Unit-2 :Role of Libraries and Information Centres in Modern Society

1) List the types of institutions founded by society to meet many of its activities. 
The institutions founded by society for different activities are given in the following table:

Activities	Institutions
1) Education	Schools, colleges, university professional organisations
2) Economic well-being	Financial institutions, industrial undertakings of different kinds, goods distributing agencies, etc.
3) Technological development	Research establishments, industrial establishments, etc
4) Spiritual pursuits	Philosophical and religious institutions
5) Cultural activities	Arts and crafts centres, theatre, music academies, etc.
6) Leisure activities	Libraries, entertainment centres
7) Recreational activities	Cinema halls, television centres, sports and games associations etc

2) Describe in five lines the role of the library in non-formal education. 
Non-formal education is a process of self-learning. Self-instructional materials, both paper-print and audio-visual learning kits, are necessary for this process of learning. These materials are collected in libraries, providing facilities for study in the premises of the library or making them available for home study on loan. Libraries of distance education centres have, therefore, to organise these, services, particularly in smaller towns and in rural areas. This responsibility of libraries is crucial to non-formal learning.

3) Explain briefly the responsibilities of different types of libraries to cater to the research needs of the community. 
Research is conducted in universities, research institutions and in industrial establishments:
The function of libraries attached to these institutions is to build the necessary document collections, provide facilities for accessing this collection in addition to obtaining information on research materials on the subject of research and obtaining hard copies of required documents and such others.
Therefore libraries are indispensable supporting institutions for research and development. Public libraries also stock appropriate research material and service them for supporting research.

4) Describe briefly how public libraries organise dissemination services on current affairs. 
Public libraries collect newspapers and general/popular periodicals for the use of the public to keep themselves aware of current affairs. Debates and meetings on current issues of public concern are organised by public libraries in which the public participate. Book clubs, exhibitions and special fairs are organised periodically to highlight reading materials on  public affairs. Thus, public libraries disseminate information on current affairs

5) Discuss the name of information in the changing context.
The changing contexts of information are caused by:
i) Demand for information by different groups involved in education and learning, research and development, industrial and economic development, social welfare programmes and many others.
ii) Advances in computer and communication techniques have made information/knowledge accessible and available, enhancing the use of them for all developmental purpose.
iii) Increasing attention is given to creation of new knowledge and information, which form the central force for development and hence call for proper care, harnessing and management.

KEY WORDS
Disseminating : Collecting, organising and packaging information making them available to people.
Information Society : A society in which the central instruments of and direction are information and knowledge.
Non-formal Education : A system of education wherein; the students have acquire knowledge through self-study
Repositories : Places where things are stored.
Vocational Skills : Skills pertaining to an occupation.
Working Groups : Persons engaged in different vocations, professions occupations.

Source: IGNOU Study Material