Role of Libraries in society- Introduction, Meaning of Society, Modern society, stages of societal Evolution, Libraries and Society, Libraries: Basics- .1 Meaning of Library, 2 Need and Purpose, 3 Value and Importance, .4 Defining a Library, Functional Role of Libraries in a Society, Summary, Answers to Self Check Exercises, Keywords

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UNIT 1 ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN SOCIETY
Structure
1.0 LearningOutcomes
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Society: Meaningand Composition
1.2.1 Modern Society
1.3 Libraries and Society
1.4 Libraries: Basics
1.4.1 Meaning of Library
1.4.2 Need and Purpose
1.4.3 Value and Importance
1.4.4 Defining a Library
1.5 FunctionalRole ofLibraries in a Society
1.6 Summary
1.7 Answers to SelfCheck Exercises
1.8 Keywords
1.9 References and Further Reading
1.0 LEARNING OUTCOMES
This Unit gives an overview ofsocietalroles that libraries playin the formaland non-
formaleducation, life-longlearning, culturalactivities, recreationandentertainment, etc.
After reading this Unit, you willbe able to:
 explain what is the purpose ofsociety;whysocietyis so important;
 discuss what librariesare, whyare theynecessary, what purpose do theyserve in
the society;
 describe howlibrariesfunctiontoservepersonswithdifferentneedsand purposes;
 comprehend that people need libraries to consult books, find informationto serve
their specific interests;
 explain the roles that modern libraries playin educational institutions, life-long
leaning andinthe lives ofordinarypersons;
 discuss that libraries are anintegralpart ofthe societycontributing to the growth
and development ofthe country;and
 highlight that librariesare undergoing transformationintheir basic characteristics
and featureswiththe growinguseofICT applicationsinmanaging libraryservices.
1.1 INTRODUCTION
This Unit introducesyou to some ofthe basic concepts ofsociety, its composition and
the major transformationsthat societyhasgonethroughthelast fewcenturies.Ageneral
level ofunderstanding is given about what libraries are, what is their need, purpose,

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valueandimportanceinthesociety.Further,theUnit explainshowlibraryasaninstitution
serves the society focussing in particular on roles that libraries play in the cultural,
educational and research institutions and in all such other institutions that are vital
to the mankind.
1.2 SOCIETY: MEANINGAND COMPOSITION
Meaning of Society
Asociety, or human society, has severaldifferent meanings. It refers to people living
togetherinacommunity, sharingcommoninterestsandmaybehavingdistinctivecustoms
and institutions. The term ‘society’ mayalso be used to refer to various distinctive
culturalgroupsofpeople suchasTamilian society, Punjabisocietyor Gujaratisociety.
Besides, people livingina particular countryor regionalso constitute asocietysuchas
Indiansociety, Chinese society, Englishsociety, Frenchsociety, or Germansociety.An
organised group of people associated together for religious, benevolent, cultural,
scientific, political, patriotic, or other purposes mayalso be considered a society. Put
simply, wemayviewsocietyasaggregateofindividualslivingtogetherasinterdependent
members ina highlystructured systemofcommunities.
Psychologically, peopleidentifythemselves withthe idea ofbeing part ofan organised
group for unityand strength. The purposeofforming people into societies is therefore
to provide protection, continuity, securityand identity.
There is yet another connotation to the meaning of society. It refers to a totality of
humanrelationships.Humanbeingsinrelationshipwitheachother,formasociety. Society
exists onlywhenmembers of a group know each other and share common interests.
For instance, two persons travelling in the same train, even ifseated together, do not
forma society;because theyare not sociallyrelated and have little mutualinterests to
share. But as soon as theycome to know eachother, the element ofsocietyis created.
There can be no society without reciprocal human social relationships or social
interactions between individuals or between members in a group. Hence, cohesion,
affinityand interdependence within a group are integralto the formationofa society.
Reciprocityand mutualityin socialrelationships is the verybasis ofsociety. Libraries
havea roleto playinbuildingandstrengtheningsocialrelationshipswithinthe groupsby
providing themcommunityspace and opportunities to organiseacademic and cultural
activities and to interact around information.
In the modernera, societies are dependent on institutions more than ever to address
societal needs, issues and interests in the nation. Institutions have become political,
cultural and economic imperatives. We see a pattern ofinstitutions operating in our
societies for utilisation of national resources, economic development, educational
development andinfrastructuredevelopment, development ofservices, orlawandorder.
