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Public library scenario of Ghatal Subdivision: A survey Avijit Mallik

Debabrata Maity

Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac Part of the Library and Information Science Commons Public library scenario of Ghatal Subdivision: A survey

Avijit Mallik1, Librarian, Pandit Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar Primary Teachers Training and B Ed College, Marichha, Dandipur, Ghatal, Paschim Medinipur

Email: [email protected]

Debabrata Maity2, Librarian, Khejuri College, Baratala, Khejuri, Purba Medinipur

Email: [email protected]

Keywords: Public Library, Public library—Ghatal, Public library scenario— Ghatal, Ghatal subdivision—lifelong learning centre, Ghatal

Abstract: Survey is necessary to study the various aspects of libraries that is average number of readers, number of books issued, other services available, the level of satisfaction of library ‘users’ and ‘non-users’ and about the role played by the libraries in terms of their traditional role as readership promoters as well as their new role as service and information providers and the impact of public libraries on the quality of life and economic gains of local people. There are twenty seven government registered public libraries in Ghatal Subdivision. A suitable questionnaire is being framed to collect data from each library. Detailed description has been given about the origin and development, present condition of services, user patterns, problems and prospects of the public libraries in Ghatal Subdivision.

1 Introduction:

Among the different types of libraries evolved by the society in modern times, public libraries are the most popular, because of the functions they perform. They play a very significant role in the welfare of a society. The public library is called people’s university. IFLA/UNESCO Public Library Manifesto 1994 defines it as “The public library, the local gateway to knowledge, provides a basic condition for lifelong learning, independent decision- making and cultural development of the individual and social groups” (IFLA, 2016, p. 1). Public library should provide all kinds of information needed to solve citizen problems. To reach these people, libraries must be prepared to offer custom-tailored products, to develop a new educational role as an essential lifelong service and a vital public utility. The call is to serve the illiterate as well as the literate. This study tries to describe public library systems and services of Ghatal Subdivision of Paschim Medinipur district.

2 Objectives:

(a) To see the infrastructure facilities of the existing public libraries of Ghatal Subdivision. (b) To point out the availability of resources of the subsisting public libraries. (c) To find out users’ patterns and users’ satisfaction levels of the public libraries. (d) To note down different services provided by the public libraries. (e) To find out notable problems faced by the public libraries, etc.

3 Scope of the study:

This study covers twenty seven public libraries as located in the Ghatal Subdivision of Paschim Medinipur district (Government of West Bengal, Department of Mass Education Extension & Library Services, West Bengal Public Library Network, n.d.).

4 Methodology: Survey method has been used to collect data. A suitable questionnaire was formed to achieve necessary data from each library. Collected data has been arranged in different tables and then interpreted.

5 Ghatal Subdivision:

Ghatal Subdivision is one of the four subdivisions under Paschim Medinipur district. Ghatal Subdivision including the town Ghatal has a unique old history of civilization, business and struggle for freedom movement of India. Golden children of Bengal like Pandit Iswarchandra Vidyasagar, Patriot Pradyot Bhattacharya, Patriot Pravangsu Paul, Patriot Mohini Mondal, Raja Narendralal Khan, Patriot Manabendranath Roy and so many ever-memorable persons were born here.

5.1 Location: This subdivision is in the North-Eastern part of Paschim Medinipur district. Its latitude is 22̊40'10" in the north and the longitude is 88̊45'50" east. It is lying to the west of Hooghly & Howrah district, north to Purba Medinipur district and the rest sides are surrounded by other blocks of Paschim Medinipur district i.e., Debra, Keshpur, Garbeta-III and Garbeta-I.

5.2 People’s occupation: Ghatal Subdivision is a flood-prone area and flooded almost each year by the rivers like Shilaboti, Jhumi, Kethiya, Kansaboti and Rupnarayan. People of many occupations reside in this subdivision. Farming rice, potato and other vegetables are the main occupation of the people. Besides, a substantial number of people are attached with gold, silver, diamond jewellery and embroidery.

