IMPACT OF NEP 2020 FOR SHAPING LIBRARIES IN THE FIELD OF ACADEMIC SECTOR

Abstract

The National Education Policy (NEP) of 2020 underscores the critical role that libraries play in shaping India's educational landscape. It recognizes libraries as essential resources within educational institutions, including schools, colleges, and universities, playing a pivotal role in the facilitation of learning, research, education, and skill development. The NEP 2020 positions libraries as focal points for academic and intellectual advancement, offering access to a diverse collection of materials that support both scholarly endeavors and personal growth. A cornerstone principle of the NEP 2020 is the transformation of libraries into dynamic centers for the dissemination of knowledge. This policy envisages libraries as inclusive environments accessible to students and educators from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds. Such inclusivity fosters a culture of reading, inquiry, and critical thinking among learners, creating an atmosphere that encourages intellectual curiosity and lifelong learning. Libraries, under this policy, transcend their traditional role as mere repositories of books, evolving into vibrant spaces for collaboration, innovation, and the cultivation of 21st-century skills.