Their (institutions)numbers are growing inthe private, corporate andpublic sectors in
the nationaleconomy. For every societalactivity, societies have evolved a varietyof
institutions. For instance,aState is apoliticalinstitutionandsocietieshaveevolvedit for
governance. Institutions have become one ofthe distinguishing characteristic of the
societies, thebasis for service to majorityofthe populationand serving as a major part
of the national income. They are instrumental in shaping the national economy and
contributing to distinct socialstructure, educationalsystem, Science andTechnology
system, politicalsystem, financialandeconomicsystemandculturalidentityinthenation.
Definition of Society: Society is a structured composition ofindividuals in groups,
communities, institutions and associations that exist together for their mutualbenefits
Libraries: Basics and Contexts

3. 9
and forthe benefit ofhumanity. Societymayalso be viewed as aprocess ofreciprocal,
socialand complexrelationships among allcomponentsofthe society.
Activity I
Look into fourto five different dictionariesforthe definitionoftheterm‘society’and
compare how these reference sources differ in defining the meaning of the term
‘society’.
1.2.1 Modern Society
StagesofSocietalEvolution–Societyis not static inits compositionand relationships.
It isdynamicandkeepschangingwithtime.Inthelastfewcenturies, societyhaswitnessed
major revolutions that determined and shapedthe course ofhumanity.The revolutions
that impacted the society are: agricultural revolution, industrial revolution, ICT
(information) revolutionandknowledge revolution, eachpossessingits owndistinctive
elements.
 Agricultural society made it possible to meet the basic food needs of a large
percentage ofthe population.
 Industrialsocietymadepermanentimpact onthemeansofproductionandcreated
the social model of the great cities we live in today, made it possible to use of
technologyto enable mass production ofmaterialgoods and supporting a large
populationendowed witha highcapacityfor divisionoflabour.
 Information societygave technologicaltools that made impact onproductionof
information and public services such as e-governance, e-commerce, e-business,
e-learning, e-health, e-publication, etc. The information societyhas changed the
wayinstitutionsandorganisationstransact workinbusiness,educationandlogistics.
 Knowledge society refers to any society where knowledge is the primary
production resource instead of capital and labour.
Modern Society – Modern societyeffectively took shape after the era of industrial
revolution. Modernsocietyrefersto allsocietiesthat belong to theera that characterise
the post-industrialsociety, informationsocietyand knowledge society.The factors that
were instrumentalin brining about thetransitionofthe traditionalsocietyinto modern
society were several, such as changes in the life styles, increasing awareness and
competition, changesinthe humanvaluesand the economic freedombrought about by
advances made in the fields of technology, science, education and computers. The
culture ofconsumerism, commercialisation and globalisationinmodern times further
accelerated the pace ofsocietalshift to themodernsociety. It must be recognised that
in modern society the speed of social change was rapid and faster than what it was
there during the traditional society. This could be attributed to the emergence of
institutions during the modern era as the underlying instruments, structures and
mechanisms ofsocialorder.
Self Check Exercise
Note: i) Write youranswer inthe space given below.
ii) Check your answer with the answers givenat the endofthis Unit.
1) What is thedifference between information societyand knowledge society?
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Role of Library in Society

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1.3 LIBRARIES AND SOCIETY
Libraries as social institutions have become integral part ofthe society. Library and
societyareinterlinkedand interdependent, not mutuallyexclusive. Weallrecognise that
informationplayssignificant role intheallroundhumandevelopment, enabling peoples
to developtheir fullpotentialwithappropriate educationand skillsand preparing them
for a transitionfrom education stage to work stage. We also recognise that libraries
provide the basic conditions for lifelong learning, independent decision-making and
culturaldevelopment of the individuals and social groups. Libraries as gateways to
knowledgeandculturealsooffercountlesslearningopportunitiesthat canfueleconomic,
socialandculturaldevelopment.
Institutionsinallsectorsofeconomy–beit educationsector, researchsector, orservice
sector – need libraries. They need them because library is one of the most effective
means ofmakinginformationavailable for cultural, economicand socialdevelopment.
Educationalinstitutionsneedlibrariesto support formalandinformaleducation, learning,
support literacy, check digital divide and help shape the new ideas and perspectives
that are centralto acreative andinnovativesociety. Quite simply, librariesoffer ameans
bywhichinstitutionscan gainaccess to knowledge, thought and culture.
