UGC NET June 2025 Paper 2 (91-100)

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Read the following passage and answer the question 91-95: The first significant date in the development of libraries for the public in India is 1808 when the Bombay Government initiated a proposal to register libraries which were to be given copies of books published from the "Funds for the Encouragement of Literature". By the middle of the 19th century, the three presidency towns of Bombay, Calcutta and Madras had their "public libraries", founded mostly with the active support and initiative of the Europeans in these towns. They were, of course, not public libraries in the full sense of the term. Founded in imitation of their western counterparts, the use of these libraries was confined to a thin upper layer of the society. Besides, they were subscription libraries and not free libraries, which alone can, now-a-days, lay claim to the title of public libraries. The movement spread to the vast "hinterland" beyond the metropolises and grew particularly strong in the last two decades of the 19th century. By the end of the century, all the provincial capitals and even many of the district towns, at least in the three Presidencies, had their "public libraries". Even some of the Princely States, like Indore and Travancore-Cochin, had the distinction of having public libraries in their capitals. The shortcomings of the libraries in the three metropolises, mentioned above, clung more or less to the provincial, suburban and "mofussil" libraries as well. Due to apathy and the prevailing illiteracy in the country, the people were not prepared to take advantage of these institutions.

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91.What primary characteristic differentiated early libraries in the presidency towns from modern public libraries?
1. They were funded by private donations.
2. They were subscription based rather than free.
3. They exclusively served Europeans.
4. They were exclusively located in the hinterland.

92. What factor significantly contributed to the spread of libraries in the last two decades of the 19th century?
1. Increased government funding for literature.
2. Expansion beyond metropolitan areas.
3. Decrease in illiteracy rates
4. Direct imitation of western library models.

93. How did the early libraries in the presidency towns primarily serve the population according to the passage?
1. They were open to all socio-economic classes without charges.
2. They were accessible to a broad section of the society with subscription fee.
3. They primarily catered to a narrower upper layer of society.
4. They were managed by a local government and free of use.

94. According to the passage, what was a significant limitation faced by libraries in the provincial, suburban and 'mofussil' areas?
1. They lacked government support.
2. They were unable to attract European patrons.
3. They mirrored the shortcomings of metropolitan libraries.
4. They had an overabundance of library materials.

95.Which of the following statement is implied but not directly stated in the passage regarding public libraries in the 19th century?
1. They were initially designed to cater to all social classes equally.
2. The libraries in the Princely States were more advanced than those in metropolitan areas.
3. The early libraries often struggled due to the prevailing apathy and illiteracy among the populace.
4. Library usage increased significantly in the early years due to government intervention.

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Read the following passage and answer the question 96-100: Integration of technology facilitates access to information and ideas by incorporating new digital technologies into the library environment. The public library today provides unprecedented community access to a wide variety of digital media, computer technology, and online services for reading, reference, research, entertainment, and communication. Historically, the technological development of traditional print media to meet an ever increasing market demand correlated directly with the problem of growing library collections, and how best to house them. The evolution of reading materials from scroll to codex to book, papyrus to vellum to paper, and manuscript to print, gave rise to the parallel development of the library facility itself, from carrel to lectern to alcove to hall, and beyond. Quantitatively, increases in the capacity of libraries over time were dramatic, with volumes in large collections numbering in the hundreds in medieval times, the tens of thousands in the Renaissance era, and millions today. In the late twentieth century, the introduction of new digital media continued to expand this capacity, while offering the potential of reducing the physical size of collections and, subsequently, the library facility itself. Today, the public library provides access to a combination of traditional print and new digital media, which are complementary of one another, rather than mutually exclusive. In addition to books, magazines, and newspapers, the library offers a wide selection of digital media available on disk or for downloading, including e-books, books on tape, CDs, and DVDs. For Internet access, personal computers are available to the public at dedicated stations, which are centrally located in open, common areas of the library. Wi-Fi services for laptop computers and other portable electronic devices provide additional remote access to the Internet in other non-dedicated areas of the library.

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96. Which of the following best describes the correlation between the evolution of reading materials and library facilities?
1. The transition from scroll to codex led to the development of digital libraries.
2. The shift from papyrus to vellum to paper influenced the design of carrels, lecterns, alcoves and halls.
3. The advancement of manuscript to print media necessitated smaller library space.
4. The increase in library volumes from hundreds to millions directly led to digital media usages.

97. What inference can be made about the relationship between traditional print media and digital media in modern libraries?
1. Digital media has completely replaced traditional print media.
2. Traditional media and digital media are considered complementary resources.
3. Libraries have phased out traditional print media in favor of digital media.
4. Digital media has reduced the importance of traditional print collection.

98. Considering the historic context provided, why might libraries have developed from smaller to larger facilities over time?
1. The technological advancement in print media required more space for storage.
2. The introduction of digital media led to the need for larger physical spaces.
3. The increase in market demand for books decreased the need for larger facilities.
4. The physical space required for scroll was significantly more than for books.

99.Why might the combination of WiFi services and dedicated computer stations be significant for modern library users?
1. It ensures that only patrons with portable devices can access the internet.
2. It allows users to access the internet from various locations within the library.
3. It restricts internet access to specific area, ensuring quitter study zone.
4. It replaces the need for any physical media collection within the library.

100. Based on passage, what might be a reason for the introduction of new digital media in libraries in the late twentieth century?
1. To reduce the financial costs associated with maintaining large physical collections.
2. To decrease the physical size of collections while expanding library capacity.
3. To replace all traditional print media with digital alternatives.
4. To limit public access to reading and research materials.

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