Rural Library Services: Lessons from Five Rural Public Libraries in West Bengal

Abstract

A well informed society is considered as developed one. In this aspect libraries can take the pioneer role as an efficient „vehicle‟ for acquiring, organizing and making information available. Public libraries are an integral part of any community, regardless of size. The development of any rural community is a positive indicator for the development of a nation. Information dissemination via rural public library is an essential ingredient for the development of the rural community. Unfortunately however, little attention has been given to the role of rural public libraries can play in the overall development of West Bengal. It has been observed that rural public libraries in West Bengal have not developed up to the mark. The principal victims of these under-developments have been rural community without having any individual means of becoming literate, due to them being too illiterate, too poor or too ill because of the information poverty. This paper examines the status of services provided by rural public libraries, and then looks at the roles and the sources of funding of these rural public libraries and pinpoints problems bedeviling them. It concludes by recommending ways of revamping the rural public libraries from their miserable situation.