Communities need libraries to create awareness among under-privileged sections for
their empowerment,suchinformationonupcomingopportunitiesinthe market for skill
development, employment inthesocietalinstitutions, opportunitiesfortheirengagement
in socialand economic sectors. Societyneeds libraries so that people become well-
informed citizens; theyare able to exercisetheir democratic rights andplayactive role
insocietaldevelopment,humanfreedomandprosperity.TheState,thelargestinstitutional
partner in the society, too needs libraries for creating awareness in public about
governmental policies, projects and programmes, decisionmaking, promoting trade
and culture, etc.
Libraries are richrepositories ofhistoricallyand culturallysignificant collections, many
ofwhicharenot available anywhereelseintheworld. Societyneedslibrariesto preserve
records ofknowledge created and accumulated bypresent and past generations. In a
world without libraries, it would bedifficult to advance researchand humanknowledge
orpreservetheworld’scumulativeknowledgeandheritageforfuturegenerations.Society
needs librariesforcapturingandpreserving traditionalknowledge,“borndigital” works
such as websites or electronic journals and manuscripts and other rare documents not
available inprint format.
Libraries need societies as much as societies need libraries. Societies have influenced
libraries in severalways. It was mainlydue to advances and developments in the ICT
that traditionallibraries could see changein their basic operations and services, bring
change in their working environment, effect new modes of acquisitions such as
e-resources that presuppose the implementation ofnew access strategies, etc. In the
emergingelectronicera, the mechanisms forinformationdeliveryinlibrarieshave since
changed fromprint to online. Theuse ofelectronicservicesandWeb-based information
sources hasincreased, libraries are managed ina more democratic wayand that library
services are more user-oriented. The ever expanding user base ofinstitutions in the
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5. 11
education sector, service sector and Research and Development sector has indeed
influenced and contributed to the growthand expansion oflibraries, the dynamics of
libraries, catalysing libraries into collaborative systemat alllevels oflibraryservice.
As societies advance and modernise, users’ expectations from libraries have also
changed. Societies have persons of all age groups – men, women and children, all
classes of people — rich, middle income group, poor, scholars, teachers, students,
semi-literates, illiterates, physicallyhandicapped and blind, different races and ethnic
groups and so on comprise modern societies. Complexities in serving them with
information and knowledge available in books inlibraries stillpose a challenge. The
challenge is that their interests, needs and libraryuses are not common. The nature of
their activities varysharplyand accordinglytheir needs. Their informationneeds range
froma simple to complex requirements reflecting their varied interests and activities.
Libraries andother institutions that handleand manageknowledge andinformationcan
onlymeet suchgrowing expectations ofmodernsociety.
Wemustunderstandthatsocietywithoutlibrarieshasno significanceandlibrarieswithout
societyhave no origin. Libraries have indeedbecome anintegralpart ofthe growthand
development ofthe society.
Self Check Exercise
Note: i) Write youranswer inthe space given below.
ii) Check your answer with the answers givenat the endofthis Unit.
2) Whyare librariesandinformationsystems necessaryinthe educationinstitutions?
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1.4 LIBRARIES: BASICS
1.4.1 Meaning of Library
Libraries represent different things to different people – froma place where students
can go and study, to a service allowing anyone to borrow a book, access the Internet
or do research. Quite simply, libraries offer a means by which students, scholars,
teachers, professionals, or lay persons and others can gain access to information/
knowledge, in particular to the organised collections of books and other published
materialfor reading and borrowing. Being institutionalfacilities, access to libraries is
restricted;itisopenonlytosuchindividualswho aremembersoftheinstitutionofwhich
libraryis a part.
What functions libraries perform? – Libraries are service oriented institutions that
provide access to information, knowledge and culture. To performthis role libraries
collect, stock, processand organise documentspublished inprint, electronic, digital, or
multi-media formats; build tools to search materialfor use;and offer user services for
informationdissemination.
Managing a Library – For managing libraryservices in a systematic manner, library
staffisbroadlygrouped into userservices, technicalservices andlibraryadministration.
Role of Library in Society

6. 12
Librarystaffisaccordinglyorganisedintothese services. Staffengagedinservinglibrary
users fallinthe categoryofuser services. Staffworking behind the scenes to prepare
the library’s materials for users fallin the category of technical services and the staff
handling administrative and physical functioning of the library are part of library
administration;theykeep the libraryservicesinline withuserexpectations. Libraries in
majorityarefundedbygovernmentdepartmentsorinstitutionstowhichtheyareattached.
