From Oblivion Towards Vision: A Case Study of the Expedition of Decolonization and Personalization Initiatives of Punjab University Library

abstract: The Punjab University Library (PUL) is the oldest and largest public-sector university library in Pakistan, established in 1873 as a Punjab University College Library and then upgraded as PUL in 1882. As in many other post-colonial countries, the end of British rule over South Asians in 1947 did not end colonialism itself, as an embedded feature of the culture. Under the British Raj on the Indian subcontinent, the PUL served the educational objectives set by the colonial rulers, promoting European texts and languages both during and after the colonial period. However, over the passage of time, PUL has taken various steps to decolonize library practices and offer user-centered initiatives. This case study, the first of its kind in South Asia, explored PUL's journey toward decolonization and user-centered initiatives.