Best Practices in a College Libraries: A Case Study of Dev Samaj College for Women, Chandigarh (India)

Abstract

College libraries need to have facilities that promote effective and interactive access and use of information resources for all of its users. For the development of library infrastructure, learning resources and for their sustainability, adoption of best practices, which are practiced elsewhere, will lead to continuous improvement in the libraries. The libraries need to prepare well-framed rules and guidelines with regard to hours of access, circulation policies, and other regulations to offer better services to the users. Some of the best practices in the libraries are with respect to management of libraries; staff promotional practices; orientation programmes for the users; reader development programmes; collection development in various format; access to host of electronic resources; computerization of library and its operations; library use statistics; electronic surveillance systems, etc. Dev Samaj College for Women, Chandigarh, located in northern part of India, is one of 180 colleges affiliated to Panjab University, Chandigarh (India) and offers to Post-Graduate and Graduate programmes in Arts, Sciences and Social Sciences. The college has strength of over 1200 students. The paper discusses the best practices followed in the College library to provide facilities and services to the student and teaching community of the College. The best practices followed in the college Library include DEAR Club’ Reader Motivation Programme, soothing music in the reading area, participatory collection development, etc.