Pakistan needs wider library culture

By Prof Dr Nasim Fatima
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

In order to march forward on the road of creating intellectual properties and accepting the challenges of information technology awareness, Pakistan surely needs a wide range library culture. 

It’s very heartening indeed the authorities of the University of Karachi have decided to establish a Dr Jameel Jalibi Research Library at the campus. Other universities of Pakistan should take the cue and follow similar pattern at their own campuses. 

Renowned personalities of literature, social sciences, humanities and other scientific and historical disciplines have huge and valuable personal libraries all over Pakistan. 

Senior intellectuals desire to donate their intellectual properties to the academic or public libraries like Liaquat Memorial Library, Punjab Public Library, Balochistan Provincial Library and Ghalib Library. 

The public libraries should provide a study room for the donors and security of the material besides proper management of library resources and services by the directorate of library or concerned authorities. 

Personal collections are treasures on various subjects whose worth cannot be estimated. These are priceless books which cannot be acquired in million of rupees. They reflect the sacrifices and the passion of the donors. It possesses the historical cultural and archival heritage of the subjects, Personalities and facts. 

There is a lot of reference s periodical literature which has rarities not known to general public. On the other hand their personal collections and libraries have wide variety of rare documents and archives like personal diaries, documents, photos, colours, stamps, audio-video records, maps and most importantly the rare manuscripts. 

The Mushfiq Khawaja Information Resource Centre is already being established in Karachi for online access of end users. This is another example of preserving the past. A network of personal libraries established all over Pakistan will not only preserve a library heritage but coordination among personal collection will enhance the scholarship and research. 

The collections, when automated, will become public assets as well as personal properties to reserve the future generation of Pakistan providing information technology for transfer and access will earn respect to the country on global horizon. 

Senior library scientists can share the responsibilities of management if they devote their time and experience in developing an intellectual library culture in Pakistan for providing easy accuse to knowledge to end users.