From Collection to Connection: a Comparative Insight from Indian Government Initiatives and UNESCO’s Global Efforts for Transforming Libraries into Socio- cultural Hubs
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Date
2025-06-26
Authors
Shifana, T.
Kohila, G.T.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Peradeniya
Abstract
Translating libraries into socio-cultural hubs is significant globally, as it promotes lifelong learning, digital inclusion, and cultural preservation. In India, initiatives like the National Mission on Libraries (NML) and the National Digital Library of India (NDLI) aim to modernize libraries, while UNESCO's global programs, such as the IFLA-UNESCO Public Library Manifesto and the Memory of the World Program, recognize libraries as the key to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study compares these efforts, focusing on their role in education and inclusive societies. The objectives are to study initiatives of India such as the National Mission on Libraries and NDLI, to review UNESCO initiatives such as the IFLA-UNESCO Manifesto, Memory of the World, and UNESCO Information for All Programme (IFAP) and to compare India and UNESCO approaches in transforming libraries into socio-cultural hubs. The study focuses on initiatives launched post-2014 that address library modernization, digital transformation, and community engagement. It examines India's NML, NDLI, UNESCO IFLA-UNESCO Manifesto, Memory of the World, and IFAP. Documents were selected based on relevance, data availability, and impact. A qualitative research method was used to analyze government policies, official reports, UNESCO publications. The results showed that the Government of India and UNESCO had played key roles in transforming libraries into socio-cultural hubs. India focused on local challenges such as, digital inclusion through NML and NDLI, while UNESCO provided global guidelines for inclusive, community-oriented libraries. Both aimed to enhance libraries' educational and community roles, though challenges including funding and reaching marginalized communities that require a collaborative tech-driven approach. The study concludes that the transformation of libraries into socio-cultural hubs, led by Indian government initiatives and UNESCO, enhances community engagement, education, and cultural preservation. Continued collaboration and innovation is the key to ensuring their success and sustainability globally.
Description
Keywords
IFLA-UNESCO public library manifesto , Information for All Programme , Memory of World Program , National Digital Library of India , National mission on libraries
Citation
International Conference on Library & Information Science (ICLIS)-2025, University of Peradeniya, P.22