1. Public Libraries as Learning Spaces and Local Gateways to Digital Universe of Infinite Possibilities
Jagtar Singh
Professor, Department of Library and Information Science,
Punjabi University, Patiala (Punjab), INDIA

2. Public Library Constant and Variables
Mandate preservation of and access to documentary heritage is constant with the aim to provide equitable quality information access to one and all in a timely and cost-effective manner.
Conduit is variable and instable. Formats are leading us, whereas the need is to lead the technologies and the by-products based on the ICTs.
Objectives of public library are to facilitate education, learning, recreation, information access and inspiration.
Public library is a platform to explore and explain, and to inform the local community to covert liabilities into assets.
Public library must serve as a learning space and a local gateway to world’s information.

3. Paradigm Shift From libraries to networks
Printed publications to digital documents
Ownership to access
Just-in-case to Just-in-time
Intermediary to end-users
Top-down to bottom-up systems
Intra-action to Inter-action
CDM to content management
This shift is affecting all types of libraries and the traditional boundaries are blurring and unbundling is taking place

4. Gaps and Divides Rhetoric and reality gap
Identity crisis and capacity deficit
Assimilation deficit
Information divide
Digital divide
Digital determinist
Divided self: Seed-plan-fruit type relation missing
Human minds being programmed by our educational system and the terminological turmoil
Need to know ourselves and our community

5. The Way Out Library and information policy needed
Strong superstructure and infrastructure needed at union and state government level
Library legislation in all the states and union territories to have regular flow on funds for sustainable development of public library system in India
RRRLF, NKC, NML, IPLM, INNELI-India are good initiatives, but public library system needs firm legal commitment at union and state government’s level
Let us lead, follow or quit
It is high time to re-examine the existing paradigms. Let us think like Archimedes, who said, “Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.” If we want Indians to move the world, let us strengthen our public library system. Thank you. Jagtar Singh