Library Legislation & Development of Library and Information centers : An Indian Scenario

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1 Library Legislation & Development of Library and Information centers : An Indian Scenario Some Challenges and Opportunities Dr Neena Singh & Narayana Murthy* india

2 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

3 India - Diverse Socio Economic Multilingual country 28 states and 7 Union Territories Each state divided - Districts, sub districts/ blocks, villages

4 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)

5 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 ( ) Social Education( ) - Budget was Rs 140 million 29.5 million US$

6 Public Libraries Today 11 th 5 year plan ( ) - 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

7 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)

8 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 To include News papers

9 Need for Library Legislation (LL) Need for LL recognized - 2 nd 5year Plan ( ) 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 Literacy level increased to 28.31% (UNESCO Repot 1985 )

10 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.

11 Library legislation- initiatives Initiatives in Independent India 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 To review public library system Model bill drafted Recommendations were accepted

12 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.

13 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)

14 Public Libraries Scenario in India Demography of India No. Type of Public libraries No. of libraries Percent age States & Union 35 State central 28 80% Territories Libraries (SCL) Districts 592 District Libraries (DL) % Blocks 3987 Block libraries (BL) % Villages 587,226 Rural Libraries (RL) 28, %

15 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

16 Situation of LL in South India South India- advanced- all 6 states LL Tamil Naidu Andhra Pradesh Karnataka Maharashtra Kerala Pondicherry

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 -

17 Situation of LL in North India North and North east Having Library Act Haryana Manipur Mizoram Uttar Pradesh Uttrakhand Bihar Chattisgarh Arunachal Pradesh 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.

18 Model State in Library Development Karnataka- role model for other states 1st state - establish libraries all villages (gram panchayat) 1. State central Library (SCL) City central Library (CCL) District central library (DCL) State central Children Library Nomadic Libraries Rural libraries Hospital/jail Libraries SLUM Libraries / reading rooms 200/ Aided Libraries / service stations 21/107 Total 7377

19 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

20 National Knowledge Commission NKC - Instituted 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 (

21 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

22 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

23 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

24 Conclusions Considering population 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

25 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 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) World Libraries.

26 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

Web Edition: PROVISIONAL POPULATION TOTALS. Chapter 5. Census of India 2001 Series 1, India, Paper 1 of 2001. Chapter 5

Web Edition: PROVISIONAL POPULATION TOTALS Chapter 5 Census of India 2001 Series 1, India, Paper 1 of 2001 Chapter 5 Density of Population 1 D e n s i t y o f P o p u l a t i o n One of the important indices