Arnold Bennett states that if libraries spend less on books and more on educated staff, far better results would be obtained. A trained librarian should be appointed in every institution. He should know the aptitudes, tastes and interests of every student and should help students for extra reading by suggesting them good books. He is expected to play the role of a sympathetic friend and guide to students. His function is also to maintain a study atmosphere and discipline in the library room besides regulating library hours. He should help the school authorities to buy good books. In short, the librarian should possess the following qualifications:
General educational, professional ie indexing and cataloguing, pedagogical, ie adept in child psychology, familiarity with the present trends in the educational nature etc.
The Secondary Education Commission has observed that if the library is to be the hub of the academic and the intellectual life of the institution, if it is not only to meet but guide the reading interests of the students, if it is to work as a centre of free and supervised study as well as group of work on projects undertaken by them, if it is to do all these things, the librarian will surely have all his work cut out. He will also give due publicity to good books, old and new available in the library. He will prepare and circulate book lists suitable for different grades. He will display `blurbs' and cuttings of book reviews on the notice board. He will also arrange book exhibitions and conduct a few reading projects. Preparation and display of library rules and regulations..preparing catalogues- subjectwise and languagewise. Classification of books, numbering of books, stocking books in a proper manner, training students in the art of looking up reference material, in using catalogues in selecting books, instructing students in keeping books neat and tidy, taking annual stock of books, making plans for the purchase of books, attaining skills in the use of audio-visual aids like film projector, tape recorder etc, maintaining an atmosphere or perfect silence in the library room, displaying cuttings and folders on the notice board.
The Secondary Education Commission observes, `He will also be responsible for giving due publicity to good books, old and new, available in the library- preparing and circulating book lists suitable for different grades, displaying `blurbs' and cutting of book reviews on the notice board, arranging book exhibitions, perhaps conducting a group reading project.
Ravindranath Tagore has given a very good description of a good library. My idea of a small library is one that keeps books on every subject, but only selected books, not one of which is there merely as an offering of worship to number, but each of which stands on its own merits.
Sunita Pamnani
Writer is librarian at Sant Hirdaram Girls College
Print This Page
Terms
and Conditions