An Awareness of Women's Empowerment Through Public Libraries

Journal of Research and Development A Multidisciplinary International Level Referred and Double Blind Peer Reviewed, Open Access ISSN : 2230-9578 | Website: https://jrdrvb.org Volume-17, Issue-11(I)| November 2025 186 An Awareness of Women's Empowerment Through Public Libraries B. Kavitha1, Dr. V. Senthil Kumar2 1(Research Scholar, Department of LIS), Annamalai University, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India 2(Assistant Professor, Department of LIS), Annamalai University, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India Manuscript ID: JRD -2025-171139 ISSN: 2230-9578 Volume 17 Issue 11 (I) Pp. 186-191 Nov. 2025 Submitted:15 Oct. 2025 Revised: 25 Oct. 2025 Accepted: 10 Nov. 2025 Published: 30 Nov. 2025 Abstract The public libraries have recognised their role to satisfy information needs of all types of people, as well as the women's community in society. A public library is a welfare institution that facilitates education, promotes education, offers opportunities for healthy recreation, and disseminates information to all facets of society. Public libraries serve as community education hubs, providing sociocultural enrichment and disseminating information to all segments of society. It is possible to comprehend the idea of women's empowerment by first considering empowerment. The right to decide and shape change to ensure control over material and nonmaterial resources has been defined as the concept of "empowerment." Empowerment is a multifaceted process of raising awareness and developing capacity that results in increased control, participation, and decision-making authority as well as transformative action that allows people to reach their full potential. Women's empowerment can be seen as the culmination of a number of interconnected and supportive elements. To encourage community members to read, use books, access information and knowledge, and enjoy all of the public library's educational and recreational resources; to assist rural children and women in maintaining the knowledge they have gained from their education; to assist a rural community in understanding the nation's social, political, and economic endeavors and nation building efforts and to support the development of women empowerment, and social, economic, and health care development in the society. The present study focused on the role of public Libraries in women's empowerment. Key words: 1. Concept of Public Libraries, 2. Women's empowerment through public library Information, 3. Need for awareness in the women's community Introduction: India is a welfare State governed by a Constitution, which holds the pride of place in the hearts of its citizens. It lays special emphasis on the protection and well-being of the weaker sections of society and seeks to improve their economic and social status on the basis of constitutional guarantees spelt out in its provisions. It shows a particular regard for women and children, and notwithstanding the pervasive ethos of the doctrine of equality, it contemplates special provision being made for them by general awareness. Women are an integral part of society. Women have become equal participants in many respects at all levels of society, and they play an important role in determining the destiny of a nation. In a democratic country like India, it is necessary to create awareness about the rights and duties among women for the development of the nation. Democracy today has become a social democracy, which aims at the welfare of all its classes. In order to prepare people for the demands of the modern information society, public libraries typically offer a substantial means of obtaining such knowledge at no cost. Awareness is a process of self and social empowerment that moves women, children and other poor, weaker sections of people not only to activate the rights they do have, but to redefine and reshape those inadequate ones as expressed in practice1. Awareness can empower women to demand justice. Accountability and effective remedies at all levels. Quick Response Code: Website: https://jrdrvb.org/ DOI: Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) This is an open access journal, and articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International Public License, which allows others to remix, tweak, and build upon the work noncommercially, as long as appropriate credit is given and the new creations ae licensed under the idential terms. Address for correspondence: B. Kavitha, (Research Scholar, Department of LIS), Annamalai University, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India. How to cite this article: B. Kavitha, V. Senthil Kumar(2025). IAn Awareness of Women's Empowerment Through Public Libraries . Journal of Research & Development, 17(11(I)), 186-191. 1 https://www.narayanamedicalcollege.com/empowerment-of-women-through-legal-awareness-programme-for-women/ Original Article Journal of Research and Development A Multidisciplinary International Level Referred and Double Blind Peer Reviewed, Open Access ISSN : 2230-9578 | Website: https://jrdrvb.org Volume-17, Issue-11(I)| November 2025 187 The library brings the world to every home. The library is a close friend of man. The library is a teacher. A galaxy of information would be available in the libraries. Libraries made great persons like Karl Marks, Sarvepalli Radha Krishna and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar as ideologists who brought social change to their contemporary societies. The library is a laboratory to conduct social practices. As a court of law is a temple of justice, a public library is a temple of learning, and such library service plays and has to play an effective and efficient role in awareness. Public Libraries are a treasure house of knowledge in various formats, and information is an essential commodity these days for every human activity in the world. They play a key role in the overall development of any nation as they store all findings derived from human knowledge and scientific research. Information is power; it is as crucial as oxygen to users: it needs to be put in the service of the whole users’ community. The library environment is becoming more and more competitive in its dealings as well as functions which and culture is fast transforming into an enterprising nature. It has revolutionised almost all fields of human activities, and its impact on education is quite important. The 21st century is witnessing a knowledge revolution resulting from rapid growth in information 2 . The development aspects of social changes in India have given birth to a new awakening among women and children, the poor and the working classes. In the awake of increasing social awareness of the irregularity of the development process, the gaps between the rich and the poor, the agricultural labours and the rich peasants, the basic contradiction facing the Indian constitutional system is met in the efforts to make the instruments of women and children protection, legal bargaining, as well as pedestal available to all. 3 Concept and Objective of Public Libraries: The public libraries have recognised their role to satisfy information needs of all types of people, as well as the women's community in society. For many years, public libraries have been essential resources for advancing literacy, education, and information access in local communities. They also play an important role in advancing women's empowerment and gender equality in the rapidly changing social scene of today. Public libraries become effective venues for increasing awareness among women, particularly those who are underprivileged, underserved, or reside in rural areas, by providing free and open access to knowledge. Numerous obstacles frequently stand in the way of women's access to economic opportunities, health care, education, and legal assistance. By serving as hubs for community support, lifelong learning, and information sharing, public libraries can aid in closing these gaps. Libraries may raise awareness of important topics including women's rights, health, digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and more by implementing focused programs and providing resources. In addition to enhancing women's quality of life, public libraries also help to fortify communities and families. Therefore, creating inclusive and effective community development plans requires a grasp of the idea and goals of using public libraries to raise women's awareness. The library is a centre for information on sociological acts and activities. Library movement was launched as part of the freedom struggle. After the advent of the English language galaxy of books and literature has provoked thoughts among the people. After independence, several changes have been brought to the library information. The library is a powerhouse of Knowledge. Libraries occupy an important place in modern society as agents of educational, informational, political, economic and antiquarian functions. Libraries are the only agency devoted solely to the purpose of collecting, preserving, transmitting and securing the widest and most effective use of the records of civilisation by the society of which it is a part. The main objectives of public libraries are to help because of the financially weak so that they cannot lose their rights. Not only financial weakness, social or cultural indifference also should be the reason for unfairness in the society and to promote awareness among the people libraries will help more they are very useful in creating awareness among people. Public Library and Society: Public library is considered an essential part of a modern society and play a very important role in the community. It should be regarded as a social force that can greatly influence the society being served. It can help in safeguarding democracy, creating political awakening, bringing social awareness and fostering creative leisure activities. A public library can play an important role in helping different sectors of the community. It can help farmers to improve production. Children can develop a love of reading at a public library, which can result in the early development of reading habits. Students of all ages can benefit from it. It can give job information and assist those without jobs in searching for better opportunities. A public library may be the sole resource available to a member of the public who wants to educate themselves; it can also serve the elderly, the impoverished, and those with disabilities. In addition to improving the welfare and advancement of the communities they serve, public libraries can be crucial in fortifying the fundamentals of democracy. These can help in the achievement of the aspirations of the people. 4 Library and society are Interrelated to each other because nowadays libraries have become a part and parcel of society. Like other social institutions, it is 2 Singh, K P & Neru Sharma (2008) Information and communication Technology: Application in LIS and opportunities in Modern age, New Delhi Wisdom Publications, p. 123-144 3 Robert F Meagher, N.M. Tripathi Pvt. Ltd, Bombay 1988 (p.g.172-173 4 Krishna Kumar, Library manual, Vikas Publication House PVT,LTD New Delhi, 1989,p.74 Journal of Research and Development A Multidisciplinary International Level Referred and Double Blind Peer Reviewed, Open Access ISSN : 2230-9578 | Website: https://jrdrvb.org Volume-17, Issue-11(I)| November 2025 188 playing an important role in the all-around development of people as well as society. The different roles played by public libraries in society are  The public library acts as a chief instrument for accumulating and disseminating man’s intellectual heritage.  Public library is no longer a museum of books, and today they are essentially universities of the people.  The public library is the source of continuing education, which helps people, deprived of formal education.  The success of democracy is based on mass education, which needs the assistance of public libraries.  The formal schooling can be supported and supplemented by public library services.  The public library brings social integration while acting as a community centre. 