| Libraries are the essential organs of the modern society. Now-a-days, the libraries become the information resource centers to keep the man with an up-to-date knowledge. A library is a collection of information, sources, resources, and services: it is organized for use and maintained by a public body, an institution, or a private individual. At present, the libraries are understood as extending beyond the physical walls of a building, by including material accessible by electronic means, and by providing the assistance of librarians in navigating and analyzing tremendous amounts of knowledge with a variety of digital tools. The central mission of a library is to collect, organize, preserve, and provide access to knowledge and information. In fulfilling this mission, libraries preserved a valuable record of culture that can be passed down to succeeding generations. Libraries are an essential link in this communication between the past, present, and future. Whether the cultural record is contained in books or in electronic formats, libraries ensure that the record is preserved and made available for later use. Libraries provide people with access to the information they need to work, play, learn, and govern. In general the libraries are broadly categorized as public, academic and special ones. Public Libraries are the first form of libraries; A library or library system that provides unrestricted access to library resources and services free of charge to all the residents of a given community, district, or geographic region, supported wholly or in part by public funds. Because public libraries have a broader mandate than academic and special libraries, they must develop their collections to reflect diversity. Robert Welch rightly points out about the PL services, "the quickest and the easiest access to the world's best thought is through PL". Public Library has been acknowledged to be an indispensable part of the society. Public Library is playing a vital role to promote the social, economic, cultural, historical, scientific and technical knowledge among the society at large. It is the treasure house of the cultural history of mankind. A country can be valued by its cultural heritage and the knowledge bank. Public Library is the information resource pool, by which the richness of the country can be valued. It is of national importance. The Public library system is the study of the various levels of PLs, their divisions, existing under the. |
