Mangalore: Locals oppose proposal to shift region's sole library training centre

Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore

Mangalore, Jun 30: The proposal to shift the library training centre in the city has been met with opposition from the locals. There are only four such training centres in the state, and the region's sole centre is located above the public library at Valencia.

The librarian training course is recognized and run by the state revenue department. The other three training centres are at Bangalore, Dharwad and Gulbarga. The funds for these training centers come from a part of the tax that we pay. As it is public money, it is controlled by the revenue department.

Started in 2007, the job-oriented course that is offered at the training centre here is ‘Certificate Course in Library Science’, a four-month course. The government and many private organizations prefer their librarians or library assistant to have this certification. The principal of this course in Mangalore is Raghavendra K V, the assistant director, City Central Library.

Everything was going well until the students, the lecturers, the administrators, and the committee members came to know that this library is going to be shifted to Mysore.

Though not confirmed, there does seem to be a strong possibility that this might be the truth. Nevertheless, the news has alarmed everyone concerned.

Speaking to Daijiworld, Vaman K, member, Mangalore City Library Authority, government of Karnataka, says that it is purely due to some internal influence and hidden politics that this course is to be shifted to Mysore.

Mangalore Division has five districts under it - Dakshina Kannada, Chikmagalur, Madikeri, Mysore, and Mandya. There are nearly 80 students in every batch coming from different parts of these 5 districts. The course timing is from 10 am to 5 pm.

“I came to know of these secret plans of shifting the centre from some sources, and we, the members of the library authority, have even submitted a memorandum to the district-in-charge minister Ramanath Rai.

Speaking to Daijiworld, one of the guest lecturers said that he has been teaching this course here since 2007. All the students pursuing their courses take it very seriously as it is a job-oriented course, he says.

“We are ensuring quality education for students who attend this course. Not just theoretical classes, but practical classes are also held to make them thorough with the subject. Students will be taken to different libraries around the city and the system of arranging books and the way to maintain the system will be practically demonstrated to them. Various orientation and workshops are also being held, to make sure that they are perfect in the fields, and not just in certificates,” he added.

“It is quite shocking to hear that the centre is to be shifted to Mysore. It will be very difficult for the upcoming students of these regions like Mangalore, Udupi, Madikeri, and Chikmagalur to pursue their education. It is preferable to have the course in both Mangalore and Mysore or all the districts, to ensure that the students preferring to take this course are quite comfortable to stay in their home town and complete it. If this is done, more students will join this course as it provides opportunities to many, especially the women,” said the lecturer.

Honnamma, working in the Bantwal Rural Branch Library, presently pursuing this course, said that she had received lots of information with the help of this course. “The education pattern followed at the Mangalore Library Training Centre is the best. It will be difficult for many students, especially the women, if the centre is shifted elsewhere. Hence, it is preferable to have a training centre in every district,” she added.

Raghavendra, supervisor in Mandya gram panchayat library, says, “I have heard that Mangalore’s education system is better than others. But now, after attending this course, I have got a chance to experience this. We are eight members from Mandya who had been selected to attend this course, but only two men attended, while the other six were women who couldn’t attend due to their personal and family problems.

“It is true that if the centre is shifted to Mysore, the people there will be comfortable but the people of this region will have to suffer. Hence, it is better to have a centre in every district,” he said.