Certain libraries on the verge of closure due to shortage of staff in Punjab

74 per cent posts of Librarian vacant

Certain libraries on the verge of closure due to shortage of staff in Punjab

Ferozepur, September 1, 2015: Due to indifferent attitude of the government, the libraries in the State are lying defunct on account of number of posts of Librarian and Library Restorer lying vacant.
In the present ‘digital era’, the readership has declined yet the authorities concerned are also at fault for the sorry state of libraries for book lovers.
According to sources, 74 per cent posts of college cadre Librarians are lying vacant and more than 50 per cent in the case of Library Restorer.
Raj Kishore Kalra, Patron, Punjab Education Reforms Committee giving a reference of information of Higher Education Department informed that there had been no recruitment in the cadre of Librarian and Library Restore for the last 15 years and most of the libraries are being run by Class IV employees.
Kalra said, Out of total 96 sanctioned posts of College Cadre Librarians, 71 posts are lying vacant and the services in the libraries, with the retirement of 25 Librarians in the coming years, would become stand-still.
Apart from this, out of 49 government colleges who have permanent sanctioned posts, the Librarians in only 15 colleges are in position and in the remaining 33 colleges, these posts are lying vacant. In other words, in 14 district libraries, the Librarians at only 4 places are working.
Kalra informed that are neither librarian nor restorer in the libraries at Bhatinda, Hoshiarpur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Mansa and Nabha and day today work is being looked after by giving additional charge to the nearby Librarian.
There are certain colleges where both the posts are lying vacant since long. Similarly, against the 72 sanctioned posts of Library Restorer, 42 posts are lying vacant.
According to the officials of higher education department, shortly the process of filling up of vacant posts will be initiated.
Kalra educationist said, the government is releasing the grants for the construction of Library Bhawan but there are no employees to look after and issue the lakhs of books lying in the existing libraries. This is the reason that while the readership has decreased, the number of daily visitors has also come down drastically and the books are not being used properly.