Iflibrarydefaults inmeeting expectationsofparent organisations, futurecontinuanceof
library funding becomes an issue for the library. In this context, the role of library
administration inkeeping libraryservices inorder and running iscriticaland important.
Significantly, libraries are pro-active; important changes are taking place in the
characteristics and features oflibraries with the increasing application ofinformation
and communication technologies. These relate to the ways libraries manage their
functions;the waystheyprovide access onlineonthe Internet;and theways theystore,
manage and deliver informationresources using ICT.
Books and other learning materialare organised systematicallybysubjectsand kept in
open stacks for access, browsing and borrowing for home reading. Libraryholdings
are generally richand varied comprising books, periodicals, newspapers, reference
books and other learning materials. For access, dissemination and distribution of
information/knowledgestoredinsuchdocuments, librariesbuildcatalogues, databases
or suchotherlists aslibraryaccessaids. Inadditionto acquisitions, serials, classification
and cataloguing work, a typicallibraryis required to performvarious other functions
suchasshelfmaintenance,stockverification, libraryadministration, circulation, reference
and other user services.
Staff management in small libraries –The various services outlined above do not
necessarilyrequirestaffmemberswho workexclusivelyinanyonesinglearea. Librarians
and other staffoften fillmultiple roles. Ina smalllibrary, for example, alibrarian might
provide reference service and/or reader advisory service for a few hours and then
completesomebookselectionwork andthereaftertakeanyotherfunction. Multitasking
in libraries nowadays is the order ofthe day.
Library automation and staff management – Libraryis an integrated system, its
sub-systems depend on each other.Automationhas enabled its sub-systems to work
moreincollaborationandunisonto helpthelibraryperformbetterasasystem. However,
automationinlibrarieshasblurred theselinesofstafffunctioninginseparate workareas.
Whena libraryinstalls anautomated system, everyperson onthe staffis involved with
it. Librarybuildsa centraldatabase ofalllibrarymaterials bothtitlesanditems (copies).
Librarycataloguers add records and keepupdating the database. Circulationstaffuses
this databaseto check books inand out andkeepstrack ofwhere theyare.Acquisitions
staffand serialsstaffuses this databaseto order new purchases andmonitors items on
order, checksthemin and keeps track ofthe funds. Reference staffin libraryuses this
database to answer user queries, assisting users in getting access to books and other
librarymaterials on stacks. To runand manage a libraryautomation system, libraries
require systems librarian who is responsible to keep the system functioning. The
automated library system has changed and, with each new upgrade and added
functionality, it continuesto change traditionalorganisationalpatternsinthe libraries.
Types of libraries – Libraryis a cultural institution that is shaped by society. In the
societywe have persons withdifferent needsand purpose. In response to the different
needsofsuchclient groups, various typesoflibraries haveevolvedthatare‘user based’.
We have evolvedpublic libraries, schoollibraries, collegelibraries, universitylibraries,
speciallibraries, government libraries. Inaddition, we have libraries that are ‘function-
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7. 13
based’or ‘material-based’(e.g. manuscript libraries, audio-video libraries) or ‘subject-
based’(e.g.agriculture,engineeringlibraries)asnationallibraries.Evenwithinaparticular
library type the needs ofvarious client groups are different. For example, in a public
librarywe mayhave persons ofallages, children, young, old and people fromdifferent
trades, businesscentres, orpersonwithdifferent abilities. Librarieshaveevolvedsuitable
collections to cater to persons withsuchdifferent informationneedsand interests.
Library-userrelationship– Libraryisanorganisationbased onusers.To makelibrary
vibrant it is desirable that the services that a libraryprovides must be user-oriented.
User - libraryrelationship willdetermine how users view their library. User - library
relationshipshavetobenurturedinasystematicmanner. Everyinteractionthat alibrarian
has withusersis anopportunityto develop relationships. Building arelationship witha
new customer does not end after an introductory session about library services. The
realityisthat libraries haveto earntrust and thistakes time. It isimperative that libraries
alsofocusonbuildingcredibilitythroughprovidingexcellent adviceandcustomerservice.
The following activitiesshould assist librarians tobuild effective relationships:
 Provide trainingoninformationresources orinformationmanagement tools.
 Attend a meeting, class or conference devoted to the users’areaofexpertise (not
oriented to librarians).
 Meet (in person or virtually) senior members of the user group to discuss
information-related needsand services.
