Transcript Libraries as Learning Spaces: Metaphor Intact, Myths Exploding

Jagtar Singh
Professor, Department of Library and Information
Science, Punjabi University, Patiala, Email:
[email protected]
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Library as a metaphor of the memory of
mankind is intact to preserve and serve
knowledge and information. A rose is a rose.
Call it by any name, its fragrance will not
same. Same is the case with library. Call it
with any name, it is there to preserve the
past, serve the present, and build the future.
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There is a paradigm shift from:
Printed publications to digital documents
Libraries to networks
Ownership to access
Rote learning to collaborative learning
Top-down to bottom-up
Information commons to learning commons
Libraries are conceived as places for:
 Information commons, and
 Learning commons
But majority of libraries are functioning as
information commons’ agencies. They need
to support collaborative learning by following
the learning commons paradigm. Libraries
must become extension of classrooms.
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There is a difference between a library and a
cyber cafe. Serious study cannot take place in
cyber cafes, shopping malls, or noisy places.
It can take places only in silent zones.
Libraries are silent zones to create and
disseminate knowledge.
We must redefine libraries roles and visions.
Now is the time to do that.
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We need to develop hybrid libraries which
facilitate creation and dissemination of
knowledge.
These libraries must be user centred and
expert assisted.
They must promote media and information
literacy to putt knowledge to work, and
support collaborative learning for knowledge
construction.
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With the ascent of the ICTs and the Internet,
the role of libraries need be redefined to
make them as learning spaces.
For that libraries must serve as spaces for
information commons and learning
commons.
Libraries must become extensions of
classrooms to be a face in the crowd of
commercial information providers.
Thank You