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Unit 2: Colleges and Universities Libraries

2.3 Development of College Libraries Notes

There are near about more than 4000 colleges including madrasa, technical and vocational
educational institute in Bangladesh. As a member of Least Develop Countries (LDC) college
libraries ‘development does not keep pace with development of other socio-economic units in
the community. Besides, education in Bangladesh for earning degrees does not keenly feel
importance of library services for receiving knowledge although it is an essential concern for
an academic as well as educational institution. College libraries development closely related
to the development of value of college education while colleges offer certificates and degrees
form Higher Secondary to Postgraduate level.
Libraries are said to be the heart of educational institutions. It is true when education of an
academy goes well to cultivate knowledge rather than only awarding certificates. Whether
most of the colleges are playing proper role to educate its population and practicing cultivation
of knowledge has become questionable. Role of libraries has come out as a principal issue in
creating a study friendly environment encircled libraries. It has been observed that library
development towards effective services was not taken into consideration as it could have been.
This article was prepared by a sample survey taking 33 college libraries with the author’s 25
years of professional experience that tried to find problems and recommendations for solutions.
Vision 2021 of digital Bangladesh found a national awareness building topic. Proper education
can make human ethically sound. Colleges are such place where the future leaders can earn
education to meet the challenge of vision 2021 Bangladesh. Ethical knowledge with technology
may make students and community a responsible entity. By the use of libraries in colleges in
various ways including information technological activities education obviously will be a
healthier experience for a student. A nation should utilize this opportunity for greater interest.

2.4 Role of UGC

Cooperation amongst institutions for sharing their library resources is being practiced for
decades. Traditionally, the primary purpose of establishing a library consortium is to share
physical resources including books and periodicals amongst members. However, the mode of
cooperation has gone under a transformation with infusion of new information technology
from print-based environment to digital environment. The emergence of Internet, particularly,
the World Wide Web (WWW) as a new media of information delivery triggered proliferation
of Web-based full-text online resources. Increasing number of publishers is using the Internet
as a global way to offer their publications to the international community of scientists. The
technology provides an unparalleled media for delivery of information with greater speed and
economy. The libraries and information centres, as heavy consumers of electronic journals and
online databases, stand to benefit greatly from this technology-driven revolution. The availability
of IT-based electronic information products are exerting ever-increasing pressure on libraries,
which, in turn, are committing larger portions of their budgetary allocation for either procuring
or accessing web-based online full-text search services, CD ROM products and online databases.
The libraries with their diminishing or at the best static financial allocations have to consider
new ways to consolidate global resources amongst them in order to maximize their limited
financial resources. The combination of these developments has resulted in the development
of “shared subscription” or “consortia-based subscription” to journals everywhere in the world.
Shared subscription or consortia-based subscription to electronic resources through the consortia
of libraries, on one hand, permits successful deployment and desktop access to electronic
resources at a highly discounted rates of subscription and on the other hand, it meets with the
increasing pressures of diminishing budget, increased user’s demand and rising cost of journals.
The library consortia, on the basis of sheer strength of the number of institutions, offer healthy

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