Informatics Publishing Limited

Md. Nasiruddin ¹

Affiliations
1 Information Science & Library Management, University of Rajshahi, BD

Abstract

The paper intends to share the author's experience on how the innovative approach of a library demonstrated alternative livelihoods available to pavement dwellers based on their interest and the learnings they take from the library, which change their beliefs, attitudes, practices, behaviour, and made them an important part of the community. The study is primarily concerned with 110 pavement dwellers in two shelter centres that represented 10,000 and data/information has been collected from them using different techniques like Appreciative Inquiry (AI), Focus Group Discussion (FGD), Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), Consultation, Observation, Personal Interview, and Analysis of Secondary Documents. An interesting case study has also been discussed in this paper. The innovative approach of a digital library has created an environment and increased public recognition that pavement dwellers are Bangladeshi citizens entitled to the same rights as others and who fulfil important functions in society. They deserve to be treated with dignity and respect like everybody else. The research has been conducted within Dhaka city only whereas a large number of pavement dwellers can also be found in other six divisional city corporation in Bangladesh. The research has excluded other socially marginalized group in Bangladesh. However, it has outlined the success and its lessons learnt would be a milestone for poverty alleviation strategy in Bangladesh if government and non-government organizations apply this for the sustainable development of other socially disadvantaged people. The pavement dwellers were born innocent but lost their innocence almost before they could learn to walk. The innovative approach of a shelter-based community digital library has shown them the way of new life.

Keywords

Innovative Libraries, Digital Libraries, Shelter-Based Community Libraries, Pavement Dwellers, Dhaka City.

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Md. Nasiruddin ¹, Md. Habibul Islam ¹, Md. Nazmul Islam ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Information Science and Library Management, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi - 6205, BD

Abstract

Traditional approach is not able to affirm by large in context of attracting users towards libraries of Bangladesh. As a consequence, large number of users are decreasing day by day from the academic libraries of Bangladesh. Academic libraries play an important role in establishing a research- and knowledge-based society by improving the quality of education. Electronic resources and services are becoming more integral parts of the collection, certainly in academic libraries. But unfortunately, the migrations of hardcopies to e-resources are going very slowly in most of the university libraries of Bangladesh. As of today, Bangladesh has 78 Private University Libraries (UGC 2012). These are not able to act as an exact academic and research library. So the question that arises is: why are these libraries in Bangladesh not able to perform their noble roles? The main objective of the study is to conduct a user survey to assess their awareness on e-resources in some potential private university libraries of Bangladesh. It will also extricate the cause of decrease in the number of users. The learning outcomes of the survey will encourage the authorities of the private universities and other relevant policy-makers in Bangladesh to formulate a strategic plan for collecting and using e-resources to implement the government vision 2021 to make Digital Bangladesh.

Keywords

E-Resources, Private University Libraries, E-Journal, ICT in Academic Libraries, Digital Bangladesh.

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