Fading Library Culture in J&K
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Fading Library Culture in J&K

Post by on Saturday, July 17, 2021

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A Library is a collection of books, material & media that are easily accessible for use & not just for display purposes. A library provides physical (hardcopies documents) & digital access (soft copies) materials, & may be physical location or a virtual space, or both. The world’s oldest known library was founded sometime in the 7the century B.C. for the “royal contemplation” of Assyrian ruler Ashurbanipal. Located in Nineveh in modern day Iraq, the site included a trove of some 30000 cuneiform tablets organized according to subject matter.
The significance of libraries in the ancient world can be better explained by the fact that following Alexander the Great’s death in 323B.C., control of Egypt fell to his former general Ptolemy I Soter, who sought to establish a centre of learning in the city of Alexandria. The result was Library of Alexandria, which eventually became the intellectual jewel of the ancient world.
Discussing the history of Libraries & Library culture of the world without mentioning the “The House of Wisdom” will be sheer injustice to the context. The Iraqi city of Baghdad was one of the world’s centres of learning & culture. First established in the early 9th century A.D., during the reign of Abbasids, the centre was centred around an enormous library stocked with Persian, Indian & Greek manuscript on mathematics, astronomy, astrology, science & philosophy. Their ranks included the mathematician Al-Khawarizmi, one of the fathers of Algebra, as well as Polymath thinker Al- Kindi, often called the “Philosopher of Arabs”.
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The first Public Library in J&K was established by the ruler, Maharaja Ranbir Singh in 1879 at Jammu. The library was named as SRS Library. It was followed by setting up of another Library, namely SPS Library at Srinagar by Maharaja Pratap Singh in 1898. In 1904, a full-fledged Department of Research & Publication was established. In 1977 the department was amalgamated with Archives department & subsequently in 1982 it was amalgamated with education department. However, in 1986, the Department resumed its independent character as “Department of Libraries & Research”. The department is involved in promoting culture of book reading, & also holds book exhibitions, seminars & debates at district level. 
 
Present status
Besides the efforts made by the government of J&K through the Department of Libraries & Research, the present situation is more or less grim. The reading culture will fade its charm in the near future if no appropriate steps are taken by the Government, in collaboration with General Public in general & civil societies in particular.
 
The Department of Libraries & Research is running a network of Libraries from Srinagar & Jammu cities to every District, Tehsil & Block level. Although the aim of penetrating Libraries in almost every locality, in an accessible & affordable manner, has been realised to some extent; but the dream of ‘at least one hand for every book in library’ is yet to be realised. It is generally found in our J&K that the number of library visitors are reducing drastically from City Central libraries to Border Block Libraries. 
 
The reason is both ‘Structural’ as well as ‘Behavioural’. Almost every Library in J&K is under staffed, run by either need based employees or not run at all. Most of the libraries lack adequate & technical staff, making it impossible to have books properly classified & catalogued. A good number of books in public libraries are either irrelevant or simply outdated. Many of the libraries, especially Tehsil & Block libraries, are run in private buildings, owing to lack of infrastructure. Also, public libraries at the lower rung, i.e., Tehsil & Block level are still without internet connections. These days a library without internet speaks volumes about situation of libraries in our J&K. 
In addition to aforementioned structural issues, the public libraries in J&K are facing behavioural issues as well. General public has very weak connection with the libraries in their locality. In this way the pure economic concept of ‘Demand & Supply’ is relevant here. With lack of demand from the general public there is lack of adequate attention from the Government. Present status of Library culture in our society can be better expressed by the fact that today every one of us has an account in Facebook, but not every one of us has an account in the public library. Therefore, all we need is a shift from Facebook to Real books.
Article 51-A (h) in Part IV-A of the Indian constitution gives thrust on every Indian citizen to develop scientific temper, humanism & sprit of inquiry & reform. This aspiration of constitution can be realised by revisiting the Department of Libraries & Research afresh, followed by revitalisation and reformation on all the possible fronts. In this regard the Government of Jammu & Kashmir should appoint a committee to study the present status of public libraries in J&K and suggest the measures to improvise the services delivered by them. The “public awareness” by the libraries department through seminars, mass media & social media among other means, will be the first step in the right direction. In fact, the said department should earmark a portion of its budget specifically for public awareness purpose. 
The beauty & significance of library culture in any society can be well expressed by a quote of an Argentinian writer, Jorge Luis Borges, who once stated that, “I have always imagined that paradise will be a kind of Library”.
 
(Author is working as Junior Engineer in PWD. Email: erzahid786@gmail.com)