IMPHAL, April 28: MLA Langthabal Karam Shyam today assured all possible assistance in the future to the Manipur Library Association (MALA) with an eye to improving the condition of the Association.
The MLA who is also a member of MALA was speaking at the 26th Annual general body meeting of the association cum 2nd M Anandamohan memorial lecture under the theme “Role of media in Knowledge based society” at the Manipur Dramatic Union at Yaiskul today.
Addressing the function, the MLA lamented that the reading habits of the people of the state have dwindled in the recent times thereby adversely affecting the condition of libraries in the state.
He continued that library culture should be encouraged as it helps in preserving and maintaining books both old and new and helps people fulfill their reading habits.
He said libraries should also be encouraged for the benefits of the future generation.
Natasha Elangbam Head of Department, Mass Communication of Manipur University delivering a lecture on “Role of Media in Knowledge Based Society” said, “In the present era, both control and fast dissemination of information are been provided by technological advancement. The media has been playing a great role but the need of the hour is to create a knowledge-based society”, she said.
While print and electronic media encompasses more of information, the stress should be on accommodating knowledge for the public, she said before adding that the print media serves as a viable vehicle for the creation and spread of knowledge but the electronic media has yet to catch up on this front.
Speaking at the function W Mera Singh, Deputy Director, Arts and Culture said Anandamohan was an intellect and the first librarian of the state.
He said that during his life time he had contributed a lot in the movement for the upliftment of library in the state.