Awareness of Legal Issues Related to Libraries among Library Professionals of Gujarat

Anilkumar Hanumappa; Hiral Patel

doi:10.14429/djlit.39.3.14354

Anilkumar Hanumappa Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Vastrapur, Ahmedabad - 380 015, India
Hiral Patel Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Vastrapur, Ahmedabad - 380 015, India

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/djlit.39.3.14354

Keywords: Legal issues-libraries, Legal aspects-libraries, Library professionals–Gujarat

Abstract

The awareness of legal issues related to libraries among library professionals in Gujarat is discussed in the current study. The research is based on an online survey of library professionals of Gujarat. The major findings of the survey reveal that there is an acute need to improve the awareness and knowledge about legal issues and legal provisions among LIS professionals in Gujarat. The results also show that educational background, experience, or designation have no correlation with level of awareness or knowledge about legal aspects among library professionals. This study provides indications to major legal issues that affect the work of library professionals and what resources may be needed to enhance the level of awareness and knowledge about legal aspects related to libraries.The current study is limited to the study of library professionals in Gujarat, India and has potential to be conducted on national scale to check the level of awareness and knowledge about legal issues and legal provisions and may also provide important indications to address the issue of training and education of library professionals.

Author Biographies

Anilkumar Hanumappa, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Vastrapur, Ahmedabad - 380 015, India

Dr Hanumappa Anilkumar has nearly three decades of professional experience in various libraries of national repute. He has several research papers to his credit and is currently working as the Librarian, Vikram Sarabhai Library, IIM Ahmedabad.

The present study has been conducted under guidance of Dr. Anilkumar and he was involved in suggesting useful improvements to the content of the manuscript and put his expertise in preparing the final draft.

Hiral Patel, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Vastrapur, Ahmedabad - 380 015, India

Ms Hiral Patel has over two decades of professional experience in academic libraries in Ahmedabad. She is currently working as the Deputy Librarian, Vikram Sarabhai Library, IIM Ahmedabad. The present study is part of her doctoral research and she carried out literature review, data collection and data analysis & interpretation and also prepared initial draft of the manuscript.