Authors
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Shahzeb Hasan
Akal University, India
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Subhajit Panda
Central Library of Chandigarh University, India
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Navkiran Kaur
Department of Library and Information Science at Punjabi University in Patiala
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Prem Prakash Sati
Department of Library and Information Science at Punjabi University in Patiala
Keywords:
School Libraries, Educational Policy, Library Development, Information Literacy, Funding Challenges, ICT Infrastructure
Abstract
India’s school libraries have evolved significantly alongside the nation’s educational progress. Initially, school libraries suffered from poor infrastructure, limited resources, and underuse. However, as education gained prominence, the role of school libraries expanded, becoming essential to the learning environment for both teachers and students. The primary objectives of school libraries in India are to foster a love for reading, enhance research skills, support the curriculum with relevant materials, and encourage independent learning. By providing access to a wide range of books, periodicals, and digital resources, school libraries create an environment conducive to learning and intellectual growth. This paper examines the evolution, current role, current status and challenges of school libraries in India, emphasizing their critical role in the educational system. The paper highlights the need for increased investment, improved staffing, and a cohesive national policy to address these challenges. To sum up, school libraries in India are crucial for enhancing educational quality. Continued efforts are needed to ensure all students, regardless of location, have access to well-equipped and well-managed libraries.
Author Biographies
Shahzeb Hasan, Akal University, India
Mr. Shahzeb Hasan, who has seven years of professional experience, serves as an Assistant Librarian and is in charge of the library at Akal University, India. He is skilled in library management systems, including
Koha and Libsys, and has expertise in D-Space, the Indian National Bibliography, and Special Bibliography. Shahzeb is committed to ensuring easy access to important resources and is strongly interested in language bibliography. He holds a lifetime membership with MALIBNET in India. His
research contributions include one journal article, eight conference papers, two book chapters, one authored book, and one edited book, and he has been invited to speak at an international conference.
Subhajit Panda, Central Library of Chandigarh University, India
Mr. Subhajit Panda is pursuing his PhD at Punjabi University in Patiala while also serving as an Assistant Librarian at the Central Library of Chandigarh University, India. He has published 37 articles in national and international journals, 14 book chapters, one book, one edited book, and seven conference proceedings. He is a lifetime member of the Indian Library Association (ILA), the Madras Library Association (MALA), and the Bengal Library Association (BLA). He has also worked as an associate editor for The International Journal of Information Studies & Libraries (IJISL). His research interests encompass e-learning, change management, cloud computing, open access, web accessibility, virtual and augmented reality, and metrics studies.
Navkiran Kaur, Department of Library and Information Science at Punjabi University in Patiala
Dr. Navkiran Kaur is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Library and Information Science at Punjabi University in Patiala, India. She has a PhD in Library and Information Science and has published more than 30 research papers along with two co-edited books. Dr Kaur has served as Joint Secretary and Treasurer of IATLIS in India and as an Executive Council Member of PLA in India. She is a lifetime member of the Indian Library Association (ILA), IATLIS, and PLA. Her research interests include health information literacy, information literacy, information sources and services, knowledge organization, information storage and retrieval, and information analysis.
Prem Prakash Sati, Department of Library and Information Science at Punjabi University in Patiala
Dr. Prem Prakash Sati is the Chief Librarian at Chandigarh University in Mohali, Punjab, India, and has over 26 years of experience in esteemed institutions. He holds a Ph.D. in Library and Information Science. Dr. Sati is involved in various conference and seminar advisory committees and serves on the editorial boards of several LIS journals. He has published more than 15 research papers and has acted as a resource person at numerous national and international conferences and seminars. He is a member of various national library associations and societies. He specializes in library automation using Koha, Libsys, and Libman, and possesses expertise in D-Space and the digital transformation of library resources. He is passionate about integrating technology into library services and has implemented RFID technology.
