eChapters

1. Introduction

Today, all the organisations rely on assessments of data provided by their users, consumers, internal procedures, and day to day operations to find new avenues for betterment and expansion of the product and services. These insights provide a large and intricate set of professionally generated, maintained, analyzed, and modified facts. "Big Data" refers to the vast amount of data (Bansal, 2022, April 6). For instance, social media platforms facilitate human contact every day and millions of people connect and share a vast array of diverse types of information through these platforms. Big Data is viewed as "incredibly significant" in academic research. In the Big Data context, data visualization tools and technologies are essential for analyzing large amounts of data and making decisions based on facts (Adilin Beatrice, 2021, March 2). Information and data are represented graphically in data visualization. By using visual components like charts, graphs, and maps, data visualization tools provide an intuitive way to observe and understand trends, outliers, and patterns in data. The process is called Big Data Analytics that describes the process of uncovering trends, patterns, and correlations in large amounts of raw data to help make data-informed decisions in various research works.

1. Introduction

Web 2.0 speaks about the second version of web advancement and draft that aims to make it easier to communicate and safer to share information, as well as to make the web more interoperable and user-centered. Social networking sites, video-sharing sites, Wikis, blogs, and folksonomies are just a few of the web-based communities, hosted services, and apps that have grown and changed because of Web 2.0 ideas. (King and Brown, 2009; Wikipedia, 2010c). According to Birdsall (2007) web 2.0 is a social revolution since these tools have brought new changes in the society. According to O'Reilly (2005) the advent of Web 2.0 has revolutionized the way individuals and organizations interact with the internet, marking a significant shift from a static web experience to a dynamic, user-driven environment. This transformation is characterized by the emergence of platforms and tools that empower users not only to consume content but also to create, share, and collaborate on it. As a result, Web 2.0 has fostered a more participatory online culture, where users actively engage in the generation and dissemination of information.

1. Introduction

The technology is a part of dynamic environment which has brought a lot of change in styles and pattern of various fields. Out of this education is also one of the integral parts. Technology has brought immeasurable effect in the f ield of education. E-learning consists of various types of facilities such as audio and images delivers text animation etc. E-learning process involves many types of local networks or the internet basis learning. E-learning has made learning and developmental activities so frequent which leads to easy access to required information. E-learning is a way of creating knowledge and circulating the same where teacher plays a vital role. The basic objective of e-learning is exploring and adding essential knowledge.

1. Introduction

Libraries play an important role in developing reading habit among students. The Academic library specially means to support the teaching learning process and is focus to work on curriculum based education system. Inculcating reading habit among students in academic Library is a challenge. Our College SMRK BK AK Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Nashik is dedicated towards the Women’s Education has accepted this challenge and established Book Club to inculcate reading habit among students. Reading Drive is one of the unique practices run in our college from 2014. Every year more than 200 students enrolled under the Book Club and read the books other than academics. Under this club, we take various activities such as Book Review Competition, Book talk, Books Exhibitions on Various Occasions, Digital Exhibition of Book Reviews submitted by students, New Arrivals Desk, Ask a Librarian and execute this Reading Drive.

1. Introduction

Higher educational institutions especially the agricultural universities and institutes have multifaceted mandate which includes teaching, research and extension. Scientific information is generated at rapid pace in the form of research papers, project reports, conference/Seminar proceedings, Theses/ Dissertations, books and so on. It is necessary to manage, preserve and share the intellectual output to the academic community for innovations and betterment of the society. Technological developments, open access and open archive movements have facilitated easy access to information. Open access literature available in public domain removes access as well as price barriers. Realizing the importance of preserving valuable digital and print material of an institution idea of developing institutional repositories was invigorated. It is online digital content free of cost and mostly free from restrictions of copyright and licensing. In other words, it is royalty free literature which can be applied to any digital content that are born digital or the older works digitized later in life. Researchers are not well aware of the various channels to enhance the visibility of their work such as scholarly journals and conferences. Further they don’t identify existing library provisions that could help them to share their work on different platforms due to lack of awareness about it. So there is need to create awareness among masses about the institutional repositories and its role in disseminating scientific output of an institution. Institutional repositories are the need of hour for to showcase the research output of an institution.

1. Introduction

Libraries serve as global repositories of knowledge, like to giant treasure boxes. But librarians are faced with a lot of work as more and more things become digital. Electronic Resource Management Systems (ERMS) can help with that (Prajapati, 2016). These are incredibly useful tools that have completely transformed the way libraries handle digital content. The main goal of ERMS is to simplify librarians' lives. They support the acquisition of fresh digital materials, manage subscriptions and licenses, and even provide online resource locators (Anbu et al., 2013). They essentially act as librarians' superhero sidekicks, ensuring that everything works seamlessly in the digital realm. ERMS play a major role in keeping everything organized. They support librarians in maintaining inventory, determining who can use what, and determining when to update it (Mangrum & Ellen Pozzebon, 2012). Libraries are able to ensure that everyone has access to what they need while adhering to all access regulations in this way. However, ERMS aren't limited to library use. They're also excellent for any library user. By making it simple to locate what you're looking for in the library's digital collection, ERMS addresses that. They keep everything organized so you can quickly get to the essentials (Prajapati, 2016).The key component that keeps contemporary libraries running well is ERMS. They make it easier for librarians to handle electronic resources and for users like you and me to find what we're looking for. Thus, keep in mind that ERMS are the unsung heroes who make it all happen the next time you're navigating your library's digital world.

1. Introduction

Library enhances socioeconomic development by creating a knowledgeable society, empowering marginalized people, and promoting economic activity, skill learning, cultural identity enrichment, and decision-making participation. These services are supported by infrastructure, ICT, media. Libraries are responsible for knowledge, acquisition, management, fostering mutual relationships between librarians, the publics, and stakeholders. Its role as a storehouse of resources worldwide, including acquiring, organizing, preserving, storing, and making information available. Public libraries are important for public infrastructure, community health, and supporting social development goals. The contributions of the various types of libraries are discussed below:

1.1. National Library

A country's reference library is called its national library. It is the resource that all kinds of libraries utilize since it has a collection of all books published by Academic Library nationals in every subject area, as well as writings about the nation written by both nationals and non-citizens and by people in need of materials made in the nation. As a result, it is responsible for maintaining the country's cultural legacy and making the national bibliography available each year.

1. Introduction

The aim of social networking sites is to build and maintain social interactions through content creation and communication within networks. However, academic social networks have a different focus. It prioritizes facilitating research and academic importance by connecting research groups and their scholarly outputs more effectively.These platforms typically offer features such as personal academic profiles, connections based on shared academic interests, and tools for managing and monitoring one's research outputs. Additionally, they enable users to utilize the research outputs of others in their f ield to advance their work. This study focus on to evaluate the capabilities of prominent academic social networking sites in meeting the essential requirements of researchers and the academic community(Bankar & Lihitkar, 2021)

1. Introduction

Libraries play a crucial role as community centers that promote education, culture, and individual growth at a time when information is the currency of advancement. Rural libraries, however, confront unique difficulties that set them apart from their urban counterparts. Rural libraries often struggle with limited funding, being geographically isolated, and having difficulty obtaining technology infrastructure. Yet, in order to guarantee that rural libraries can provide the same caliber of service as their counterparts in larger cities, pricing and accessibility become vital factors. And in light of all of that, they continue to be vital community hubs that contribute significantly to education, cultural enrichment, and lifelong learning.

Open source solutions hold a lot of promise for addressing these problems.Open source software solutions are more affordable and flexible than proprietary software systems, allowing them to be tailored to the specific needs of any rural library. Among other reasons, the library staff finds it easier to catalog documents when they use these kinds of systems. Because these systems use simpler circulation techniques, they assist them with saving expenses while guaranteeing higher user involvement.

1. Introduction

Libraries and information services have traditionally been seen as quiet sanctuaries of knowledge and learning. However, in today’s rapidly evolving digital age, libraries must actively market their services to ensure they remain relevant and accessible to diverse user groups. Marketing these services involves not only promoting the library’s offerings but also effectively communicating its value to the community. Marketing in case of libraries is necessary to offer benefits to users’ want, reduce barriers to use and access, persuade and inform the users, and carefully plan to satisfy users’ needs effectively. “Marketing is so basic that it cannot be considered a separate function within the library. Marketing is a central dimension of the entire library. It is the entirety of the library’s operations and services seen from a point of view of its final result, that is, from the customer’s point of view” (Gupta and Savard, 2010). Marketing library and information service is an established sub-set of management practices which identifies customer wants and needs and meets those needs within the resources of the organization (Gupta, Koontz & Massisimo, 2013).

1. Introduction

Academic libraries have traditionally been the cornerstones of academic institutions, serving as repositories of knowledge and centers for learning. In the past, libraries were just regarded as physical repositories of books and other reading material, and their role was to acquire, organize, process, store, and provide access to that physical collection. These traditional libraries were characterized by their emphasis on the preservation of physical collections and the provision of a quiet, contemplative space for study and research. However, the role of libraries has expanded significantly in recent years beyond physical collections to include digital resources such as e-books, online journals, databases, and multimedia content. Modern academic libraries are dynamic and multifaceted, providing not only access to information but also a range of services that support teaching, learning, and research. They have become vibrant hubs of activity, offering collaborative spaces, technology-rich environments, and various programs and workshops that enhance the academic experience. The focus has shifted from merely preserving information to facilitating access, promoting information literacy, and supporting the diverse needs of the academic community.

1. Introduction

No doubt Village library is a part of public library. Village library plays an important role for creation knowledge in different field. As we know that maximum people in the village area not aware about their right, even they not know reading and writing. so the rate of literacy is poor. Therefore it can be mentioned that the illiteracy is the main barrier for their development and it will harm their day to day life. Many people in the villages is involve themselves in farming. Agriculture is the main of earning sources. Villagers do not have adequate knowledge in farming and fertilizer that they used for better result even they not know the bad affect of fertilizer that they used. Their life style is not hygienic because of illiteracy.

1. Introduction

In the era of digital technology, libraries have expanded their role beyond their initial role as storage facilities for physical material. Libraries have become essential in providing access to electronic resources and promoting lifelong learning due to the emergence of e-learning. E-learning refers to the use of digital technology to access learning materials outside of a traditional classroom setting. E-learning is emerging as a powerful influence in higher education, with a presence on nearly every campus and a growing number of college and university courses. The environment is characterized by growth and dynamism, where fluidity and change are the social, institutional, and technological norms (Mishra & Gupta 2019).

Technology has revolutionized education, turning it into e-learning and internet based learning. This evolution provides individuals with the opportunity to have more freedom, convenience, and the ability to work virtually. Libraries must modify their resources and services to meet the emergence of e-learners. Academic libraries have now established connections with web-based services and e-resources, which are moving the profession forward at a rate never before seen. (Ramkumar & Kannan, 2023)

1. Introduction

There is a real climate change, and human activity is its primary driver. Notably, worldwide average temperatures have been rising consistently since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, posing a danger to life as we know it from climate change. For example, 2019 had record sea levels, melting ice, and unusually high global temperatures as a result of increased human activity. Regrettably, in spite of the fact that climate change is causing the environment to deteriorate more and more, insufficient worldwide pledges have been made to mitigate its effects. Thus, the necessity for green libraries became apparent. In India, green libraries are becoming more and more important as the country works toward achieving the Goals for Sustainable Development (SDGs). These libraries promote a comprehensive approach to environmentally friendly growth by serving as examples of social responsibility, environmental care, and economic success. Green libraries use eco-friendly construction materials, sustainable waste management practices, and renewable energy sources like solar power in their design. They clearly support climate resilience and drastically cut carbon footprints, which is in line with SDG 13 (Climate Action). Additionally, by fostering environmental literacy, lifelong learning for people of all ages, and inclusive and equal access to knowledge and educational resources, green libraries in India actively support SDG 4 (Quality Education). Additionally, by acting as green public spaces that improve urban livability and provide a haven from the bustle of city life while encouraging social cohesion and community participation, these institutions serve SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

1. Introduction

Education is undergoing a digital transformation. The incorporation of digital technologies into the educational scene over the last two decades has radically changed the way we teach and learn. This transition has started a revolution with far-reaching repercussions, both positive and negative, for students, educators, and institutions alike.

The growing adoption of digital technologies in educational settings has created a world of possibilities. Online platforms, learning management systems, educational apps, virtual reality, and augmented reality are just a handful of the innovations that have transformed the educational experience. This comprehensive investigation tries to investigate the intricate and multifaceted impact of various digital technologies on schooling.

1. Introduction

Modern technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data have made robotics, a concept that dates back to ancient times, much more advanced. The area of robotics, originally used in industrial settings, has now expanded its scope to include a diverse range of industries, such as industrial robots, medical robots, military robots, space robots, and humanoid robots that adopt human-like characteristics.

In accordance with this existing structure, libraries have additionally adopted the use of robots, which have shown enhanced efficacy and capabilities in executing diverse library functions. A significant number of libraries around the world have used humanoid robots to facilitate a variety of library functions, including STEM education initiatives. Academic institutions such as the Chicago Public Library and the University of Rhode Island Library organize programs centered on robotics.

Libraries may become obsolete in the 21st century if they do not begin to harness new technology and improve their information and service delivery. Robots come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and they serve a variety of functions. It is difficult to define the purpose of a specific robot and its categories because each robot has its distinct feature and varies in size, shape, color, and components.

1. Introduction

Information is necessary for the economic, social, and cultural development of individuals and communities, and libraries play a significant role in providing access to information, which is essential for this growth. These institutions function as centers of knowledge, offering a wide range of resources to their users, including books, journals, databases, and multimedia materials, in order to meet the varied requirements of their users.

In this day and age, the function of libraries has evolved beyond the confines of physical locations to encompass activities such as online platforms and digital collections. Because of the large amount of information that is accessible on the internet, people rely on libraries to help them navigate through this sea of data and locate sources that are credible and reliable.

1. Introduction

Traditionally, libraries were considered book storage facilities for kings and other prominent members of society. However, the idea of conventional libraries was altered with the advent of ICT.The development of the Internet, the World Wide Web, and information technology (IT) are assisting in increasing f inancing for studies on creating, accessing, and administeringelectronic information resources. As a result, a new era of digital and virtual libraries has emerged. These technological developments have made it possible for a new generation of information professionals to successfully select, organize, retrieve, and communicate digital content to their target audience (Nazim & Saraf, n.d.). The concept emerged again when computers were connected to tremendous networks to create education and research cantered on creating digital libraries accessible to anybody all over the World. Terms like "virtual library", "electronic library", "library without walls”,and "digital library" have been used to characterize this broad concept (Cleveland, n.d.). Digital Libraries are enormous collections of organized information resources. Elegant “Digital Library” software can enable everyone to perceive, organize, develop, and disseminate new information collection.Libraries have long been seen as safeguards of information, having developed over centuries from private repositories of manuscripts to community centres teeming with activity and education. This evolution has accelerated in the digital age, forcing libraries to negotiate the challenging flows of digital evolution.

1. Introduction

Disasters are events that occur over a period and cause widespread destruction, suffering, or distress to everything they affect (Oxford English Dictionary, n.d.). The impact of a disaster may be confined to specific areas or widespread and could last for an extended duration, often requiring assistance from external sources to address the aftermath (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies [IFRC], n.d.). These events can arise from naturally occurring phenomena, such as earthquakes, tornadoes, or floods, as well as man-made occurrences, including industrial accidents (e.g., accidental toxic spills or nuclear power plant events) or acts of terrorism (e.g., bombing or poisoning) (United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction [UNDRR], n.d.). Disasters typically result in significant harm to infrastructure, loss of life, displacement of people, and severe economic consequences.

1. Web Based Services

People can reach the web, which is short for "World Wide Web," which is a huge network of papers and tools that are all linked together. The web, which was created by Tim Berners-Lee in the late 1980s, changed the way people around the world share and receives information.

The growth of technology has had an impact not only on the formats and sources of the information, but also on the manner in which library services are provided and the locations where they are provided. A portion of libraries and the resources they provide have been relocated to the digital realm created by the Internet. The web works on a client-server model: web computers (clients) ask web servers for web pages and other data and then show them. There are connections between the text, pictures, movies, and apps that make up these tools.

Web development is based on key tools like HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), and JavaScript, which make it possible to make web pages that look good and let you interact with them. Over time, improvements like flexible web design (which makes sure that websites work on all devices) and web APIs (which let different software systems share data) have made the web experience even better.

1. Introduction

Libraries have an outstanding role in the advocacy of sustainability and green practices, now that the place of environmental awareness is on the rise. Green libraries provide a commitment, through sustainable architectural practices, efficient systems in energy saving, measures taken with environmental consciousness to preserve resources, and ways to conserve resources in the work they do. The libraries focus on ensuring they provide healthy indoor spaces and educate their communities on sustainability. Admittedly, it is through the adoption of these practices that libraries minimize their ecological footprint and provide a beacon of environmental responsibility. Green libraries are facilities that take ecologically friendly approaches in carrying out operations and programming in activities targeting environmental responsibility. Such libraries try their best to use methods that diminish energy consumption and lower resource use to move closer to sustainability at its core, which may have less of an impact on the environment. Green libraries have focused on recycling, reduction of trash, renewable sources of energy like solar panels, energy efficiency in lighting and space heating, sustainable building materials, and architectural style.

1. Introduction

The library, often perceived as a tranquil oasis, can be a hotbed of emotions. Behind the scenes, library employees and patrons alike struggle to manage their emotions, and anger can be a particularly pervasive and destructive force. The pressure to meet deadlines, the stress of dealing with difficult patrons, and the frustration of working with outdated technology can all contribute to a simmering sense of anger and resentment. But anger is not just a personal problem, it can have far-reaching consequences for the library as a whole. Unchecked anger can lead to decreased productivity, strained relationships, and even violence. It can also create a toxic work environment, driving away talented employees and eroding the trust of the community. Despite the importance of anger management, it is often overlooked in library training and professional development. Library employees are frequently expected to manage their emotions without being given the tools or support to do so. This can lead to a culture of silence, where employees suffer in silence, afraid to speak out about their struggles with anger.

1. Introduction

A public library is a repository of diversified material that serves as the primary hub for community information the spread. It provides fair access to a wide range of information and data, meeting the diverse demands of users. Services must be inclusive, with information appropriate for all age groups and the incorporation of both classic materials and contemporary technologies across many mediums. In 1987, the ILA defined the purpose of public libraries, stating that they should serve as independent training centers for community activities. Public libraries play a pivotal role in fostering community engagement, welcoming all members to participate in various programs. Initially established by the public, these libraries later received government funding for expansion and other requirements. The systematic development of India's public library system ensued after the establishment of the Raja Rammohan Roy Library Foundation (RRRLF) in 1972.

1. Introduction

The term "sustainable development" was originally used in a 1953 article by Joseph L. that was published in Land Economics. The notion was employed to depict the degree or pace at which an environmentally friendly resource is employed for a particular objective while guaranteeing its long term availability. Organizational dynamics, social interactions, and cultural norms all change with the times. These changes are making environmental problems worse and bringing up questions about pollution and the requirement for a safe natural environment. They are being caused by changing human behavior and population expansion (Kami?ska, 2021; Gaffar et al., 2021). Organizations have been forced to review their approaches to dealing with these urgent environmental issues as a result of the increased awareness. Academic libraries have been particularly well-positioned to implement eco friendly practices because they are service-oriented establishments to adopt eco-friendly practices in their operations (Pangail, 2017).

1. Introduction

Universal development through Education for all had been a prominent feature earlier during Millennium Development Goals and recently it has gained a fresh momentum when United Nations General Assembly set 17 inspirational Sustainable development Goals. Quality Education is the focus of SDG 4, “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all” (Sustainable Development Goals, 2023). Role of education in achieving these sustainable development goals in developing countries is well recognized by OECD. OECD in its report on ‘Education at a Glance 2013’ states that “Educational attainment is frequently used as a measure of human capital and the level of an Individual’s skills. The level of educational attainment is the percentage of population that has reached a certain level of education. Higher levels of educational attainment are strongly associated with higher employment rates” (OECD, 2013). Furthermore, OECD in its report published in 2017 explains that “Making SDG 4 a reality will transform lives around the globe. Education is so central to the achievement of a sustainable, prosperous, and equitable planet that failure to achieve this particular SDG puts at risk the achievement of the 17 SDGs as a Whole” (OECD, 2017).

1. Introduction

The Online Dictionary of Library and Information Science (ODLIS) defines best practice as, “in the application of theory to real-life situations, procedures that, when properly, applied consistently yield superior results and are therefore use as reference points in evaluation of the effectiveness of alternative methods of accomplishing the same task. Best practices are identified by examining empirical evidence of success”. Commonly, best practices are those services, which satisfy the respective users’ community on their desired level. Earlier, best practice term was used in the manufacturing industries for implementation of benchmarking methods so that ultimate quality results may be achieved. But later on the term “best practice” has also been used in academia and other fields as well. The mandate of any library is to work according to the informational needs of the user’s and other facilities, which are desired by the users. The service delivery pattern has totally been changed gradually due to the technological impacts and ever changing needs of the users. Now library users’ wants quality information services, which satisfy their needs so it becomes necessary for any library to provide the satisfactory services in the best and desired way. Best practices can play a major role in the comprehensive development of any academic institute and the agricultural university libraries are not exception to it.

1. Introduction

The advent of computers, the Internet and other ICT technologies have enhanced the nature of tasks. No one is immune from technology. Technologies have paved the way for information transformation. Today every section of society is making full use of technologies to fulfil their needs. Electronic devices have affected human life to a great extent. These devices have changed the working styles of human beings. Working with electronic devices is much better than manual work. Therefore, every sector of human working society is updating itself by using or implementing electronic devices. The higher education department is no exception to this. Today every sector of higher education department is using these modern tools and technologies not only for official works but also for teaching. Library is the most important part of Higher Education Institutions and today the entire structure of the library has changed. Today computersare being used in every section of the library and the main work of the library- issue/return is also being done through the use of computers and the Internet. The resources available in the library have also become electronic. Every resource like books, magazines, research journals, dictionaries, glossaries, bibliographies, biographies, who’s who etc, is now being published in electronic form and the library has to purchase these resources for its users.

1. Introduction

For actively participating in today's global information society, having access to information and information resources is crucial. Information serves as a foundational pillar for the success of any nation, and libraries act as the primary gateways to access information. Libraries have been playing a crucial role for decades in supporting educational, learning, and research activities, as well as catering to the diverse informational requirements of individuals. However, changes in the form and formats of documents as well as diverse needs of users, pose new challenges for libraries in meeting these dynamic needs of their users. Libraries must now reconsider their roles and duties, designing a variety of new innovative services that are crucial for providing value-added, needs-based support to the society. Societal progress depends on research, often described as the lifeblood of communities, as it is vital for offering solutions to various problems.Traditionally, libraries have provided their patrons with information resources. However, in addition to these resources, libraries must now offer a range of services to support the research endeavors of scholars and researchers. In essence, while libraries have historically played a significant role in supporting research, they now must take an active role from the inception of research activities to the dissemination and formal publication of research findings. Achieving this requires not only the redesigning of library services but also the development of new skills among library professionals to proficiently navigate through the flood of information, useadvanced information and communication technologies effectively and offer comprehensive research support services (RSS) to user community.

1. Introduction

In this time of technological advancement, social media has crept into the daily existence of individuals. It is Facebook, Twitter and Instagram which are standard ways of communication to bring people together. The aspect of social media as an auxiliary means of user engagement is also appreciated and embraced by libraries making it part of marketing communication. Using social media, libraries are able to efficiently disseminate information and operate online call centers. There are social media companies which have helped libraries extend their reach especially to young people who are known to be technology-oriented. Thanks to social media, users are able to find value in the services offered by the libraries and this turns out to be beneficial.

1. Introduction

There is an emergence of the concept of a Circular Economy as one of the transformational approaches toward sustainability, where greater emphasis is laid on rethinking and redesigning products and services for maximum resource efficiency. In contrast to the traditional linear model ("take, make, dispose"), CE emphasizes product reuse, recycling, and cascading with the clear ambition of closing the loop of product lifecycles through continuous recovery of resources. The key to this solution involves changing the paradigm, highly relevant to resolving pressing environmental issues facing the planet such as resource depletion, waste management, and climate change.

Conventionally regarded as information stores, libraries are increasing awareness of their potential to create an impact toward sustainable practices. Centres of information and meeting points for communities, libraries are at an advantageous position for leading by example in integrating the principles of CE into their system. This paper examines the current status of integrating the circular economy principles within library management and discusses a proposed conceptual framework that aims to guide libraries in adopting circular practices. The paper addresses the contribution that libraries might make to a more sustainable future by exploring the intersection between CE and library management through innovative practices and strategic plans.

1. Introduction

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) has transformed the functioning of modern libraries in the 21st century. The applications of ICT to data, information and knowledge resources have given rise to data centers, digital libraries, and knowledge repositories. New software’s that are based on international standards have emerged to undertake a wide range of jobs that suit the requirements of individual libraries. Rapid advances in the application of ICT have given rise to ‘Open Standards and Open Source Software’s. Libraries can benefit a great deal now by using these standards and software, as during the last twenty five years only rich libraries could afford to use commercial software. As a result the transformation of libraries was not universal in India. Now with the advent of open source software, we are expecting many libraries are going to be modernized. This transformation is not going to be limited to libraries only but to users as well who belong to different disciplines and walks of life due to social networking which is emerging as a major activity of libraries around the world. Libraries

1. Introduction

The present library system has been designated as a treasure of knowledge in virtual environment. The concept of modern library has been considered as the source of high level-information using web technology, digitization, networking,e-resources and multimedia. The rapid development of modern information and communication technologies and smart usage of computers in library and information system and services has given rise to new generation of libraries. The last two decades have radically transformed the library system with new avenues of information transfer in virtual world. An incredible amount of growth in increasing new interfaces have been developed utilising latest technologies to optimise the delivery of contents and services in the context of web environment. The emerging new vision of library interfaces has involved web technologies, digital collection of texts and images, documents, genealogy of records and other materials of importance for the user community. The major shift of new technology has developed the subscription of e-journals, e-books, and e-databases collection in libraries. Such library interface is compelled to provide equal access to the contents or these collection to all users irrespective of area or locality. Another remarkable trend in library technology field is the emergence of open-source software movement that enabled to transform the automation and digital library interface. Open Source Software efforts such as OAI, Grenstone, DSpace, Koha etc, have drastically transformed the library technology scenario in terms of sophistication and functionality. This article/ chapter is dealt with the state of digital library system with stages of generation of digital libraries and future directions.

Introduction

The key to the advancement of women belong to poor background is self-help groups. Members of society with greater social influence are women. The World Bank estimates that women make up 48.0% of the population in India. Women in India are impacted by a number of economic and social variables. They are essential to any economy. Men and women must be viewed as equal participants in development if a nation is to achieve overall success and positive growth. The nation’s economic growth and social advancement depend on the independence of women. Through collective participation for growth, the empowerment of women through SHGs will benefit not just the individual women but also the family and network as a whole.

Self- Help Groups

Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have developed in order to assist underprivileged women in obtaining services and resources like loans. In 1985, the idea of SHG was first introduced in India. Self-help Groups (SHGs) are informal associations of people who come together to find ways to improve their living conditions. SHGs help in improve the lives of the poor and marginalised segments of society. They also foster financial inclusion. The self-help groups play an important role in ruler women life.India’s Self Help Group movement has emerged as the world’s largest network of community-based organizations.Under this programme, banks were allowed to open savings accounts for Self-Help Groups (SHGs). This was started in the early nineties. Empowering women is crucial to the prosperity and development of the country.

1. Introduction

Sustainability embodies an ecological vision aimed at fostering enduring human coexistence on Earth. Over time, its definition has evolved in literature and context, generating ongoing debate. Generally, experts frame sustainability around three pillars: social, economic, and environmental. While environmental concerns often dominate discussions, sustainability encompasses broader challenges like pollution, land degradation, biodiversity loss, climate change, and ecosystem service decline. This concept influences decision-making globally, politically, and personally.

Sustainable development, often used interchangeably with sustainability, is distinguished by UNESCO as a long-term objective versus the diverse processes and pathways to achieve it. Within the economic dimension, the tension between welfare and environmental preservation is explored through concepts like “weak and strong sustainability,” acknowledging the necessity of trade-offs. Ideal policies would aim to decouple environmental degradation from economic growth.

Environmental sustainability is pursued through various means such as ecosystem preservation, collaborative resource management, reducing food waste, advocating plant-based diets, managing fertility rates to curb population growth, and transitioning away from fossil fuels towards clean energy and innovative green technologies.

Introduction

In the modern corporate landscape, the Glass Ceiling remains an enduring challenge, obstructing the path to leadership positions for qualified individuals based on gender. This study embarks on a comprehensive analysis of the persistent gender discrimination inherent in leadership roles within corporations.

With a primary focus on measurement, analysis, and assessment, the study seeks to quantify the current prevalence of the Glass Ceiling, elucidate the strategies adopted by large corporations in addressing bias, and evaluate the influence of personal factors in accelerating this phenomenon.

Grounded in empirical data and a commitment to factual precision, this research aims to contribute substantially to the ongoing discourse on gender equality in leadership. By revisiting the Glass Ceiling, this paper endeavours to not only shed light on the existing disparities but also provide nuanced insights that can inform corporate policies and societal endeavours to dismantle barriers obstructing the equitable progression of individuals within the professional realm.

1. Introduction

Sustainability embodies an ecological vision aimed at fostering enduring human coexistence on Earth. Over time, its definition has evolved in literature and context, generating ongoing debate. Generally, experts frame sustainability around three pillars: social, economic, and environmental. While environmental concerns often dominate discussions, sustainability encompasses broader challenges like pollution, land degradation, biodiversity loss, climate change, and ecosystem service decline. This concept influences decision-making globally, politically, and personally.

Sustainable development, often used interchangeably with sustainability, is distinguished by UNESCO as a long-term objective versus the diverse processes and pathways to achieve it. Within the economic dimension, the tension between welfare and environmental preservation is explored through concepts like “weak and strong sustainability,” acknowledging the necessity of trade-offs. Ideal policies would aim to decouple environmental degradation from economic growth.

1. Introduction

The Indian government’s New Education policy (NEP 2020) is apositive improvement in this covid-19 scourge. The main NEP for India happened in 1968, trailed by NEPs in 1986 and 2020 under Narendra Modi. India passed the NEP 2020 on July 29, 2020. It tries to reform education and make the countrymoretaught. K Kasturirangan, the previousheadofISRO, led- the NEP 2020 arrangement council. The decision Government of India vowed to modernise Indian schooling in it selection pronouncement (Saha Mushkan, 2020). Educationassumes a fundamental part in building a country; it chooses the nation’s future and its kin’s fate. The effect will be sturdy concerning the development and advancement of the stateandsubject. In this day and age, schooling is urgent. Pre-freedom and post-autonomy periods show the extension and progress Indian Government. It will alter the way India studies; this is the third correction to the instruction strategy. National education policy 2020 plans changes for all gatherings (Kalyani Pawan, 2020).

Introduction

Self Help Group is a voluntary and self managed group of poor people, who come together to promote savings among themselves and pool savings for activities benefiting either individuals or communities economically. Empowerment of women has now become a key issue in the Government’s Five year plans by organizing women into Self Help Groups to make the beginning of a major process of empowering women. 320 million people, out of our 1.1 billion, are steeped in abject poverty and due to their asset lessens it is difficult for them to access any kind of aid from banking / financial institutions and this state of the hopelessness and the constraints of an ineffective credit delivery system can be transcended by enhancing the self esteem and raising the feeling of human self worth. The SHGs approach is a reshaping initiative that enhances the livelihoods and ensures sustainability by enabling poor families to access effective economical and social development leading to empowerment.

In Tripura SHG’s has been introduced in the year 1999.The main objectives of this programme by mutual beneficial of social and economic activities through women mobilization. SHG’s are a way to involve rural women and men actively in the development process by means of increased income Agricultural situation of WTD differs to some extent from the other districts in regard to topography, soil, extent of rain-fall, variation in temperature and humidity which has resulted in difference in cropping pattern also from that of the other three districts. People mainly practice rice and vegetables cultivation. The plain land people also were satisfied to grow single crop preferably paddy without having any knowledge and experience of improved cultivation for growing multiple crops. Animal husbandry is another sector contributing to the economy of WTD. Cattle and poultry are the main livestock wealth of the district. (DRDA office, Agartala, 2010). Many Government and non-government organization now have come forward for helping poor communities and to energize their capacity in development activities of which Self Help Group (SHGs) is thought as the best means for improving their position in the society.

Introduction

India is an agriculture-based country and it contributes most to the economy of the country. Different types of crops are cultivated in a wide range in different ecological regions based on different seasons. So, crop residue is also generated in an extended way by cultivation (Devi et. al 2017). Crop residue is the left over part of the crop after harvesting. In India, crop residue generates around 600 Mt and from which cereals are 70%, fibres 13%, oilseeds 6%, pulses 3%, sugarcane 2%, and others 6% (Jain et al., 2014). Corn production has increased more than 15 times from 1950-51 to 2016-2017. Rice, wheat, millet, barley, and maize are important cereal crops in Uttar Pradesh (Roy and Ahmad, 2015). Traditionally, Crop residue was used as cattle feed, animal bedding, cooking fuel, organic manure, etc. and some residues were used in making handicraft products by rural women. but still, a huge amount of residue is left without management and farmers have no option left except to burn it. About 90 to 140 Mt of crop residue burning in the field or households as fuels (Jain et al., 2014). In the process of harvesting and threshing, residues are left behind in the f ield. Farmers need to clear their fields early for the planting of the next crop so they do have not enough time and it is tough to clear the field at that time. Therefore, the farmers opt for the burning of residue in harvested fields due to a lack of access to user-friendly, cost- and time-effective options. The burning of crop residue creates many issues and effects on the environment and health badly. In a report of NAAS in 2017, it was estimated that in November 2016 at the period of rice residue burning, the NASA satellite images showed the intensity of rice residue burning in Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand was very high. It is doing an additional job of increasing air pollution with vehicles, chimneys, industries, etc. Crop residues release many gases by burning them and these gases are contributing to global warming.

Introduction

After so many decades, the new education policy comes in its new form in 21st century. This policy seeks to offer everyone access to an equal, equitable, and fair education. The NEP 2020 represents a significant advancement in the field of education in India, with an emphasis on primary through higher education. It is based on the idea that education must foster the development of not only higher-order cognitive abilities-such as critical thinking and problem-solving skills-but also social, ethical, and emotional capacities and dispositions. These higher-order cognitive abilities include both the foundational abilities of literacy and numeracy and higher-order cognitive abilities. It includes- recognizing, identifying, and fostering each student’s individual abilities by educating parents and teachers to support a student’s overall growth in both academic and extracurricular areas, by the 3rd grade, all children will possess fundamental skills in literacy and numeracy, it will provide students multidisciplinary and holistic education to ensure the coherence and integrity of all knowledge. The policy manifested 22 guiding concept, some of them are conceptual comprehensive, flexibility and holistic development. These ideas will serve as the foundation for the whole Indian education system (Shamsu, 2021). The New Education Policy 2020 already incorporates vocational training for students’ holistic development, A study demonstrates a positive relationship between vocational choice of the subject and variables of personality, traits, parents’ involvement, achievements, motivation, and occupation information, (Kaur,1992)but including entrepreneurship in this policy would expose our students to more opportunities because entrepreneurship is the process of taking a risk to launch a new business with the intention of making a profit.

Introduction

Enhancing productivity and profitability are two major factors of agricultural growth for the future. Over dependence on monsoon and limited scope for area expansion made agriculture development is critical to generate employment and additional income for the rural poor. Major part of agricultural population is small and marginal farmers who are economically vulnerable and poor. The consequence of inclement weather on crop production affects ultimately livelihoods of farmers. In the changing scenario improvements in farmers’ productivity and profitability, diversification of agriculture have been acknowledged to enhance profit, generate additional employment for rural masses and to conserve the natural resources.

Integration of different component at farm level is the need of hour to enhance the profitability of agriculture production system. Jharkhand state a resource rich state wheremonocroping in rainfed agriculture with small undulated upland is in practice. Rural economy is mixed type where forest produce particularly lac play important role. To enhance rural economy, integration of agriculture with forest based intervention appears to be viable option to enhance profits and productivity of upland which is almost sixty percent of total cultivable land. Even though moisture is available during Rabi free grazing made imperative cultivation of second crop. Continuous aberrant weather demand the inclusion of forest resources to be exploited in diversified and integrated manner as forest interventions require little water.

Introduction

Education as a process of development deals with three majors teaching, training and instruction. Its objective being to help students to achieve their highest potential and individual development which they are capable. Education needs to be tailored meaning to ensure that the information is relevant. Attitude, Knowledge and Skill “each one of them, with its inner components, prepares students to acquire and obtain different characters as means to produce a professional” Yang et al. (2015). Education is a field which is continuously growing from since long and is still growing through a phase of continuous change. To this fast changing world of higher education we need to adapt and adopt the changing environment to meet the circumstances posed by ICT. The educationists and students in particular have witnessed a tremendous change due to the changes brought in by ICT. ICT is what regarded as the efficient management of information, fostering the development of 21st century. The learner in today’s world is so much driven by technology that only traditional method of teaching does not bring satisfaction. Today, ICT is nothing but a blend of both which is yielding and having a good impact on the education scenario. ICT applications are undoubtedly improving the education system in all aspects. Escueta et al. (2017) the educational landscape has been indelibly altered over the past two decades by technological innovation.

Introduction

Pedagogy in higher education is often referred to as activities of educating, instructing or teaching to impart knowledge and skills (Diaz, 2013). With the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in the year 2020, instructors worldwide faced a challenge in maintaining the teaching pedagogy suited to the online teaching environments. Many instructors with no prior experience teaching online started developing new approaches to solve the challenges in a changing landscape. The main challenges to solve was concerning creating favourable learning experiences, creating engaging classroom experiences, and meeting the expectations of all the students in the online environment (Teachonline, 2020). The internet has provided a wide range of opportunities, leading to uninterrupted education through various conferencing platforms. Since the year 2000, the proliferation of Web 2.0 was tested in the field of education with several tools such as blogs, wiki articles and use of social media channels. Web 2.0 provided increasing scope to the teachers and students to create, edit and share content which is appealing to the learners. Currently, we have entered the Web 3.0 era in which the technologies can be customized to enhance the learning environment for better facilitation of learning needs.

Introduction

Food and nutrition security is the basic requirement of human development. Among the ten global burden of diseases, six are connected with diet related factors. Food and nutrition security is also closely related to other factors like socio economic status, geography and demography. Asia, Latin America and Africa hosts world’s most of the undernourished population. Among these regions South Asia is considered as one of the hotspots of malnutrition, in which India is the major contributor. Fifty seven percent of population cannot afford healthy diet in South Asia.

Over the centuries of remarkable economic growth in India concomitant reduction in under nutrition has not been witnessed and this dilemma is called Indian enigma (Gillespie et al 2012; Sengupta 2019). In India among the different socio economic categories, undernutrition has highly been manifested among SC and STs (Gillespie et al 2012; NNMB 2009).The reasons of food and nutrition insecurity are directly linked to remoteness, dire poverty and dysfunctional food security programmes (Khera 2011; UNICEF 2014). Poor and landless among them are mostly falling prey to chronic food insecurity. Coupled with reduction in locally available dietary inputs, rising food expenditure also compel poor to cut back the quantity and resort to low priced calorie dense food (Smyth & Sweetman; 2010). Therefore, poor people’s diet assume to fraught with starch, which leads to nutritional imbalances and resulting in to various lifestyle diseases like diabetics among them. This situation necessitates the need of local, sustainable household food production through home nutrition gardens. Many studies testify the impact of household level food crop cultivation in addressing malnutrition. Kuhnlein & Raceveur 1996; Pimbert 2009; Vira et al 2015 argues inadequate diets are associated with the “delocalization of food supply” and disruption in existed food systems. Therefore, in general literatures on agriculture and nutrition elicits the positive correlation between cultivating food crops and nutrition security (Gillespie et al 2012; Hossain et al 2016; Viswanathan et al 2015). In this context, home nutrition garden programmeassumes greater significance in countering malnutrition among Paniyan community in Western Ghats region of Wayanad district of Kerala.

Introduction

Hunger and all forms of malnutrition continue to cause widespread suffering throughout the world. Malnutrition in children commonly leads to poor growth and poor physical and mental development, increased morbidity and, all too often, death. Among adults, malnutrition leads to lethargy, frequent illness and poor health, reduced physical capacity to do work, poor pregnancy outcomes among women, decreased cognitive function and a loss of learning potential and productivity. Widespread hunger and malnutrition also serve as severe impediments to social and economic development at both community and national levels. After years of steady progress, recent setbacks in the fight against hunger and malnutrition arising from the combined effects of high food prices and the global economic downturn coupled with the continuing problems of underdevelopment, civil strife, inadequate food supplies, social discrimination and environmental stress, jeopardize the earlier hopes for achieving the poverty, hunger and nutrition-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

According to FAO, there were 105 million more hungry people in 2009 than in the previous year and the number of malnourished people now stands at 1.02 billion. In the worst-affected countries, individual productivity losses due to malnutrition are equivalent to 10% of lifetime earnings, resulting in gross domestic product (GDP) losses of up to 3%. Around the world close to 10 million children die before their fifth birthday every year, over one-third of which are associated with under nutrition. One in three developing-country children under the age of five - 178 million children – are stunted due to chronic under nutrition and poor health, and some 148 million children are underweight. Micronutrient deficiencies or “hidden hunger” affects around 2 billion people worldwide or about one third of the world’s population. These vitamin and mineral deficiencies, especially of iron, iodine, zinc and vitamin A, lead to poor physical growth and development, lowered mental capacities, reduced productivity, impaired immune systems, blindness and death - all of which are preventable.

1. Introduction

Micronutrients are essential nutrients required in small quantities but play a crucial role in human health and productivity. Key micronutrients include iodine, iron, zinc, and vitamins A, B6, and B12 (Godswill et al., 2020). Zinc deficiency, a common micronutrient shortfall, is prevalent not only in developed countries but particularly in impoverished nations. It can affect individuals of all ages, with young children and breastfeeding women being the most vulnerable. Addressing zinc insufficiency through zinc supplementation or diets rich in animal protein sources has shown promising results in promoting growth and reversing hypogonadism. Subsequent research has revealed that inadequate zinc consumption in the diet is the primary cause of this hypogonadism syndrome. Since the identification of zinc deficiency as a health concern in 1961, there has been a noticeable increase in interest in the biochemical and clinical aspects of zinc nutrition (King and Cousins, 2006). In this paper, we provide a comprehensive review of the physiological functions of zinc, zinc bioavailability (including inhibitors and enhancers), the human requirement for zinc, factors affecting zinc absorption, consequences and causes of zinc deficiency, evaluation of zinc status, and prevention strategies for zinc deficiency, focusing on the use of zinc-fortified foods.

Methodology

In the present study, the researcher has tried to present a broad picture of the role of media with his empirical observations on news in some selected print media and TV channels. The content analysis of news along with comparative method between print and electronic, news related to problems in rural governance and other news were taken into consideration.

Introduction

As Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of Nation, rightly pointed out that “The true India is to be found not in its few cities, but in its seven hundred thousand villages. If the villages perish, India will perish too”. (GoI website) Primarily India is an agrarian society, where more than 70% people lives in countryside. As majority of our population reside in rural hinterland and their livelihood depends on agricultural and economic activities related to it. People from rural areas migrating to mega cities or urban areas or industrial townships to seek jobs in service sectors. The seasonal migration of laborers to big cities has become a regular feature in our economy. These uprooted people feel lucky to get something to earn for near and dear ones. 58 per cent of these rural households are employed in farming sector i.e. cultivation, livestock rearing and other agricultural activity, which in turn contributes less than 60 per cent to their average monthly income. These were the findings of the ‘Situation Assessment Survey of Agriculture Households’ for the 2012-2013 crop years, from July to June. A brief overview of Indian economy reveals that agriculture contributes 16.5 per cent of the GDP contribution, compared to Industry’s 29.8 per cent and service sector’s 54.4, as per the census of 2015. It is also worth to recall that despite the big claim of booming Indian economy, the share of informal employment in total employment has remained above 90 per cent throughout the period 2004-05 to 2011-12, the Economic Survey 2014-15 revealed.

Introduction

Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) are the organizations engaged in particular plethora of activities aimed at protecting and promoting the varied interests of the people. As the name suggests, NGOs are the state independent voluntary groups working towards various social causes – ‘Charitable Purposes’. Section 2 (15) of the Income Tax Act 1961 explains charitable purpose as those activities aimed at the relief of the poor, education, yoga, medical relief, preservation of environment including the watersheds, wild life forests and preservation of monuments or places or objects of artistic or historic interest and the advancement of any other object of general public utility. These ‘Not–for Profit’ organizations differ from other business as the main aim of such ventures is charity not generating profits. These NGOs are prohibited from distributing the income generated from their working among its members. There is no single consolidated act dealing with the formation and registration of NGOs. This is because an NGO is an umbrella term for all the charitable ventures. An NGO, in itself, can have various structures. These can be registered as societies, trusts and as private limited. Non-profit companies commonly referred to as section 8 companies therefore an NGO can be registered under any of the three acts i.e., Company Act (2013), Societies Registration Act (1860) and Indian Trust Act (1862).

Introduction

The success of green revolution strategies for raising agricultural productivity and production has depended on the development of crop varieties that are more responsive to increased applications of water, manure, fertilizer, and agrochemical means of protection against pests. For farmers to benefit from this process whereby investing in more inputs can lead to production of more outputs, they had to begin by buying and using improved seeds. The green revolution was clearly seed dependent. The system of rice intensification (SRI) and other agro ecological approaches follow a different strategy, on the other hand. They work with whatever crop varieties the farmer already has or prefers to use (recognizing that it is always most productive to start with whatever genotype is best suited to the farmers’ circumstances and goals). Agro ecological methods are more likely to reduce the use of external input than to increase this as they mobilize and capitalize upon potentials that already within plants and upon the interactions between plants and their biotic and abiotic environments, i.e., mutual influences among plants, other organisms, climate, soil and other inanimate factors (Altieri, 1995; Gliessman, 1998; Uphoff, 2002). This is a very different envisioning of the agricultural domain.

Introduction

The concept of communication for development emerged with the Modernization theory, which developed its roots after World War II. Wilbur Schramm and Daniel Lerner, the two major proponents of this theory opined that the major obstacle to development was the psychology of the undeveloped citizens. The communication models under modernization paradigm observed communication process as the transfer of message from sender to receiver (Lasswell, 1948). It was found that communication theories like two step-flow, diffusion theory, or the early extension approaches were quite harmonious with the top-down modernization theory. After the Modernization paradigm, an another theory of communication for development emerged named as Dependency theory. Dependency theorist like Jean Servaes (1996) criticized the broadcasting and other mass-media systems as they tended to support modernization and were anti-development; also they were inclined to promote the political agenda. Solution to underdevelopment of third world countries require major changes in media structure that were dominated by commercial principles & foreign interests into media structures which are self-reliant and community oriented (Servaes, 2002). In 1970s scholars such as Paulo Freire and Nora C. Quebral started pleading in favour of bottom up development theories which led to evolution of a new development paradigm called the multiplicity paradigm. This paradigm conceptualised the basic idea that development is integral, multidimensional and dialectic process which can differ from one society to another (Okigbo and Eribo, 2004). Multiplicity paradigm led to emergence of a new form of communication called participatory communication.