Library Legislation and Development in India...Dr SR Ranganathan committee -appointed-1948 Union...
Transcript of Library Legislation and Development in India...Dr SR Ranganathan committee -appointed-1948 Union...
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
Mr. Narayana Murthy
Tunga Mahavidyalaya Thirthahalli, Karnataka State, India