Delhi Public Library signs MoU to retain relevance

New Delhi, May 18 (IANS) The Delhi Public Library has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Public Library Movement (IPLM) to improve the overall functioning of its outlets and make them more relevant in the fast-changing times.

The MoU was exchanged in the presence of the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Culture Mahesh Sharma, who expressed his happiness with the efforts to improve the libraries and hoped that the MoU will bring about a positive change.

The objectives of the MoU are to clearly identify the roles and responsibilities of all the parties as they relate to implement efforts in repositioning different libraries of Delhi Public Library. The understanding is aimed at enabling them to serve citizens better as community engagement, information, knowledge and resource centres.

The MoU also intends to "strengthen the capacities of the libraries and librarians," so that they serve the real time needs, especially of the youth. The initiative is set to propel time to time training of librarians on various aspects of revitalisation of libraries and library services.

Introduction of new services in the public libraries are also on the cards as children corner, space for differently abled people, digital resources, multimedia educational content and various outreach programmes also find mention in the understanding.

The Indian Public Library Movement (IPLM), supported by the Global Libraries initiative of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and hosted by Nasscom Foundation, has been conceived to re-vitalise the Indian public libraries and bring them back into the mainstream as inclusive knowledge and information centres catering to the 21st century information needs of communities across India.