Activities of Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation P- 13. Public Libraries * By :C P Vashishth

इस ब्लॉग्स को सृजन करने में आप सभी से सादर सुझाव आमंत्रित हैं , कृपया अपने सुझाव और प्रविष्टियाँ प्रेषित करे , इसका संपूर्ण कार्य क्षेत्र विश्व ज्ञान समुदाय हैं , जो सभी प्रतियोगियों के कॅरिअर निर्माण महत्त्वपूर्ण योगदान देगा ,आप अपने सुझाव इस मेल पत्ते पर भेज सकते हैं - chandrashekhar.malav@yahoo.com

Activities of Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation

P- 13. Public Libraries *

By :C P Vashishth

1. INTRODUCTION

Twentieth century witnessed various milestones in the development of public libraries in the world as well as in India. In India, various developmental activities have been undertaken to promote and strengthen the public library movement.   Some states and Union territories are having good public library system while some states do not have strong public library system.  India is a country of villages. There are nearly 6 lacks villages in India.  These small towns and villages are in the dire need of library and information centres.
Information has been considered as important basic resource like natural resources. Information reduces uncertainty. It is a weapon to fight against illiteracy, poverty and exploitation. Public libraries are catalytic agent for information; they disseminate information to the needy people. Strong public library system is needed to serve the people residing at geographically dispersed areas. To spread library movement in small towns and villages it was felt to establish a nodal agency, which will support and strengthen the public library movement in India.

2. RAJA RAMMOHUN ROY LIBRARY FOUNDATION

Government, Non-government Organizations and corporate houses have taken various initiatives to promote public library system in India. The year 1972 has been an important landmark in the history of public libraries in India. In this year, India celebrated silver jubilee of independence. Same year was the bicentenary year of the birth of Raja Rammohun Roy (1772-1972), a great social and educational reformer who devoted his life to modernize India. International Book Year was also celebrated in 1972 with the slogan ‘Books for All’ as proclaimed by UNESCO.

2.1 Genesis

Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation (RRRLF) was established in May, 1972 by the then Department of Culture, Government of India. This is an autonomous organization and financially supported by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. RRRLF is registered under the West Bengal Societies Registration Act 1961. This Foundation is devoted to public library development in India. It is working in the close and active cooperation with the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations.  The Foundation has taken an initiative to develop District Youth Resource Centres (DYRCs) in collaboration with Nehru Yuvak Kendra Sangathan.

2.2 Organizational Structure of Foundation

Page Contents

(Source: http://rrrlf.nic.in/images/imageorgchart.htm) (Source: http://rrrlf.nic.in/alphotofrm.htm)

The below given diagram clarifies the organizational structure of the RRRLF. The Minister of Culture, Government of India or his nominee is the Chairman. Director is the executive head and ex-officio Member Secretary of RRRLF.

(Source: http://rrrlf.nic.in/images/imageorgchart.htm)

RRRLF has various committees to perform the tasks. These are:

• Foundation: It is a supreme policy-making body. It consists of 22 members. The members are nominated by the Government of India from the eminent   educationists, administrators, librarians etc.
• State Library Committee (SLC):  Foundation functions in each state and union territories through State Library Committee.
• Administrative Committee: This committee looks after the administrative and financial affairs of RRRLF. It has 11 members.
• Book Selection Committee: This committee is responsible to select books from specimen copies. It consists of 16 members.
• Grants Committee:  This committee is responsible to approve the grants. Presently it consists of 8 members.
• Research Committee: This committee advises the Foundation on issues of research activities. Presently it has seven members.

      Ø Headquarter: RRRLF has five storied building located at Saltlake in Kolkata on a 12 cottah plot allotted by the West Bengal Government.
      Ø Zonal Offices:  RRRLF has four zonal offices. Namely Eastern Zonal Office attached with headquarters at Kolkata. Western  Zonal Office at Mumbai, Northern Zonal Office at New Delhi and Southern Zonal Office at Chennai. These zonal offices started functioning from 1987 with four Assistant Field Officers.

