iLibrary - Library system for masses

1. I LIBRARY, MY LIBRARY,
OUR LIBRARY: TOUCHING
LIVES OF BILLION PEOPLE
SUNEET SHARMA
SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC (INDIA)

2. Table of Content
 Objective
 Need
 Idea
 Methodology
 Model1
 Model2
 Model3
 Other Feature / Use cases
 Sustainability
 Agent of Change
 References

3. OBJECTIVE
Making resource of information available to
everyone everywhere and simultaneously
making it affordable and sustainable.

4. Need
 1.2 Billion population (70% Rural, 30 % Urban)
 Poor public library network (That too limited
only to cities)
 Private library very rare (Unaffordable) & Cater
to Specific need of the users.
 Academic library (Restricted to students
studying there).
 Rural Areas (Severe Scarcity of resources of
information).
 Acquiring skills (By Having access to resource
of information) are important that Degree.

5. Need to have… A…System…
 Where access to Resources of information is not
restricted to the Geographical Location (Urban,
Suburban, Rural, Semi Rural, Towns, Remote, etc.).
 Caters diverse users in their preferred way of
connectedness (Mobile, Internet, Physical).
 Caters diverse need of the users and need of diverse
users.
 Which is affordable to common man.
 To facilitate full Utilization of resources (Resources lying
in the library while there are users who desperately need
it, are complete waste).
 To help one in honing one’s skills.

6. IDEA
A well-managed library network, which provides
every one equal access to resources of
information and that too at very affordable
price.
But How?
First let’s understand “Satellite theory of Resources”

7. Satellite theory of Resources
Internet, online stores, etc. are mobilizing the
resources where ever the needs are unlike traditional
ways, where users have to approach resources,
users need to go to them.

8. Implementing - Satellite theory
 Idea is to mobilize resources with minimal cost and
make it accessible to masses at lower cost but
profitable at the same time.
 Interconnecting all the libraries (Public, private,
academic) and making complete resource utilization.
 India is having close to 600000 villages, 4500 towns
and 650 districts (1.2 Billion population), It is almost
impossible to build the library network to such a such
a big and diverse country, so we need to look at the
existing networks which have reach in the nooks and
corners of India and building on top of that.

9. India’s 3 biggest network:
 Indian postal services:
As of 31 March 2011, the Indian Postal Service has 154,866 post offices, of
which 139,040 (89.78%) are in rural areas and 15,826 (10.22%) are in urban
areas. On an average, a post office serves an area of 21.23 sq;km and a
population of 7,114 people. This is the most widely distributed post office
system in the world.
 Indian Railway:
It is one of the world's largest railway networks comprising 115,000 km
(71,000 mi) of track over a route of 65,000 km (40,000 mi) and 7,500 stations.
 State bank of India:
As of March 2012, it had assets of US$360 billion and 14,119 branches,
including 173 foreign offices in 37 countries across the globe. Including the
branches that belong to its associate banks, SBI has 21,500 branches.

10. Methodology:
Model-1 (By Indian postal services):
Why (Indian Postal Services)
 Can harness the widest reach of Indian postal services
which will work as a transit library.
 In General each and every region in Indian map is connected
to respected post office.
 Post offices offer mail related services posting, receipt,
sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail, such as
letters, small packages, and usually money (Ready made
network).
 Post office will work as a connecting thread with other
libraries falling under those post offices.
 Post office will facilitate in making an efficient supply chain
and there will be efficient control on time to delivery.

11. Methodology: (Model 1 – Postal Service)
How it will work:
Transaction is a 5 steps process.
All the steps evolve around user who want the
access to resources of information.
1. Need a book
2. Find book
3. Borrow / Rent / Buy / Lend
4. Read
5. Return
Let’s Understand each step with respect to First
model.

12. Methodology: (Model 1 – Postal Service)
Transaction (Different Steps):
1- Need a book: Individuals own requirement, but
visiting nearby post office and going through the
catalogue definitely can inspire you.
2- Find book: Each post office will be having
printed as well as softcopy of the catalogue
which will be having information about different
books category wise. This list will be of course
dynamic and will be updated regularly. In printed
version we will keep adding pages as per the
catalogue update (Sort of spiral binding  which
makes easy to add and remove pages to
update).