5.3 Ghatal Subdivision at a glance: Ghatal Subdivision has a total area of 952.28 sq. Kilometres. According to the census report of Government of india, 2011, there are 9, 21,346 populations in this subdivision (Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, 2011). It has three police stations- Daspur, Ghatal and Chandrakona. Total area is divided into five blocks- Chandrakona-I, Chandrakona-II, Daspur-I, Daspur-II, and 48 gram panchayats and five municipalities including Ghatal, Kharar, Khirpai, Chandrakona & Ramjibanpur at next level.

6 Analyses and Interpretations:

6.1 Block-wise distributions of the public libraries:

As mentioned earlier that there are five blocks in Ghatal Subdivision. Ghatal block has seven libraries, which is the highest numbers than other four blocks individually. Chandrakona I and Daspur I each block has five libraries where as four and six libraries are located in Chandrakona II and Daspur II block respectively.

Table 1: Block-wise distribution of public libraries

Sl. No. Name of block No. of public Percentage (%) library 1 Chandrakona I 5 18.52 2 Chandrakona II 4 14.81 3 Daspur I 5 18.52 4 Daspur II 6 22.22 5 Ghatal 7 25.93 Total 27 100.00

6.2 Type of public libraries:

There are twenty two Rural Libraries (81.48%) in Ghatal Subdivision and it has one Town Library and one Sub-divisional Library. Kishore Pathagar, Kaijuri is the only Upgraded Town Library (UPL) in this subdivision. There are two Primary Unit Library (PUL) including Ramjibanpur Primary Unit Library and Gurudas Pathagar.

Table 2: Type of public libraries

Sl No. Type of Library No. of Library Percentage (%) 1 Primary Unit Library 2 7.41 2 Rural Library 22 81.48 3 Area Library 0 0.00 4 Upgraded Town Library 1 3.70 5 Town/Sub-divisional 2 7.41 Library 6 District Library 0 0.00 Total 27 100.00

6.3 Establishment year scenario:

It reveals from Table-3 that from and after the year 1985 only two libraries have been established, which are Ramjibanpur Primary Unit Library (1985) and Swaraj Jnan Bhandar (1988). Here it is clear that within last twenty six years no new library has been established. Sayla Jagriti Public Rural Library (1945) and Kharar Sitaram Memorial Public Rural Library (1945) are older libraries followed by Basudebpur Gram Panchayat Bharati Pathagar (1947) and Kalara Rabindra Mitali Sangha Pathagar (1950) respectively.

Table 3: Establishment year-wise distribution of public libraries

Sl. No. year No Percentage (%) 1 1945-54 6 22.22 2 1955-64 7 25.93 3 1965-74 5 18.52 4 1975-84 7 25.93 5 ≥1985 2 7.40 Total 27 100

6.4 Infrastructure:

Infrastructures of the libraries are poor to moderate. Out of twenty seven libraries two libraries i.e. Rajnagar Ganasiksha Kendra and Balaka Granthagar do not have their own buildings but they are running. Out of twenty five libraries those have their own land, only Kechkapur Banikallol Granthagar has kuccha building. Rest twenty four libraries have pucca building.

There are sixteen libraries having three or more than three number of rooms where as eight libraries including Gurudas Pathagar, Promode Dasgupta Smriti Pathagar etc., having only two rooms to each. Rest three libraries i.e. Lenin Smriti Pathagar, Rajnagar Ganasiksha Kendra, Ghatal Town Library have only one room to each. It is important to say that Halwasia Sub-divisional Library and Birsingha Vidyasagar Memorial Rural Library have eight rooms to each.

Four libraries are lacking form separate reading room where as other twenty three libraries have separate reading room.

Only seven libraries have their own drinking water source, others are dependable on nearby tube well or tap water. Nineteen libraries have own toilet but rest eight libraries including Hiradharpur Ramkrishna Pathagar, Kechkapur Banikallol Granthagar, Rasikganja Rabindra Pathagar etc still not their own toilet facility.

