Library movement and development process in Kerala

Observes that the development pattern in Kerala is unique in the third world as a whole. According to conventional standards of measuring development Kerala is still very backward. But the quality of life in Kerala is regarded as better than in most parts of the third world. It compares favorably even with that in China. Kerala has the highest literacy rate in India (100%), the lowest child mortality rate, highest life expectancy, high level of women’s literacy and education, and much better health standards. This fact is acknowledged even by UNDP and World Bank. The library movement in Kerala has contributed to this economic, social, political and educational development. All these dovetail each other so inextricably that library movement in Kerala is both a cause of social and economic development and also a result of that. Kerala has almost 4 libraries per village. This compares very favorably with any Third World country. Kerala library system owes less to the Government sponsorship and aid and more to voluntary effort of the people. Outstanding leaders of the freedom struggle including Shri EMS Namboodiripad, were actively involved in the library movement. Membes of political parties took library work as part of the constructive social service program of their organizations at the grassroots. From 1940 onwards left wing groups took up organization of libraries as part of their mass education program. The 100% literacy achieved by the Kerala was with the participation and initiative of the 4000 odd libraries in the State. Now Kerala has launched the celebrated decentralized planning process and development and the libraries have a great role to play in it. The paper points out that the only weakness of the movement relates to the lack of application of ICT to improve services