Human Library: Barrow a Human instead of Book

A human library concept was started in 2000 at Copenhagen, Denmark. Initially it was started by “Stop the Violence” a non-governmental organisation. A NGO was initially focused this concept to reduce an anti-violence and build a good relationships among the citizens.

How it works?

• Users can borrow a human and they can start conversations
• Users can share their feelings with a members of human library
• Users can asks their questions and get a solutions from the experts

Human library initiatives in India

Same concept has been taken place in India, Some of the Indian cities are having its own human libraries, and they are;

• Bengaluru
• Delhi
• Hyderabad
• Mumbai

You may want to become a book, you can register here: http://humanlibrary.org/meet-our-human-books/getting-published-online-book-application-form/

Source and For More Information:

http://humanlibrary.org/

http://www.thehindu.com/books/books-authors/read-the-humans-human-library/article18303622.ece

http://www.thehindu.com/books/books-authors/read-the-humans-human-library/article18303622.ece

https://lbb.in/bangalore/human-library-bangalore/

MAGZTER: A Digital Magazine Newsstand

Publication industry has rapidly growing due to new technologies, Lakhs of magazines are being published worldwide. Due to the different needs and requirements of the users libraries are also subscribing more number of magazines but maintenance of magazines (tracking, Postal delays and binding) is a difficult tasks for library professionals because most of the magazines are publishing on weekly basis.

What is alternative?

MAGZTER, yes it is a world largest global digital newsstand, MAGZTER was established in the year 2011, Headquartered is situated in New York, USA. Libraries can directly subscribe online issues through this single platform and can reduce a print issues of these magazines.

What are the features of MAGZTER?

• It is having about 9500+ magazines in a single platform
• Users can read magazines through Mobile phones, IPods, Laptops and Desktops
• New issue will be pushed directly once a new issue of magazine published
• It has its own App

Achievements of MAGZTER towards Environment

MAGZTER has saved about

• 186,515+ Trees;
• 2,929,386+ Kilos of Air Pollution;
• 15,776,995+ Litres of Oil;
• 44,730,742+ Kilowatt Hours of Energy;
• 288,769,470+ Litres of Water and
• 888,690+ Cubic Feet of Landfill Space.

Source: https://www.magzter.com/

Green Libraries: A New Initiative towards Sustainable Libraries

Traditionally libraries are establishing in a buildings, where more security is concern for library resources and users as well. As Dr. S. Ranganathan clearly said in his 5^th law of library science “Library is a growing organism”. Yes it is a truth in an every aspect of libraries. Today we are moving from a traditional libraries to new initiative i.e. Green libraries.

What is a Green library?

The California Integrated Waste Management Board defines a green or sustainable building as “a structure that is designed, built, renovated, operated, or reused in an ecological and resource-efficient manner” (California Integrated, 2008).

Green library initiative in Karnataka

Karnatak University, Dharwad is a first university in Karnataka to establish its own Green library in the campus. It has given reading space in Gurukula Model, provided a Wi-Fi connectivity, Group study facility and reading space for students in a natural place.

Sources and For More Information:

• https://www.ifla.org/node/8829
• https://green.nd.edu/assets/24828/escholarship_uc_item_39d3v236.pdf
• http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/
• https://www.kud.ac.in/content.aspx?module=amenities&page=library
• http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/karnatak-university-to-set-up-green-library-on-its-campus/article5037001.ece

M-Technology : A Boon for Library Services

The 21^st century is called as an information communication technology era (ICT), where technology is playing vital role in all aspects of human life. Today we are using communication technologies for our day today activities. Usage of mobile phones are rapidly growing due to new technology adoptions and available in very less costs. Mobiles are very effective communication devices and one can easily carry out anywhere. Recent study was conducted by US-based media agency Zenith reveled that India has about 530 Million smartphone users as on 2018. About 462 Million users are actively using internet on their mobiles.Libraries can utilize these technology to boost library usage through innovative services using M-Technology, Some of the Benefits of M-Technology are;

• Users have freedom use library services 24X7
• SMS Service can be offered
• M-OPAC, Mobile Apps,  QR Codes
• M-DDS (Mobile Document Delivery Service)
• Services can be offered through Social Networks

• Source:  http://www.ijodls.in/uploads/3/6/0/3/3603729/vol-3_issue-4_part-1.pdf
• https://librarysciencedegree.usc.edu/resources/articles-and-blogs/how-mobile-technology-changes-the-library-experience/

Bookbot: A New Robotic Retrieval System for Libraries

Bookbot is a book delivery system which is powered with a robotic technology, Bookbot can be stored books on a climate controlled technology.  Users can access these books with a less than 5 minutes through clicking on catalogue.

Bookbot is a robotic book retrieval system, Robotic technology will help in getting a required book for users.

Advantages of Bookbot Technology

1. It’s save time for users as well as staffs.
2. Saves space for libraries.
3. It’s create virtual shelf.

Bookbot technology has already been implemented in Hunt Library of NC State University

Source:  https://www.lib.ncsu.edu/huntlibrary/bookbot

WIX : A New Technology for Website

Wix.com is an Israeli based company was established in 2006 by Israelis Avishai Abrahami, Nadav Abrahami and Giora Kaplan. WIX is a cloud based platform to design and develop a website.

Features of WIX Technology

• Its allows Social Plug-ins
• Its allows E-commerce
• E-mail Marketing’s
• Community Forums
• Its Supports a HTML5 (It is the fifth and current major version of the HTML standard.)
• It has drag and drop technology

For More Information: https://www.wix.com/

Does controversial books can be kept in the library?

It’s a common questions for all working professional, some of the controversial books have been banned by the respective governments for hurting individual’s sentiments of the citizens. However some of the faculties are required these books for their classroom teaching. The problems for a librarians are;

1. Where do we get these books? Because already books have been banned?
2. If we get these books, Can we kept in the libraries? If yes it might be hurt of someone’s sentiments.
3. If we make it available in the library it may mislead the student’s opinions as government has already banned these books.

A survey was conducted on 9^th November 2016 in USA on “Controversial books in the library”, a following link may helpful for understanding more on this issue.

https://natlib.govt.nz/blog/posts/controversial-books-in-the-library