Nasscom boost to ​LIBRARIES ​with INDIAN PUBLIC LIBRARY MOVEMENT

· Receives $4.78 Million grant to strengthen public libraries with access to technology, training and advocacy
· Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to provide support towards repositioning of the Libraries across India

New Delhi: NASSCOM Foundation today announced the launch of the Indian Public Library Movement (IPLM), a multi-stakeholder effort to revitalise and transform public libraries into inclusive knowledge and information centres catering to the information needs of communities across India.

In the 21st century, digital technology is changing how citizens learn, share information, and stay connected. Indian public libraries can make the benefits of technology accessible to millions of Indians who do not currently have access to computers and the Internet, and provide training on how to use technology to access information that improves lives.

Speaking at the launch, Dr. Ganesh Natarajan, Chairman, NASSCOM Foundation, said, “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.”

The IPLM seeks to change the landscape of public libraries and the services they provide to the country’s billion-plus citizens. The movement will start by reaching out to a million library users at 300 district-level libraries and proving them with community driven services such as computer training classes to build digital skills, access to online information about agriculture and health, a safe place for students to study, and learning opportunities for people of all ages.

Highlighting the importance of public libraries and commenting on the relevancy of the Indian Public Library Movement, Shrimati Shantwana Tiwari, Officer on Special Duty, Department of Secondary Education, Uttar Pradesh said, “The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation provided support for a pilot project for modernization of 7 government public libraries in the State of UP. Based on the positive outcomes of the pilot project, the state government will now participate in the Scale Up Program, to be implemented by the Indian Public Library Movement/ NASSCOM Foundation. 16 Government Public Libraries of the state will be covered under the Scale Up Program including 7 Libraries covered under Pilot Phase. State Government has signed an MOU with IPLM for the smooth implementation of the Scale Up Program. We hope that this association will definitely benefit the Public library services of the state.”

With a grant from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation IPLM implementation, NASSCOM Foundation will have an independent team of professionals, the IPLM Secretariat, to manage all programmatic activities. The Secretariat will work to strengthen the library sector in India through increased collaborative work and support from the government (national, state and local level) as well as non-government stakeholders (NGOs and corporations through their CSR initiatives), among other like-minded organizations.

“Public Libraries have played a critical role in all aspects of India’s social, economic and cultural development,” said Mr. Shrikant Sinha, CEO, NASSCOM Foundation. “From being the centre of knowledge in the ancient times to the cornerstone of India’s freedom movement, public libraries have provided citizens with access to information and enhanced the flow of ideas, culture and national heritage. We are proud to partner with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for the Indian Public Libraries Movement and hope to bring back the glory of the Indian public libraries to take their rightful place as the centre of the community across the country.”

The IPLM team has also found a very able partner in DELNET to host the The India Public Libraries Conference. DELNET, with the prime objective of promoting resource sharing among the libraries through the development of a network of libraries, aims to collect, store, and disseminate information besides offering computerised services to users, to coordinate efforts for suitable collection development and also to reduce unnecessary duplication wherever possible.

Speaking at the event, Dr. H. K. Kaul, Director, DELNET, said, “Moving in Sync with the larger goals of IPLM, IPLC 2016, is providing for a platform to study global trends, issues and innovations that are shaping the future growth of public libraries. The purpose is to reposition public libraries in India without more experimentation and wastage of time. and therefore we are engaging with experts from Chile, US, UK, Kenya and IFLA and try to create the best possible practices for Indian Public Libraries.”

IPLC 2016 is the second edition of this conference. It strives to showcase how, in spite of challenges, public libraries are repositioning themselves with the help of technology and innovative content and services to serve the communities in the 21st century.