May 16, 2022,
https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2022/05/15/36-ways-to-connect-people-with-the-libraries/
36 Ways to connect people with the
libraries
Librarians have a key role to play
By Abid Hussain
Libraries are community places in any society and are open to all without
discrimination of caste, creed, religion, or age. In educational institutions, libraries
are central places that provide essential services to help people and neighbourhoods
thrive. Library offers vital resources to address community needs and is regarded as a
central information-sharing hub. After the advent of advanced technologies, libraries
have undergone many hurdles, like budget cuts, lack of professional staff,
administrators’ poor policies, stakeholders’ negligence and education mafias, among
others. Information Communication technologies devalued the physical presence of
readers who usually came to the library to quench their thirst for knowledge. Hence,
strategic changes prompted awareness among librarians about how to deal with
clients in the era of Information Technology. Librarians are worldwide experiencing
and executing these technologies to reach the current and retrospective patrons. The
question arises whether libraries are still inhabited or uninhabited by patrons.
The answer is puzzling for librarians. However, there are numerous tactics which, if
adopted, will ensure that the desolate places, which are called libraries, will again be
inhabited. (1) A building with a sound ventilation system in summer and winter
attracts more library users. (2) Building of professional website can bring your
patrons again into the library (3) Various social media applications, if adopted, can
bring your users back into the library (4) start posting to your social media and
website (5) Make advertising and offers (6) Add yourself to local business directories
(7) Adult discussion group on a weekly basis (8) arrange a business discussion for
people in business inside the library (8) Orientation system for students living in
surroundings (9) Making contacts with educational institutions to send their students
in leisure time. It is said that libraries house plenty of online resources like research
databases, ebooks, movies, and online articles; in addition to the digital material,
there are a lot of other sources that can be utilized to attract patrons back into the
library. Libraries and librarians are committed to preserving the freedom to read,
enhancing learning, and ensuring access to information. These are some essential tips
that help attract clients back into the library (10) Contact local authors to come
forward and discuss your book with the audience (11) Movie shows and other
aesthetic events (12) Create space for group discussion of learned classes (13)
Arrange continuing education programmes for professionals (14) Give the users
freedom to use library material with care (15) placing of IT tools inside the library
like Computers, scanning, photocopier machines and printing facilities (16) Highspeed internet and Wi-Fi facilities.
(17) collaboration with other local libraries to exchange library services (18) InterLibrary Loan facilities among regional libraries (19) To create a community hub,
libraries should make partnerships with local organizations and companies Partner
with local organizations and companies (20) Organize information literacy
programmes regularly (21) Partnership with non-profit organizations to fill
connectivity gaps (22) Bookmobiles are more important now than ever, bookmobile
services on bike delivery systems can attract more users into the library (23) Use of
social community centres like masjid, church, public and similar places of public
gathering where people from different spheres come and share their views (24)
Conducting library survey programs from time to time (25) Enlist yourself in local
media centres to capture more public (26) Make community members feel safe,
accepted, and welcomed in their spaces (27) update the library catalogue and share it
with patrons on social media, this will increase the interest of readers (28) Hosting
holiday events like Eid Milan, Christmas and other festivals for local people to
celebrate (29) Arrangement of Book Walk programmes and inviting students and
teaching faculty members (30) Featuring student poets through hosting poetry
reading programme, display of students’ art work or organizing student talent shows
in the library. (31). Many libraries have events and meeting rooms inside the library
that require reservation (32) Information for reservation of the library hall should be
made available on the library website (33) Host craft classes that not only teach
patrons how to make greeting cards, decorations, and more (34) Use of mobile apps
for awareness programs like WhatsApp, Messenger, etc. (35) E-Newsletter, which
covers other news and fresh arrivals in the library, should be shared with patrons
regularly to bring them back into the library. (36) The last but not the least attitude of
librarians is because librarians’ friendly and loving attitude can utilize both resources
and services in the given libraries.
It is said that libraries house plenty of online resources like research databases,
ebooks, movies, and online articles; in addition to the digital material, there are a lot
of other sources that can be utilized to attract patrons back into the library. Libraries
and librarians are committed to preserving the freedom to read, enhancing learning,
and ensuring access to information. These are some essential tips that help attract
clients back into the library.
The writer is library Officer at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad, He can be
reached at abidhussain@issi.org.pk