(ES) and Public Relations (PR) - Kurukshetra University

Extension Services (ES) 

and 

Public Relations (PR) 

of Libraries 

PREPARED BY 

DR. JYOTSNA GUPTA 

Assistant Professor 

DIRECTORATE OF DISTANCE EDUCATION 

KURUKSHETRA UNIVERSITY, KURUKSHETRA. 

dr_jyotsnagupta@rediffmail.com 

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As a social animal we have relations with 

our family members, relatives, neighbors, and 

colleagues etc. We make all efforts to improve 

the relations and do our best to prove the 

usefulness of relations with them. We also 

extend our sphere of relations by making new 

relations. 

Similarly, an institution keeps relations with 

its customers, suppliers, investors, etc. It also 

proves it’s utility as well as improves its 

competency. 

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It is necessary on the part of any 

organization especially social 

organization which runs with public 

funds and for public service. 

Likewise, a library that is a social 

institution also keeps relations with its 

users whom it gives services and other 

libraries whose resources are used by 

it. 



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ES & PR in LIBRARIES- WHY ? 

The first Law of Library Science “Books are for use” 

is firmly established if the libraries realize that their 

existence is justified only by the extent to which 

their books are used by the readers. 

Again, the third law of library science 

“Every book of its reader” also gives emphasis on 

the same concept. 

But here books cannot move to their users. 

Therefore, all the efforts should be on the part of 

library itself to bring the books at the door step of 

users. Contd… 

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Contd… 

Dr. Ranganathan is in favour to adopt the shop 

analogy by the libraries to implement the laws of 

library science. 

The most suitable method is public relations and 

extension services of the library to reach all people 

of the community. 

Through various programmes and proper planning 

the Extension Services are efforts to reach the 

maximum number of people whereas 

Public Relation is an attempt to interact with the 

people by informing about the resources and 

services of library as well its importance to them. 

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Therefore, this is an obligation of a 

library: 

•to get the views of users about its 

utility and quality of services time to 

time; and 

•to expands its area by making new 

users and by having cooperation with 

new libraries. 



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The Extension Service (ES) is an 

effort of a library to increase the 

number of its users to make the 

maximize use of its resources. 



On the other hand with the help of 

Public Relations (PR) it 

informs the public or users about its 

resources, services and their utility. 

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Extension Services (ES) 

• Definition/s 

• Objectives 

• Facets 

•Programmes 



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DEFINITION/S 



Dr. S. R. Ranganathan, 

“Apart from such methods of pure publicity, libraries 

are now a days developing certain new types of work 

which, in addition to their being directly educative or 

recreational, lead also to publicity as an important 

secondary product.” These activities are named as the 

extension services of libraries. 

Krishan Kumar, 

“An extension service aims at converting non-readers 

in to readers. It creates and stimulates the desire for 

good reading. This is done by bringing books and 

readers together. This results in exploitation and 

promotion of collections.” 

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(ES) : OBJECTIVES 

The main objectives of Extension Services 

are : 

1) It is an attempt to turn the library in to a social 

centre which encourages reading; 

2) Its aim is to convert readers in to non-readers; 

3) It creates and stimulates the desire for good 

reading and brings book and reader together; 

4) It makes maximum use of library resources. 

5) It is to create image of the library among the 

public and government. 

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(ES): FACETS 



To perform the extension services effectively the 

following facets in terms of infrastructure, 

equipments, skilled staff, etc. are needed: 

1) To execute any extension service a proper planning by 

considering all the concerned aspects is necessary. 

Inadequacy at any part may fail the whole programme; 

2) All the extension services must be to encourage the 

people to use the library and to make the maximum 

utilization of library resources for the development of the 

society. 

Contd… 

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• The library should have a lecture hall, an 

exhibition lobby, conference rooms etc. to 

organize workshops, lectures, debates, 

exhibitions, music concerts and other social 

and cultural programmes; 

• The library should have multimedia 

projector, audio-visual equipments like 

slide and film projector, mike, recording 

facility etc. also required in the library; 

Contd… 

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Contd… 



• The librarian and other library staff 

should be able to establish good public 

relations in the community so that 

maximum community members may 

participate in such programmes actively; 

• The coordination and cooperation 

among the staff members is also an 

important element for successful 

execution of extension services. 

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(ES): PROGRAMMES 

The Extension Services may be organised through various 

programmes. Dr. Ranaganathan has given the following 

techniques or programmes to provide library extension 

services: 

1) Reading To Illiterates; 

2) Translation Of Manuscript/ Local Language; 

3) Reading Circle ; 

4) Intellectual Centre ; 

5) Library Talks And Public Lectures; 

6) Library Exhibitions ; 

7) Story Hours; 

8) Festivals And Fairs; 

9) Display Of New And Topical Books; 

10) Mobile Services; 

11) Quiz Programmes; 

12) Celebratiion Of Books Week. 

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Public Relations (PR) 

• Definition/s 

• Objectives 

• Facets 

•Programmes 



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(PR): DEFINITION/S 

Rex Harlow defines public relations, 

“a science through which an organization 

can consciously attempt to fulfill its social 

responsibilities and to secure the public 

recognition and approval necessary to 

success” 



he also calls “public relations the process 

whereby an organization analyzes the 

needs and desires of all interested parties in 

order to conduct itself more responsively 

toward them.” 

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Dimock said, 

“Public relations are concerned with 

survival because in the long run no 

enterprise can continue without public 

support.” 

Dr. Ranganathan, 

“well considered publicity is as necessary 

for the public library as for a commercial 

firm, in order that the public may know of 

its existence and of the varied service that 

it offers.” 

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(PR): OBJECTIVES 

The main objectives of library public relations programmes 

are: 

1) To create library consciousness among the people 

of the community; 

2) To spotlight the existence of libraries, where they 

are located, what do they contain, and to identify 

the services they can render to help people in their 

informal self-education; 

3) To enrich and further develop the subjects on 

which individuals are undertaking formal 

education to help people remain well-informed; 

Contd… 

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Contd… 



• To make constructive use of their leisure 

hours; 

• To become good citizens; 

• To help people remain well-informed; 

• To appreciate the values of democracy; and 

• To increase their theoretical knowledge of 

their vocations. 

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(PR): FACETS 



Public Relations of a library in actual is “marketing 

the library”. The facets or basic elements of 

public relations and marketing are almost same. 

Some of the important facets are : 

1) Overview Of Public Wishes And Aspirations 

2) Planning 

3) Library Products 

4) Promoting The Library 

5) Web Marketing 

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(PR): PROGRAMMES 

The some important and generally used methods 

and techniques of public relations are as follows: 

1) PRESS 

2) NEWS SHEETS 

3) LIBRARY BULLETINS 

4) WINDOW DISPLAYS 

5) RADIO 

6) POSTERS 

7) PERSONAL TALK 

8) LIBRARY SURVEYS 



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(ES) and Public Relations (PR) - Kurukshetra University

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