My tweet on the Madurai Library has caused so many to react. I hv even had people calling in to say how wrong I am. So let me explain my point of view.
1.Worldwide the patronage of public libraries has fallen. Many countries have started shutting them down. In UK over 800 public
1.Worldwide the patronage of public libraries has fallen. Many countries have started shutting them down. In UK over 800 public
libraries have been closed in last 10 years. In the US there has been a 31% fall in public library usage between 2010-18 (pre-covid)
2.Within India also there has been a documented fall in patronage of public libraries though exact numbers are hard to find.
2.Within India also there has been a documented fall in patronage of public libraries though exact numbers are hard to find.
3. Eminent Organizations like British Council are either shutting libraries or moving to a fully online Library model
4. One reason for many to go to Libraries was to look for reference material. Google has almost killed that audience
5. The issue is not about whether
4. One reason for many to go to Libraries was to look for reference material. Google has almost killed that audience
5. The issue is not about whether
the feeling of reading a book is a better experience or not. Many still like the physical feel of reading a book. The issue is access and volume of information that a physical library can provide
6. You will agree that no physical library can hope to match either the access or
6. You will agree that no physical library can hope to match either the access or
the numbers of books or reading materials that an Online Library can provide. Quite simply put an Online Library can provide access to millions of books and that too anywhere the student may live. No physical library can beat that.
7.Physical libraries serve as places to
7.Physical libraries serve as places to
study for those who do not have a conducive environment at their homes and also serve as meeting places for the local community. A meeting hall, auditorium etc. add value for these activities. This is probably the only remaining compelling reason for a physical Library.
8. Contrast this with TN Govt providing access to millions of books to students &people across the State along with multimedia material AND a device to access this content. Imagine the power of this
9.The poor rural child in the State wd & SHOULD hv access to the SAME
9.The poor rural child in the State wd & SHOULD hv access to the SAME
knowledge repository as the rich,urban children in Chennai. That is the best way of bridging the digital divide. Today the big handicap for rural children is the lack of quality teaching and lack of access to the best teaching material. That can be leveled to some extent.
10. I am not opposed to a physical Library as much as I am highlighting a more important issue. A physical library can be used by a few 1000 people a day. An Online Library can be used by millions each day.
11. I know people will scoff and say villages do not hv good internet
11. I know people will scoff and say villages do not hv good internet
connectivity,children do not have devices etc. That is exactly where I am requesting the Govt to focus. And connectivity is far better than it was in most places in TN. Children need devices to access the Internet which can be far more transformational than any of us can imagine.
#Kalaignar was a voracious reader and writer. A Kalaignar Online library reaching the poorest of the poor in every corner of the State will do far more justice to his name than a physical library can. #KalaignarLibrary
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