2.2 Organizational Structure of Foundation

Page Contents

(Source: http://rrrlf.nic.in/images/imageorgchart.htm) (Source: http://rrrlf.nic.in/alphotofrm.htm)

The below given diagram clarifies the organizational structure of the RRRLF. The Minister of Culture, Government of India or his nominee is the Chairman. Director is the executive head and ex-officio Member Secretary of RRRLF.

(Source: http://rrrlf.nic.in/images/imageorgchart.htm)

RRRLF has various committees to perform the tasks. These are:

• Foundation: It is a supreme policy-making body. It consists of 22 members. The members are nominated by the Government of India from the eminent   educationists, administrators, librarians etc.
• State Library Committee (SLC):  Foundation functions in each state and union territories through State Library Committee.
• Administrative Committee: This committee looks after the administrative and financial affairs of RRRLF. It has 11 members.
• Book Selection Committee: This committee is responsible to select books from specimen copies. It consists of 16 members.
• Grants Committee:  This committee is responsible to approve the grants. Presently it consists of 8 members.
• Research Committee: This committee advises the Foundation on issues of research activities. Presently it has seven members.

      Ø Headquarter: RRRLF has five storied building located at Saltlake in Kolkata on a 12 cottah plot allotted by the West Bengal Government.
      Ø Zonal Offices:  RRRLF has four zonal offices. Namely Eastern Zonal Office attached with headquarters at Kolkata. Western  Zonal Office at Mumbai, Northern Zonal Office at New Delhi and Southern Zonal Office at Chennai. These zonal offices started functioning from 1987 with four Assistant Field Officers.

(Source: http://rrrlf.nic.in/alphotofrm.htm)

2.3 Objectives

The main objective of RRRLF is to function “as a promotional agency, an advisory and consultancy organization, a funding body of public library development in India”. Other objectives are:

Ø  To promote library movement in the country;
Ø  To enunciate a national library policy and to help build up a national library system;
Ø  To provide financial and technical assistance to organizations - regional or national - engaged in promotion of library development;
Ø  To publish appropriate literature and to act as a clearing house of ideas and information on library development in India and abroad;
Ø  To promote research in problems of library development;

Ø  To advise the government on all matters pertaining to the library development in the country.” (Source: rrrlf.nic.in/objecfrm.htm –accessed on 14.11.2012)

3. Activities of Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation

RRRLF is involved in various activities to promote the public libraries in India. Such as:

3.1 Assistance Programme

RRRLF promotes various public library services. It also provides financial assistance to the public libraries. There are various schemes, such as:

3.1.1 Matching:

Under this scheme assistance is given to following purposes:
1 .           Assistance towards building up of adequate stock of books and reading materials.
2.            Assistance towards development of Rural Book Deposit Centres and Mobile Library Services.
3.            Assistance towards organization of seminars, workshops, training courses, book exhibitions and library awareness programmes.
4.            Assistance towards purchase of storage materials, Reading Room furniture and library equipment.
5.            Assistance to Public Libraries towards increasing accommodation.
6.            Assistance to Public Libraries to acquire computer with accessories.

( Source : http://rrrlf.nic.in/alphotofrm.htm)
Matching schemes are implemented with the contribution made by the state governments and union territories with similar matching grant from RRRLF. For developed states the ratio is 50:50.  For developing states it is 40: 60 i.e. forty per cent  state contribution and 60 per cent   matching share of RRRLF.  For North-Eastern state it is 10: 90 i.e. 10 per cent state contribution and 90 percent matching share of RRRLF. During the Financial year 2010-11 assistance worth Rs. 4500 lakhs (approx) to 1300 libraries was given by the Foundation under matching and non- matching schemes. During financial year 2011-12, assistance worth of Rs. 4190 lakh (approx) to 1200 libraries was given under matching and non-matching schemes.

