Online International Interdisciplinary Research Journal, {Bi-Monthly}, ISSN 2249-9598, Volume-08, Dec 2018 Special Issue (01)

NAAC Based Best Practices in the College Library

Shraddha Anilkumar
Officiating Principal Dayanand Arya Kanya Mahavidyalaya Jaripatka, Nagpur
440014, MS, India

Abstract
The article throws light on the various best practices to be followed in college
libraries. It covers its definition & meaning, book exhibition, orientation plan, Book
display programme, library hours, staff-user meet, library information brochure,
training to use E-resources, review of book, book talk programme, readers club,
granthdan yojana, best library user award, counseling center regarding competitive
examinations, Interaction with author etc. The present paper also highlights best
practices of NAAC. It also mentions IT based best practices like web page, Blogs,
Wikis Virtual library tour, E-alert services, etc. The paper also throw light on other
best practices like book bank, reading room facility, special facility scheme etc. It also
mentions general library practices & library extension services. This paper will be
useful guide to other libraries to get an idea about various ways & practices can be
adopted in their libraries for creating an effective library management.
KEYWORDS: College Libraries, Best Practices, E-resources, Library services,
NAAC

Introduction
College form the integral part of higher education and libraries in colleges are the
primary source for learning process. The college library is a connecting link between
teaching and learning as well as place which supplements its resources which is
beyond the scope of class room. college libraries play an important role in the
educational history of both the students as well as faculty members. It serves the users
by providing specific information to the user. But how far the college libraries are
successful in implementing their goals into its reality is a big question. There must be
some agency to have a proper vigilance to rectify the emerging needs, and for this
kind of purpose. NAAC was established for maintaining quality education of the
institutions.

Definition of Best Practices

According to webopedia . “Best practices are guidelines which are used to obtain the
most efficient & effective way of completing a task using repeatable & proven
procedures.” According to National Board of Accreditation and Assessment (NAAC)
. “Best practice may be innovative and be a philosophy, policy, strategy, program,
process or practice that solve a problem or create new opportunities and positively
impact on organizations. Institutional excellence is the aggregate of the best practices
followed in different areas of institutional activities.”
From above definition, best practice means, it is a method or technique used to
improve the current workflow of an organization to obtain its objectives effectively &
with predetermined standards.

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 Online International Interdisciplinary Research Journal, {Bi-Monthly}, ISSN 2249-9598, Volume-08, Dec 2018 Special Issue (01)

Best Practices in Library

The best practices suggested by NAAC in its quality indicators in Library and
Information services are as listed below.
1. Computerization of library with standard Software.
2. Inclusion of sufficient information about the library in the college prospectus.
3. Compiling user statistics.
4. Displaying newspaper clipping on the notice board periodically.
5. Career/ Employment information services.
6. Internet facilities to different user groups.
7. Information Literacy programs.
8. Suggestion box and timely response.
9. Displaying new arrivals and circulating a list of those to academic departments.
10. Conducting book exhibitions on different occasions.
11. Organizing book talks.
12.Instituting annual Best User Award for students.
13.Organizing competitions annually.
14.Conducting user surveys periodically.

Need for best practices in library

Best practices are developed in the library for following purpose.
• To execute the five laws of library science.
• To magnetize & meet the user demand.
• To maximize the utilization of library.
• To identify the needs of the users.
• To market library services and products.
General Best Practices :-
Following are additional practices to be conducted in library as a routine practice.
1) Regular library advisory committee Meeting.
2) Binding of books & periodical volumes.
3) Inclusive of library information in prospects & college websites.
4) Intercom facility for easy communication among various departments.

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 Online International Interdisciplinary Research Journal, {Bi-Monthly}, ISSN 2249-9598, Volume-08, Dec 2018 Special Issue (01)

5) Pasting of barcode, spine label and stamping in a definite place on the books.
6) Question sets of previous examinations.
7) Library calendar of activity & Events.
8) Use of pesticides for keeping away book worm & damage of books.

Benefits of internet Facility in the Library:

● The readers are provided with available up-to-date knowledge with internet
facility. Their educational needs have fulfilled.
● The readers are benefitted with online resources by Internet.
● Students make use of Internet facility for filling up e-scholarship forms, to use
NLIST journals, e-books, to check emails, to get information from govt. websites,
to fill online job application forms, to check results online, etc
● The students make use of Internet to fill up UPSC, MPSC, SET, NET,
Enrollment, E-Scholarship forms, banking recruitment applications, railway
recruitment applications, other online forms, etc.
● The teachers get information about the research made in their concerned subjects.
● Teachers to take help from internet sources in their teaching learning methods and
reading materials.
● The users of the library are making use of internet on the large scale.
A few examples of experience of best practices in academic and research
libraries
1. Dr. S. R. Ranganathan writes that he brought to the notice of Sir C.V. Raman about
Raman Effect which was published in a foreign journal. This incident happened in
Madras University Library in early thirties. Sir C.V. Raman received the Nobel Prize
for his work on the scattering of light which is called Raman scattering or Raman
Effect.
2. Mr. T.N. Chaturvedi, former Governor of Karnataka narrated the experience about
when he approached Prof. D.N. Marshall, Librarian Bombay University for a book
from his Library. Prof. Marshall sent him the book immediately without waiting,
whether his library rules permitted him or not. Mr. T.N. Chaturvedi wrote to many
university libraries. He received negative reply from them saying that they have the
book in the library but their rules do not permit them to send the book
3. Prof. P.K. Mehta, former Pro Vice-chancellor of IGNOU narrates the incident in
1970 when he wrote to Dr. B. Anderson, Librarian of Bombay University Library that
he would like to make use of the library and mentioning his area of research work.
Prompt reply came from Dr. B. Anderson. Prof. Mehta went to the library and met the
librarian immediately. Dr .B Anderson gave him three typed papers and told, “ This is
the list of books available in our library which, I think are relevant to the area of your
work “ and told him please feel free to contact me if you have any difficulty or need
of any assistance. Prof. P.K. Mehta spent few weeks in the library. Prof. P.K. Mehta
comments”A library is provision and every provision in judged on the basis of three
parameters: availability, accessibility and utilization.
4. In 1980s when the author was working as deputy librarian at American Studies
Research Centre Library, Hyderabad Director, Prof. William Mulder used to ask him
for making checklists on different authors of American literature for the outstation

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 Online International Interdisciplinary Research Journal, {Bi-Monthly}, ISSN 2249-9598, Volume-08, Dec 2018 Special Issue (01)

scholars. When the director was told that making a bibliography of books and journal
articles is the part of literary research and a job of research scholar himself, he would
say, “No, this checklist will motivate him to start research on his topic. So let us send
him the checklist immediately”.

Quality Indicators for the Library

The details relates to the library users, services offered, facilities, collection, rules,
budget, usage of services, extension activities etc. and at every step students and
teachers are the party in complying with it. In other words we can say that
involvement and support of these elements play a crucial role in the self-study report
writing exercise. Hence maintenance of daily record needs serious attention. Library
rules and the awareness among the users combined with alertness on the part of the
library staff becomes the major requirements. It is true that libraries largely support
learning, teaching and research processes in institutions. The set of questions framed
for the library focuses on library infrastructure, collection, management and services.
Extension activities and best practices are also covered. This can be explained in more
details by dividing these questions into different headings.

Utilization of the library services

To check the utilization of the available services, various details about the working
hours of the library (including sundays and holidays, and after and before the class
hours, during examination) are noted. Facilities like computers and internet
connectivity, reprographic service, status of library automation, open access system,
number of books issued daily, fine etc are the key questions. Various services are
listed in the guidelines like circulation, clippings, bibliographic services etc. Inter
library loan service, user orientation and information literacy programs are to be
explained. Services used are evaluated through different data like average no. of
books circulated, no. of reference queries received, no. of students visiting library, no.
of teachers visiting library, display of new arrivals, awareness services etc.

Best Pracitces to Enhance Academic Activites

In the library context, the best practice may be those services through which the users
are able to explore more resources and facilities from the library. This includes steps
taken by the library to attract more users by creating suitable academic information
environment. Here library is expected to focus on users needs while introducing new
services and facilities to them. Guidelines speak about the best practices in relation to
new developments in the field. Service introduced as a best practice today may turn in
to an essential one. Previously internet access in the library was considered as the best
practice but today it has become an essential service. Best practices questions includes
computerization of library with standard digital software, inclusion of sufficient
information about the library in the college prospectus, compiling student/teacher
attendance statistics and locating the same on the notice board, displaying newspaper
clippings on the notice board periodically, career employment information services,
internet facilities, information literacy programs, suggestion box, displaying new
arrivals, circulating a list of those to academic departments, conducting book
exhibitions on different occasions, organizing book talks, instituting annual best user
award for students, best intellectual library award, organizing competitions annually
and conducting user surveys periodically.

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Conclusion
NAAC policy helps in developing the college libraries to modernize and to provide
good standard service to users. This is the best methodology for measuring
themselves to find deficiencies to enhance the library services, to get maximum score
based on certain criterias, this paper clearly explains importance of maintaining the
library to full fill the quality for the NAAC policy.

References
1. Barnard S.B : Implementing total quality management: a model for research
libraries “a model for research libraries “journal of library administration, vol.18,
(1/2) pp.57-70. (1993)
2. Kulkarni, S.A.: Best Practices in College Libraries. National Seminar on Library
and Information Services in Changing Era, 22-23, p. 273-281. January 2009.
3. Mokashi, R.M. Best Practices in Librarianship Services to the readers :
Compilations of Who’s Who. National Seminar on Library and Information Services
in Changing Era. 22-23, January 2009. p. 285-294. 4. NAAC: A Profile. Bangalore,
National Assessment and Accreditation Council, 2006.
4. NAAC. Best Practices in Library and Information Services. (Website) Library and
Information Services: Case Presentations. NAAC, 2006.
5. Brophy, Peter and Hate coulling : Quality Management and library science : for
information and library managers., Mumbai: Jaico.,p 196. (1997)

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