THE ROLE OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN FOSTERING SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: A THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

1. Public library the local gateway to knowledge provides a basic condition for lifelong learning, independent, decision making and cultural development of the individual and social groups. Education has been recognized by all as instruments for social change. It is acknowledged as one of the basic factors for improvement of quality of life. Life and education go with hand in hand. Public library is the only effective agency of which door is open to all members of the country irrespective of caste, creed, religion, sex, age status, educational attainments, physical fitness and economic condition. It plays a dynamic role in educating the people without any biasness by supporting their continuing education or non- formal education. Supported by public or private funds, the public library make its basic collections and thus proved to be an effective weapon for converting illiterate to literates and helps the literate to go broader and broader, deeper and deeper and also richer to richer in terms of knowledge. According to S.R Ranganathan, ( Father of Library Science) “Public library is one which is open to any member of the public and usually free of any charge paid as so much for so much services. It is usually supported by local and grants from government. “UNESCO defines public library as “Those which serve the population of a community or region free of charge or for a nominal fee. They may serve the general public, special categories of the public such as children, members of the arm forces, hospital patients, prisoners, workers and employers.” Thus a public library aims at serving the general public or special categories of the public in community concerned. It is basically a service library, which is meant to provide free services or charge a nominal fee its services.