• If we encounter a man of rare intellect, we should ask him what books he reads.
• –Ralph Waldo Emerson

We all know how a library has become an important aspect of education. We also realize the emergence of this faculty as science. Hence, this department is now termed as information science rather than library as the reach of the library has widened itself to a large extent in catering to the information in all levels. No wonder, the importance of such a science has made an indelible mark in the field of education. The texture of any science subject has been its logical and proof oriented and there should be a derived theory out its format. So too library science has been methodically designed to help create a database. It is quite easy today to fish out a particular book from a collection of thousands of books. I need not go deep into the cataloguing system and the other accepted formats with software and bar coding etc. Let us leave it to the librarians. I just would like to drive home my point that the work of the librarians and this science has helped us to move into the library with ease. We owe a great to the architects of this system. The greatest of them in India is Shri S R Ranganathan, the father of Indian library. He was instrumental in streamlining library system and worked towards library for the mass and not only for the effluent.

His FIVE laws are:

1. Books are for use.
2. Every reader his [or her] book.
3. Every book its reader.
4. Save the time of the reader.
5. The library is a growing organism.

Since the growth of library in our country has been phenomenal. One common conviction of all the educated and in power has been the extensive and expansive use of library at a very early stage. It is but natural that schools form the basis of education. Hence the insistence of setting up standard library in every school has been the outcry of scholars. Almost all the educational boards have set a minimum condition of school library as an integral part of curriculum. Many boards go a step ahead to affiliate a school only with a standard library in terms of room, space, furniture, books, other materials and above all a qualified person (librarian) to handle it. Even the number of books, subjects, journals, newspapers etc. are listed as the minimum requirements. Despite such conditions, we are at times confronted with the bitter truth of library being sent to the back seat only for the sheer vastness in this field.

Well, we have established a decent library in the school in the wake of the compelling conditions. What comes next? How is the library used? The library is for the students. How much importance do we give library in the regular curriculum? Though there are certain periods allotted for the purpose, we tend to at first sacrifice these periods for various other purposes. Students are required to practice for a dance programme, use the library period; some sports practice call the students from the library period; or a teacher wants his student to complete his home work, ‘complete it in the library period’. It is the truth hitting on our face. To add to the woe, some students feel that library is an added burden because the librarian wants a write up after reading a book. The good intension of the librarian is taken otherwise. We assign a library project work. We usually consider project work to be a fun. But a few take it as an extra work.

Teachers do play an important role in making students friendly with books through library. The concept of class library, wall magazine, newsletter, project work – all direct towards library. The library has taken a multidimensional shape in the school. Today library houses digital gadgets to add depth to its use. If these modern devices can be used judiciously the use of library can become a treasure hunt. There are students who love the school for the very presence of this little hall in it. I do not find any negative impact of the library on the students’ academic excellence. The library should be within the easy reach of the students and the staff. There should be no real barrier in the choice. Only guidance is required.

The other day I was asking a person who happens to be a voracious reader of books both in Tamil and English. He enjoys reading novels and light reading including comics. I asked him to define library in a nutshell. He said that library is supposed to be informative, educative and entertaining – and immediately he wanted the order to be changed. He went on to say that the library – or rather in simple words reading books is first of all entertaining. Once it is entertaining or interesting the other two will automatically follow suit. According to him encourage a child to read – starting with comics; never restrict a child in taking a colourful book. Even at an advanced age one loves to read the comics.

From my experience I could suggest the following to the Principals, librarians and teachers assembled here to try out the following:

When a teacher is on leave, we use substitution, engagement or proxy for the particular assigned periods. In certain cases the substituted teachers are asked to teach that subject or give a worksheet of that subject. Some take them to the ground for games and some others teach their own subject in that period. I am not against any such fruitful usage of these substituted periods. I would like to add another facet to this. Procure some sets of paper backs. Each set should contain around 40 to 50 books. They should be interesting and common to all students. Each set should be easily accessible to the teachers. They may be kept at a pseudo library, if the formalities of the library disallow easy use of them. The substituted teacher should get any such set issued at the least time and take the same to the class. Just distribute to the students without much fuss. The focus should be only on full use of the period for reading. No other formalities that could kill the interest should be reduced and allow the students read books. They may exchange books at their own convenience. In this way the reading habit can be enhanced out of their regular library periods. At the end of the period, the teacher only needs to count the books in the set and deposit back. You should keep in mind that these sets are expendable and shouldn’t mind wear and tear of these books.

Another system that most schools may be already following is the newspaper stand which is accessible to the students during breaks. Please remember in these cases that the book’s value is decided by the use of it. If a book has been maximum issued and read, that book has to be valued more than a costly thick book with lots of information without being used by any and kept new safely in the library.

And the librarians should allow the reference books to be used frequently by teachers and students very often. Don’t restrict too much on the access of them. You must use your instinct in issuing them rather than follow your rules strictly. The heads – Principal, Vice Principals, co ordinators and others should have the right to permit an ardent child get a book issued at the maximum level. I remember my College at Karumathur. Then it was called De La Salle College (Now Arul Anandar College). I was the pioneer in that institution. The librarian was such a nice person that he never minded issuing me a book even late in the evening whenever he was there in the library. I even could get three books a day. I could read around 500 books in that year. Perhaps most of them were novels in Tamil. But that habit of reading went a long way in my career. I often claim that the major difference between the menial labour like gardener or a scavenger and an officer is basically decided by the number of books each has read.

Great people spend most of their free time –or rather they make free time to spend in a library. Aringar Anna, Swami Vivekananda are a few to quote.

So when I think of library as a reading place, I can as well assume that reading doesn’t only give knowledge; it keeps you engaged when you are travelling or waiting for some train, it makes you laugh; it helps you take a decision; it solves many a problem and above all books become your intimate companion.

I would like to end my address with certain impressive points picked up from the net.

• Reading reduces stress
• Greater tranquility
• Improved analytical thinking
• Increased vocabulary
• Improved memory
• Improved writing skills
• Helps prioritize goals

"If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need."

Marcus Tullius Cicero

Thank you.

I AUGUSTINE ANBANANTHAN