Without establishment of proper libraries in the educational institutions and in the communities as a whole for ensuring quality education and creating good citizens, no nation can achieve sustainable development. Keeping this view in mind, AUB authority has approved the research project entitled “Library and Information Services of Selected School, College, and Madrasah Libraries of Ashulia, Savar area: An Empirical Study.”
The purpose of the empirical study is to explore the existing status of library information services of 50 schools, college and madrasah libraries of Ashulia, Savar area, compare them with government’s requirements and fixed standards, determine the gap between and make recommendations to improve. The study provides a picture of the selected 50 (school 15, college 25, and madrasah 10) libraries of the said suburban area of Dhaka district which is situated to the north-west of the capital city of Dhaka (24 km). The size of the population was 300 including the students 150, teachers 100 and the librarians 50.
Following the analysis of the collected data the researchers have made recommendations on the subject so that all concerned particularly the decision makers can get appropriate clue to take proper decision to improve the libraries of school, college and madrasah libraries of Bangladesh which certainly shall help ensure quality education and national sustainable development and bring Bangladesh’s education in a good position of global rankings.
The study has been conducted based on primary sources. Data collection is done through structured questionnaire and face to face interview. Secondary data have also been used in some cases in limited forms. Available data have been analysed and presented in graphic representation. Statistical analysis of data by SPSS has also been done.
Observation of the researchers has also been used as primary data. Relevant government agencies which work as the watch dog of these educational institutions have been contacted for their comments on the existing situation of the libraries. Literature review is done and a few publications are found on school libraries.
According to the analysis of the collected data as described in tabular form (tables 1-30 and 4 figures) the researchers found that the infrastructure of the libraries is not satisfactory. The reading environment is not conducive to proper study. The collection is poor and outdated in most of the libraries and there is no yearly budget for purchasing books. Computer and internet facilities are available only in few libraries. Qualified and trained librarians lack in maximum libraries. Library literacy program is found absent violating the government order.
The experiences gathered by the researchers by physically inspecting the libraries is most of the libraries could not fulfill the desired satisfaction in terms of having optimum level of use by the students, neither providing them proper facilities nor good library literacy which might be the asset for their future life.
In the recommendations, it is said that as per the government orders, every school, college and madrasah library should provide proper space conducive to reading, qualified librarians, up-to-date collection of reference books, journals, magazines and newspapers, yearly budget for procuring learning materials, computer with high speed internet connection, library literacy program and conduct different activities and programs for increasing reading habit of the students.
Authors: M A Matin, Md. Mahmudul Hasan, Parul Parvin, Khadiza Parvin