LIBRARY AT SAMB
A library is a
collection of materials, books or media that are easily accessible for use. It
is responsible for housing updated information in order to meet the user's
needs on a daily basis. The second edition of Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules
(AACR2) has been used in SAMB Library for the construction of
catalogs cards. The Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) system has
been used in SAMB library for systematic arrangement of books in rack. Until my appointment at SAMB, its library used
to issue books using the Browne system. I began my career as an assistant librarian at
Sainik Awasiya Mahavidyalaya, Sallaghari, Bhaktapur (SAMB) on May 1, 2006
AD. The Library at SAMB was started on November 24th, 1978
(according to Accession Register Record).
Fifteen years ago, I was appointed at SAMB as the 4th
Librarian succeeding Mr. Anil Man Shakya. I have completed my Master’s Degree
in Library and Information Science from Faculty of Humanities and Social
Sciences, Central Department of Library and Information Science, Tribhuvan
University, Kathmandu, Nepal.
UPGRADING OF
SAMB LIBRARY
1.
To develop reading
interest: SAMB Library has seen a lot of positive changes
after my appointment at SAMB as the librarian. I was immensely guided to bring
such changes by the ideas of the former principal, Mrs. Indu Mani Chemjong who
believed that to develop reading interest among students, it is necessary to
develop the library first. It is because reading is important to
develop the mind, and it gives excessive knowledge and lessons of life. It
keeps the mind active and enhances creative ability. It improves
vocabulary and develops communication skills.
2. Open Access/Hours: SAMB
Library started open access since January 18th
2007 AD. In this system,
library member is allowed to go to the shelves and choose the book of his/her
interest. In case, s/he does not find the desired book of his/her interest, s/he
can choose some other from the shelves. To develop reading interest among the students, as per my
plan, we kept SAMB Library open from 9.00 am to 4.00 pm changing the previous
time of 10.00 am to 5.00 pm because
students are free from 9.00 am to 10.00 am. Using this time, the students read
newspapers and magazines. Later on, from January 2007 AD, we decided to keep SAMB
library open on Saturdays and public holidays for two hours (9.00 am
to 11.00 am) so that our students can get highly benefitted. It was done ever
since I was shifted to SAMB quarters
i.e., December 4, 2006. The library added furniture
like four double faced rack and five single faced rack one magazine display
rack and one new arrival rack in May 2007.
3. WINISIS
software : Then, under the guidance and
support from the then Principal Mrs Indu Mani Chemjong and the Liaison Officer Brig
Gen Prayog J.B. Rana, our library created a computerized database using the WINISIS
software developed by
UNISCO and provided by ICIMOD Library from 6th July 2006 AD. This helped the users to consult the
computer to search the required books available in the library within the limited
time. It was a moment of pride for me in particular and SAMB in general that SAMB
was the first academic institution in Nepal to manage the students’ and staffs’
record/profile with the help of WINISIS in May 2008.
4.
Gifted Books: SAMB library has
received books as gifts from Asia Foundation. It was possible through our institutional efforts or
approaches initiated by me. The Foundation is providing grants, education materials,
and books to different organizations in Asia. Our library gets books and other reading materials from American
Library from time to time.
5.
Overdue Notice: SAMB
library started issuing overdue notice regularly from April 2007 AD to make
library members return the books on time. Because the books are for use, not
for storage.
6.
Reference
Library was established on 3rd
September, 2007 for Class IX to XII and the teachers of the Suping Block. The
main objective of this program was to support the students and the teachers
during the study and leisure hours. The Reference Library has mainly textbooks
for +2 level.
7. Library Orientation is concerned with introducing the
library and its basics to the library members so that they can use the library
in a meaningful and effective way. Library members should be familiarized with
the varieties of the reading materials in the library, the ways of using them,
the arrangement of documents, layout of sections and kinds of services provided,
and how to work with the library tools. Our library has been providing such
programs for new members from time to time.
8.
Dissemination of Materials and
Information; SAMB started this because without it, the users do not know about
the new books available in the library. Our library is providing this service
by listing the new books in library notice board, putting these books on new
arrival display rack, and informing the related teachers and students
individually after the processing works on the new books. All the new journals
have also been displayed in the journal display rack title-wise.
9.
Digital Copy:
SAMB Library has made the softcopy of Sallaghari from volume 1 (2048) to volume
18 (2065) in 2066. Sallaghari is the annual magazine published by the Mahavidyalaya. Now the library has the softcopy of all the
volumes of ‘Sallaghari’ magazine; all the issues of ‘The Mahavidyalaya Post’ a
Monthly Bulletin published from Magh 2069 BS to Bhadra 2073; all the issues of
the “The Sallaghari Post, a Monthly Bulletin published from Ashwin 2077 BS; Sainik
Mahavidyalaya: Bigat Ra Wartman published in 2071 BS; and Yatrankan published
in 2077 BS.