 Attend usergroup meetings to learnabout their work and informationneeds.
 Meet withregular user to discuss information needs and present results to them.
 Attend socialeventsofuser groups.
1.4.2 Need and Purpose
Booksarecarriersfordistributinganddisseminatinginformation. Bookscarryinformation
and knowledge. Students need books for gaining knowledge in various subjects of
their interest. Teachers need books for carrying out teaching functions efficientlyand
effectively. Doctors, lawyers and such other professionals need books inthe practice
oftheir profession.Almost everyliterate personneeds books for some purpose or the
other. The bodyof literature in anysubject is verylarge and dispersed. It is also very
difficult foranyoneindividualtoaffordlargebookcollections, as large as areinlibraries.
Books are generallyexpensive. Besides, not everybook bought for personaluse may
be neededever againonce itsuse is over. Evenifit be so, books willhave to be kept on
shelves properlyand preserved.
Libraries make it easier for people to access books that they need especially when
collectionsarelargeandscatteredatdifferent locations. Beingrepositoriesofknowledge,
we need libraries to preserve the written records ofour civilisation for posterity. At
present, there arelibrariesineveryschool, college, universityforthebenefit ofstudents,
teachers and others. Inaddition, there arelibraries for professionals forthe purpose of
meetingtheirspecific informationneeds.
The purpose ofthe library in modern societies is to give information support to the
institutions ofeducationand learning, policyand decisionmaking bodies, industryand
to members ofthe communityin the widest sense for raising awareness and education
onissuesofcommoninterest to the societyin health, socialwelfare, etc. Libraryis one
ofthe mosteffectivemeansofmakinginformationavailable to thesocietyand nationfor
Role of Library in Society

8. 14
its cultural, economic and socialprogressand development. Libraryis for propagation
ofbasic knowledge, preservationand disseminationofhumanculture and civilisation.
In brief the purposes of libraries are:
 to disseminate booksandother informationcarriers andinformationto contribute
to institutions’missions and goals;
 to archiveinformation;
 to provide a communityspace for people to interact around information;
 to providefacilities to access, storeand reproduce informationindifferent media;
and
 to give people access to ICT tools necessary to manage digital divide, manage
access to informationin a sensible way.
1.4.3 Value and Importance
Libraries are a dynamic environment in whichto work, but theystillare struggling to
findtheirplace,to establishtheirterritoryanddefinetheirservicesinthenewinformation
world. Libraries do not exist in vacuum. Theyare accountable to the funding bodies
and their parent institutions;theyneed todemonstrate to themthevalueofinvestments
made on libraries otherwise their future willbe at great risk. Value, ofcourse, is not to
be viewed strictlyin the economic category. It is more about what meaning a society
places on libraryoutputs and outcomes.
Strengthening academic and research performance –As a fundamentalsupport
systemto the academia the value oflibrarylies in strengthening their performance in
teaching, learningand research.Asaidsto nationbuilding, librariesareinvaluablemeans
for allround humandevelopment.
Bridging links between information sources and users – The librarian is an agent
ofcommunicationandinformationtransferfor thebenefit ofthecommunity. Thelibrary
serves as an interface between booksand users bringing informationforward to make
it relevant, understandable andusable. It isinthisverycontext that manyatime libraries
are perceivedas information centres.
Bridging digital divide – With the societies becoming ICT-based and knowledge
based, access to the Internet and ICT tools has become predominant. Libraries play
leadingroleinreachingout to masses.ForbridgingdigitaldividelibrariesprovideInternet
facilities and organise tutorials to give exposure to all those who lack ICT skills and
lack accessto Internet facilities.
Libraries are the only institutions that can manage books and information
resources without commercial interests – Books that carry information and
knowledge are indispensable for gaining fresh thoughts for conducting affairs of
governments, industryand services or for addressing issues and tasks at hand. Books
areabsolutelyessentialforeducationand learning. Librariesare theonlyinstitutionthat
can manage book stocks and become links between information sources and the
prospective users. Therefore, libraries ofvarious types that stock books have come up
and have growneventuallyas essentialinstitutionalfacilities, funded bygovernments
and/or otherinstitutions as invaluable aidsto nationbuilding.