Twenty six libraries have electricity connection but unfortunately Kechkapur Banikallol Granthagar is out of electricity. Only two libraries i.e. Halwasia Sub-divisional Library and Ghatal Town Library have land telephone connection, but other twenty five libraries do not have land telephone connection.

Only three libraries i.e. Halwasia Sub-divisional Library, Birsingha Vidyasagar Memorial Rural Library and Ghatal Town Library have copier machine. Computers and printers (provided by Raja Rammohon Roy Library Foundation) are notable only in six libraries including Basudebpur Gram Panchayat Bharati Pathagar, Birsingha Vidyasagar Memorial Rural Library and Ghatal Town Library etc.

Projector machine is also not available in any library. Only two libraries i.e. Halwasia Sub- divisional Library and Ghatal Town Library have internet connection.

6.5 Collection of resources:

6.5.1 Amount of books:

It shows from table-4 that fourteen libraries have collection ranges from 4001 to 6000 books. Only two libraries (Amarpur Mrigendra Smriti Pathagar, Kechkapur Banikallol Granthagar) have less than four thousands books. Only three libraries including Birsingha Vidyasagar Memorial Rural Library, Halwasia Sub-divisional Library and Ghatal Town Library have more than ten thousands books. Rest eight libraries have collections varies from six thousands to eight thousands.

Table 4: Distribution of libraries by amount of books

Sl. No No. of books No. of libraries Percentage (%) 1 ≤4000 2 7.41 2 4001-6000 14 51.85 3 6001-8000 5 18.52 4 8001-10000 3 11.11 5 >10000 3 11.11 Total 27 100.00

6.5.2 Newspapers:

Newspapers play vary vital role to increase people’s consciousness about socio-economic conditions of a country. Many people come to library only for study newspapers. Table -5 shows that there are only one newspaper available in thirteen libraries, following only two newspapers available in ten libraries. Only three libraries have more than three newspapers.

Table 5: Availability of newspaper Sl. No. No. of newspaper No. of library Percentage (%) 1 1 13 48.15 2 2 10 37.04 3 3 1 3.70 4 >3 3 11.11 Total 27 100.00

6.5.3 Others:

Except books other types of documents like maps, audio cassette, video cassette etc are found in some of the libraries. But numbers of these non conventional documents are very less. Some popular Bengali Magazines like “Sananda”, “Ananda Mela”, “Pesha Prabesh” etc. are available in almost all the libraries.

6.6 Classification and cataloguing:

This is important to say that presence of library catalogue is noticeable in twenty four libraries. Mainly book form of catalogue is found but they are not well maintained and up-to- date. Only in seven libraries books are classified. DDC 19 edition is used for classification.

6.7 Availability of staff:

Total staff pattern of concerned libraries has been presented in Table 6. Five types of designation are notable here. Out of sixty three sanctioned posts only nine posts are sanctioned to Library Assistant, Book Binder, and Night Guard (each designation has three posts individually). For each library, posts named as Librarian and Junior Library Assistant has been sanctioned. It is also notable that there are 60.32% vacant posts.

Table 6: Staff pattern Name of the post No. Of sanctioned Post fill up Post vacant post Librarian 27 11 16 Junior library 27 10 17 Assistant Library Assistant 3 2 1 Book binder 3 1 2 Night guard 3 1 2 Total 63 25 38 Percentage (%) 100.00 39.68 60.32

6.8 User pattern:

Without user any library system cannot be completed. From Table-8 it is important to notice that out of 16892 library users of this subdivision there are 58.89% male users following 26.23% and 14.88% for female and child/juvenile users respectively. As per Census of India 2011 total population of Ghatal subdivision is 9, 21,346 (Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, 2011) but only 16892 peoples (almost 1.83% of total population) are library users. So it is clear that very small amount of people are aware of library uses.

Caste-wise distribution of users has been presented in table-8 which shows that 78.41 % users are of general category following 12.77% and 8.03% are of Scheduled Caste and Other Backward Cast respectively. It is also important to mention that only 0.79% users are of Scheduled Tribe category.