10. Roll
Number System: When
SAMB Library started circulating books by using Koha, the unique identification
number was needed but the roll number of the student was similar with others. Therefore, I
designed ‘A System of Roll
Number in BSAM’ for library
in April 23, 2009. At that time, the
system was appreciated by almost all the staff members of SAMB, and it was implemented
in the Mahavidyalaya. The System of Roll Number is really informative and helps
to know the class, the section, the address, and the gender of a particular
student without naming him/her or defining him/her.
11. Koha and
Dspace: Information technology and computers have modernized our life
and libraries are no exception to it. Therefore, library automation is the need
of the information age. SAMB Library started its automation work on 18th
May 2008 by using Koha. Koha is the world's best open-source library automation
software, used around the world. SAMB Library started all printed
documents published from SAMB to archive for reading full texts by using DSpace.
DSpace is
an open source repository application
that allows to capture, store, index, preserve, and distribute the digital
materials including text, video, audio, and data. It provides a way to manage
materials and publications in a professionally maintained repository to give
them greater visibility and accessibility over time.
12. Campus Library : SAMB
has a Campus Library situated in Bachelor’s Block. It was
established in 2012 for the students of B.Sc. and BBA. The major collections of
Campus Library are textbooks of BBA (TU) and B. Sc. (TU). Students and teachers
of Bachelor’s level can get the books issued from that library and can use the
reference materials. ‘Koha’ Library software is used by the library for its
automation of all activities or functions.
13. E-Library : SAMB Library started an e-library or Digital Library services from 2014 by adding 20 computers in
the Central Library. However, SAMB has
Internet service in senior computer lab and audiovisual service in English
Language Lab since June 24, 2007. An e-library or Digital library is a
physical site and/or website that provides free copies of books, journals,
visual material, audio material, video material available to the users. SAMB library again added 20 more computers
for access e-resources in 2020 to fulfill digital interest of among students.
14. School Management Software allows
schools to digitally monitor the daily activities along with managing all the
resources and information on a single platform. SAMB introduced ‘Fedena’
replacing ‘Midas’ on September 18th, 2014. Fedena is a complete student information system in
cloud. I bore the responsibility as the admin of the ‘Fedena’.
15. Graphic Design: I
started graphic design for SAMB by designing posters and leaflets, magazines, calendar,
and any other types of graphic design as the Mahavidyalaya needed from the beginning
of 2012 AD. I started printing ID Cards,
Parent’s Cards, Out Pass for residential students, certificates, photos,
invitation cards by using Epson L805 printer from 2016 AD.
CONCLUSION
My entry into SAMB as an employee in her library has given me
lots of opportunities to bloom my potential.
I have done lots of innovative things guided by the Principals and the
Liaison Officers and the constructive suggestions of staff members of B/SAMB. I
am yet to introduce a few innovative things after I get consultation from the
authorities to modernize SAMB library further. I am quite sure that I will
continue getting similar sorts of cooperation and support from the authorities.
I was awarded the Best Librarian Award from Ministry of
Education on the occasion of 9th Library Day in 2016 AD.
I strongly believe that the success of any educational
institution should be judged on the basis of how far it has succeeded in
cultivating reading habits among her students. Even if a child completes
schooling or does not, even if s/he goes for higher studies or not, s/he still should
be able to form a life-long habit of reading on his/her own. To this end, the
school librarian and the teachers have to play a special role with special
responsibility. I think I am playing my role with honesty, punctuality, and
high sense of responsibility.
References
https://www.mkshah.com.np
Sah,
Manoj Kumar (2006) ‘An
Introduction to Birendra Sainik Awasiya Mahavidyalaya Library’ : Sallaghari, Vol. 16, Page 91.
Sah,
Manoj Kumar (2007) ‘Birendra
Sainik Awasiya Mahavidyalaya Library and Its Services’ Sallaghari :
Vol . 17, Page 84.
Sah,
Manoj Kumar (2009) ‘A
System of Roll Number in BSAM’ Sallaghari
Vol. 19, Page 14.
Sah,
Manoj Kumar (2010) ‘WinISIS
in Sainik Awasiya Mahavidyalaya Database’ Sallaghari
:Vol. 20, Page 18.
Sah,
Manoj Kumar (2012) ‘Library
Automation Software in Nepal with Reference to Koha’ International Conference on Information and Knowledge
Management in December 29-30, 2012 organized by Nepal Library Association
Sah,
Manoj Kumar (2015) ‘Fedena
: A Digital School Management System at SAMB’ Sallaghari : Vol.
25, Page 10.
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