SOCIAL HARMONY A facet of Library

Abstract

In the present time all people live in an increasingly heterogeneous world, where there are more than 6,000 different languages, 7 major religions and a number of sects, abudant ethenic groups, and many more divergent characters are in prevalence. Cultural diversity is a historical and contemporary social reality, irrespective of where one is located in the world. Despite the geographic, linguistic, cultural, and religious diversities everywhere human beings try to live together harmoniously for their survival. The perception of harmony may change with time or differ in different cultural contexts. It is believed that human beings are teachable, improvable and perfectible through personal and communal endeavour especially including self-cultivation and self-creation. The library, in the process of cultivating virtue and the developing moral perfection among people, provides them a base. In some places, library may find social harmony a necessary goal behind their didactic functions and, in some sense this may be helpful to rebuilt society. The library should have a policy and a strategic plan, defining its mission, objectives, priorities and services related to cultural diversity. The international organisations like IFLA and Unesco have jointly created a manifesto on way to direct the library system and services towards establishing harmonious society.