5 Library Information As Crucial As Oxygen To Women, Children And Poor People: Public library also suggests improving the girls and empowering women. Women are crucial factors for the growth and development of society. Public Libraries differ greatly in size and content according to the different needs of the Library users. Any library is likely to have been periodicals, Magazines, Novels, Books, Journals, Newspapers, historical and philosophical works etc. the public library has designed to assist students, children, women, teachers, formers, retired persons of the public library. Therefore, the public library of public is establishing itself to meet the information needs of different library user groups the fulfil their interest. The public library plays a major role in society; it fosters the development of knowledge in all aspects. Information is as crucial as oxygen; therefore, a public librarian's position is to regulate the flow of information and its services. Empowerment of Women: The empowerment of women is an essential objective to fully engage them in economic life and achieve sustainable growth throughout the world. Providing basic facilities to women is on form of empowerment 6 . Empowering women is the key issue in developing nations despite the fact that women are an integral part of any society, yet their involvement in decision-making via their active contribution in economic activities is very low 7 . Women's empowerment and economic development are interlinked, where on one hand, development alone can play a major role in driving down inequality between women and men, while on the other hand, empowering women can benefit development. Empowerment of women is an important issue in the current economic situation. Women's empowerment is gaining importance in the world. Women's education and empowerment are very much needed for the economic growth of a country. Educated women will get opportunities and better status in society. Educated women can help their bright plan their household budget and save for their future 8 . Empowerment of Women through Public Libraries Public libraries are very important in the life of any nation. It attempts to meet various needs of readers, provide various information sources and services. Public libraries play an important role in the women's empowerment process. Hence, it has been established as a crucial place in the life of women, as it provides information that is essential for women's empowerment. It will help their own development, family and community development. From the analysis, it was stated that the library has to play a vital role in the improvement of women 9 . Public libraries' various information sources of the library are not sufficient to meet the needs of women users, and the infrastructure and facilities of the library have to be improved. The following aspects were created by NCW for legal awareness for women: 1 Creating awareness among women about their constitutional entitlement, legal Rights, and remedies under various women-related laws 2 Facilitating a process of accessing justice by giving information about means of redressal available for women. 3 Enlightening women about alternative dispute settlement for civil matters 4 Imparting knowledge about local issues and social practices affecting the rights of women10. 5 Raju G VSLNAN, Effect of library legislation on public library development in A.P. , Visakhapatnam , 1982( Thesis) p.5 6 Saima khan (2018) women empowerment key to socio economic development, International journal women empowerment 4(1) , p.5. 7 Muhammad wagos Khalid (2020) socio economic sectors and women’s empowerment : Evidence from Punjab, Pakistan, international journal volume -34 2020 issue p-144-168 8 Shanty Savn Murthy (2019) Impact of socio economic development on women empowerment in India, International journal of engineering and advanced technology , ISSN 2249-8958, Volume -8, Issue-P.3 9 Sasi P.K (2014) Role of public libraries on women empowerment: A Study with special reference to District Library Malappuram, IOSR Journal of Humanities and social science (IOSRJHSS) , vol. 19, Issue 10,p. 36-42 10 http//www.gnlu.ac.in/gnlunews/information%20Brochure%20-%20LAP.pdf Journal of Research and Development A Multidisciplinary International Level Referred and Double Blind Peer Reviewed, Open Access ISSN : 2230-9578 | Website: https://jrdrvb.org Volume-17, Issue-11(I)| November 2025 189 India is the second-largest country by population among all the countries of the world. People of different communities live in our country. In our lives, education plays a vital role. Just as every man has the right to education, so does every woman. Education can empower women and Children. A woman occupies an important place in the socio-economic and political structure of her society. Women's empowerment is an important thing to reinforce their participation in decision-making, which is the most vital key to socio-financial development 11 . “Empowerment” is not a product of a revolution but of evolution. Amid the most recent three decades, there has been an ocean change in the idea of Women's empowerment. 12 Empowering women has become the focus of considerable discussion and attention all over the world, as well as associated with research in many educational disciplines, including that of adult education. Today, women are stigmatised and rebuked by the family and society. In the wake of increasing social awareness of the asymmetry of the development process, the gaps between men and women, children rich and the poor, agricultural labourers, and the rich peasants. Empowerment of Women through Awareness Empowerment is a multi-dimensional social process that helps women to gain control over their lives. Empowerment in the context of women's development is a way of challenging and overcoming barriers in a woman's life through which she enhances her ability to shape her life and environment. Education gives empowerment, but awareness will provide empowerment among women, which is an essential concept in the era of globalisation. The awareness of gender equality, environmental degradation, health, care, legal education, etc., is essential