Table 7: Type of users

Sl. No. Types of users Number Percentage (%) 1 Male 9948 58.89 2 Female 4430 26.23 3 Child/Juvenile 2514 14.88 Total 16892 100.00

Table 8: Caste-wise distribution of users

Sl. No. Caste No. of users Percentage (%) 1 General 13245 78.41 2 Scheduled Caste 2157 12.77 3 Scheduled Tribe 134 0.79 4 Other Backward Caste 1356 8.03 Total 16892 100.00

6.9 Library Services:

One of the main objectives of the public library is to provide good qualitative services to users or community. Type of services and number of libraries related to the concerned services has been described in Table-9. It is clear that all libraries providing lending service, reading room service and service to children. Service to neo-literate, text book service, career guidance service and reference and information services are provided by most of the libraries. Services including interlibrary loan service, mobile library service, and extension service are not provided by any library. Only three libraries including Halwasia Sub-divisional Library, Birsingha Vidyasagar Memorial Rural Library and Ghatal Town Library are providing reprography services.

Table 9: Availability of services

Sl No. Services No. of libraries 1 Lending service 27 2 Reading room service 27 3 Service to children 27 4 Service to neo-literate 19 5 Text book service 25 6 Career guidance service 17 7 Interlibrary loan service 0 8 Mobile library service 0 9 Reference and information service 21 10 Reprography service 2 11 Extension service 0 12 Any other services 0

7 Findings: • Ghatal block has more number of libraries than other blocks. • 81.48% public libraries are of rural type. • After the year1988 there is no government registered established public library. • Infrastructures of the concerned libraries vary poor to moderate. • Only three libraries have more than ten thousands books. • Collection of other types of resources is negligible. • There are 60.32% vacant posts in total. • Only 1.83% people from the society are member of the libraries. • As per caste distribution, out of the total members, 78.41% are of general category. • Lending service, reading room service and service to children are provided by all the libraries, but no one providing interlibrary loan service, mobile library service and extension service.

8 Conclusion:

The public libraries happen to cover the widest population possible. It is an educational institution open to all- rich or poor, young and old and an institution which has no age limit, no entrance requirements other than the desire to learn (Chakrabarti, 2010). But from the study it is clear that these public libraries are failed to provide proper services to users as well as failed to fulfil social information needs. This scenario is not only limited to this block only but extended to our country. H K Kaul (2002, p. 17) said rightly that “Our public library system in the country failed totally in bringing knowledge to the doorsteps of every individual. It is advisable for us to look at the problem afresh, especially when the computer and communication technologies have now become available to us at a minimum cost.” So the government and concerned authorities should think about the development of the existing public libraries of the concerned subdivision as social need.

References

Chakrabarti, B. (2010). Library and information society (2nd ed.). Kolkata: The World Press.

Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner. (2011). District Census Handbook: Paschim Medinipur. Retrieved April 18, 2019, from http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/1918_PART_B_DCHB_PASCHIM%20M EDINIPUR.pdf

Government of West Bengal, Department of Mass Education Extension & Library Services, West Bengal Public Library Network. (n.d.). List of govt. sponsored libraries in the district of Paschim Medinipur. Retrieved April 17, 2019, from http://www.wbpublibnet.gov.in/sites/default/files/sites/default/files/uploads/district_li brary/gov_PaschimMedinipur.pdf IFLA. (2016, September). IFLA/UNESCO public library manifesto 1994. Retrieved April 17, 2019, from https://www.ifla.org/publications/iflaunesco-public-library-manifesto- 1994

Kaul, H.K. (2002). The key to self employment and poverty alleviation. Delnet Newsletter, 9(2), 17-18.

