A study on management and development of libraries in the aided and autonomous colleges affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University Tirunelveli Tamilnadu

Abstract

Libraries are one of the basic inventions of mankind. They play a key role and influence the very pace and pattern of growth and development of man. A library is rightly regarded as the lighthouse of guidance or a storehouse of knowledge and wisdom. It is the heart of the academic body. It provides the much needed life-blood to the learning or the knowledge society. As the world grows, the role of the libraries also grows in significance. Vast changes had taken place in the library sector due to the industrial and information technology revolutions. From their traditional system and style of functioning, libraries have marched past towards the characteristics of the computer related updatedness. newline newline This study on college libraries in Manonmaniam Sundaranar University area shall try to investigate the several facts and facets pertaining to their management and development. The libraries are expected to transform themselves in the light of computerisation these days. The waves of modernisation have invaded the library sector creditably. Management methods and strategies also change and grow over the years. Thus the virtual library, based on electronic stacks and web and#150; resources has become the order of the day. Small or big, local or global and general or specialized, proper management of the libraries determines their levels of success and contributions to the users and seekers. A good manager can easily achieve excellence in performance. A well managed library is bound to develop optimally. newline newline The following are the specific objectives of this study: To analyse the features and status of the libraries under study, to examine the levels, systems and effectiveness of management of the libraries, to evaluate the pattern of performance and trends of development of the libraries, to estimate the extent of modernisation of libraries, To assess the views and opinions of the users, to identify the problems faced by the library managers and to suggest a few measures for improvements in library