13. Methodology: (Model 1 – Postal Service)
Transaction (Different Steps):
3- Borrow / Rent / Buy / Lend:
 At Post office one can buy library
card (Value 10 INR = .2$) to
order the book.
 Request goes to the nearest
zonal office (Or it could be the
same post office), where
availability of the requested book
in different libraries is checked
and request is forwarded to the
nearest partner libraries* where
the book is available.
*Partner library - Not only libraries (private, public, academic) but any
individual/group), publication house can become “Partner library”.

14.  Any individual/group (Provided they
have good collection and wanted to share
and earn on the same) can become partner
library.
 Even publication houses can become
partner library and they can earn revenue
without printing books, but reaching to
all the users.
*Preference is given the respective partner library which is nearest to the user.
 Partner library Lending library gets its commission for the each book (some
percentage of amount charged to the user). Lending library drops the book
back to post office (Tearing the appropriate section of the form) from there it
get’s delivered to the user which after reading user drops back to the nearest
post office from there it goes back to the respective lending library.

15. Methodology: (Model 1 – Postal Service)
Transaction (Different Steps):
4- Read:
 Person will read the book as per his / her
discretion, however books could be reissued and
for the same individuals need to post the “reissue
library card”, which will go the respective lending
library for the approval and the user will get
intimation from the lending library whether the
same could be reissued or not.
 User can also purchase the book by posting the
“purchase library card” along with the money order
equal to the book cost and the book will be
delivered to the user.

16. Methodology: (Model 1 – Postal Service)
Transaction (Different Steps):
5- Return:
 Government of India is planning to UID (unique
identification number) for each citizen, and UID
itself be used as a library card no separate ID
needed however user need to register to the
respective post office if that will be centre of
transaction for borrowing and returning books.
 Each transaction will be tracked by UID if a
person fails to return on time, he/she will get
warning notification and still he/she fails, fine will
start accumulating in his account (.5 INR per day)
and he/she will be black listed and can’t borrow
further until he/she clears his/her previous dues.

17. Other Parallel Model - Methodology:
(Model 2 – Mobile phone)
 As by June 2012 in India mobile penetration is
around 51% which is expected to go up by
75% by 2016.
 Connectivity through mobile is increasing every
day and even rural India is well connected in
the worst cases there will be at least a person
having mobile phone in every village.
 Lot of paper work could be avoided and
information could easily and rapidly flow.

18. Methodology: (Model 2 – Mobile phone)
Transaction (Different Steps):
 1- Need a book: Needing a book is always a
user requirement but user can always access
catalogue in his mobile to fine tune his
requirement.
2- Find book: Hence finding a book

19. Methodology: (Model 2 – Mobile phone)
Transaction (Different Steps):
3- Borrow / Rent / Buy / Lend:
 Physically going to the post office is one way but
definitely not the only way, Phone users can buy
“Library credit” and order book by SMS and money will
be deducted from their phone account.
 Remaining process will remain same, requirements
going to the lending library and from there physical book
is going to the user and back to the lending library using
postal services as a medium. Here there will not be any
physical movement of the library card, communication
flow will happen through mobile only.
 Here the preference will be given to nearest partner
library who is more prompt in confirming the book
availability.
 They can even buy books by using “Library credit”.

20. Methodology: (Model 2 – Mobile phone)
Transaction (Different Steps):
4- Read:
 One thing is the physical movement of the
book to the users however other thing book
could also be sent to the respective user in
electronics format to his mobile if the user has
activated the library service in his mobile (But
no doubt reading experience will not be great
due to small screen and navigation of pages).

21. Methodology: (Model 2 – Mobile phone)
Transaction (Different Steps):
5- Return:
 One thing is the physical movement of the book
back to the lending library. But if the user has
opted for library service and received book in
electronic format then the link will be deactivated
after predefined time as per the terms and
conditions so he/she no longer can use it. But
he/she can renew with very minimum charge or
even can permanently store case to case basis
(As some books are even free, there is no need to
pay for them apart from data usage charge). But
user can of course buy books and there is no
need of returning of the same.

22. Other Parallel Model - Methodology:
(Model – Internet Users)
 Today penetration of internet is
10% and is growing every day.
 There is always option to read
book on the device itself hence
avoiding printed version.
 Lot of possibility of interaction,
online guidance etc.