3.1.2 Non-matching

Under this scheme assistance is given to following purposes:
1.            Assistance towards building up adequate stock of books through central selection;
2.            Assistance to voluntary organizations (NGOs) for providing public library services;
3.            Assistance to children’s libraries;
4.            Assistance to public libraries towards celebration of 50/60/75/100/125/150 years and the like;
5.            Assistance towards organization of seminar/ conference by professional organizations, local bodies, NGOs engaged in public library development/   library movement and development of library services;
6.            Assistance towards collection and compilation of library statistics through official   and non-official agencies;
7.            Assistance to centrally sponsored libraries; and
8.            Assistance towards establishment of RRRLF children corner.

3.2 Promotional Activities

RRRLF has taken keen interest in development of library services and undertaken various activities, such as – organization of seminars, issuance of guidelines on public library systems and services. It conducts Raja Rammohun Roy Memorial Lecture, interacts with national and international professional associations. RRRLF also gives seven awards annually and “RRRLF Fellowship” to five eminent personalities in the field of library services.

(Source: http://rrrlf.nic.in)
During 2010-11, following conferences, seminars and workshops were organized:
·         13^th Convener’s Conference was organized at India International Centre, New Delhi on May 21, 2010. It was followed by a National Seminar on the theme ‘Future of Books in the Twenty-First Century` on  May 22, 2010.
·         An International Conference on Digital Library Management (ICDLM 2011) was organized at Science City, Kolkata during January 11-13, 2011.
·         The Foundation also financially supported organization of seminars by various professional organizations, such as: ILA, Professor Kaula Endowment for Library and Information Science, IASLIC, DELNET,  North Eastern Hill University, Mizoram University, West Bengal Public Library Association and Tamil Nadu Public Library Association.
·         The Foundation also extended its financial support to organize the Librarian’s Day on August 12.
During 2011-12, following conferences seminars and workshops were organized:
·         Organized an International conference on Tagore’s Universalism: Individual and Universe, at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi during May 7-8, 2011.
·            Two workshops were organized on “Public Library of the Future: Strategic planning” in New Delhi and at Hyderabad during 2012.

3.3 Research Projects

A research cell has been established with special library on library and information science. It is engaged in research projects on public libraries .This cell also provides advisory and consultancy services.

3.4 Publications

RRRLF has brought out various publications for diffusion of library and information science related contents. These are:

(Source: http://rrrlf.nic.in/alphotofrm.htm)
Ø Indian Libraries: Trends and Perspectives
Ø Raja Rammohun Roy and the New Learning
Ø Directory of Indian Public Libraries
Ø Granthana - Indian Journal of Library studies (bi-annual)
Ø RRRLF Newsletter (bi-monthly)
Ø Annual Reports
Ø Books
§  Books for the millions at their doorsteps (Information Manual). Ed 4. Calcutta: RRRLF, 1988.p.86.
§  National Policy on Library and Information system: A draft policy statement. Calcutta: RRRLF, 1986.
Ø  Web bibliography on and by Tagore.  It is an initiative taken by RRRLF commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941). This bibliography lists 9000 books published in 42 languages. This can be accessed on www.rrrlf.gov.in. A book can be searched by its title, author, editor, language and keyword. It also provides the location of a particular publication. The portal is a ready- rackoner for scholars on Tagore.
Ø   Catalogue –in-Publication Project

3.5 Modernization Programme

Computerization programme is going on in the Foundation.

4. Achievements

The Foundation has covered more than thirty one thousand libraries at different levels

Level of Libraries	No. of Libraries
State Central Libraries	28
Divisional and District Libraries	451
Sub-Divisional /Taluka /Tehsil Libraries	504
Town and Rural Libraries	30134
Nehru Yuvak Kendras	272
Jawahar Bal Bhavans	49
Others	128
Total	31563

                                                (Source: http://rrrlf.nic.in/achivfrm.htm)
During financial year 2011-12 a sum of Rs. 55 lakhs was released for the establishing of physically challenged corner to several libraries.

