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The state of West Bengal in India has a well-developed library system. Major portion of it is financed by government and some are developed and run by nongovernment organizations. This paper discusses the activities of libraries in promoting reading habits based on the initiatives taken up in a few libraries in the district of South 24 Parganas where the author resides. It also highlights the future activities involving Bengal Library Association and Raja Rammohan Roy Library Foundation to cover 6 libraries in three districts as a part of the pilot project. In the final project it will cover more libraries in all districts of West Bengal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The opportunities for implementing information literacy programmes in public libraries is explored in this paper. This paper reviews the status of information literacy programmes in three public libraries in Visakhapatnam, India and also analyzes user feedback. The role of the librarians of public libraries in enabling the citizens realize their goals has been highlighted. Suggestions have been made for making information literacy programmes more effective in a developing country like India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In keeping with the vision of its parent institute, and also in line with its mission, the library at the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow (IIML) has been conducting innovative continuing professional development programs for professionals engaged in the library and information sector, for the last over ten years now. More than thirty such programs, on areas like: (i) Quality Management, (ii) Marketing, (iii) Information Technology Applications, (iv) Human Relations, and (v) Communication, in the context of library and information systems and services, benefiting over six hundred top and senior level professionals, have already been conducted. Feedback from the participants has continually been revealing that the programs were very well received, and at times had even surpassed the expectations. As a result, significant positive developments have also been noticed to have taken place in many of the participants' library and information systems in so far as their collection development, collection organization, service design and delivery activities are concerned. Giving a brief about the need of launching such programs from the library of a national level management school, the paper provides an overview of the programs, one, each in the area of 'Quality Management'; 'IT'; and 'Marketing'. The overview includes a brief about the programme objectives, contents, schedule, delivery, participant profile and feedback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open and distance learning is seen as a viable alternative to provide 'Education for all', particularly in the context of developing countries. The open learning is basically a philosophy while distance learning is a method of flexible education for the unreached -socially, economically, physically and geographically disadvantaged groups of the society. In a skill oriented discipline like library and information science, the circumstantial disadvantaged group is another group for opportunity for continuing education to enhance and upgrade their skills. Various models of distance education, based on the application of technology have been developed. In India, 5 open universities and 60 correspondence departments in other universities offer such education, the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) at the apex. The paper analyses the efforts of IGNOU to reach the unreached. The models to be selected should be based on learner's requirement, their capability and infrastructure available to them. Development of multimedia and simulated courseware together with internship will be able to produce successful LIS professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]