Library Legislation & Development

of Library and Information centers : An Indian Scenario

Some Challenges and

Opportunities Dr Neena Singh & Narayana Murthy*

india

Introduction

The article discusses : Situation of Public libraries in India

Need for Public Libraries

library legislation, its need and initiatives

States enacted library legislation

Model state in Library development

Raja ram Mohan Roy Library Foundation

National knowledge Commission

National Mission on Libraries

Challenges

Conclusion

India - Diverse

Socio Economic Multilingual

country

28 states and 7 Union

Territories

Each state divided -

Districts, sub districts/

blocks, villages

Libraries in India

Constitutionally - Library is State subject

- There is no common direction/coordination

Central govt. – Jurisdiction is on central libraries and institutions of national importance

e.g. The National Library (Kolkata)

Asiatic Society Central Library

Delhi Public Library

Khudabaksh Public Library (Patna)

Public Libraries

Literacy rate - Independent India (1947)-16%

Govt. Ist priority - Improve Literacy rate

To Speed up - Socio economic development

Govt.Considered - PL integrated part-Develop Project

Development Activity - Is included in 5 year plans

Edu.& Library Included - In Ist 5 Year Plan (1951-1956)

Social Education(1951-56) - Budget was Rs 140 million

29.5 million US$

Public Libraries Today 11th 5 year plan (2007-2012)

- Development of Rural Public Libraries

- Provision for physically challenged & under

privileged in District libraries

- National /State &District libraries to develop Special Collections for visually

- Challenged & Hearing impaired

Need for Public Libraries

Ist 5 year plan

Library Services(LS)mentioned - For Educational develop

Started integrated (LS) - With support of State Govt.

9 states established - Central Library & District Library

Many Libraries - were established in this Period - Delhi Public Library (1951)

- Central reference Library Kolkata(1955)

- Connemara Public Library Madras (1950)

- Became Depository Library (1955)

Depository Public Libraries

Delivery of book act - Passed 1954

Act obliged Publishers - Deposit a copy of Publication

to Deposit Libraries.

National Library (Kolkata)

Asiatic society C L (Mumbai)

Delhi Public Library (Delhi)

On basis of Books Received - India has National Bibliography

Act was emended in 1956 - To include News papers

Need for Library Legislation (LL)

Need for LL recognized - 2nd 5year Plan (1956-1961)

Organize library services - On bases of Legislation

Enact LL in all states - Establish Public Libraries

State & District libraries - Set up-linked with village libraries

Impact of 5 year Plan - No of Libraries doubled in 1964

compared to 1951

- Literacy level increased to 28.31%

(UNESCO Repot 1985 )

What is Library Legislation

Library legislation? is legislation

enacted and enforced by state for

running & maintaining public

library services within its territorial

jurisdiction.

- It is an instrument for development

of public libraries in a planned manner.

Library legislation- initiatives

Initiatives in Independent India- 1948 Keeping in view UNESCO recommendations “ Public libraries should be created under clear mandate of law for nation

wide provision of Library services”

Dr SR Ranganathan committee -appointed-1948 Union library bill was drafted for govt- no action. Sinha committee- 1959 – To review public library system Model bill drafted Recommendations were accepted

Library Legislation-Recommendations

1. There should be hierarchical structure for public

libraries functioning.

National central library –apex

State central libraries

District libraries

Sub district libraries/Blocks

Panchayat –village libraries

This – is the foundation upon which Public library is Built.

Library legislation

The Library legislation encourages

Establishment, maintenance, development of PP

State Library authority

Standing Library advisory committee – to advise state library

directorate

- Provision for library tax/cess in form of surcharge

on property tax (local body in district was made authority)

Public Libraries Scenario in India

Demography of

India

No. Type of Public

libraries

No. of

libraries

Percent

age

States & Union

Territories

35 State central

Libraries (SCL)

