• R. KUMARA SWAMY

The Paper discusses the modernization of College Libraries in India taken place during the latter half of the last century. It gives an account of the contribution of the University Grants Commission in terms of Reports, conduct of seminars ,workshops, financial assistance for replenishing collections, constructing library buildings, upgrading library services. The role of other national bodies like AIU, AICTE, NAAC and Library Networks also is described. This modernization facilitated their transformation into the 21st Century Academic Libraries. While explaining the special features of 21st Century Academic Library the land marks of the forward march like professional literature analysing the transitory period, New Five Laws of Library Science are indicated. The special features of 21st century academic libraries like library soft wares, retrospective conversion, digital library initiative are also discussed. The changing librarianship is explained emphasising the new competencies for library and information professionals. It is concluded that though the core work of libraries remain the same the old ways to carry them out are changed due to ICT applications. The library services too are enhanced and have become more effective. Explains NAAC’s concern for quality of library practices as well as NACC’s set of best practices in academic libraries. Some features which should have been included in the set meant for improving the services of the college libraries are being proposed here while evaluating the criteria of selection of the best academic libraries. Explaining Peter Brophy’s comparison of academic libraries with an automobile industry for the purpose of quality of management with a set of indicators The paper provides a few examples of the best practices experienced in libraries in different situations by Indian library scientists like Dr. S.R. Ranganathan and others. It elaborates upon Prof. Tikekar’s comment that blind imitation, false competition, status symbolism will not work and finally submits that best practices of British libraries and American Center Libraries operating in India should have been included for our purpose.

Best Praxtices, Twenty first Century Librarianship. Modernization of Libraries. College Libraries in India.

"BEST PRACTICES ADOPTED IN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES: AN OVERVIEW", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 2, page no.308-318, February-2026, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIRHJ06062.pdf

"BEST PRACTICES ADOPTED IN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES: AN OVERVIEW", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 2, page no. pp308-318, February-2026, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIRHJ06062.pdf