adopt cost effective technology

Use technology to stay local

Successful planning Continuous learning from users -user survey, user information studies -sharing trends. Forecasting the community needs -environmental scans Planning services for academic, business and culture

Continuous learning from users

-user survey, user information studies

-sharing trends.

Forecasting the community needs

-environmental scans

Planning services for academic, business and culture

Public libraries in community economic development Work with community business projects Promote and explain business collection and services Make use Internet for marketing local business Invite groups and committees to hold their meetings in the library.

Work with community business projects

Promote and explain business collection and services

Make use Internet for marketing local business

Invite groups and committees to hold their meetings in the library.

Benefits to Public Libraries From Economic Development Activities Greater visibility among business community Expansion of services to non-traditional users Increase of donations in the forms of money and equipment Libraries contribute to growth of their towns.

Greater visibility among business community

Expansion of services to non-traditional users

Increase of donations in the forms of money and equipment

Libraries contribute to growth of their towns.

Conclusion Library leaders must encourage change New technologies are cost effective Technology change the nature and delivery of library service Internet is not a replacement for the public library Public libraries still have social mission Technology enable public libraries to live their mission .

Library leaders must encourage change

New technologies are cost effective

Technology change the nature and delivery of library service

Internet is not a replacement for the public library

Public libraries still have social mission

Technology enable public libraries to live their mission .

Thank You