WORKING OF RURAL LIBRARIES IN KERALA- A CASE

STUDY OF VARIOUS PANCHAYATHS IN KOTTAYAM

DISTRICT
KAVITHA V NAIR

B.Ed social science

Abstract
Intensive research and education at all levels and in all braches is essential
in the general struggle for survival, to keep pace with technological development,
for rational planning and intervening in a world, which is becoming smaller and
smaller through modern methods of communications. The library is the instrument,
which collects and make available both knowledge and documentation.

Library is an organized collection of books and other materials. Such materials

include magazines , news papers, maps, films, compact discs, online database and
important to the communication, education and leisure.

The evolutions of libraries forms part of the mainstream social history and
understanding. This process is understanding of twentieth century mass culture.
Yesterday, the library was the symbol of the traditions that rested securely in the
bosom of the educated minority. This elitist nature of library has consider declined
today. Everyone has now been brought within the research of the books. Today
books are carried over all roads into scarcely populated rural areas as much as to
the densely populated urban centers.

Introduction
Libraries in Kerala, as a social institution, rural libraries in Kerala were very
vibrant and effective in education and information people. These libraries were the
center s of the communities social in education and political life of the led the
cultural and literacy activities of the society. Committed library actives did their job
voluntarily, and selflessly. During a period when the circulation of newspaper and
periodicals was limited , these libraries ands reading rooms serves as windows to
the word of knowledge for the rural population. They were also the information
centers of the village.
For the oppressed and the underprivileged section, these institutions proved to be
the first step towards social emancipation. The public space created by the rural
libraries as politically and socially was also a liberating one. Our libraries have
ceased to be the centers of social activism. Even though the majority of the libraries
have diversified the activities, the magnitude of intervention of rural libraries in the
social am political life of the community is now only marginal. Available statistics
reveal the fact the interest on ordinary people in rural libraries has also declined
considerably. Compared to the progress in education and population explosion, the
increase in library membership is found to be marginal.

The purpose of the present study is to examine whether our libraries contine to play
a vital role in the societys social and political upheavals. To be precies, it is
intended to examine the various aspects related to the working of rural libraries in
Kerala.

Objective
The major objectives of the study are listed as follows,

1. To find out the size of membership in rural libraries of various Panchayths on

Kottayam district.
2. To examine whether there exist any gender disparities in the case of
membership in rural libraries of various Panchayths in Kottayam distirct.
3. To classify the rural libraries of various Panchayths in Kottayam district on
the basis of grades.

Universe of the study

The study is based on two Panchayths : Vazhoor and Chirakkadavu
which belongs to Kottayam district. The universe includes all the rural
libraries in the Panchayths of Kottayam district.

Scope of the study

An empirical study on the working of rural libraries in Kerala is
significant in the present scenario. It is the found that even though the
majority of the libraries have diversified their activities, the magnitude of
intervention of rural libraries in the social and political life of the community
is now only marginal. Available statistics reveal the fact that interest of
ordinary people in rural libraries has also declined considerably.
The purpose of the present study is to examine the various aspects related to
the working of rural libraries in Kerala. This study may also throw light on the
present role of rural libraries in Kerala.
Needs and significance
The factor that worked in the formation of libraries were diverse. The
colonialists and under their direction, the rulers of the princely states showed
 in establishing educational institutions including libraries. While India moved
towards independence from the colonial masters the sate tried to struggle
out from the strangle holds of feudalism and democratic rights were widening
libraries and reading rooms by the Asst. Inspector of Vernacular schools of
Travancore in 1917 is an indication of this attitude.
The growth of the library movement came to a complete halt during the
period of Control board administration. The activities of the apex of the body
had been adversely affected. And the grassroots level activates of rural
libraries had become paralyzed.

Methodology
At present, Kottayam district has 73 Panchayths. Among these, two
Panchayths such as Vazhoor and Chirakadavu were randomly selected for
the study. Both primary and secondary data were collected for this purpose.
Data taken from different periodicals, journals, books etc constitute the
secondary sources. A structured questionnaire was administered on the
selected 10 libraries and this constituted the primary data of the study.

Limitations

The study is faced with some limitations

1. Since the study concentrates only two Panchayths of the Kottayam

district, the findings cannot be generalized for the state as a whole.
2. Due to lack of time, were collected from limited number of libraries.
ANALYSIS OD DATA
WORKING OF RURAL LIBRARIES IN KERALA A MICRO ANALYSIS

Accordingly, an analysis of working of rural libraries in various Panchayths

of Kottayam district is done in the beginning. For this, 10 libraries were
selected and information regarding working and other aspects was collected
accordingly. This is supposed to make the study more transparent and
effective for analytical purpose.

