Social Responsibility of Public Libraries and Information Centres in Odisha: A Statistical Analysis

Libraries are important cornerstones of a healthy community. As gateways to knowledge and culture, libraries play a very important role in promoting the progress of knowledge. Libraries are also important indicators of growth and development of a country or society. They provide scientific services, fulfill social needs, and help individuals/organizations to flourish. Library also plays a vital role in academic and research system and that is why library is considered to be the ‘heart’ of educational / research system. Therefore, there is a need of public library services as a social institution, where everybody from cradle to grave that is form all sections and settings of the society have the access to knowledge irrespective of their economic status across the country for the purpose of information, education, recreation and preservation of cultural heritage. Library legislation plays an important role in the provision of public library services in states. In Odisha, itwas passed by the Legislative Assembly of Odisha in 2001, but unfortunately it has not yet implemented. Keeping into above facts, this paper elaborates the responsibilities of public libraries and library professions for the society and discussed about the current status of public libraries in Odisha with the opportunities and challenges