The Role of the U.G.C. in the Development of Academic Libraries
The University Grants Commission (UGC) is a statutory national body established by an Act of Parliament in 1956 for the co-ordination, determination, and maintenance of standards of university education. As the apex body for higher education, the UGC has played a major role in promoting library and information services in the country's universities and colleges. Its contributions span financial assistance, infrastructure development, modernization, professional development, and strategic planning.
1. Financial Assistance
A primary role of the UGC is providing financial support to academic libraries. This assistance is crucial for building and maintaining collections and infrastructure.
- Grants for Resources: The UGC provides substantial grants to universities and colleges for the acquisition of books and journals.
- Infrastructure Development: Financial assistance is also given for infrastructural facilities, including library buildings, furniture, and equipment, typically during every five-year plan period.
- Book Bank Scheme: The UGC introduced a "book bank" scheme by providing grants to acquire multiple copies of costly textbooks. The objective was to make these textbooks available to poor and needy students for long-term home study against a nominal deposit.
2. Establishment of National Infrastructure
The UGC has been instrumental in creating national-level infrastructure to support academic libraries, facilitate resource sharing, and modernize services.
- Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET): A major initiative was the establishment of the Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET) in 1988. INFLIBNET was set up as a full-fledged programme of the UGC to create a computer communication network linking libraries in universities, colleges, and R&D institutions. Its goal is to promote resource sharing, support library automation, and improve information access for scholarship, learning, and research.
- National Information Centres: The UGC established three National Information Centres in specialized institutions to create computer databases and provide advanced reference, documentation, and current awareness services in specific fields. These centres are:
- National Centre for Science Information at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (for Physical, Applied, and Natural Sciences).
- A centre at Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda (for Social Sciences and Humanities).
- A centre at SNDT Women’s University, Bombay (for Social Sciences and Humanities).
3. Facilitating Access to E-Resources and Consortia
Recognizing the importance of electronic resources, the UGC has spearheaded efforts to provide widespread and affordable access to them.
- UGC-INFONET Digital Library Consortium: The UGC’s E-Journals Consortium, a cornerstone of the UGC-INFONET initiative, was launched to provide universities in India with online access to electronic journals and databases across all disciplines. Executed by INFLIBNET, this programme provides access to over 7,500 core, peer-reviewed journals to more than 200 universities. The UGC has also assigned INFLIBNET the responsibility of hosting Shodhganga, a digital repository making Ph.D. theses from Indian universities available in open access.
- N-LIST Project: The UGC-INFONET consortium is also a joint executor of the National Libraries Information Services Infrastructure for Scholarly Content (N-LIST) project. This initiative extends access to selected e-resources to thousands of government-aided colleges, thereby broadening the reach of digital scholarly content.
4. Modernization and Automation
The UGC has actively promoted the modernization of academic libraries through specific funding and policy direction.
- It provided special financial assistance to central and state university libraries specifically to computerise their activities and connect them to the INFLIBNET network.
- It has been recognized as a key authority for formulating policy related to the application of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and addressing the changing information environment in university libraries.
5. Curriculum Development and Professional Standards
The UGC's role extends to shaping the education and professional standards for librarians.
- Curriculum Development Committee (CDC): In 1990, the UGC constituted a CDC on Library and Information Science to restructure courses and frame guidelines for LIS schools, covering aspects like admission policy, faculty strength, and the application of IT.
- Professional Status: The UGC is a key body with which professional associations like the Indian Library Association (ILA) pursue matters related to the betterment of salary grades, service conditions, and status of library professionals.
6. Review and Strategic Planning
To ensure accountability and future-readiness, the UGC periodically reviews and plans for the development of academic libraries.
- National Review Committee: It constituted a National Review Committee on University and College Libraries to review the utilization of grants, prepare status reports on libraries, and formulate strategic plans and guidelines for their future functioning.