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Public Libraries and Sustainable Development: India's Current Outlook

Conference Paper · February 2017

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 Public Libraries and Sustainable Development: India’s Current Outlook

Madhushree Dutta
Research Scholar,
Department of Library and Information Science
Rabindra Bharati University,
Email- [email protected]
Ziaur Rahamn
Assistant Professor,
Department of Library and Information Science
Rabindra Bharati University,
Email- [email protected]

Abstract
Free and open libraries are vital to the success of the welfare of society. Public libraries do play a very important role in our society.
Libraries collect organize, preserve and provide access to knowledge and information. The public library is perhaps one institution
that can be readily associated with the social function of providing a reservoir of the true reflection of the diversity of human
knowledge. They preserve a valuable record of a culture that can be passed down to succeeding generations. They provide individuals
with access to info they have to figure, play, learn and govern. It is an essential part of sustainable development. This paper aims to
examine the progress made towards the actualization of sustainable development goals (SDGs) in India and to review possible
opportunities for better actualization. The resolution adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on September 25, 2015,
resulted in a 2030 agenda for sustainable development with 17 goals, a transition from the millennium development goals to
Sustainable Development Goals which should stimulate action over the next 15 years.

Keywords: Sustainable Development, Public Library, Sustainable Development Goals, Development through Libraries programme

Introduction: Libraries around the world have always played active roles to improve the quality of lives of the people
but in the case of Sustainable development goals libraries haven’t directly come in the goal but it has a significant role to
promoting and implementing all goals in the practical world. So we cannot dominate libraries contribution two words
achieving the Agenda 2030.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs. It contains within it two key concepts: The concept of 'needs', in particular, the
essential needs of the world's poor, to which overriding priority should be given; and The idea of limitations imposed by
the state of technology and social organization on the environment's ability to meet present and future needs.”— World
Commission on Environment and Development, Our Common Future (1987).Wikipedia contributors. (2019, February 14)
In September 2015, the United Nations General Assembly formally adopted the "universal, integrated and transformative"
the United Nation 2030 Agenda is a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and make sure that
everybody all over enjoys peace and prosperity. The SDGs are interconnected often the key to success for one will
involve tackling issues more commonly associated with another. The United Nation 193 Member States adopted them in
September 2015, and they came into force on 1 January 2016. The issues fighting poverty and improving health to
promoting justice and reducing corruption are being taken into considera tion under SDGs. Wikipedia contributors.
(2019, February 14)

Action for Development through Libraries programme (ALP)

Libraries are the one of the important element need to be taken under consideration for Sustainable Development .Agenda
Session 103 of the 2015 IFLA Conference was on the contribution and mission of libraries and information services,
IFLA’s Action for Development through Libraries programme (ALP) which oversees IFLA’s advocacy for the UN Post
2015 Development Agenda and the Lyon Declaration, will present practical guidance for all libraries on demonstrating the
contribution libraries and information makes to development.
 The role of libraries in national development plans
 How libraries contribute across the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
 Brief update on Building Strong Library Associations programme, International Advocacy Programme
This session will also include updates on ALP’s programmes including the Building Strong Library Associations
programme which is being implemented through a number of regional and national projects across Africa, Asia and
Oceania, and Latin America and the Caribbean.

 The role of libraries in national development plans: Public libraries make an important contribution to
development. Libraries will be ready to support implementation of the new development agenda, and that
 governments will be seeking libraries’ involvement. It is expected that, as with the MDGs, national governments
will develop their own action plans in response to the post-2015 goals that emphasize or deemphasize various
goals depending on the local situation The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and IFLA's position on access
to information and the role of libraries Prepare national library strategy for access to information from January
2016 onwards Analyse how access to information is cross-cutting, and can help meet all of the SDGs.
 How libraries contribute across the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Libraries around the world offer a
wide range of products and services that promote the achievement of each and every one of the SDGs. From
promoting literacy, to offering free access to information, libraries are safe, welcoming spaces, at the heart of
communities. They come with the indispensable support of a dedicated staff with a deep understanding of local
needs. They advance digital inclusion through access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT),
internet connection and skills. They promote innovation, creativity and access to the world’s knowledge for
current and future generations. As illustrated in IFLA’s booklet and handout “ Access and Opportunity for All:
How Libraries contribute to the United Nations 2030 Agenda ” and in the “Development and Access to
Information (DA2I)” report published in partnership with TASCHA most existing activities, projects and
programmes delivered by libraries worldwide can be related to one or more of the SDGs

Goal of Public Libraries toward achievement of Sustainable Development

1 - End poverty in all its forms everywhere:

2 - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture:
3 - Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages:
4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
5 - Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6 - Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7 - Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all: SDG
8 - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent
work for all
9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
10 - Reduce inequality within and among countries
11 - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12 - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns:
13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
14 - Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15-Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat
desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16 - Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and
build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for Sustainable development.

