Status of Pre-University College libraries in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts: A survey

The purpose of this study is to examine the current state of Pre-University College libraries in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. To achieve this, a survey method was employed to gather accurate and comprehensive data. The study reviewed existing literature and included a total of 307 colleges across both districts. Out of these, 190 colleges with active libraries were selected for the survey, including 57 Government, 47 Aided, and 86 Un-aided colleges. Of these, 73.16% are located in rural areas, while 26.84% are situated in urban areas. The findings reveal that only 22.63% of the libraries are managed by professionally qualified librarians, while 74.21% are overseen by non-professional staff, and 3.16% by semi-professionals. Currently, 4 Government colleges and 3 Aided colleges have permanent librarians. The study highlights the significant neglect of library development within the Indian education system, specifically in the context of Pre-University colleges in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts in Karnataka