The world is facing one of the major setback
today due to Covid19 infection. IN our country also, nation-wide lock down has
been imposed since 23-03-2020. Though some relaxations have been offered, but
pure campus based academic activities is still under Freeze mode. The library
service is also not out of this. All academic or public libraries are closed
for users with the fear of spreading community infection. Nevertheless, the situation
will not remain same forever. Though, the library extended services are being
offered in some cases, but eventually we have to start our physical library services
as well. The challenge comes here. Once we open the physical gate of our
libraries, we expect a throng of users in the libraries and we have to control
that.
The Indian Academic Libraries are not really very
scientifically designed. Many Schools & Colleges use a single room or two
as a Library with single entry/exit gate for security reasons. Even, the
reading room and book shelves do not follow adequate space between them. Therefore,
the concept of following social distancing remains a challenge for the
Librarians. The libraries must follow the Govt. Guidelines to ensure users
safety in terms of health issue and offer minimum opportunity to spreading of
infections. IFLA, though given some guidelines for the global scenario, but we
the Indian Library professionals must redefine its own guideline.
NECOLIB, in this context would like to offer a
set of instructions, which may be considers as a skeleton for the libraries to
redefine its own policy. These have be prepared in consultation with the senior
professionals of the country.
For School / College Library:
- Make the Library Closed Access
System. The Library Automation system and OPAC will really help you to
offer the optimum library services maintaining the safety protocols. The
users may communicate to the library staff over electronic mode regarding
their document requirement and that would be provided to them using a
single counter by the library staff.
- The reading room facility should
be stopped or reduced to minimize crowd of student & other user in the
library. As far as possible, promote lending of books to home & hostel
for personal study. The E-Books may also be promoted among users as GoI initiatives
like NDLI & NLIST etc offer huge number of e books for the students.
The Online Text books portal like CBSE/NCERT E-books are also good source
for online study. Now a day many state boards also upload their textbooks
in official platform.
- The authority must ensure that each
student whoever comes to the library must wear Masks and hand wash/Sanitizers
should be made available at the entrance.
- The return of the books may
cause a threat to the library staff, as we do not now the travel history
of the book during its issue period. Therefore, upon return the books need
to be quarantine for the considerable period [as per govt guideline]
before putting the books back to the shelves. A separate room or dedicated
space may be allocated for it. The books will be dropped by the students
there after circulation procedure.
- The issue period may be
enhanced to allow users to keep books for longer period, which in-turn
will invite less users to library. Moreover, cycle circulation facility
may also be initiated.
- As far as possible, offer the
User Orientation on Online Mode. The librarian may record a video describing
all library facility & resources and share in Youtube. Even a PowerPoint
presentation may also be uploaded in OPAC or Organization Website.
- The new user registration
should also be done over online mode. Lots of the organizations follow online
admission mode now. After admission is over, the users data may be
collected from administration and
same data may be used for library membership as well. If you have WebOPAC,
you may also offer Self Registration Facility.
send feedback to necolib.india@gmail.com