Plan	Total Plan Grant	Annual Plan Grant	State contribution
8 th Five Year Plan	1175.70 lakh	646.60 lakh	645.97lakh
9 th Five Year Plan	3233.00 lakh	701.20 lakh	1977.00

5. Anniversary Celebrations

RRRLF organized a function in the auditorium of National Library, Kolkata on October 18, 1982 to celebrate its 10^th anniversary. In the function Prof. S. Nurul Hasan, Vice-Chairman, CSIR delivered a lecture on the theme ‘the Islamic Background of Raja Rammohun Roy’s thoughts’.
On completion of two decades of the Foundation, the celebration was inaugurated by Hon’ble Minister Mr. Arjun Singh, Minister of Human Resource Development, Government of India on 12 March 1993 at Kolkata.  The function was presided over by Mr. S.S. Chakravarty, Minister of Higher Education, Govt. of West Bengal. Chairman of Foundation Prof. Namvar Singh gave the introductory speech and B.P. Barua; Director of Foundation gave a vote of thanks.
RRRLF celebrated its Silver Jubilee in 1997-98. The celebration commenced with a yearlong programme on 22 May (the birth date of Raja Rammohun Roy) 1997.

6. Conclusion

RRRLF with its various activities has promoted the concept of public libraries and made efforts to reach the library services to the larger number of people. In India, there is an urgent need to strengthen the public library system in more cooperative way. The states have low priority in this regard. RRRLF in its journey of 40 years has done a little in making real public libraries in India.  The Foundation can play a vital role in the establishment and development of public libraries in India. Its schemes should focus on the communities residing at distant places. Programmes and activities should pay attention on inclusive development and upliftment of information poor areas. Monitoring and social auditing should be done of programmes/ activities of the Foundation. New programmes and activities should be incorporated to attract the new generation.

Library Legislation in Indian States P- 13. Public Libraries * By :C P Vashishth

इस ब्लॉग्स को सृजन करने में आप सभी से सादर सुझाव आमंत्रित हैं , कृपया अपने सुझाव और प्रविष्टियाँ प्रेषित करे , इसका संपूर्ण कार्य क्षेत्र विश्व ज्ञान समुदाय हैं , जो सभी प्रतियोगियों के कॅरिअर निर्माण महत्त्वपूर्ण योगदान देगा ,आप अपने सुझाव इस मेल पत्ते पर भेज सकते हैं - chandrashekhar.malav@yahoo.com

Library Legislation in Indian States P- 13. Public Libraries * By :C P Vashishth

1.1 Advantages of Library Legislation

A Library Act provides the following advantages:
1. Helps in the establishment of an organized network of public libraries;
2. A sound administrative set-up;
3. Proper and continuous financial support;
4. Coordination in administration and management of public libraries;
5. Centralised services like purchase, processing, bibliographical and other services that can be provided conveniently;
6. Possibility of providing quality library service, with qualified hands, at free of charge.

1.2 Functions

The Advisory Committee for Libraries2 constituted by the Government of India (1958) proposed the following five functions of library legislation:

1. It should clearly define the government’s responsibility in the matter of public libraries;
2. Legislation should lay-down the constitution and functions of the library authority at national, state and district levels;
3. Legislation should provide an assured basis for library finance. There are two ways of providing a firm basis for library finance:
(i)    A Special library cess; and
(ii)   Reservation of certain percentage of the education budget.
4. Legislation should lay-down the structure of the public library system; and
5. Legislation should provide for participation of the representative of the public, in the work of the public libraries at all levels

1.3 Factors for Consideration

CO Houle in his work “Libraries in Adult and Fundamental Education”¹ mentioned the following
as factors to be kept in view for library legislation:
-          The library legislation must be both simple and general. It should allow for future development, without giving an opportunity for misrepresentation.
-          It must as far as possible be kept above accidents of political changes.
-          The law must make library services possible, encourage development, and ensure that libraries shall provide.
-          It should coordinate library activities and control them in full recognition of the people’s right to free access to the means of knowledge and factual information.
-          The law should stipulate the duties and privileges of public libraries and above all, the terms of financial assistance that they should receive from public authorities.
-          The law must make clear the respective responsibilities of local, state and national administration in respect of public libraries.
-          The law may provide either for the state establishment of libraries or state aid when local governments are managing them. The library service may be made compulsory if the financial resources of the district are adequate.
-          The law must prescribe that public libraries should be free to one and all. The law should also provide for public library resources to be supplemented by those of academic, specialized and scientific libraries.
-          All libraries should lend their books free of charge to all citizens in the country in accordance with an approved scheme for cooperation between libraries.
The books in stock should cover every shade of opinion. Censorship should apply only to the type of books which would incite crime and violence. The law should also include a provision for the establishment of libraries for children and schools, for the defence service and merchant marine.