for the health growth of society. Empowerment includes higher literacy levels, education, better healthcare, equal ownership of productive resources, increased participation in economic and commercial sectors, awareness of rights and responsibilities, improved standards of living, self-reliance, self-esteem and self-confidence. There is a considerable negative impact of gender disparity on the socioeconomic condition of tribal women in India. Women are an integral part of society. Women have become equal participants in many respects at all levels of society, and they play an important role in determining the destiny of a nation. Empowering women socially, economically, educationally, politically and legally is going to be a Herculean task. Women have been the victims of violence and exploitation by a male-dominated society all over the world. India is no exception to this unfortunate situation. Women and Social Status In Society: Women are crucial elements for the growth and development of Indian society. Illiteracy is the bane of the Indian polity retarding progress all around. Lack of awareness complicates the problem further, resulting the continued inequality, Injustice, and disempowerment of women and children and other poor people. If law is equal for all, legal awareness should be universally available. Woman is the greatest gift of god to humanity. Women, in our country, belongs to a classes or group of society who are in a disadvantageous position on account of several social barriers and impediments and have therefore, been the victim of domination at the hands of men with whom they, fortunately, under the Constitution enjoy equal status, women also have the right to life and liberty, they also have the right to be respected and treated as equal citizens. 13 A social awareness for equal rights of women needs to be propagated to the remotest of areas. Courts, commissions or watch-groups may provide remedial measures only and that too to a limited extent; what we need now is a revised system characterised by gender justice and equality, wherein women may live a healthy, dignified and fearless life. As far as India is concerned, it must be recognised that while the society is comparatively stable, it is also stratified, exclusive, and patriarchal. In the field of social and welfare services, and also social security, the pattern of development has reflected imbalances and dole dependency over the years. Coming to the position in India, as it is a pluralist country. In the initial stages of human existence on the planet Earth, woman is treated as property of a man, and the mightier person uses them to exploit the weak and take away their property (women). But with the passage of time dignity of women is recognised in many parts of the world in various phases of the history of mankind. Although the ideology of treating women has almost vanished but the atrocities of men over women still haunt as a ghost from the grave. Whatever the form of atrocity, it is based on the foundation of the so-called weakness of women 14 . Women do not get equal status to men. They are humiliated and abused at school, college, workplace and everywhere. Men always tended to use women as objects of amusement and pleasure. Women are asked to look upon men as the meaning & justification of their existence. Her existence becomes meaningful and complete with marriage and motherhood. Since independence, several attempts have been made to gain back the same liberty and status for women 15 . Contribution of Education to Women's Development: 11 Singh, K. (2022, January 07). Empowerment of Women in the Legal Profession in the Independent India 12 Justice R.C. Lahoti, Women's Empowerment—Role of Judiciary And Legislature, (2005) 2 SCC (Jour) 49. 13 Bodhisattwa Gautam V Subhara Chakraborty, AIR 1996 SC 922: (1996), I SCC 490 14 Women &Law, Krishna Pal Malik, Allahabad Law Agency, First edition,2009. 15 Ibid Journal of Research and Development A Multidisciplinary International Level Referred and Double Blind Peer Reviewed, Open Access ISSN : 2230-9578 | Website: https://jrdrvb.org Volume-17, Issue-11(I)| November 2025 190 Education is fundamental to social development. Illiteracy is invariably associated with deprivation and socioeconomic underdevelopment. Realisation of this basic truth ultimately found expression in the resolution. The vast literature of social science acknowledges education as the most important correlate of development. The role of education, as a direct investment, can be appreciated considering the spectacular recovery of war-torn economies of Europe and Japan after the Second World War. In India, women are more women than men. Most of these women are living in bad conditions. They have been suffering various problems since independence. The Government has implemented several empowerment programmes to develop or empower women. But they have not made any remarkable improvement in their living conditions. It can be mainly attributed to the non-availability of education and information on the emerging technologies. Therefore, transfer of new technologies to the rural communities has become essential to empower them with education, power, and position; it challenges social conventions and customs. Women's education influences all the family members with whom she deals, and it helps to eradicate poverty and thereby triggers development. Women's education influences all the family members with whom she deals, and it helps to eradicate poverty and thereby triggers development 16 . Need For Awareness Programmes at Public Library: As a social tool, libraries strive to improve society and the communities they are a part of. The libraries will also serve them with nascent information as well as with state-of-the-art information in their subject fields. Supply of materials of books, on competitive examination, career choice and advancement, legal materials, farmers' materials, etc, improvement of vocational skills as well as do-it-yourself type books will help the youth, women and all kinds of users a great deal. Initiatives to raise awareness of the value of libraries. Social development