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Library Public Relation and Extension Activities

Library Extension Services

         Objectives

         Prerequisites for Extension Services

         Forms of Extension Services

         

Library Bulletin

Annual report

                                                                                                                                                                       

 Library Public Relation and Extension Activities 

Library Extension Services                                                                  

Extension work is defined as those activities which are undertaken with the objective of reaching the group of people who might otherwise be unaware of the library services and book stocks. Me Colvin considers it as means "to increase the number of readers and the volumes of work and later to make the library more useful to more people". ALA Glossary of library and Information Science 1983 defines it as "the Provision by a library of materials and services (including advisory services) to individuals and organizations outside its regular service area, especially to an area in which library service is not otherwise available. 

 The UNESCO Manifesto of 1994 states that "the Public library should be active and positive in its policy and a dynamic part of community life. Extension activities will vary in nature and in scope from library to library depending on financial, physical, and human resources. The main objective is to bring the library and the community close to each other.

  1. Objectives  

The main objectives in providing extension services are 

 i. To convert a library into a social, cultural and intellectual centre. 

 ii. To convert non reader into reader, non user to user. 

 iii. To bring books and readers together. 

 iv. To inform those who do not use the library services and to attract them to those service. 

 v. To inform the reader of all the facilities offered by the library. 

 vi. To remind both the reader and the non reader of the library and its resources. 

 vii. As a means of publicity to enlist financial support or other wise for the libraries. 

   2. Prerequisites for Extension Services   

 i. The library should have a good collection to support all extension activities. 

 ii. The trained and experienced staff is obligatory 

 iii. The library should have a lecture hall, an exhibition hall for holding meeting of different groups. 

 iv. The library should posses audio-video equipment i.c. LCD projector, slide projector and make arrangement. 

 v. The librarian should be a good organizer, should understand the needs of the different categories of the community and be knowledgeable about the collection of the library. 

   3. Forms of Extension Services  

The Library extension services may be of internal or external type. The internal extension service includes orientention programmes and the external extension service includes the mobile library service, publicity programmes etc. Some of the main forms of extension services are as follows 

 i. Library orientation library Tour - Many potential library patrons do not know how to use a library effectively. This can be due to the lack of early exposure, shyness or anxiety and fear of displaying ignorance. These problems led to the emergence of the library instruction movement. Which advocated library user education. Libraries inform the public of what materials are available in their collections and how to access that information. The reference staff may orient the user either in formal way or informally into the library system. 

 ii. Reading circle, study circle - persons with common interest may be bought together by the library to a reading circle, Each reading circle should be given necessary facilities regarding the materials and a suitable place to hold the meeting. 

 iii. Forming Friends of the Library Group - The library can also think of forming " Friends of the library group"; such group can assist the library through fund raising, volunteering, and advocacy. They also hold book sales at the library. 

 iv. Reading to literates - Reading hours for adults who cannot read should be arranged by public libraries. Once they become neo- literates the public library then should take upon itself to see to it that they do not lapse into illiteracy again. 

 v. Meeting, Public Lectures and talks - A Library should organize public lectures and talks by eminent persons and also by library staff. 

 vi. Celebration of Festival and Events and Arranging cultural Programmes - It is a good idea to arrange popular festivals and events in the library which may also arrange, a drama, a puppet show, a music concert, a film show, a magic show etc. Such cultural programmes can prove great attraction for the community. On such occasions a book exhibition related to the programme should be arranged. 

vii. Book Fair and Exhibitation. At the time of talk, festival, fair, drama, etc. a book exhibitation on the relevant topic may be arranged. Exhibitation on local history, local festivals, arts, photograph and painting can offer great opportunity to attract the attention of the community. Periodical exhibition of books which have a bearing on topical theme enhances the chances of books findings their readers. Occasional exhibitions of unused books might prove useful for the reader in getting interested in books and using them. 

 viii. Mobile Services - Introduction of mobile library services to provide service to citizens without access to central or branch libraries has devised an interesting variety of delivering methods. For offering this service, the time for each locality is to be fixed and notified earlier. 

 xi. Publicity / Propaganda - Propaganda through the newspaper, radio, television can be introduced, press, news sheets, Library Bulletins, window Displays, Posters, Personal Talk, library surveys, social media. 

x. Book by mail / Telephone Request - The public library should also provide library leading service through mail and dial a book and dial a fact method. A Public library can also think of delivering books to any home bound person on a request. Introduction of library website it is also a good from of extension service. 

 xi. Publication — Publication like annual report, reading guide. library magazine, bulletin and other similar publications are also helpful. 

   Library Bulletin  

 The library bulletin should not only list fresh books and some important articles published in current of new material needs. The library bulletin can take the form of indexing or attracting service or table of content of periodicals received in the library on the list of recent publications or acquisition. 

  Annual report  

The annual Report is the official document of the library for recording the annual library activities in totality. It is the statement of assessment and evaluation of all the departments of the library. It is the servey of works carried out during the preceding year with summarization of the activities and achievement of the library. 

 Libraries are the democratic institutions for the profit and enjoyment of all. So, in the recent years much thought has been given to the best methods of popularizing the use of libraries. How does one attract readers to libraries ? How were it extend to all classes the facilities for using them? How can one render the maximum amount of help to those who desire to use libraries and how to save the time of the reader and library staff alike are some issues to be addressed.

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