3.1 Distribution of Rural Libraries by size of

membership
A study on the working of rural libraries is significant in the present
scenario. Therefore a survey was conducted in two Panchayths of
Kottayam district the working of rural libraries and its present role in the
society. The first objective was to find out whether the interest of ordinary
people in rural libraries has considerably or not.
The responses are summarized in Table 3.1

Table 3.1
Distribution of members in Rural Libraries

Number of members Number of Libraries percentage

Below 1000 4 40
Between 1000-2000 3 30
Between2000-3000 2 20
Between3000-4000 0 0
Between4000-5000 0 0
Above 5000 1 10
Total 10 100
Source: sample survey

From the table it is clear that among the 10 selected libraries, four
libraries have only small readership pf 1000 persons or less. Three
libraries have the members between 1000 and 2000 and two libraries
have members between 2000 and 3000. Only library has more than 5000
members.
This reflects the crucial problem of very law rate of reading habit
among the rural people. The impacts of the explosive development of the
communication industry and information technology and the
corresponding changes it brought about in the cultural sphere and on the
reading habits of keralities in three main reasons behind this. The
electronic medium has already overtaken the print media. The impact of
the television, particularly through its mega serials and comic strips on
the reading habits of the people also seems to have been significant.

The table is represented in the following figure.

Figure 3.1
Distribution of libraries by size of membership
 Number of members Number of libraries percentage
Below 1000 9 90
Between 1000-2000 0 0
Between 2000-3000 0 0

Number of libraries

4 3 2 0 0

3.2 Distribution of libraries by size of women

Membership
In order to find out whether there exists any gender difference in the
reading habit of rural people, the total number of female members in the
selected libraries was found out. The results are given in the following
table.

Table 3.2

Distribution of female Members in Rural Libraries

Source: Sample Survey
Between 3000-4000 1 10 The
Between 4000-5000 0 0
Above 5000 0 0
Total 10 100
analysis reveals that out of the 10 libraries, 9 have less than 1000 women
members. Only one library has more than 3000 women members. Thus it is clear
that as the patriarchal values are still dominant, the rate of entry of women in the
public sphere has remained marginal.

The table is represented in the figure below.

Figure 3.2

Distribution of libraries by the size of women membership

100
80
60
40
20
0 no. of libraries
Column1

3.3Distribution of libraries by Grade

The study examined whether the rural libraries in the selected
Panchayths have enough facilities. For this, the grade given to the
libraries were analyses. Grades were given from A to E to the basis
of facilities and quality of service provided.
The results are given in table3.4

Grade No. libraries Percentage

A 6 60
 B 1 10
C 2 20
D 0 0
E 1 10
Total 10 100
Source: sample survey

The data reveals that 6 libraries have A grade, 2 libraries have C

grade and one has B grade and the remaining one has E grade. That means
60% of the libraries have all the required facilities. They achieved this
through the financial assistance given by the authorities.

Figure 3.4

Distribution of libraries by grade

120
100
80
60 NO.libraries
40 Column1
20
0
A B C D E TOTAL

Conclusion
The basic objective of the present study has been to analysis the
various aspects of working of rural libraries in various Panchayths of kottayam
district .the study first examined the total number of members and female members
libraries. An effort was also made to examine the stocks of books and its circulation.
The financial assistance govern to the libraries and librarians was also analyzed the
study. The study also analyzed the average reading time per day of different
occupational categories and the age group of the members. The working expense of
the librarians and the renewal period of books was also studied.

For this, alto her 10 rural librarians are taken up for detailed enquiry. In this chapter,
the discussion centers on the main findings a recommendations of the project.

Findings
1. Among the 10 selected libraries, four libraries have only small readership of
1000 persons or less. There libraries have the members between 1000 and
 2000 and two libraries have members between 200 and 3000. Only one
library has more than 5000 members.
2. The analysis reveals that out of the 10 libraries, 9 have only less than 1000
women members. Only one library has more than 3000women members.
3. Among the 10 samples, 6 libraries have A grade, 2 have c grade, one has B
grade and the remain one has E grade.

Suggestions
1 .Rural libraries have to be the communitys information centers. Any information,
whether of national or international dimension significance or something quite
local importance, should be available here, Modernization of rural libraries is needed
for fulfilling this objectives.

2. The grant-in-aid given to the rural libraries should be increased to meet its
working expenses.

Reference
1. A . Balakrishnan, kesariyude mukhaprasangangal,(Mal)
( Kottayam:NBS,1961)p.178
2. Augustine C. A and Devarajan.G (Eds).public Library system in India, New
Delhi: ESS publications. 1980
3. Ramanujan Nair, P 1974, Library movement in Kerala, Trivandrum : Writers
club