can benefit from the resources. General awareness and legal awareness programs for women, children, farmers, and others could be launched here for the summer. Distributing information always requires a stage, and it's crucial to keep in mind that public libraries were at the forefront of both information dissemination and awareness-raising for the idea of an independent India. Moreover, the Indian people had been motivated to fight for their freedom by this awareness. Creating awareness among women through public libraries is a powerful and reachable way to foster education, empowerment, and societal development. There is a trend among almost every expert to encourage people to organise legal awareness programs, i.e., meetings, symposia, seminars for common people. The public library should be well equipped with the most recent information to support the participants with legal information, and it is the best way to raise legal awareness among the common people. Awareness of development aspects about issues faced by women and atrocities against them should be raised in public libraries for the benefit of young women and old women, old people, children, etc., so that they can effectively tackle their problems in their day-to-day life. Given increasing crimes against women and violations of human rights, knowledge of law would help the needy get their grievances redressed without the assistance of others. Need of Awareness Programmes, I.E., Meeting, Symposia, And Seminars In Public Libraries: The media and the voluntary social welfare agencies play an equally important role in the dissemination of information on rights and responsibilities among the people. Professional associations, trade unions and public spiritual bodies render various types of services in this direction. Above all, the role of institutions of learning, more importantly, of Educational institutions, is of paramount significance. It is indeed part of the social responsibility of all persons to ensure that informs every aspect of life and constitutional culture is developed in society, as well as women, children and poor people, in the interest of order and progress. Awareness of legal aspects about issues faced by women and atrocities against them should be raised in public libraries for the benefit of young women and old women, old age people, children, etc., so that they can effectively tackle their problems in their day-to-day life. Given increasing crimes against women and violations of human rights, knowledge of law and other issues would help the needy get their grievances redressed without the assistance of others. Public libraries offered various programmes to their users in social, cultural, legal fields, etc. Hence, the investigator tried to find out among their programs. Which programmes are most helpful for women and other people? Public library provided various services like cultural programmes, seminars, debates, job orientation programmes, legal awareness programmes, etc, to its potential users. Here, investigator try to identify which service is most commonly used by the public for their awareness. Public library is social instruction as well as guidance. Therefore, public libraries are in a very important place to regulate the flow of information; it is the right place to conduct awareness camps. Conclusion The goal of the Indian Constitution is a “welfare idealism” covering a wide range of socio-economic aspirations of its people, as well as women and children. The founding fathers thought that the greatest way to assess the state's usefulness would be to look at how it affected the welfare of the average person. They committed the nation to ensuring "social, economic, and political justice; liberty, equality, and dignity to all its citizens."The fundamental 16 Ravikuar S k (20006) Indian women 1st ed, Jaipur, deep Publication, p. 32-46 Journal of Research and Development A Multidisciplinary International Level Referred and Double Blind Peer Reviewed, Open Access ISSN : 2230-9578 | Website: https://jrdrvb.org Volume-17, Issue-11(I)| November 2025 191 element necessary for our constitutional democracy to survive is awareness or literacy. Since public libraries offer informational, educational, and recreational resources that are very beneficial to society, they play a significant role in social development. By giving women equal access to information, resources, and opportunities, public libraries significantly contribute to their empowerment. Libraries are in a unique position to help women learn about their rights, health, education, and economic potential because they are inclusive, community-based organisations. Libraries may assist in closing the gender gap and empower women to live informed, independent, and empowered lives by providing outreach activities, safe learning environments, and tailored programs. In addition to promoting gender equality, investing in women through public libraries also contributes to the development of more resilient, knowledgeable, and just communities. Families and societies benefit from empowered women, and public libraries may play a key role in bringing about that empowerment. Among many other problems, today's reality includes illiteracy, unemployment, and a bad sex ratio, all of which can be directly or indirectly attributed to insufficient education. It is important to realise that these public libraries have the capacity to significantly reduce or perhaps eliminate such atrocities. This can be achieved through the transmission of knowledge about the nation's legal system and laws. Availability of library, its services and its role in development of society and awareness should be publicised through mass media, i.e., Television, Radio and Newspapers. Help can also be taken from local leaders and educated persons of the village in such publicity. NGOs, local leaders, and progressive farmers at the local level can also play an important role in removing illiteracy and poverty among the people and making them aware of the importance of libraries in their personal development as well as development of society as a whole through awareness camps.