Kasargod, 24 March 2025

 

A 5-day Capacity Building Program of National Mission on Libraries (NML) for Public Library Personnel under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India has been started in the Central University of Kerala (CUK) from 24^th March, 2025. Dr. M. Muralidharan Nambiar, Registrar, CUK inaugurated the programme.

 

Capacity Building Training Program is one of the major components of NML, which was launched in 2014 by the former President Shri Pranab Mukherjee on recommendation of the National Knowledge Commission. 50 participants, who are mainly public library professionals from Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Lakshadweep are attending this training.

 

Shri Dipanjan Chatterjee, Project Officer, NML said, "NML has been established in 2014 with its 04 components i.e. Establishment of Model Libraries, Qualitative and Quantitative Survey of Public Libraries, Capacity Building Training Program and Creation of National Virtual Library of India." He added, "In Kerala, two (02) model libraries run by Govt. of Kerala i.e. State Public Library and Research Centre, Kozhikode and State Central Library, Thiruvananthapuram were upgraded as “Model Library” and NML has already sanctioned assistances of Rs. 37.50 lakhs and Rs.116.61 lakhs respectively. While talking about the training programme he informed that in this training program library professionals are being trained in respect of providing quality library services to the society with updated ICT skills, library automation software KOHA, library management, preservation and conservation of documents, use of social media to reach the unreached, soft skills etc. in the next 5 days.

 

Prof. Ajay Pratap Singh, Director General, The National Library of India and Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation (RRRLF) and also Additional Mission Director of NML who attended the event over the phone, said, “RRRLF has been entrusted to run the components of NML except the National Virtual Library of India, which has been entrusted to IIT Bombay.” He added, “RRRLF is the only organization that provides funding support to the public libraries throughout the country with the active cooperation of State Governments, UT administrations and other organisations working in the field of library services. RRRLF, in order to accomplish the objectives, has formulated some schemes for development of public library system and services in India. For effective implementation of the schemes and also to draw development plans, a State Library Committee (SLC) is constituted in each state and Union Territories. SLC draws the annual implementation plan for library services keeping in view the budget allocated by the State Government, requirements and thirst area. As per provisions of these schemes, assistance is provided to each and every aspect towards upliftment and betterment of public library system and services. He also informed that presently developmental works in the 24 public libraries for converting those into Model Libraries have already been completed and there are other 40 libraries in the country, where works are under progress. He said, “We have a target to develop one state central library and one district library as NML model library in all states and UTs within 2026.”

 

Registrar, CUK thanked RRRLF for organizing the programme at their university. He added that we must go to library to inculcate reading habits. While talking about the status of public libraries in India, he said, “Libraries are being upgraded with modern tools and techniques under the generous support of RRRLF and NML.” He also mentioned Kerala has a good Public Library Network and requested NML authority to develop a quality library infrastructure especially in rural areas. During interaction with the participants, he advised them to make optimum use of this training programme at their workplace. 

 

Among the other dignitaries, Dr. R. Balasubramani, Department of Library and Information Science, Bharathidasan University, Prof. K. Surendra Babu, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, Prof. S. Dhanavandan, Deputy Librarian, Central University of Tamilnadu were present.

 

Dr. Senthilkumar, Library in charge of CUK welcomed all participants and dignitaries and Ms. Sruthi K. V. proposed the vote of thanks. The programme will continue till 28^th March, 2025.

 

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