28 80%

Districts 592 District Libraries (DL) 451 76%

Blocks 3987 Block libraries (BL) 501 12.5%

Villages 587,226 Rural Libraries (RL) 28,820 4.9%

Situation of Library Legislation-Act

Out of 35 States & UT - Only 19 have Library act

States yet-have Library Act - 16 states

Oldest state Library Act - Tamil Naidu 1948

Youngest state Library Act - Arunachal Pradesh 2009

Library is State Subject - Ministry of Culture does

not implement the Acts

Situation of LL in South India

South India- advanced- all 6 states LL

Tamil Naidu - 1948

Andhra Pradesh - 1960

Karnataka - 1965

Maharashtra - 1967

Kerala - 1989

Pondicherry - 2008

Situation of LL in North India

North and North east Having Library Act

Haryana - 1989

Manipur - 1988

Mizoram - 1993

Uttar Pradesh - 2005

Uttrakhand - 2005

Bihar - 2008

Chattisgarh - 2008

Arunachal Pradesh - 2009

North and North east Not Having Library Act

Himachal Pradesh

Nagaland

Punjab

Assam

Meghalaya

Sikkim

Tripura

Jammu Kashmir

Model State in Library Development

Karnataka- role model for other states

1st state - establish libraries all villages (gram panchayat)

1. State central Library (SCL) 01

2. City central Library (CCL) 26

3. District central library (DCL) 29

4. State central Children Library 01

5. Nomadic Libraries 100

6 Rural libraries 5796

7. Hospital/jail Libraries 24

8. SLUM Libraries / reading rooms 200/600

9. Aided Libraries / service stations 21/107

Total 7377

RRMR-Library Foundation

Govt. established-Raja Ram Mohan Roy Lib Foundation 1972

To assist & aid development-Public Library in India

Promote Library movement in the country.

Foundation - Assisted more than 500 libraries including Rural Libraries

National Knowledge Commission

NKC - Instituted 2005 -high level advisory to PM

- Transform India - Knowledge society

- Working group was set up on libraries - to review

- Recommended to :_

- Revamp Public libraries

- Set National Mission on Libraries

- Prepare national census of libraries

- Set Central Library fund

- Reassess Staffing

- Encourage Public Private Participation

(http://www.knowledgecommission.gov.in)

National Mission On Libraries (NML)

Under NML Central govt –

- Plans to set 7000 Public libraries

- These will be largely focused in rural areas

- Public Libraries will get Modern technical equip

- Broad band connectivity

- Networking all public libraries

Challenges

1.Fund raising/resources - No uniform system

States in south India - Has provision for cess

- 5 to 10% as surcharge

States in North India - No provision for Lib cess

/tax . Only Govt aid.

2. No Common Direction or coordination for state libraries functioning

3. Acts passed in various States do not confirm to a single standard

4. Legislation to be implemented at national level for even development and funding for all sates

5. Central Govt aid Required – Central Library Fund needs to be instituted

Challenges

1.Improvement in infrastructure - Automation/Internet

- Training for Library staff

2. “Libraries key to Prosperity” – Need to be publicized proactively – shaping Public opinion and changing policy makers attitude

3. Under staffed Libraries – require more recruitments –

good – pay structure

4. Increase & updated collection – Books /e-resouces in local languages

5. Networking all public libraries & national census of libraries – to help prioritize project & programs

Conclusions

Considering population - 1028 million

- Literacy rate 65%

More investment required - Public Lib development

Drive for enactment of Library legislation in States

Ministry of Culture to play active role with state governments

With setting up of - National Knowledge Commission and

- National Mission on Libraries

Library Scenario in India has a bright future….. ahead

References

1.India 2011: A reference Annual . Ministry of information & broadcasting, Govt of India.

2. Govt of India, ministry of Culture Lok Sabha unstarred

Question No 3328 Establishment of Libraries. Answered 09.12.2009 by Minster of state for Planning & parliamentary affairs V. Narayanaswamy.

3. Gosh, AK Das & Banwarilal: information Literacy and Public

libraries 2005 (census of India 1991) 4. Department of Public Libraries. Karnataka Public library

system : Facts and figures 5. Jambhekar N . National Policy on Public libraries in India.Vol 5

(2) 1995 . World Libraries.

Thanks

Questions !!

Dr Neena Singh

G B Pant University of Agriculture& Technology

Uttrakhand state, India

nshill6@gmail.com

Mr. Narayana Murthy

Tunga Mahavidyalaya Thirthahalli, Karnataka State, India

narayanamurthy603@gmail.com