The public libraries in the country are gearing-up for a modern facelift, thanks to the NASSCOM’s Indian Public Library Movement (IPLM). IPLM is a multi-stakeholder endeavour with an objective to reinvigorate all the public libraries across the country and modernise them into one-stop center of all information and knowledge.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) has also partnered in by providing $4.78 million grant to modernise the strong public library network in the country.
Leveraging on the success of the pilot project to modernise 7 public libraries in Uttar Pradesh, 16 more public libraries of the state have signed in to participate in the scale-up programme of the Indian Public Library Movement/NASSCOM Foundation.
The NASSCOM Foundation plans to have an independent team of professionals and an IPLM Secretariat to provide resolute and steadfast management of the project. The Secretariat is delegated the responsibility to invite and encourage synergistic efforts of government and non-government stakeholders, including other like-minded organisations.
The IPLM has also joined hands with DELNET to host The Indian Public Libraries Conference. DELNET will concern itself to augment resource sharing among libraries, provide easy accessibility to libraries by offering computerised services to end users and also look into reducing unnecessary duplication.
Ganesh Natarajan, Chairman, NASSCOM Foundation shared his enthusiasm about the project by spelling out their planned course of action,“In such a vast and diverse country like India, nothing short of a public movement can succeed in bringing a nationwide change. The Indian Public Library Movement will draw strength from the presence of a strong public library network in India, the committed leadership demonstrated by partners, and the ongoing support for public access to technology through the government’s Digital India initiative.”
News Source: Economic Times
Image Source: The Hans India