23. Methodology: (Model 3 – Internet User)
Transaction (Different Steps):
1- Need a book: Needing a book is always a
user requirement but user can log on to the
website and narrow down his search.
2- Find book: Hence finding the book desired.
3- Borrow / Rent / Buy / Lend: User can do the
transaction for printed (For physical books
process will remain as explained earlier) as
well as eBooks. User has to pay by credit /
debit card.

24. Methodology: (Model 3 – Internet User)
Transaction (Different Steps):
4- Read:
 One thing is the physical movement of the book to
the users however other thing is user will receive
the book in electronic format.
*Presently governments spend millions of rupees in
providing printed books and this cost is recurring
every year to every student. While in the same
cost tablet, could be provided with free course
eBooks. However tablets will be specifically
designed keeping user’s reading habits in mind.

25. Methodology: (Model 3 – Internet User)
Transaction (Different Steps):
5- Return:
 One thing is the physical movement of the
book back to the lending library. But if the user
has opted for eBooks then the link will be
deactivated after predefined time as per the
terms and conditions so he / she no longer can
use it. But he/she can renew with very
minimum charge or even can permanently
store on case to case basis (As some books
are even free, there is no need to pay). But
user can of course buy books and there is no
need of returning of the same.

26. OTHER FEATURES / USE CASES
 Post offices will work as a transit library where there will be a
dedicated space defined for the library or it could be different
building which is connected to the respective post office (If post
office doesn’t have enough space to facilitate library service). Even
the existing public library or any other municipality building can be a
transit library but it has to be connected to the respective post office.
 This model will also help in building community libraries at least in
connecting dots. Group of community library will be connected to the
respective post offices.
 Anyone can send books to his/her friend on returnable basis
(Sharing on the condition that you return). People can get specially
designed envelope along with ‘library stamp on condition that you
return” (Special stamp which facilitate 2 way transaction sending
and returning from door to door) and dispatch book which reader
can drop back to the post office or drop box after reading or
postman will pick from his home after the predefined interval or
when reader intimates the post office.

27.  Anyone can be part of library network to earn money
on the resources which are lying unused, one way
you are doing charity by making it available to the
masses and simultaneously earning on the same.
Interested people need to approach the respective
post office giving book details.
 This will be place for information and guidance to
excel in the art you want to excel.
 Carrier counseling (Given by Volunteers)
 Workshops (Given By Volunteers)
 News of current affairs / technology / news paper
 Competitions and special events could be organized
 Special sessions (For differently enabled people)
 Sessions (On Language, etc...)

28. SUSTAINABILITY
To make it sustainable as well as affordable there will be
multiple source of income.
 First of all “Library network” will run by volunteers
(Students, professionals, unemployed, part timers)
sharing percentage of income as stipend.
 It will be projected as a form of social service and
school / college students will be encouraged to serve at
least for a year to minimize the operating cost.
 Internship will be available to the interested folks and
they will get the certificate for the same.
 Renting, reissuing, buying books are sources of
income, and percentages of income will be shared
among lending library, Indian postal services and
“library network facilitator”.

29.  Availing special service like sending books ones friend on
returnable basis. Forthat person has to buy “library stamp on
condition that you return” (Special stamp which facilitate 2
way transactions sending and returning from door to door).
 We anticipate mass transaction, which will minimize the
average operating cost and at the same time will increase
the income. (Actual figures will be shared in the full paper).
 Money raised from workshops, events, competitions, special
sessions etc. (Amount will be affordable, but at the same
time will be good enough to have at least 30% net earnings
after cutting down all the operating expenses.
 There will not be any hierarchy in the organization, all
volunteers have to work equally and even stipend also will
be as per the earning of the Area with adjustment if it goes to
either extreme.

30. AGENT OF CHANGE
 Access to resources.
 Effective utilization of resources.
 Reducing carbon foot print, less burden on the
trees to produce more print when existing prints
could be shared and revenue could be generated.
 Fulfilling the need of diverse readers as well as
reader diverse needs.
 Talent grooming.
 Overall growth of country.

31. REFERENCES:
1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Postal_Service
2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railway
3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Bank_Of_India
4) http://censusindia.gov.in/
5) http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/
?nodeId=200747550
6) http://ohdbks.lib.overdrive.com/Help-Kindle.htm
7) http://www.amazon.com/
8) http://www.indiapost.gov.in/
9) https://www.epostoffice.gov.in/
10) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post_office