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Collection development and management within public libraries in Delhi: A study on government owned public libraries in the changing digital environment

Prabhjeet Kaur (University of Delhi, Delhi, India)
Paramjeet Kaur Walia (University of Delhi, Delhi, India)

Library Management

ISSN: 0143-5124

Article publication date: 12 January 2015

1799

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to find out about the collection development and management in the public libraries governed by the government or its agencies in Delhi and compare them with the international standards for public libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

In all, Delhi has three chains of public libraries namely Delhi Public Library (DPL), like Hardayal Municipal Public Library (HMPL) and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) public libraries. The librarian/heads of selected branches were approached with a structured questionnaire aimed at collecting information on the collection development and managements in these libraries and selected branches. The data were then analysed and interpreted.

Findings

It was found that with the advent of ICT and its impact on the society, it is evident that the public libraries are not making the desired effort to reach out to the public and make it more appealing to the users. The main problem with the library remains to be the lack of membership. A few initiatives have been taken, but still there were not many digital services being provided by these public libraries in the present day digital environment.

Research limitations/implications

The study was limited to the public libraries within the physical region of Delhi only.

Practical implications

The evaluation sheds light on the existing scenario of public libraries in Delhi and may contribute in their future development.

Social implications

With the acceptance of the international standards as suggested in the study, the public libraries in Delhi would be better able to provide information resources and services to the masses. The better learned masses make the society more advanced. An information rich society would thus lead to an overall growth and development of the state.

Originality/value

There have been many studies in the past on DPL but none have intended to cover other public libraries chains like HMPL and NDMC public libraries which are governed by the government or its agencies and are established with aim of imparting information to the population of Delhi. Also, a similar the comparison with international standards was never done earlier.

Keywords

Citation

Kaur, P. and Walia, P.K. (2015), "Collection development and management within public libraries in Delhi: A study on government owned public libraries in the changing digital environment", Library Management, Vol. 36 No. 1/2, pp. 99-114. https://doi.org/10.1108/LM-11-2013-0104

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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