Appendix 1

Own Year of No Separate drinking Name of the Name of establis- Own Own Type of of reading water Electri- Telep- SN library block hment Type land building building room room source Toilet city hone Dingal Milan Sangha Gramin Chandrakona 1 Pathagar 1 1965 Rural Yes Yes Pucca 2 Yes No Yes Yes No Halwasia Sub- Sub Divisional Chandrakona divisio- 2 Library 1 1958 nal Yes Yes Pucca 8 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Hiradharpur Ramkrishna Chandrakona 3 Pathagar 1 1980 Rural Yes Yes Pucca 4 Yes No No Yes No Ramjibanpur Primary Unit Chandrakona 4 Library 1 1985 PUL Yes Yes Pucca 2 Yes Yes Yes Yes No Srinagar Bandhab Chandrakona 5 Pathagar 1 1955 Rural Yes Yes Pucca 2 Yes No Yes Yes No Chandrakona Chandrakona 6 Rural Library 2 1960 Rural Yes Yes Pucca 5 Yes No Yes Yes No Kechkapur Banikallol Chandrakona 7 Granthagar 2 1958 Rural Yes Yes Kuccha 2 Yes No No No No Lenin Smriti Chandrakona 8 Pathagar 2 1978 Rural Yes Yes Pucca 1 No No No Yes No Ramkrishna Chandrakona 9 Pathagar 2 1960 Rural Yes Yes Pucca 4 Yes No Yes Yes No Basudebpur Gram Panchayat Bharati 10 Pathagar Daspur 1 1947 Rural Yes Yes Pucca 4 Yes No Yes Yes No Kalara Rabindra Mitali Sangha 11 Pathagar Daspur 1 1950 Rural Yes Yes Pucca 2 Yes No Yes Yes No Kalmijore Universal 12 Library Daspur 1 1969 Rural Yes Yes Pucca 3 Yes No Yes Yes No Rajnagar Ganasiksha 13 Kendra Daspur 1 1954 Rural Yes No Pucca 1 No No No Yes No Rasikganja Rabindra 14 Pathagar Daspur 1 1957 Rural Yes Yes Pucca 5 Yes No No Yes No Balaka 15 Granthagar Daspur 2 1979 Rural Yes No Pucca 3 Yes No Yes Yes No Kishore 16 Pathagar, Daspur 2 1951 UPL Yes Yes Pucca 4 Yes Yes Yes Yes No Kaijuri

Mitali Sangha 17 Pathagar Daspur 2 1969 Rural Yes Yes Pucca 4 Yes No No Yes No Sayla Jagriti Public Rural 18 Library Daspur 2 1945 Rural yes Yes Pucca 3 Yes No No Yes No Sribora Milan Sangha 19 Pathagar Daspur 2 1975 Rural Yes Yes Pucca 5 Yes No Yes Yes No Swaraj Jnan 20 Bhandar Daspur 2 1988 Rural Yes Yes Pucca 2 Yes No Yes Yes No Amarpur Mrigendra Smriti 21 Pathagar Ghatal 1980 Rural Yes Yes Pucca 3 Yes Yes Yes Yes No Birsingha Vidyasagar Memorial 22 Rural Library Ghatal 1961 Rural Yes Yes Pucca 8 Yes Yes Yes Yes No Ghatal Town 23 Library Ghatal 1981 Town Yes Yes Pucca 1 No Yes Yes Yes Yes Gurudas 24 Pathagar Ghatal 1973 PUL Yes Yes Pucca 2 No No Yes Yes No Kharar Sitaram Memorial Public Rural 25 Library Ghatal 1945 Rural Yes Yes Pucca 7 Yes Yes Yes Yes No Promode Dasgupta Smriti 26 Granthagar Ghatal 1981 Rural Yes Yes Pucca 2 Yes No Yes Yes No Ratneswarbati Agnibina Sanskritick 27 Pathagar Ghatal 1970 Rural Yes Yes Pucca 3 Yes No No Yes No