Library motivates individuals–Librarymotivates individualsto do something useful
for the society;it gives themconfidenceinrunning and organisingacademic, socialand
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9. 15
culturalactivities. Libraries motivate individuals because they(libraries) are designed
forlearning. Learningmakesindividualsliterate, informed,knowledgeableandanalytical
inhisjudgements and decisions. Libraryexperiences act as externalmotivating sources
that driveindividuals to inculcate positivevalues, attitudes and behavioursthat promote
harmoniousrelationships.Libraryexperiencesinfluencethoughts,patternsandcollective
behaviour. Libraryexperiences are exciting andmotivating becauselibraries area place
for education, culturalinteraction for mutualinterest, societalinterest andself-help in
bridging digitaldivideand making individual’s informationliterate. Because theybring
access to all, theybring opportunityto all.
Libraries are the only institutions that provide free access to resources–Access
to libraryis for free. This is the best feature of a library. It makes no charge upon the
readers for making available to themnewspapers, journals and other learning material
for reading. This feature is of immense interest to the ill-paid and poor members of
society who, notwithstanding their poverty, are interested in their educational
development andpersonalempowerment.
Libraries serve as gateways to rich library resources – No library can meet total
needs ofusers solelyonthestrengthofits owncollections. Rather, users needlot more
thanwhat alibraryinits collections. Theyare indireneed to beconnectedto the bigger
libraries. Theyperceive librarymore asa gatewayto accessinformationresources held
inbigger librariesor get links to the Internet for searching webresources. Therefore, in
additionto librariesservingascentresofinformation, theyshould alsoserve as gateways
to resourcesand knowledge held inbigger libraries.
1.4.4 Defining a Library
A library is a service oriented organisation created to facilitate access to learning
resources, propagation of basic knowledge, preservation and dissemination of
information, humancultureandcivilisation.
Self Check Exercise
Note: i) Write your answers in the spacegiven below.
ii) Check your answers with the answers given at the endofthis Unit.
3) What are libraries? Why are they necessary?
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4) What changes are taking place inlibraries because ofthe application ofICT?
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10. 16
5) What ismultitasking and whyit is important inmanagingsmalllibraries?
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6) State brieflywhat factors led to the creationofdifferent type oflibraries.
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Activity II
Visit a library in your locality and attempt to write a small note on the library
collections, their users, the order in which these books are kept on the shelves,
reading roomandunderstand what different services the libraryprovides.
1.5 FUNCTIONAL ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN A
SOCIETY
Modernsocietiesareheadingtowardsinformation-basedandknowledgebasedsocieties.
Information and knowledge are the most sought–after and valuable merchandise in
such societies. Modern societies need this valuable merchandise – information and
knowledge – to support their missions to emerge as economic leaders. Institutions of
educationandlearning, policyanddecisionmaking bodies, industryuseinformationfor
technologicalinnovations, research, education, cultural, economicand socialprogress
and development. Libraries are one ofthe most effective meansofmaking information
availableto thesocietyandnation. Librarieshavebecomepart ofthesocietalframework.
Libraries havebecomeintegralpart ofallsocietalprogramsofgrowthanddevelopment
ofacountry.The roles that librariesplayinsupporting modernsocietiescanbe grouped
under five major categories (i) higher education roles (ii) user education roles,
(iii) recreation roles, (iv) library as a place and (v) societal and cultural roles. The
societalroles that libraries have come to playinclude democratisationofinformation
andknowledge, linkingpeople to knowledge and informationsources, informationand
awarenessservicesto communitiesforempowerment.Libraryasaplacehasanattraction
in itselfas library is used to run and organise academic, socialand culturalactivities.
Libraries serve as community centers with creative spaces suitable for a number of
activitiessuchasorganisingculturalactivitiestopromotesocialharmony.Librariescollect,
preserve and conserve documents relating to socio-culturalaspects ofthe societyfor
future generations. Thefollowing table givesinbrieffunctionalroles ofthelibraryinthe
society:
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11. 17
Self Check Exercise
Note: i) Write youranswer inthe space given below.
ii) Check your answer with the answers givenat the endofthis Unit.
7) Discuss brieflythesocietalroles oflibraries.
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Role of Library in SocietyRole Type Library Role
Roles in Higher
Education
 Supporting education, teaching research, and
training in the society by providing access to
knowledge resources, materials and by
providing referrals (Traditional role)
 Dissemination and distribution of information/
knowledge stored in such documents to
stakeholders in education
 Serving as gateways to the collections of
global libraries
 Supporting informal self-education and
learning
User Education Roles  Building good reading habits
 Information literacy, computer literacy
 Encouraging use of library collections and
services
Roles in Recreation  Supporting the educational, civic, and cultural
activities of groups and organisations.