2.1 Great Britain

Mr. Edward of the British Museum was a firm believer of the establishment of public libraries with public funds through legislation. The thread was picked up by William Ewart and moved proposal in the Parliament of the Great Britain in 1849. On approval of the Selection Committee, the Bill was introduced in early 1850. The Bill finally became Act on 14 August 1850, which is a red letter day in the annals of the Library movement not only in the Great Britain, but also in the whole world, as it was the first Library Act to be ever enacted.

2.2.1 Ranganathan’s UK Experience

Prof. Ranganathan who visited UK in 1924 saw the functioning of the Library Act and was convinced of the role library legislation can play in the establishment of a network of public libraries for all sections of the society with public funds

2.2.2 Model Library Act

Prof. Ranganathan prepared ‘Model Library Act’⁷ and presented the same at the All Asia Educational Conference held at Banaras in 1930.

2.2.3 Attempt in Bengal

Kumara Munindra Deb Roy Mahasay of Banasberia, who attended the conference, with the help of Ranganathan got a draft Bill prepared for Bengal and introduced the same in Bengal Legislature. Unfortunately, the Bill was turned-down by the Governor General of India because of certain compulsory clauses.

2.2.4 Efforts in Madras

Janab Basheer Ahmed Sayyad introduced a Library Bill in the Madras Legislature in 1931 on behalf of the Madras Library Association. The Bill could not get-through as the Local Self Government wanted an amendment making provision for a grant to the Department for collecting the cess by the local bodies.

2.3 First Library Act of India

The third attempt of the Madras Library Association made in 1946 through the good offices of Ranganathan met with success in 1948. The then Minister for Education in Madras State, Hon’ble Avinasalingam Chettiar took special interest and got the Bill passed in 1948.⁷

2.4 Kolhapur Public Libraries Act, 1945

The credit of enacting a Library Act for the first time in India however goes to the Kolhapur Princely State (of the present Maharashtra), whereby the Karveer Nagar Wachan Mandir was declared as the State Central Library. The Act also made provision for providing mobile library service, and organizing library training classes.

2.5 Efforts Outside Madras

Several efforts were made in different states mostly with the initiative or support ofRanganathan. Some of these are:
1. CP & Berar in 1946. Bill drafted by Ranganathan;
2. Travancore in 1947. Bill drafted by Ranganathan;
3. Cochin in 1947. Bill drafted by Ranganathan;
4. United Provinces in 1949. Bill drafted by Ranganathan;
5. Kashmir in 1949. Bill drafted by P N Kaula. Mr Kaula also prepared a draft Bill for Delhi which also failed to get attention

3.1 Union Bill of Ranganathan

The Government of India appointed a committee in 1948 to suggest the possibility of establishing a National Central Library at New Delhi. Dr. Ranganathan submitted his report titled Library Development Plan : Thirty Year Programme for India with Draft Library Bill for the Union and Constituent States. Following are the salient features of the Model Act :

(i)     Establishment of a State Library Authority;

(ii)   State Library Committee;

(iii) Department of Public Libraries headed by State Librarian;

(iv)  Local library Authority at the District Level;

(v)    Establishment of :

(a) State Library Service;
(b) State Bureau for the Blind;
(c) State Bureau of Inter Library Loan;
(d) State Bureau of Technical Services; and

(vi)  State Library Fund with provision for Library Cess.

