Information literacy and public libraries in India

Abstract

Information literacy competency ensures maximum utilization of the information resources as well as optimization of information handling capabilities. Many libraries and information systems introduce user orientation programmes to educate users on the salient features of information resources, search techniques, search strategies, scholarly communications and other aspects. In India a number of training programmes are conducted by the different agencies, who are also architects of modern information systems, to the end-users. For example, INFLIBNET conducts workshops on information resources in Infonet e-journal consortium. NISCAIR conducts workshops on information resources in CSIR e-journal consortium. National Informatics Centre conducts training programmes on ‘biomedical information retrieval’ covering Indian Medlars Centre’s resources like, IndMED, medIND, OpenMED and UNcat. All these training programmes are meant to develop information literacy competencies of the end users. Similarly, public library authorities and public librarians should impart information literacy competencies to the public library users. The importance of public libraries would be felt more strongly, if the public libraries attract common citizens and younger generations and such librarians meet the information needs of all walks of users. Public libraries can also play a pivotal role for national development programmes and bringing mass affectivity of such programmes. Hence, horizontal diffusion of information literacy can reap the optimum value of envisaged programmes.