Library as a Place  Information commons – a library model for
learning
 Offering architecturally designed building as a
place that inspires interest in every one for
academic pursuits
Social and Cultural
Roles
 Democratisation of information and
knowledge in the society
 Linking people to knowledge and information
sources
 Giving under-privileged sections of the society
awareness about opportunities available in the
society for their social and economic
development
 Community information resources
 Community awareness about State
programmes such as mass literacy
 Organising cultural activities to promote social
harmony such as book discussions, lectures on
important topics
 Supporting the civic and cultural activities of
groups and organisations
 Knowledge preservation for posterity
 Capturing and preserving traditional
knowledge
 Serving as a gateway to local and national
government

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1.6 SUMMARY
In thisUnit, you are introduced to the important roles that libraries playinthe societal
institutions engaged informaland non-formaleducation, research and development,
cultural activities, in the spiritual and ideological realms and in recreation and
entertainment, etc.Youareintroducedtothevariousmeaningsofsocieties, whysocieties
are important to the mankind, how have societies changed over centuries. In this Unit
you are introducedto the concepts ofwhat libraries are, whyare theynecessary, what
purposedo theyserveinthesociety,howlibrariesfunctionto servepersonswithdifferent
needs and purpose. You must have come to understand and appreciate that libraries
areundergoingtransformationintheirbasiccharacteristicsandfeatureswiththegrowing
use ofICT applications in managing libraryservices.
1.7 ANSWERS TO SELF CHECK EXERCISES
1) Informationsocietygave ICT based toolsthat werehighlyinstrumentalinmaking
profound impact onthe production and management ofinformation and public
services such as e-governance, e-commerce, e-business, e-learning, e-health,
e-publication, etc. The information societyhas changed the wayinstitutions and
organisations transact work in business, education and logistics. It is through
e-servicesthattheinformationsocietyhasbenefittedthecommonmaninthesociety.
On the other hand knowledge society refers to any society where knowledge
(technological innovation, knowledge based technologies) is the primary
production resource instead of capital and labour for anysociety. In knowledge
societyknowledge is used for theprosperityand well-being ofits people.
2) Libraries arenecessaryfor educationalinstitutionsto support their missionsinthe
society. This includes formaland informaleducation and learning, mass literacy,
information literacy, bridging digitaldivide and strengthening performance of
academic institutions. Educationalinstitutions need librariesto support research
work. For researchwork, information requirements are highlyspecific and only
specially trained professionals employed in libraries can offer these services.
Librariesofferthe meansbywhichinstitutions cangainaccessto highlyspecialised
collections and get customised libraryand informationservices on demand.
3) Libraries offer the means to access knowledge, thought and culture. To support
this activitylibrariescollect, stock, process and organise documents published in
print, electronic, digital, or multi-media formats. Libraryholdings are generally
rich and varied comprising books, periodicals, newspapers, reference books and
other learning materials. Libraries build catalogues, databases orsuch other lists
as library access aids for access, dissemination and distribution ofinformation/
knowledge. Libraries are necessary because they make it easier for people to
access books that theyneed especiallywhencollections are largeand scattered at
different locations. We need libraries to preserve the written records of our
civilisationfor posterity, strengthen academic and researchperformance, bridge
links between information sources and users and bridge digital divide. Library
motivates individuals, provides free access to resources and serves as gateways
to rich libraryresources.At present, there are libraries ineveryschool, college,
Libraries: Basics and Contexts

13. 19
universityfor the benefit ofstudents, teachers and others. Inaddition, there are
libraries for professionals in various disciplines for the purpose ofmeeting their
specific informationneeds.
4) Due to theapplicationofICT,libraries areautomatingtheirhousekeeping services.
ICT based applications do not require as much staffstrengthas it is required in a
manualsystem. Libraryautomationinawayishelpinglibrariestocarryout routine
housekeeping functions with minimal staff; thus giving them opportunities to
redeploytheir staffand ask themto do multiple roles, spending moretime onuser
orientedservices.Allthese are changing thetraditionalcharacteristics andfeatures
oflibraries. Inthe libraryworknew technologies therefore offernew possibilities
to raiseservice levels too.
