Page 105 - DLIS001_FOUNDATION_OF_LIBRARY_AND_INFORMATION_SCIENCE

Foundation of Library and Information Science

Notes lastly, the libraries which have collections and services, all types of appropriate media
and modern technologies, as well as traditional materials with high quality and have
relevance to local needs and conditions. Material must reflect current trends and the
evolution of society, as well as the memory of human endeavour and imagination.
This definition is exhaustive, covering all the facets of public library services.

6.1.2 Evolution of Public Libraries Factors

Mankind has taken decades, nay centuries, to evolve this institution. It would be worthwhile to
know the factors which have helped in the evolution of a public library. Important among these
are mentioned below:
1. Urge for Knowledge: The urge to seek knowledge in an individual has motivated him to
make efforts to get it from whatever source he could. Why did the man get this urge? As
social historians point out that the urge for knowledge manifested in man:
to protect one’s individual freedom like right to think and express; right to
communicate, etc.;

to master the environment around, him through the help of science and technology;
to achieve success in competitive spheres of economic and social life; and

to achieve cultural progress.
As a result of the joint influence of these factors, man over the centuries, has been striving
hard, individually and collectively, to seek knowledge, assimilate it and to use it by his
thinking and application.

2. Literacy: To help oneself with the sources of knowledge like books, man had to master
reading, writing and arithmetic. Although schools did provide him instructions in gaining
certain degrees of competence in literacy, man heavily depended on institutions like
public library. With the support of the Union Government in India, the Total Literacy
Campaign was started in about 300 districts in ‘the country and it is hoped that in the near
future our country will be fully literate.
3. Universal Public Education: It was not enough for someone make their individual efforts
to seek and use some sources of knowledge and profit thereby. The masses had to progress
through collective efforts. For this purpose education was made compulsory for all citizens
so that each one of them, by helping himself, would ultimately contribute to the nation’s
overall progress. This kind of public education had to be on a continuing basis; therefore,
the public libraries become vital means of providing life-long self-education in various
walks of life.
4. Enlightened Leadership and Philanthropy: In Western society in particular, enlightened
leaders like industrial magnates, parliamentarians, educationists, political leaders and
others, who had derived the benefits of education and knowledge, the hard way, came
forward to provide money, buildings, books, etc., to establish and develop libraries for
the general public, so that those who do not have the means to provide themselves
self-education could find in public libraries a place to do so. This trend assisted rapid
development of public libraries in the west.
5. Rapid Advancement in Science and Technology: Communication of information among
individuals or groups was at a snail’s speed prior to the invention of ink, paper and
printing. The invention of these materials by the Chinese, improved by Arabs and perfected
later by Europeans, helped production of books in large number, better in quality (and

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