3.2 Model Public Libraries Bill, 1963

While accepting the recommendations of the Advisory Committee for Libraries, the Union Government constituted a Committee of Experts under the Chairmanship of Mr. Sen to prepare a Model Public Library Bill². This Bill was released in 1963 and circulated to all the State Governments for necessary action; and national and State Library Associations for information, comments and promotion.

Salient features of this Bill are :
(i)     Establishment of State Library Council;

(ii)   State Library Directorate to look into the administration and technical matters;

(iii) State Library Committee vested with the responsibility of preparing a perspective plan; and

No mention of library cess.

3.3 Model Public Libraries Bill, 1965

While preparing the IV-Five Year Plan, Planning Commission appointed a Working Group on Libraries in 1964 with Dr. VKRV Rao as its Chairman.³ The report of the Working Group appended a Model Public Libraries Bill, the salient features of which are :

(i)     Constitution of a Committee of Experts (equal to State Library Authority);

(ii)   State Library Council (of Advisory nature);

(iii) State Library Directorate (to control, supervise and direct the State Library System);

(iv)  Establish a Public Library System with :
(a) State Central Library,
(b) State Regional (or Divisional Libraries);
(c) District libraries; and (d) Local Libraries;

(v)    Training facility for employees;

(vi)  State Library Service;

(vii)   No Library cess recommended.

3.4 Indian Library Association’s Model Libraries Act, 1989

The Indian Library Association has been contributing its bit for library legislation right from the beginning. It circulated the Ranganathan’s Model Bill in 1942 to various States. It passed a resolution at the IX-All India Library Conference held in Nagpur in 1948 requesting the Government of India to take steps in this direction. Its Fourteenth All India Library Conference held at Patna in 1964, organized a seminar on State Library Legislation and thoroughly discussed on the Model Public Libraries Bill and made several commendable amendments for its smooth working. Another Seminar was held in Chandigarh under the auspices of Punjab Library Association during November 1947. Again in 1978 it had organized a Seminar in Delhi on Library Legislation. In 1981 another Seminar on ‘A Second Look at the Library Legislation In India’ was held in Hyderabad. In 1989, it got a Model Public Libraries Act prepared by Dr. V. Venkatappaiah, who was the Chairman of its Central Sectional Committee on Public Libraries. This was discussed at a Seminar held in Delhi on 14 February 1990 organised by ILA in collaboration with RRRLF.

Salient features of the Bill are :
(i)     State Library Authority with Minister for Libraries as Head;

(ii)   State Library Council;

(iii) Department of Public Libraries with a qualified person as Director;

(iv)  State, Regional, City/District Library Authorities;

(v)    Establishment of : (a) State Planning Board: (b) Staff Welfare Board, (c) Board of Library Education; (d) State Book Development Council; and (e) Adult Education Council;
(vi)  Grant-in-aid to Private Libraries;

(vii)  Library cess and equal matching grant from the State Government;

(viii) Public enquiry on any irregularity;

(ix) State Library Service.

3.5 Ranganathan’s Draft Bills for Various States

Central Provinces*            1946   Andhra Pradesh                                  1957
Cochin*                           1946           West Bengal                                      1958
Travancore*                     1947           Uttar Pradesh (Revised)                      1958
United Provinces*             1949           Kerala                                               1960
Hyderabad*                     1953           Mysore**                                          1961
Madhya Pradesh               1957           Assam                                              1964

* Indicate the former States and Provinces.

                ** Now known as Karnataka State.

3.6 Kaula’s Bills

Prof. P.N. Kaula had drafted the Library Development Plans and the Model Library Bills for the following States:

Jammu & Kashmir                   1951
Delhi (Then Part C State)         1954.

3.7 Efforts Made by others

Apart from Dr. Ranganathan, Kumara Munindra Deb Rai Mahasay, and Dr. Venkatappaiah, Rao bahadur S.K. Bole, Messrs AAA Fyzee (the then Bombay State), R.L. Mittal, G.L. Trehan (Punjab), V.S. Moghe (M.P.), M.L. Bhagi (Haryana), B.B. Shukla (Orissa), S.R. Gupta and S.S. Varma (Delhi) and several others made efforts towards library legislation in their respective states.

