Library In Higher Education

The growth rate of educational institutions in India was very slow before independence in 1947. Since independence there has been substantial growth in the number of academic institutions – both universities and colleges in the last 60 years. The above table shows that in the year 1951 the country had just 28 University level institutions this figure has gone up to 711 in 2014. The growth of degree colleges during the period has been even larger, more than 47 times. The number of colleges has gone up from 578 to 40,760.

ACADEMIC LIBRARY SYSTEM: Libraries in the educational institutions are concerned with the teaching and learning process experienced by specific communities. A library which is an integral

These libraries are located on the campuses of colleges and universities and serve primarily the students and faculty of that institution and other academic institutions. Some academic libraries are also accessible to the general public in whole or in part, although borrowing privileges are often limited for users affiliated with the college or university only.

1.4 ROLE OF ACADEMIC LIBRARIES IN HIGHER EDUCATION: Regarding higher education, the college libraries are not only trying to increase digital resources for the students but also trying to provide the knowledge to the common people which are significant feature of the age of information. Information of higher education have their inception developed on libraries, and as such libraries are established as an integral part of higher level for successful implementation of their academic and research pursuit. This role of the library in supporting higher education has assumed greater importance and new dimensions now due to variety of factors especially knowledge explosion which is ten times more than the population

The substitute to knowledge explosion is the establishment of a sound and well equipped library with primary, secondary and tertiary sources with latest electronic devices. Library As a place of recreation, information and inspiration, be given top attention because library is a social institution to enlighten the citizenship and highlight the new generation of our past, present and future.

1.4.1 Dr.Radhakrishan Commission Report (1948-49) describes library in higher educations:

“The library is the Heart of all university works; directly so as regards its research works and indirectly as regards its educational work scientific research how it is being maintained and utilized.”

1.4.2 National Policy on Education (1986): The Government of India admitted failures in implementations and owned the responsibilities for not providing financial and organizational support to the required extent. To overcome the shortcomings and to make education more effective, Knowledgeable and to keep pace with the new developments in science and technology, the new policy on education was introduced in