Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Date of this Version
Fall 9-30-2019
Abstract
The Bengal Public Libraries Act was passed in the Assembly on 12 th September 1979. At Present, the State has a State Central Library at the apex, District Libraries and other libraries at a lower level. It has a Directorate of Libraries to manage the system. Currently the numbers of public librarians have been decreased substantially. One librarian is in the charge of two or more public libraries. Hence, one rural public library is practically operated for 2- 3 days. The role and responsibility of the public library are to disseminate information apart from lending and receiving books. The present study conducted in Lalgola Community Development Block of Murshidabad district among 100 parents whose daughters received onetime Kanyashree scholarship grant of Rupees twenty five thousand on attaining the age of 18 years. The principal objective of the study is to assess the role of public libraries in empowering women. It has been found that age of the respondent (X 1 ), educational status (X 2 ), involvement towards the society (X 5 ), association with self help group (X 6 ), reason behind the association with self help group (X 7 ), availing bank loan (X 8 ), reason behind taking the bank loan (X 9 ), nature and extent of savings (X 10 ), attention towards daughter’s education (X 11 ) and difficulties towards daughter’s education (X 13 ) have massive implications on the level of perception of parents about the effectiveness of Kanyashree one time grant towards the empowerment of women. It has also been established for financial condition of the family (X 3 ), housing condition (X 4 ), availing bank loan (X 8 ), reason behind taking the bank loan (X 9 ), expenditure towards daughter’s education (X 12 ), difficulties towards daughter’s education(X 13 ) and role of public libraries towards women empowerment (X 25 ) had immense bearing on the level of perception of parents about the empowerment of women. It has been further recognized that the variables like association with rural public library (X 23 ), role of public libraries towards women empowerment (X 25 ), available services of rural library (X 26 ), activities of public libraries (X 27 ) and up-gradation of public library (X 29 ) when had strong significance on the level of perception of parents to evaluate the function of public libraries towards women empowerment.