Libraries need to redesign themselves to remain relevant: Paul

Uttarakhand Governor K K Paul today said libraries need to redesign themselves to face challenges thrown up by the arrival of digital technology and keep their relevance for the present generation of readers.

"To keep themselves in pace with the times, libraries and library professionals need to satisfy the present generation of information users," he said at the inaugural session of the three-day 7th National Conference on "Connecting Minds: Creating Future the Paradigm Shift" at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy here.

He also said that with the arrival of digital documents and digital technologies, the role of librarians has widely expanded and multifaceted challenges have emerged.

"The challenges seem to be threatening the existence of libraries, but are also simultaneously offering opportunities to library professionals to frame proper strategies to fulfil the changing needs of users, in the current technological environment," Paul said.

Stressing that to transform India into a knowledge-based society, he said academic libraries were required to be redesigned to meet the new challenges and expectations.

"Intensive use of digital resources, changing pattern of education and learning and role of information and communication technology to access information are the most compelling factors and challenges before the academic libraries."

The Governor said effective utilisation must be made of digital technologies in supporting education and research to meet demands of academic institutions, faculty, students and scholars.

Noting that nothing can match the joy of reading from an actual book, he also asked libraries to "come forward to inculcate upon the younger generation the love for reading from the real books and not just the e-books."

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