A library is a place where books and sources of information are stored. They make it easier for people to get access to them for various purposes. Libraries are very helpful and economical too. They include books, magazines, newspapers, DVDs, manuscripts and more. In other words, they are ‘All-Encompassing Source of Information.’
As the popularity of digital content over printed content continues, some may think that libraries are slowly becoming obsolete. However, that conclusion is wrong.
The Major function of libraries is to house resources and materials. But, the greater purpose of libraries, stretching back across millennia, has been not just to house books, but to be spaces and collections that facilitate the process of contributing to human knowledge. Libraries and librarians will continue to facilitate this process even as we continue to push forward in the digital age.
The Significance and Importance of Library continue to be relevant in the Present and Future Digital age.
The history of the libraries can be traced way back during 2600 BC. The first libraries consisted of archives of the earliest form of writing that included the clay tablets in cuneiform script discovered in Sumer, some dating back to 2600 BC. These written archives mark the end of prehistory and the start of history. The earliest discovered private archives were kept at Ugarit. There is also evidence of libraries at Nippur about 1900 BC and at Nineveh about 700 BC showing a library classification system. Private or personal libraries made up of written books appeared in classical Greece in the 5th century BC. In the 6th century, at the very close of the Classical period, the great libraries of the Mediterranean world remained those of Constantinople and Alexandria.
From the 15th century in central and northern Italy, libraries of humanists and their enlightened patrons provided a nucleus around which an "Academy" of Scholars, congregated in each Italian city of consequence. Tianyi Chamber, founded in 1561 by Fan Qin during the Ming Dynasty, is the oldest existing library in China. In its heyday, it boasted a collection of 70,000 volumes of antique books. The first library classification system was set up during the Han Dynasty. In North America, it is believed that personal collections of books were brought over to the continent by French settlers in the 16th century. The oldest non-personal library on the North American Continent was founded at The Jesuit College in Quebec City in 1635. The 17th and 18th centuries include, what is known as a ‘Golden Age of Libraries.’
During the 17th and 18th century some of the more important libraries were founded in Europe, such as the Bodleian Library at Oxford, the British Museum Library in London, the Mazarine Library and the Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève in Paris, the Austrian National Library in Vienna, the National Central Library in Florence, the Prussian State Library in Berlin, the ZaÅ‚uski Library in Warsaw and the M.E. Saltykov-Shchedrin State Public Library of St Petersburg. The first textbook on library science was published in 1808 by Martin Schrettinger. In the 21st Century, there has been increasing use of the Internet to gather and retrieve Data. The shift to digital libraries has greatly impacted the way people use ‘Physical Libraries.’
A Library is a ‘Communal Place’ so adds to the importance of community in our lives. A library offers us education, relaxation and access to all sorts of books, magazines, music and movies that we could never afford to buy. It is a safe place to meet friends, using internet or to get help in College assignments. It is a place where all walks of life may be present, including children, youth, and the aged. In an era where sustainability is becoming a necessity, a library is a provider. A library has a great importance of its own. For a person of average means, it is difficult to purchase more than one or two daily newspapers or monthly magazines, but it is the keen desire of educated people to know all possible shades of opinion as expressed in different newspapers. Also, it is not possible to buy every book that you are interested to read. Hence library provides an ‘Effective Alternate’ where you need to pay in a small number of membership fee and you can get to access to a variety of books, newspapers and magazines etc. Library at home is a great way to keep your favourite reads organized in one place, but it is not possible to have a library at home and also not affordable.
Libraries play a very healthy role throughout our life. Libraries provide the students very healthy environment for learning as well as making notes or completing Assignments. Library provides a very calm and disciplined atmosphere which helps students to maintain a good concentration on their studies. Also, students can take reference books which can help them to make some quality notes. Libraries are the only place where we are free from all conventions because reading is absolutely a matter of personal choice. Readers are allowed to read what they like and also read the book according to their own manner. Nobody would check them or disturb them. Since everything is systematic and the atmosphere is calm, so students can gain more, in less time. One can save time and energy studying in libraries.
Modern libraries are increasingly being redefined as places to get unrestricted access to information in many formats and from many sources. They are extending services beyond the physical walls of a building, by providing material accessible by ‘Electronic Means’, and by providing the assistance of librarians in navigating and analyzing very large amounts of information with a variety of digital resources. Libraries are increasingly becoming community hubs where programs are delivered and people engage in lifelong learning.
Advancements in Hardware and Software for digitization of information have made electronic publishing a viable format for scholarly communication. The rapid success of these technologies led to the development of many types of electronic resources. Electronic Resources like Databases, E-journals, E-books, Project Reports, Reading lists, Lecture Materials, Reading Materials, Web pages, etc., are available in digital form. They are processed and managed by the libraries and information centers for providing various types of services to the users.
To act as a Gateway to the world of information for the students, faculty and staff of the Institution, and to facilitate Life-Long Learning.
To support students and enriching community,by providing Dynamic and High-Quality Resources, Services and student centered learning environments leading Information Literacy efforts; and offering rich Educational and Cultural Experiences.
PROFILE OF OUR LIBRARY
Total number of Books: 2852
Total number of Periodicals: 17
Total number of Journals: 5
Total number of Newspapers: 7
The College library is the main source of information for the Academic Community. The College Library has the collection of latest books on Computer Science, Commerce, Management as well as General Subjects. The collection includes books, journals, magazines, project reports and CD ROMs in different subject areas.
The operations of the library are fully computerized with ‘KOHA Library Software.’ The Database of books available in the library is being updated on day-to-day basis with details of the acquired books. The Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) is connected to LAN which enables users to access databases of library resources.
The College has a Centralized library with a full time librarian and supporting staff. The library is open for the use of students on all working days from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm. The library has a Central Section, a Reference Section and a Section for periodicals. A Library Advisory Committee entrusted by the Council, monitors the functioning of the library.
Many students rely upon library resources to complete their academic work, and we are continuously working with faculty to help ensure continued access to those resources. In addition to our extensive Collection of books, students may request that portions of books from our physical collections be scanned to them through our Document Delivery service. We are available to work with students on an individual basis, to investigate access to materials they may need
The Libraries will open for which faculty will have full access to onsite materials and facilities. We will also continue to honor faculty requests for pick-up of print materials from all two campus libraries, through Document Delivery service.
