‘Google cannot replace libraries’

IMPHAL | July 30

Manipur Library Association (MALA) has demanded that the government must take initiatives for the development of libraries as a part of the National Mission on Libraries under National Knowledge Commission, government of India.

Maintaining that the importance of libraries is still relevant in India, MALA has raised question about how libraries are no longer required in Manipur, said a release. It further inquired on how Manipur can decide the direction of education in India, when the state itself comes under India.

Educational departments maintains that schools should include playgrounds and gardens but libraries are mentioned nowhere, it said adding if they are no longer required the schools should not take library fees.

If library fees are collected, then they must be returned, it added. These schools must not take funds from the government to construct libraries, it further said. The guidelines provided by BOSEM and COHSEM to include libraries in schools and colleges must be erased by the government, it demanded.