3.8 Efforts of State Library Associations

The following Library Associations have taken or taking keen interest in having Library legislation in their respective states:

1. Assam Library Association
2. Bengal Library Association
3. Delhi Library Association
4. Gujarat Library Association
5. Haryana Library Association
6. Kerala Library Association
7. M.P. Library Association
8. Punjab Library Association
9. Rajasthan Library Association
10. U.P. Library Association..

3.91 Library Acts In India

1. Kolhapur Public Libraries Act (1945) (non-functional)
2. Madras Public Libraries Act (1948) (now called Tamilnadu Public Libraries Act)
3. Hyderabad Public Libraries Act (1955) (non-functional)
4. Andhra Pradesh Public Libraries Act (1960)
5. Mysore Public Libraries Act (1965) (now called as Karnataka Public Libraries Act)
6. Maharashtra Public Library Act (1967)
7. West Bengal Public Libraries Act (1979)
8. Manipur Public Libraries Act (1988)
9. Kerala Public Libraries Act (1989)
10. Haryana Public Libraries Act (1989)
11. Mizoram Public Libraries Act (1994)
12. Goa Public Libraries Act (1994)
13. Gujarat Public Libraries Act (2001)
14. Orissa Public Libraries Act (2001)
15. Uttaranchal Public library Act (2005)
16. Rajasthan Public Library Act (2006)
17. Uttar Pradesh Public Library Act (2006)
18. Bihar Public Libraries and Information Centres Act (2008)
19. Chhattisgarh Public Libraries Act (2008)
20. Arunachal Pradesh Public Libraries Act (2009).

3.92 Operation of the Acts

Out of the 20 library acts mentioned above, Kolhapur act was confined to the State Library. No library system was envisaged for the entire State. Hence, it cannot be compared with other library acts in India. Further, Kolhapur State was merged with Bombay Presidency with the result it lost its statehood. The Hyderabad State was disintegrate and a portion each was annexed with Andhra, Maharashtra and Karnataka. The Hyderabad Public Library Act (1955) has a very short span of operation. Minus these two, there are 18 states in India having library legislation on their statute books. Even among these 18 only 10 states have system of public libraries based on library act in operation. Eight of the States, though enacted library legislation, could not commence implementation.

3.93.1 No Devotion to the Cause

 India’s independence and enactment of library laws coincided. As like in other fields, people started thinking that providing library service is a job of the government. Public participation in establishing and running libraries started declining rapidly. Libraries established under the Act started suffering under bureaucracy. Librarians and other staff who regard librarianship as a source of livelihood rather than service started increasing in numbers.

3.93.2 Infrastructure Facilities are Lacking

In all the earlier acts to that of West Bengal, Library cess was regarded as an important source of revenue. Even Salaries of Local Library Authorities were to be met from this account. It was later realized that recovery of cess was most difficult and the cess collected is so merge that employees were to go without salaries for months. It is after a long persuasion state governments provincialised the services of library employees. It is indeed surprising how Ranganathan advocated cess in library bills where UK withdrew this provision as early as in 1919. Proper book stock, furniture and good building remained always wanting.

3.93.2 Infrastructure Facilities are Lacking

In all the earlier acts to that of West Bengal, Library cess was regarded as an important source of revenue. Even Salaries of Local Library Authorities were to be met from this account. It was later realized that recovery of cess was most difficult and the cess collected is so merge that employees were to go without salaries for months. It is after a long persuasion state governments provincialised the services of library employees. It is indeed surprising how Ranganathan advocated cess in library bills where UK withdrew this provision as early as in 1919. Proper book stock, furniture and good building remained always wanting.

3.93.3 Competition from Media

Radio, television, newspapers, Internet, etc are taking away the little time leftover of the common man. Visitors to libraries are decreasing. Libraries should evolve innovative methods to serve the users and justify the existence of libraries.

3.93.4 New Orientation to Services

Advanced countries transformed libraries to community information centres and finally community resource centres. Public libraries are giving importance to catching young and train them in the art of reading and building knowledge blocks in their minds.