%0 Journal Article
%T Library, Democracy And Sustainable Development: The Role Of Public Libraries In India
%A Ziaur Rahman
%A Dhiraj Kumar Basak And Sabahat Nausheen
%J Golden Research Thoughts
%D 2013
%I Laxmi Book Publication
%R 10.9780/22315063
%X Free and open libraries are vital to the success of democracy. Public libraries do play an important role inour society. Libraries collect organize, preserve and provide access to knowledge and information. The publiclibrary system is perhaps one institution that can be readily associated with the social function of providing areservoir of the true reflection of the diversity of human knowledge. They preserve valuable record of culture thatcan be passed down to succeeding generations. They provide people with access to information they need to work,play, learn and govern. It is an essential part of sustainable development. Strategies for sustainable developmentmust include the democratization process. They help to bring people into the democratic process and keep theminformed as citizens about the actions of their representatives.The democratic order is therefore tasked with the empowerment of individuals and communities in orderto create a climate conducive to sustainable development. The public library system is envisaged as a sure means ofachieving these noble objectives¡ªthe citizenry must be provided with a continuous access to information whichwill guide them through and where necessary to translate that information into action. This paper recognizes thecentral role played by the public library system in most democracies and advocated that the status of the publiclibrary system should be upgrading to a national agency. The plight of the public library system is that there are noclear and committed legislation on the part of the federal government in respect of its establishment and funding. Itis this one singular predicament that has blighted the progress and contribution of the public library system tosustainable development. This paper looks at the role public libraries play in promoting democracy throughproviding free and open libraries, literacy and reading promotion, information and intellectual freedom.
%K Democracy
%K Public Library
%K Freedom of Information
%K Right to Information
%K Sustainable Development
%U http://www.aygrt.isrj.net/UploadedData/2691.pdf