Appendix 2

Refere nce lendi Readin Service Service Career Inter- and Any ng g room to to neo- Text guidan library Mobile inform Reprog Extensi other Name of the servi servi- child- liter- book ce loan library ation raphy on service SN library -ce ce ren ate service service service service service service service s Dingal Milan Sangha Gramin 1 Pathagar Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No Yes No No No Halwasia Sub- Divisional 2 Library Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No No Hiradharpur Ramkrishna 3 Pathagar Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No No No Ramjibanpur Primary Unit 4 Library Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No Srinagar Bandhab 5 Pathagar Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No No Yes No No No Chandrakona 6 Rural Library Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes No No No Kechkapur Banikallol 7 Granthagar Yes Yes Yes No Yes No No No Yes No No No Lenin Smriti 8 Pathagar Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No Yes No No No Ramkrishna 9 Pathagar Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes No No No Basudebpur Gram Panchayat Bharati 10 Pathagar Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No Yes No No No Kalara Rabindra Mitali Sangha 11 Pathagar Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No Yes No No No Kalmijore Universal 12 Library Yes Yes Yes No Yes No No No Yes No No No Rajnagar Ganasiksha 13 Kendra Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No Yes No No No Rasikganja Rabindra 14 Pathagar Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes No No No Balaka 15 Granthagar Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No Yes No No No Kishore Pathagar, 16 Kaijuri Yes Yes Yes No Yes No No No Yes No No No Mitali Sangha 17 Pathagar Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No Sayla Jagriti Public Rural 18 Library Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes No No No Sribora Milan Sangha 19 Pathagar Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No Yes No No No Swaraj Jnan 20 Bhandar Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No Yes No No No Amarpur Mrigendra Smriti 21 Pathagar Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes No No No Birsingha Vidyasagar Memorial 22 Rural Library Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No No Ghatal Town 23 Library Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No Yes No No Gurudas 24 Pathagar Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes No No No Kharar Sitaram Memorial Public Rural 25 Library Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No No No No No Promode Dasgupta Smriti 26 Granthagar Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No No No No No Ratneswarbati Agnibina Sanskritick 27 Pathagar Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No Yes No No No

Appendix 3

Presence Presence of Presence Internet of Classification copier Presence of Presence of connectiv- SN Name of the library catalogue of documents machine computer of printer projector ity Dingal Milan Sangha 1 Gramin Pathagar Yes No No No No No No Halwasia Sub-Divisional 2 Library Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Hiradharpur Ramkrishna 3 Pathagar Yes No No No No No No Ramjibanpur Primary Unit 4 Library Yes No No No No No No Srinagar Bandhab 5 Pathagar Yes No No No No No No Chandrakona Rural 6 Library Yes Yes No No No No No Kechkapur Banikallol 7 Granthagar Yes No No No No No No 8 Lenin Smriti Pathagar Yes No No No No No No 9 Ramkrishna Pathagar Yes Yes No No No No No Basudebpur Gram Panchayat Bharati 10 Pathagar Yes No No Yes Yes No No Kalara Rabindra Mitali 11 Sangha Pathagar No No No No No No No Kalmijore Universal 12 Library Yes Yes No No No No No Rajnagar Ganasiksha 13 Kendra No No No No No No No Rasikganja Rabindra 14 Pathagar Yes No No Yes Yes No No 15 Balaka Granthagar Yes Yes No No No No No 16 Kishore Pathagar, Kaijuri Yes No No Yes Yes No No 17 Mitali Sangha Pathagar Yes No No No No No No Sayla Jagriti Public Rural 18 Library No No No No No No No Sribora Milan Sangha 19 Pathagar Yes No No No No No No 20 Swaraj Jnan Bhandar Yes No No No No No No Amarpur Mrigendra 21 Smriti Pathagar Yes Yes No No No No No Birsingha Vidyasagar 22 Memorial Rural Library Yes No Yes Yes Yes No No 23 Ghatal Town Library Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes 24 Gurudas Pathagar Yes No No No No No No Kharar Sitaram Memorial 25 Public Rural Library Yes No No No No No No Promode Dasgupta Smriti 26 Granthagar Yes No No No No No No Ratneswarbati Agnibina 27 Sanskritick Pathagar Yes No No No No No No