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This study intends to demonstrate the importance of library networking and resource sharing activities in Bangladesh. Particularly, it emphasizes the significance and value of UN library network that exists in Bangladesh. It concentrates on the background of UN library network, highlights resource sharing programmes, events, workshops, and trainings organized by the network. This paper is prepared through reviewing literature, using printed and online documents and research papers, visiting websites and interviewing focal points of member libraries. It states other resource sharing programmes which don't have any existence and which are currently working at this moment in Bangladesh. It shows the challenges of networking and resource sharing. It has been experienced that during the last two decades, a number of good initiatives were taken to establish an effective library and information network system for the purpose of resource sharing, but most of the networks could not sustain for many reasons with a few exceptions. Finally, some steps are recommended to formulate effective networking and resource sharing programme in Bangladesh by which valuable library services could be ensured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aila is the second devastative cyclone of the last decade that hit Bangladesh coast on 25 May 2009. The aims of the study are to investigate the disaster impacts at household level due to Cyclone Aila; and to assess recovery nature of the victim families (at household level) in the study area after four years of the event. This research is mainly carried out using primary data including field observation, questionnaire survey, GPS data, official documents etc. A total of 67 households were chosen from 6083 households using Raosoft sample size calculator. Advanced statistical software has been used for data entry and analysis. This study found that most affected sector was family shelter (41.4 percent) while homestead forest (19.3 percent), home lighting (15.2 percent) and livestock (10.6 percent) were moderately damaged and rest are relatively low damaged sector among the eight functional components. After four years, the recovery process is still ongoing. From the identified functional components, drinking water and human waste disposal are fully recovered and some of components are growing firstly. But, homestead forest, food preparation and livestock sectors are behind so far from total recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bangladesh is considered worldwide as one of the most vulnerable countries to the impacts of climate change. This is due to its unique geographic location, dominance of floodplains, and low elevation of land from the sea, high density of population, high levels of poverty, and overwhelming dependence on nature, its resources and services. The coastal areas, especially offshore islands are most vulnerable considering the impacts of climate change and variability. Adaptation and mitigation strategies and action measures are to be taken at government and policy level of Bangladesh to combat future threats of climate change. Before taking these types of initiatives, it is needed to know the knowledge and concepts, capacity and strength, and awareness level of the coastal community. The objectives of this study are to assess the people's perceptions and understanding on climate change among adult and juvenile age groups of the community people; and to evaluate the awareness level of them on the impacts of climate change in the study area. Study area has been selected from the eastern coast of Bangladesh. The methods followed for the research were literature review, key informant interviews with representatives from local government and stakeholders, questionnaire survey with local adult and juvenile people. The study revealed that a significant portion of the society was not aware enough regarding the impacts of climate change and variability; and has hazy knowledge about the climate change and sea level rise of their adjacent coast. But, they have been observing the extreme events of weather like cyclones and storm surges, coastal erosion, and the changes of sea surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]