5) Multitasking is doing more than one task at the same time by one person. In the
library context it is about asking a staff to play multiple roles in a library. For
managing libraryservices in a systematic manner, library staff is organised into
services suchas user services technicalservices and libraryadministration. These
services have staffin varying numbers dependinguponthe size ofthe library. But
it is also true that you do not always require one staffexclusivelyforeverysingle
activity. Librarians and other staffoften fillmultiple roles. In a small library, for
example, alibrarianmight providereferenceserviceand/orreader advisoryservice
for a few hours and thencomplete some book selectionworkand thereafter take
anyotherfunction. Multitasking inlibrariesnow a dayisthe order oftheday, more
so when libraryautomation has come up as a house-keeping tool.
6) Inthe societywe have persons withdifferent needs and purpose. Inorder to cater
to specific needsofsuchvarious client groups, we needlibrariesofdifferent types,
eachtype servingeach user group withuser-specificcollections and accordingly
‘user based’libraries of different types have been evolved. These include public
libraries, schoollibraries, college libraries, universitylibraries, special libraries,
government libraries, eachlibrarytypeserving a distinctiveuser-base. Evenwithin
aparticularlibrarytypetheneedsofvariousclientgroupsaredifferent. Forexample,
in a public library we may have persons of all ages, children, young, old and
people fromdifferent trades, business centres, or person with different abilities.
Libraries have evolved suitable collections to cater to persons withsuch different
informationneeds and interests. Libraries are thereforeculturalinstitutionshaped
bythe society.
7) Modern societies are changing into ICT-based and knowledge-based societies.
Information is the most sought–after and valuable merchandise in such societies.
People want information and not ‘books’. The challenge before libraries is in
informationdissemination, how to keep upwiththe continualflowofinformation,
newresourcesand new technologicaldevelopments,more so whentheamount of
information inthe world is enormous and fast changing. Libraries in the modern
societies are also changing to remainrelevant inthe modernsocieties. Theyhave
undertakenseveralnew rolesto establishand retaintheirdistinctivesignificance in
the society. Libraries now play several different societal roles. These include
buildinggood readinghabits, undertaking programmesoninformationliteracyand
computerliteracy,buildinginformationcommons,providingthecommunitiesaccess
to learning resources, community information resources and information
infrastructuralfacilities like Internet and tutorial services. Democratisation of
information and knowledge in the society, linking people to knowledge and
information sources, preserving knowledge for posterityand providing under-
Role of Library in Society

14. 20
privileged sectionsofthesocietyinformationand awareness services aretheother
societalroles that should interest societies. Organisingbook discussions, lectures
onimportant topics are the examples ofculturalactivities that libraries undertake
to promote socialharmony.
1.8 KEYWORDS
Digital Divide : It refers to the gap between people who have
access to effective information technologyand
resources and people who do not have such
facilities.
Institution : Organisation or establishment devoted to an
activity and in its promotion for a particular
purpose.
Library : A library is a service oriented organisation
created to facilitateaccess to learning resources,
propagation ofbasic knowledge, preservation
anddisseminationofinformation, humanculture
andcivilisation.
LibraryAutomation : Use of computers in library functions such as
acquisition, cataloging,circulation, etc.
Modern Society : Societies that belong to the erathat characterise
thepost-industrialsociety,informationsocietyand
knowledge society.
Revolution : A complete pervasive, usuallyradicalchange in
something.
Society : Differentgroupsofpeoplewithdistinctivecultures
living ina geographicalterritory.
1.9 REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
Khanna, J.K. Library and Society. New Delhi: Ess Ess Publications, 1987. Print.
White, Ben. Guaranteeing Access to Knowledge: The Role of Libraries. WIPO
Magazine, 4, 2012. Web. 14April2013. <http://www.wipo.int/wipo_magazine/en/
2012/04/article_0004.html>.
Nuut, Anu. “The Role of Libraries in a Knowledge-Based Society: Estonian and
European Experience”. Diversity in Unity: Baltic Libraries in the European Union:
Proceedings of the 7th Congress of Baltic Librarians, September 30 - October 2,
2004, Jumurda, Madona region, Latvia. 2004. Print.
About America’s Libraries. Web. 15 April 2013. <http://www.ilovelibraries.org/
getinformed/about-libraries>.
McGuire, Hugh. What are libraries for? April 2011. Web. 13 April. 2013<http://
www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2011/what-are-libraries-for/>
Why is Society so Important?Web. 13April2013. <http://www.buzzle.com/articles/
purpose-of-society-why-is-society-important.html>.
Libraries: Basics and Contexts