Page 137 - DLIS001_FOUNDATION_OF_LIBRARY_AND_INFORMATION_SCIENCE

Foundation of Library and Information Science

Notes The number of universities in India has gone up from a mere twenty in 1947, to more than two
hundred in the nineties. This number includes conventional universities, professional universities
and deemed universities. The growth is signified by the total number of students’ enrolments,
creation of a number of new departments, a number of mission oriented projects of research and
by many other social and intellectual factors. Institutions like the Indian Institutes of Technology,
(IITs), the Indian Institutes of Management, and Agricultural Universities have also introduced
a number of new educational practices. The Open University concept for distance education is
yet another new experiment at the university level. All these factors have affected university
libraries in a great measure. Today, university libraries have a very large and difficult role to
play in order to meet a variety of demands of information and knowledge by far larger number
of people on far larger number of subjects at far higher prices and negligible grants. The clients
of higher education must contribute toward the cost of learning materials because the state (any
state) can never provide all required funds.

7.4.1 Objectives of a University Library

The objectives of University Library are as follows:
Helps in Searching/Locating: The volume of information has built so profusely that a
student or teacher feels puzzled to pave his way out of the maze, here the library staff has
to play the role of guides to show the proper direction to the information seekers.

Transforms the Students into Scholars: The Library/information centre transforms the
students into scholars, by developing, cultivating and stimulating the use of imagination.
The library provides a conducive atmosphere wherein a student can contemplate and
introspect to address the curiosities of his mind. This is how a student gets transformed
into a scholar.
Provides an Opportunity to Come in Contact of the Actual Field of Interest: While trying
to search the information of his interest, a reader comes in contact with other subject
matter which sometimes touches his inner and incites him to explore newer and newer
horizons of knowledge.
Trains the Users to Handle Library Tools and Gadgets: To teach the students how to use
the various information gadgets held in the library. These may include encyclopedias,
directories, thesauri, other reference books, electronic documents, CD databases and so
on.
Ensures Access to Digital Information Sources other than its Own Collection: The
University library makes long lasting and economical arrangements for providing access
to sources of information available online or in electronic form. This includes access to
Internet, CDROM Databases, journals and books.
Provides a Platform to held Group Discussions: The university library provides a platform
to held group discussions by establishing discussion forums among peer groups and
scientific community in university campus and those in the outside world.
Helps in Conduction of Research: University library helps the researchers (students, teacher
or scientists) in their endeavour right from the selection of the topic to preparation of the
final research report. This includes literature survey, access to and arrangement of a wide
range of information sources, guidance to keep the researcher on the actual track, avoid
confusion and save the time.

User Education: The university library at the onset of each academic session conducts user
education programmes or say library orientation courses, wherein necessary information

132 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY