Exploring the “Public Good” and “Public Sphere” in India through Public Libraries
My sporadic blogging continues. I am back in India again, having arrived on 14 January 2010. I plan to stay here until the middle of March. While the focus of the research remains public and community libraries, concepts such as the public sphere, public good, civic rights, and infrastructure have crept into my thinking about the topic. I have had a number of interesting conversations with various people on this research trip so far - activists from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academic researchers, and government bureaucrats. Despite the interest that my project has been generating in certain circles, I still face a good deal of skepticism from a number of Indian lay people about this research agenda. I just jotted some thoughts down here as a way to begin fleshing out my response to these skeptics. Here it goes:
The case for improved public and community libraries in India on the surface appears to be a concern limited to providing more access to books and encouraging literacy amongst the masses. On one level, this basic understanding is true. Public libraries in India, while uneven in their development, have played roles in promoting literacy and the habit of reading. This conception of public libraries was adequate up to a certain time, but in light of the technological changes of the last few decades, it remains an outdated concept. This is especially true given the changes in India’s socio-economic climate over the last several years.
A limited conception of public libraries as book depositories circumscribes their possibilities for promoting social change. In a country such as India with so many inequalities and other legitimate infrastructural needs (e.g., increased access to potable water, improved roads, etc.), the case for improved public libraries can seem like a luxury at best and a superfluous wish at worst. However, it is important to envision the roles that a renewed public library system in India might play in the promotion of the public good and the public sphere.
A more expansive conception of public libraries as community information centers is one way to increase the relevance of these institutions for public and civic life. This conception is not new - numerous examples exist around the world of public libraries serving communities through the supplying of information related to health, employment, and recreational needs. Perhaps even more importantly, the library can act as a physical hub of civic activity in Indian cities (and rural areas as well) - a public space for the promotion of public culture. The dearth of free, open, and non-purposive spaces in Indian cities is a major issue; revitalized public and community libraries can alleviate this problem to some degree.
I am hoping that my highlighting of these issues will slowly build awareness of the possibilities of improved public libraries in India. I am realistic and understand that this goal may turn out not to be feasible. However, an action research agenda takes time. Providing frameworks for change is the best I can do; effecting real change on the ground is the task of local stakeholders. Keeping these basic facts in mind helps motivate me to keep plugging away, one day at a time.
