Paper Presented during International Conference on What’s next in libraries? Trends, Space, and partnerships held during January 21-23, 2015 at NIT Silchar, Assam. It is being jointly organized by NIT Silchar, in association with its USA partner the Mortenson Center for International Library Programs, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

1. Effective Communication
for Effective Library Services
Rangashri Kishore
Director of Library Services

2. Ashoka University Library is building the
nation’s intellectual capabilities not by
but by

3. Introduction
• Ashoka University Library is setting the standards for effective
communication in library services.
• Library professionals run the library assisted by support staff,
but they also have a larger role to play.
• A manual has been developed for:
– bringing clarity and uniformity in practices in the library &
resource centre
– improving efficiency, utility and services

4. Faculty/Students
Learning Resources Library Staff
Communication

5. KOHA Access to Catalogue
KOHA Library Management Software: an open source model -
10.1.1.6:8080
Access books through key words: title, author, issue date
Dspace is implemented for institutional repository:
10.1.1.6:8082/jspui
NewsNic: Current Awareness Services in subjects being taught
in AU – For archiving news digitally.

8. Social Responsibility
The Library engages in providing reading and learning
programmes to community children from village schools
around AU.
A for APPLE (Ashoka for Aas Pados ki Padhai Likhai
Eksaath) is an on going initiative.
Children participate in story telling sessions in Hindi and
watch educational films by UNICEF and other agencies.

9. A for APPLE ( Ashoka for Aas Pados ki Padhai
Likhai Eksaath
9

10. Free Mental Health Camp
A historical mental health camp, held for the first time in
Asawarpur, Sonepat, a village near AU.
Two Sr. Resident Doctors of AIIMS volunteered to screen
patients - 75 patients attended, with their families
EMPOWER (A global mental health project) provided
posters and Audio-Visual information for
mental health awareness in Hindi
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11. 11
Free Mental Health Camp

12. Library communication
12
Staff communication
Well-established division of labour and departmentalized roles
Communication necessary to achieve organizational goals
- Regular meetings to discuss library policies and implementation
- Making the decisions made by the admin hierarchy known to those it affects
- All materials are handled by staff at all levels before reaching shelves – important to
communicate to avoid delays

13. Clientele-Staff communication
Goal: Information-seeking
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Reference
Librarian
Circulation
Desk
Information
dissemination
Other
services
• Provides desired working
materials
• Provides various sources
of information
• Borrowing/Returning
books and materials
• General enquiries
• Publicizing University
policies and services
• Sponsored lectures and
exhibitions
• Meeting place for
university programmes
• Inter-library lending and
information sharing

14. Challenges & Solutions
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- Casual attitude of library staff leading to inefficiency
- Unqualified library staff
- Inability to understand user/clientele queries
- Library users unable to communicate their requirements out of pride
or shame
- Director/Senior management maintains formal and informal contact with
staff
- Regular updates to the top hierarchy on problems and resolutions
- Incentives and motivation to staff, moving away from a casual attitude
- Employing qualified staff, offering training and short courses to update
them on current trends
- For clientele, offering open shelves or other strategic locations as
assistance centers

15. Effective communication
• Cornerstone of good administration
• Best use of library services and resources
• Library staff are aware of their responsibilities and
function effectively
• University/parent bodies can understand issues clearly
and offer appropriate and timely assistance
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16. Thank you!

17. Effective Communication
for Effective Library Services