 Brief update on Building Strong Library Associations programme, International Advocacy Programme: Raise
the level of awareness on the SDGs of library workers at community, national and regional levels, and to promote
the important role libraries can play in development by contributing to the UN 2030 Agenda and the SDGs;
Increase the participation of library associations and public library representatives in advocacy work at
national and regional levels to secure sustainable public access to information through library services
and programmes.IFLA,2019 https://www.ifla.org/ldp/iap
The Building Strong Library Associations programme consists of:
 A modular, customizable training package on library association development
 IFLA's policy-based learning materials
 Mentoring and advice on forming partnerships
 Cross-association activities, to bring participants together
 An online platform to provide remote access to materials Building Strong Library Associations.
(2018, January)
Sustainable Development and Role of Public Libraries
Sustainable development is the incorporation of economic, social and political development in a society. It revolves
around these three points of view—economic, social and political development. The public library as the local centre of
information has a fundamental role to play in promoting sustainable development in the society. According to Wikipedia
(2007) public libraries exist in most nations of the world and are often considered as essential part of promoting an
educated and literate population.
In promoting informal education, public libraries serve as lending libraries allowing users to take books and other
information materials off the premises; they also provide sitting arrangement for the purpose of accommodating
readership. Popular materials such as newspapers, fiction, as well as educational nonfiction materials of interest to the
general public are invariably acquired and preserved. The public library philosophy has been built upon the age-old
axiomatic believe of “free access.”
Social development cannot be measured in terms of economic inputs, which give a superior life style. We should realise
that we have a very big gap to be bridged i.e. all the sections of the society should be brought into the fold of living
conditions that are much above the poverty line. Attention should be turned to the near-haves and the have-nots and new
and innovative strategies would have to be worked out to raise the standards of life to all sections of our society.
“Sustainable development” is the goal for the rural and urban poor.
An experiment that Dr. Swaminathan, the renowned agricultural scientist, towards sustainable development in some parts
of rural India, is important to be noted in our socialisation process, using information and communication technology. The
experiment is designed to provide knowledge to twenty isolated villages in India, on demand to meet local needs using
the World Wide Web and it does so through bottom-up process. The programme of providing services include women’s
health information, advice on raising local crops and protecting them from diseases, the daily market prices for their
crops, local weather forecast and clear information about the plethora of programmes that are provided by the Indian
Government to aid poor families. To operate the system, the village provides accommodation. The village gets the needed
hardware and maintenance for the ICT system, specially designed websites in the language of the rural folks.
India’s current status and outlook
Over the last two decades, India has remarkably transformed its higher education landscape. With the world being more
interconnected than ever before, access to technology and knowledge is important for sharing ideas and fostering
innovation. A successful agenda to advance the UN SDGs (or 2030 Agenda) requires partnership among government,
private sector, educational institutions, and civil society. Some of the initiatives taken by the Government of India for the
promotion of education and research are
NITI Aayog (www.niti.gov.in/) has undertaken “a mapping of schemes” of SDGs and their targets, with the lead and
supporting ministries for each target. Its government-wide approach emphasizes the interconnected nature of SDGs across
economic, social, and environmental pillars.
e-ShodhSindhu (https://www.inflib-net.ac.in/ess/) provides access to more than 15,000 core and peer-reviewed journals
and a number of bibliographic, citation, and factual databases in different disciplines from a large number of publishers
and aggregators to its member institutions.

E-PG Pathshala (http://epgp.inflib-net.ac.in/) is a gateway to post-graduate e-content in 77 subjects at postgraduate level,

is an initiative of the National Mission on Education through Information and Communication and Technology.

NPTEL (http://nptel.ac.in/), the National Program on Technology Enabled Learning, is a joint initiative of the Indian
Institutes of Technology and the Indian Institute of Science, which provides about
1,000 free online courses. NPTEL takes the credit of world’s most accessed educational channel with more than 280
million in viewership.

NDL India (https://ndl.iitkgp.ac.in/) is a virtual repository of learning resources designed to hold content of any language
and provides an interface in leading Indian languages.
SWAYAM (https://swayam.gov.in/) is an online platform providing opportunities for a lifelong learner.
SWAYAM Prabha Channel (https://swayamprabha.gov.in) is a group of 32 DTH channels devoted to telecasting 24 hours
of high-quality educational programs using the GSAT-15 satellite

University Grants Commission (UGC) (Online Education) Regulations, 2017 (www.ugc.ac.in/ugc_notices.

aspx?id=1730) allows students to obtain a UGC-recognized degree online. Libraries in institutions offering approved
online degrees need to provide online information resources and user instruction. Garcia-Febo,(2017)

Conclusion:
The key element in a society is an informed citizenry; and that is the task of libraries. The role of public libraries in any
society is fundamental to its sustainability of overall development. Public library services have sufficiently been
highlighted to provide enough reasons why they will continue to be a very necessary catalyst to development in the
society. However, this noble role which ought to be supported by the presence of a strong and functional public library
system is completely neglected by the public sectors.
A coordinated and consistent approach is needed to improve upon the existing public library system in the country. In
order to reach the goal of creating a knowledge society, the majority of the people of India must be helped to overcome
‘information poverty.’ The knowledge deprived has to be given access to relevant and timely information and knowledge
to address the roles they should play in the developmental process. It is critical that the Public Library Services sector is
given the necessary fillip to ensure that people from all walks of life and all parts of India have easy access to knowledge
relevant to their needs and aspirations.
Some areas for libraries to partner in order to achieve the UN 2030 agenda include: Train librarians to create e-content
and deliver information at the right time to the right user. Train researchers to generate quality research and showcase
their work to society via libraries. Identify and support innovation in small and rural areas. Local literate people can assist
the elderly to document local knowledge and practices, with the help of nearby research/academic libraries, to ensure their
preservation. Collaborate with public libraries to develop services for independent researchers in order to advance idea
development outside of academia. Promote SDGs by training patrons on how they can engage in advancing them.
As India has become more diverse, public libraries are needed to be responded to this demographic shift by adapting to
the needs of the larger society. Need to offer varied book collections and programs for a diverse clientele should be the
priorities for public libraries.
References
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