IMPHAL, November 3: A three day National Level Training Programme on Development of Community Library organised by the National Service Scheme Cell of Manipur University was started today at MIMS conference hall, MU Canchipur Imphal.
The training progrmme is sponsored by the Government of India, Ministry of Culture and Central Reference Library, Kolkata.
Speaking at the function as chief guest, Prof H Nandakumar Sarma, Vice Chancellor of MU said that setting-up of community library is essential for the growth and development of society, moreover there is need to set up libraries in far flung areas where books and internet are hard to access by the people.
The community library will provide lots of benefit to the people in enhancing their knowledge, he said and added that in spite of it, the people in the State avoid, or do not have the inclination to visit libraries, which is deplorable.
Prof HNK Sharma pointed out that the library will be managed by local people to provide learning opportunities for community development and help in improving quality of life of the people.
He lauded the programme taken up by NSS, and appealed the gathering to take maximum benefit out of it.
Delivering the keynote former Dean, School of Economics, Management and Information Sciences, NEHU, Shillong, Prof Jagdish Chandra Binwal obserevd the a community library is more than just a library. It refers to a community owned centre for lifelong access to educational materials. While on the one hand, it serves as a storehouse of knowledge and information on the other hand, it works to create a space for community men and women to collaborate on a range of development initiatives, he added.
He continued that the community libraries help local people to develop sound reading habits; they provide reading material to all age groups and people from different interest groups, and added that with easy access to the library, technology and information, people become literate and develop their skills.
He further maintained that knowledge empowerment turns villages into hubs of economic activities, creating jobs and access to technology, thus balancing the urban-rural opportunities gap. Setting up community libraries is an essential step towards this direction, he added.
The training programme is being attended by both students and teaching faculties of the university.